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Poh Chew, age 7, who
comes from a single parent family, has something to smile about
this new year. Since a month ago, he has someone new in his
life to dote on him - businessman Mr Ernest Koh, a "god
father" who is single. Rose, a 10 year old Malay girl,
has a Chinese godmother, Ms Sharon Soh, also a single, to dote
on her. Sharon, an administrative assistant, was linked up with
Rose in late December.
Ernest and Sharon are two of the
pioneer singles involved in a new programme by Singles Connect
and the South East Community Development Council (CDC).
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Under this new programme, singles
are encouraged to "adopt" a child as "god father"
or "god mother" to help nurture and mentor children
within the community, especially those with difficult backgrounds.
The matching of the singles to the
children is done by the CDC after taking into consideration
the preferences of both parties. The singles are encouraged
to regularly visit and contact the children and their family,
provide help with the child's homework, or bring the child
out for a special treat with the consent of the family.
Ernest is one of the pioneer singles
involved in this particular programme. Although he is a busy
businessman who travels frequently, Ernest has nevertheless
made time to bring Poh Chew out for a special meal as well
as bought him new clothes, toy and even gave him an "angbao"
during Chinese New Year.
Ernest has established an understanding
with Poh Chew's family. He often picks up Poh Chew from the
Student Care Centre at the Marine Parade FSC for an outing,
and sends him back home by a certain time.
The programme has three aims:
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Many children today report being "bored" as
their parents are busy working to raise the family.
Singapore is also seeing a rising number of single-parent
families.
The lower-income families face
extra pressures, as the single parent is often struggling
to make ends meet to spend time with their children.
Other children, like those in children's homes, also
come from disadvantaged family backgrounds.This programme
offers these children an adult mentor who can help improve
their lives just by providing care and concern.
"Well-adjusted singles,
with a heart for the community, can play this valuable
role as they have no family of their own. These volunteers
are not meant to replace their mothers or fathers; they
are mentors trying to make Singapore a better place
for these children," said Ms Irene Ng, founder
of Singles Connect and MP for Tampines GRC.
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Singles Connect is a support group for singles set up
last year to promote supportive networks among singles
and activities to enhance their well-being and sense
of belonging to the mainstream community.
A key mission of Singles Connect
is to provide volunteer opportunities for single adults
to get involved in the community. Through this project,
the support group hopes to encourage more singles to
reach out and care for others in the community.
"This will enmesh singles
into the lives of families around them, and at the same
time, foster their own personal development as individuals.
We hope that, by involving singles this way, it will
help dispel the notion that singles are not pro-family,"
said Ms Ng.
This programme is not meant
to provide singles with care from these children when
they are old, and singles who sign up for this programme
do not expect such a quid pro quo.
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This programme also serves to promote greater interaction
and bonding within the community. For instance, where
singles are matched with children from a different race,
the programme fosters greater understanding and friendship
between different racial communities. So far, we have
managed to do this with Sharon who is mentoring a Malay
girl.
Sharon, who is an administrative assistant, has met
Rose in late December, and has also brought Rose out
during weekend with her parents' consent. If parents
can trust a mentor from another race to care for their
child and take their child out regularly, that will
go a long way towards building a more united community.
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The South East CDC mooted this
idea after it noticed feedback posted on theSingles Connect
website (www.singlesconnect.org) that singles are thinking
of adopting children. To implement this programme, it has
roped in community organizations such as the Marine Parade
Family Service Centre (FSC) and the Chen Su Lan Children's
Home, to identify children who need additional care from these
singles. The programme is administered by the CDC, which facilitates
the matching between singles and the children identified.
It started off as a pilot programme in December but has now
taken off.
A total
of 16 singles have signed up for this programme. Another 10
singles will be visiting the Chen Su Lan Children's Home to
meet up with their "godsons" and "god-daughters"
on Tuesday, 27 February 2002 at 7.30p.m. at the Chen Su Lan
Methodist Children's Home.
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