Good afternoon Ms Denise Phua, caregivers and families, invited guests and supporters,
Welcome to the launch of The Healing Journal under our CAREforward initiative.
A heartfelt thank you to our Guest-of-Honour, Ms Denise Phua. Your tireless efforts to uplift the caregiving community have touched the lives of many.
To the caregivers here today, you are the reason we are here, and your selflessness and dedication inspire us every single day.
Caregiving is a journey filled with dedication and love, and also sacrifice, pain and loneliness. At CaringSG, we believe in deepening our support for caregivers through meaningful programmes and services that cater to their needs and well-being.
CaringSG empowers caregivers with the knowledge and skills to support other caregivers through the Caregiver Volunteer Training (CVT) programme, which is funded by SG Enable.
For example, Vanecia Er is a caregiver who stepped up to become a CAREbuddy, a trained caregiver volunteer who provides support to fellow caregivers.
After she completed her caregiver volunteer training, CaringSG paired her with Wendy Zhao, a caregiver who was worried about her son’s progress after interventions and therapies, and requested caregiver support from CaringSG.
Vanecia supported Wendy through her journey, and Wendy gained the confidence to manage her caregiving challenges and even start her own podcast.
From August 2021 to January 2024, the CAREbuddy programme, catalysed by Temasek Foundation, helped more than 95 caregivers through more than 800 touchpoints during the pilot period. Our Proof-of-Concept report revealed that:
To amplify this programme’s impact, CaringSG aims to partner at least 5 social service agencies, EIPIC (Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children) and special education schools with a total pool of 160 trained caregiver volunteers by March 2026.
With the CAREforward initiative, we aim to care-it-forward to as many of the estimated 350,000 caregivers across Singapore as possible to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Thank you once again for joining us today. Your presence here fills us with hope and strength, and serves as a reminder that no caregiver should ever have to walk this path alone.
On 1 December 2024, CaringSG brought together caregivers, supporters, and the community for an inspiring day at the CAREforward event, held at the Punggol Regional Library.
Caregiving is a journey filled with dedication and love, and also sacrifice, pain and loneliness. At CaringSG, we believe in deepening our support for caregivers through meaningful programmes and services that cater to their needs and well-being.
CaringSG empowers caregivers with the knowledge and skills to support other caregivers through the Caregiver Volunteer Training (CVT) programme, which is funded by SG Enable.
We are gathered here today at the launch of The Healing Journal: A Caregiver’s Path to Self-Care and our CAREforward event, to celebrate the caregivers in our community.
The concept of CAREforward is a call to action for all of us to care-it-forward, empower and uplift one another.
CaringSG is grateful to be part of the Purple Parade again in 2024! We marched with a contingent of more than 100 people, and showcased caregiver programmes, services and support groups at our booth.
“The theme today is “Uplift Caregivers, Uplift Community,” because we don’t just want caregivers to do well; we also want the community to be strong. The reason why caregivers chip in is that we are building the community, not just for ourselves, but for our children and future generations.”
CaringSG’s inaugural Family Day took place on 7th September 2024, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Enabling Village. This special event, in partnership with Enabling Village, Singapore’s first inclusive community space, brings together the public, caregivers, persons with disabilities and their supporters for a day filled with learning, connection, and memorable experiences.
