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CaringSG Community Events in April 2023

CaringSG Community Events in April 2023

April was a busy month as CaringSG organised several events in Telok Blangah, Kampong Glam and Boon Lay.

1 April 2023 Caregivers Get Together (Telok Blangah)

On 1 April 2023, a caregiver get-together was held at Telok Blangah Community Club from 1pm to 3pm.  There was also a crafts workshop especially for the special needs dependents.

A total of 15 caregivers and 5 Special needs dependents turned up for the event. The purpose was for the caregivers residing at Telok Blangah to get to connect with one another over light refreshments. In this way, they would be able to know who to approach for support and assistance in the event of need. 

This event was supported by 3 CAREkaki and 6 CaringSG staff and volunteers, the Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant funded by Tote Board and managed by SG Enable, Temasek Foundation and Telok Blangah CCC.

1 April 2023 Raya Festive Distribution (Kampong Glam)

On the same day, 9 CAREkaki, 2 CaringSG staff and volunteers, 1 CAREchampion, 2 CAREambassadors from William Blair and another 2 CAREambassadors from NUS Yong Loo Lin also participated in a Hari Raya festive distribution to 33 families in Kampong Glam. It was indeed a fruitful day for Team CaringSG!

15 April 2023 Yoga Workshop (Boon Lay)

The third event was a yoga workshop which was held at Boon Lay Community Club on 15 April 2023 from 3pm to 4pm. 1 CAREkaki and 2 CaringSG staff and volunteer were there to help with the event.

During the workshop, caregivers and their dependents learnt various Yoga techniques like stretching, breathing and meditation which could help them to de-stress when they needed a short respite.

A total of 4 caregivers and 3 special needs dependents turned up for the event. Even though the workshop was just an hour long, it was a good opportunity for caregivers to connect with other caregivers and their loved ones and experienced the benefits of Yoga together.

This event was supported by the Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant funded by Tote Board and managed by SG Enable, Temasek Foundation and Boon Lay CCC.

15 April 2023 Give and Take Distribution (Kampong Glam)

Last but not least, there was also a “Give and Take” distribution session at Kampong Glam on the same day with 10 CAREkaki as well as 1 CaringSG staff distributing goodies to 50 families.

Stay tuned for CaringSG outreach and community events in the month of May!

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Tea Time at Ya Kun – Appreciation Campaign for Special Needs Caregivers and Families

Tea Time at Ya Kun – Appreciation Campaign for Special Needs Caregivers and Families

CaringSG and Ya Kun Kaya Toast collaborated to run an appreciation campaign for special needs caregivers and families.

Ya Kun encouraged their customers to fuel a caregiver of a person with special needs and show their appreciation by gifting them a cup of Ya Kun kopi or tea. Customers could participate in this initiative via Ya Kun’s Cherish app from 10 Oct to 30 Nov 2022.

Ya Kun also helped to spread awareness of what CaringSG does, by sharing with their customers that CaringSG is a caregiver-led initiative and registered non-profit organisation for special needs caregivers and the community. We were set up in 2020 and are supported by SG Enable.

Customers were further informed to visit www.caring.sg to learn more about how they can support special needs caregivers, and to check out www.enablingguide.sg if they are a person with disability or caregiver in need of support.

 

Tea Time at Ya Kun @ Far East Square

As part of the appreciation campaign, caregivers were treated to a traditional tea brunch of Kaya toast with butter set (Set A) at Ya Kun @ Far East Square on 12 November 2022. The meals and venue were kindly sponsored by Ya Kun Kaya Toast.

A total of 16 caregivers and 15 children turned up for the event, and participants could also take the opportunity to share their life experiences with other caregivers and their families. The children were engaged with simple board games, jigsaw puzzles and activities while enjoying their meals in Ya Kun’s flagship store that offered a rustic ambience reminiscing the good old days of kampung gatherings.

The event was supported by two CAREkakis, two CAREambassadors, four CaringSG staff and volunteers.  

We sincerely thank our kind sponsor Ya Kun Kaya Toast and all the Ya Kun customers who participated in this appreciation campaign with a kopi or tea treat to special needs caregivers.

This caregiver appreciation event was also supported by our partners (Enabling Lives Grant Initiative by SG Enable and Tote Board, Temasek Foundation and Boon Lay CCC).

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CaringSG’s First Ever Purple Parade!

CaringSG’s First Ever Purple Parade!

This year’s Purple Parade was held on 29 October 2022 at Suntec City to support inclusion and celebrate the abilities of persons with disabilities. 2022 marks the 10th anniversary for the Purple Parade, and the first time that CaringSG has participated in this event!

In the lead up to the Purple Parade, CaringSG held an online slogan quest for our members with two categories:

  • Category 1: non-caregiver members can create their own short slogans to encourage caregivers
  • Category 2: caregiver members can share their self-declared phrase that has always inspired them to remain motivated despite their challenges.

The contest ran until 30 November 2022. Scroll to the bottom of this article to see the winning slogans!

On the actual day of the Purple Parade, CaringSG members who dropped by the CaringSG booth and flashed their eCard were able to redeem limited edition free gifts (tote bag for caregiver members and a CaringSG badge for non-caregiver members). 

Members as well as the public could also purchase specially made handicrafts to support the caregivers and youths of CAREcottage families (see their beautiful handicrafts here).

The highlight of the Purple Parade was the marching of contingents where participants marched together to show solidarity for persons with disabilities. CaringSG, together with Centre for Fathering, formed a strong marching contingent of 88 participants. Everyone was really happy and proud to be part of this meaningful event.

The Purple Parade was supported by five CAREkakis, nine CaringSG staff and twenty-two volunteers. A loud shoutout and thank you to our partners (Enabling Lives Initiative Grant by SG Enable and Tote Board, and Temasek Foundation) who made this meaningful event possible. 

Congratulations to the following winners of our slogan quest!

We are greatly inspired by each and every one of your slogans and would like to announce the winners below:

  • CaringSG Online Slogan Quest Winner (Category 1): “All trials have an expiry date!” by Ms Tay 
  • CaringSG Online Slogan Quest Winner (Category 2): “You make a world of difference!” by Low Li Ting

We also hope these notable slogan submissions will bring warmth to your day:

  • “Together, We Can!” by Amir Yunus
  • “Laugh more, open your heart, and take each day as it comes” by Ernest
  • “Don’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get.” by Lim Sook Wei
  • “There is always light at every tunnel ahead.” by Ng Tiong Hui
  • “Appreciate progress, no matter how small!!” by Poornima Rajaram
  • “Care and Compassion in Community makes us stronger” by Timothy Wong
  • “Mom is the best teacher for your own son! Love yourself, family first before you can love others” by Vivien Tanaka
  • “Open our heart to listen, to act.” by Wong KK
  • “Be brave, be persistent, be fun. Never give up! Yes, you can!” by Yuria Tantono

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Respite + Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on 10 Sep 2022

Respite + Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on 10 Sep 2022

The Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated on the 15th of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar every year. This year, the festival took place on 10 September 2022. 

In order to provide some respite for caregivers, CaringSG organised our Respite + Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at Boon Lay CC where caregivers and their family members could get to participate in traditional fun-filled activities like lantern making, solving mid-autumn festival riddles, and a pomelo peeling competition.

Before the activities started, caregivers and their families were treated to a short massage session by the masseuses from the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) so that they would all be refreshed to take part in the activities.

During the event, families could also take photos at the photo booth to showcase the lanterns that their children had made.

Respite + Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration was supported by two CAREkakis, one CAREchampion, two CAREambassadors, and four CaringSG staff and volunteers.

A special shoutout and thank you to our partners (Enabling Lives Initiative Grant by SG Enable and Tote Board, Temasek Foundation and Boon Lay CCC) who made this memorable event possible. 

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Care4caregivers – Family bonding through sports

Care4caregivers – Family bonding through sports

CaringSG and co-organiser William Blair organised Care4caregivers, a sporting event for caregivers and their families on 8 Oct 2022. It was a good opportunity for caregivers with special needs family members to take a short break and bond with their loved ones through sports.

Held at the Hockey Village at Boon Lay Multi-Purpose pitch, the itinerary consisted of a mass warm up followed by simple workouts where everyone could participate easily, such as jumping jacks, arm circles and karate punches.

Breaks were scheduled in between physical activities to ensure that all participants, especially the kids, were well hydrated and rested sufficiently before proceeding to the next activities. The afternoon ended off with an entertaining “Dance & freeze” and “Pass the ball” activities.

Care4caregivers was supported by four CAREkakis, one CAREchampion, eight CAREambassadors, and four CaringSG staff and volunteers.

A special shoutout and thank you to our co-organiser William Blair who made this event possible.  This event was also supported by the Enabling Lives Initiative Grant by SG Enable and Tote Board, the Temasek Foundation, Boon Lay CCC and ActiveSG.

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It Takes a Village to Raise a Child – By Board Advisor Ms Denise Phua

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child – By Board Advisor Ms Denise Phua

It takes a village to raise a child. This is even more true for children with special needs or disabilities. That village includes their families and the rest of society.

CaringSG seeks to build an inclusive Singapore through connecting, enabling and empowering the caregivers who often are the main supporters of their beloved special children. It adopts a unique and structured approach to reach out and tap on partners from the larger community of professional and grassroots volunteers and fellow caregivers.

CaringSG’s mission is worthy. I urge you to be an active contributor of your time, funds and other support in honour of this cause.

Alone, one can do so little. Together, we can achieve much more. Only then, will Singapore grow from strength to strength.

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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Lunar New Year Greetings from our Board Member, Ms Vicki Heng

Lunar New Year Greetings from our Board Member, Ms Vicki Heng

Lunar New Year greetings! 

As much as I would like to say I hope you had a good break over the holidays, I know that caregivers do not always have that luxury. Prioritizing our loved ones over ourselves is natural, as their needs and degree of reliance far surpass ours. However, I was recently reminded how important it is for caregivers to indulge in a little self-care to sustain them on this journey, which can often be long and lonely. 

In the course of my work, I met a caregiver who looks after his wife, a stroke victim, on a full-time basis. With no source of income to pay for a helper, and with negligible family support, he could not leave her side, not even to seek medical assistance for himself when he accidentally suffered a deep cut and was bleeding profusely. When I brought up the notion that he had to first look after himself before he could care for her to the best of his ability, he tearfully uttered, clearly exhausted, and at the end of his tether: “How?”

How indeed, when your loved one is completely dependent on you for sustenance and attention? It is certainly not easy. Perhaps in this gentleman’s case, he could start with having short breaks in between feeds and baths or following some short exercise videos found online. A win-win solution that allows him some time for himself without leaving the home will need creativity, but that is a trait that caregivers handling tricky and unexpected situations already have. More importantly, I would say to all caregivers, talk to someone or find a support group of fellow caregivers – they already understand what you are going through. You may have a long road ahead but it does not have to be a lonely one. This is what CaringSG strives to achieve: For Caregivers, By Caregivers. 

I hope you find your win-win solution soon. And meanwhile, just in case you have not said it to yourself lately: you are doing a great job.

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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2022: A New Year Ahead – Message from our Board Co-Chair, Dr David Ang

Dr David Ang

2022: A New Year Ahead – Message from our Board Co-Chair, Dr David Ang

Dear CaringSG members,

I wish every one of you a Happy New Year 2022! More than just a date change, the new year is about celebrating new hope with a fresh mindset, and aspirations for a new era to come.

As we look forward to the new year, let’s think and reflect on all the good and wonderful things we have experienced in the past, that gave us the reason to look forward to a new season and a new year.

CaringSG’s hope for our collective future is that we will have more inclusive communities for special needs families, with many more special needs caregivers who are well connected, enabled and empowered.

To be part of this change we wish to see, our CAREconnect team has planned a series of online and offline inclusive events (more to be updated), and we aim to train more caregivers to be CAREbuddies to provide other caregivers with peer support.

We’ve also launched our collaboration with Mount Alvernia Outreach Medical & Dental Clinic to provide subsidised or free services for caregivers and dependents, and if you require other forms of support, our CAREwell team is here as well.

CaringSG would not be possible without the synergistic efforts of caregivers, volunteers, partners, donors, and supporters working closely together towards our collective future. You will come to meet some of them in our monthly newsletter (interviews will also be posted on our blog).

We deeply thank each and every one of you for stepping up, and look forward to a fruitful 2022 with you.

To be updated on CaringSG’s latest events and join your preferred caregiver support groups in our CaringSG Alliance Network (CAN), sign up as a CaringSG member and let us know your preference!

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CaringSG Launch: Excerpts from Dr Lim Hong Huay’s Speech

CaringSG Launch: Excerpts from Dr Lim Hong Huay’s Speech

This is an abridged version of Dr Lim Hong Huay’s speech at CaringSG’s virtual launch on 20 Nov 2021.

Good Afternoon. Thank you for joining us at this official launch of CaringSG and Project 3i.

Your presence is great encouragement to the CaringSG team and all the caregivers. The same goes to all the partners and allies who are joining us on Facebook Live today, thank you for your unwavering support!

CaringSG is born in 2020 out of 3 things.

First, the fire of the COVID pandemic.

The circuit breaker last year cut many special needs families off from mainstream services. Many suffered in the isolation. Surprisingly, we saw caregiver groups and the community rallied together to reach out and help each other. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Many of the Caregiver groups in CaringSG’s founding community have been around for years. But the pandemic makes us realise one thing, that is, TOGETHER, we can do so much more.

Secondly, CaringSG is here because of the many helping hands in Singapore.

Many of us, including myself, will not be here today, if not for all the special needs services that supported our children and families all these years. Since CaringSG’s inception, we have also received much guidance and support from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the SG Enable, the National Council of Social Service, our Angel donors, community partners and professional allies. We hope to work with you more closely in future for greater 3P partnership.

Last but not least, CaringSG comes from the hearts of caregivers. Through caregiving, many of us have gained a very strong and big heart. It’s estimated that there are 350,000 special needs caregivers in Singapore and we are a multi-talented community. Many of us can give back in many ways. Hence our logo of a multi-coloured heart with a tick. CaringSG wants to grow more strong and big-hearted caregivers, so that our talents can contribute to building a caring and inclusive Singapore.

So here we are today, CaringSG, by Caregivers, for Caregivers, and for the Community.

Caregivers are very busy people. If we do not have a good plan, we would not have come this far. Project 3i is this good plan we believe in and come this far for.

We want to specially thank our CaringSG’s founding donors, the Toteboard Enabling Lives Initiatives, the Temasek Foundation, the SG Enable, and the National Council of Social Service for jointly funding Project 3i. Thank you for believing in CaringSG and Project 3i.

In the next 2 years, CaringSG will pilot our 3i Caregiver support service model.

3i stands for integrative, individualised and intentional

  • Integrative for social-health integration through a bio-psycho-social and ecological approach
  • Individualised for services that meets the unique needs of caregivers, families and the community
  • Intentional for our focus in synergising with existing services for greater social impact.

The 3i model consists of 3 programs, and they are the CAREconnect, the CAREbuddy and the CAREwell programs. Together, the 3 programs form a continuum of support for caregivers across lifespan.

Notably, the CAREconnect program includes a unique grassroot training and collaboration, called the CAREkaki program. This will be implemented in Boon Lay and Kampong Glam in 2022, followed by another 2 constituencies in 2023.

The CAREbuddy program trains caregivers, whom we call as CAREbuddy, to support another caregiver through peer mentorship.

CAREwell will also collaborate with key community partners to bring more inclusive services to the special needs families. For example, we are collaborating with the Mount Alvernia Outreach Clinic to offer affordable inclusive medical and dental services for caregivers and their children. We will also be piloting Community Circles with the Institute of Policy Studies to improve community support for caregivers.

CaringSG has also borne other early fruits, including the formation of the CAREcottage, a community of home and small businesses started by caregivers for their children, such as Beads by Beads, Crunchy Teeth, Evol Studio, JojoMama, Mustard Tree and Young Star SG.

 
Assortment of CAREcottage products and sponsored gifts for CaringSG launch guests and special needs families in Boon Lay and Kampong Glam

Lastly, to celebrate our launch, we will bring care and fun to special needs families in Boon Lay and Kampong Glam in the coming weeks.

The CAREkaki will be distributing goodie bags to 60 special needs families, which has gifts from CaringSG’s caregiver sponsors, $30 vouchers from the Singapore Discovery Center, and surgical masks from the Mask Fellows. A special thank you to our sponsors, the Singapore Discovery Center and the Mask Fellows for your generosity, and our Fantastic CAREkakis for your labour of love.

This will certainly not be the last, but the beginning of all good things that will come with CaringSG and Project 3i for caregivers in Singapore.

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