Instead of the usual land activities, CaringSG partnered with 10 volunteers from the Singapore Paddle Club (SPC) on 8 October 2023 to bring caregivers and their care recipients out to sea!
Spending Sunday afternoon immersed in nature can be a rejuvenating experience, especially for caregivers who are always busy with their usual routine and caregiving duties. The excited group first met at the Ola Beach Club at Sentosa where the SPC volunteers conducted a safety briefing as well as a quick training session on how to use a paddle to propel the outrigger canoe effectively.
Many caregivers had not paddled with their loved ones before and therefore it was indeed a refreshing and new experience for them. Paddling together as a family not only fostered cooperation, communication, and shared enjoyment, it also provided them with the mental refreshment that came from being outdoor at sea. The sea, with its vastness and tranquillity, has a way of quieting the mind and reducing stress levels.
Even though the weather was extremely hot on that day, everyone had tons of fun interacting with one another and having a good body workout!
A total of 19 caregivers and their care recipients turned up for the event, which was run with the support from 3 CAREkakis from the Telok Blangah Grassroots Organisation, 3 CaringSG staff and 1 CAREchampion.
⛳ A Swing Towards New Experiences! ⛳
On 10 June, caregivers and their special needs dependents came together at Keppel Club for a morning of fun, focus, and first swings at CAREconnect: Parasport360 – Discover Golf!
On 20 June 2025, CaringSG held its June edition of the REAL TALK webinar series titled “You Are Not Alone,” a heartfelt and honest session for caregivers of children with special needs. Supported by SG Enable, the event created a compassionate space where real-life struggles were shared, emotions were validated, and hope was rekindled.
On 19 June 2025, CaringSG conducted our “How to Just Be There” training for 37 Mendaki staff, introducing the P.A.U.S.E.™ method — Prepare, Acknowledge, Understand, Sit with, Empathize — to equip participants with the mindset and tools to support individuals with special needs through presence, not pressure. Led by trainer Jansen Sng, the session was highly praised for its engaging approach, real-life relevance, and emotional impact.
Over six Sunday mornings, something special happened down at Changi Sailing Club. Through a joint effort between CaringSG and the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), caregivers and their special needs dependents came together to pick up a new skill—sailing—in a setting that was equal parts fun, inclusive, and empowering.
On 17 April 2025, CaringSG hosted a deeply meaningful Self-Care Workshop facilitated by Julia Chan—caregiver, certified mental wellness coach, and author of The Healing Journal: A Caregiver’s Path to Self-Care. With a nurturing approach shaped by her own lived experiences, Julia guided participants through practical tools to better care for themselves while supporting their loved ones.
A big part of the joy in caregiving for children comes from being made to see things from a fresh child-like perspective. Teaching autistic children requires one to go beyond that. Often, one has to tap on that perspective and the child’s interest to engage them in learning about our neurotypical world. This is the story of Eliz’s creative teaching journey inspired by her fostered child, Eugene.
