Helping ex-inmates turn their lives around
Helping ex-inmates turn their lives around
Meal and transport allowances, counselling, job searches are all part of SACA's support services
By Jessica Jaganathan
BACK ON TRACK: Thanks to a grant from the Lee Foundation Education Assistance Scheme managed by SACA, ex-convict Eugene is now doing a full-time diploma course in Sports and Leisure Management at Republic Polytechnic after passing his O levels last year. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
A PICTURE-PERFECT moment of a family celebrating the first-month birthday of a baby girl was shattered seven years ago when police officers came to take her father away to prison.
Eugene (not his real name) had a difficult past. He was just 14 years old when he was sent to a boys' home after getting involved in gang fights. After that, it was a kaleidoscope of secret society meetings, and eventually a two-year stint in prison for illegal moneylending in 1997.
An attempt to turn his life around failed in 2000 when the 34-year-old, who was working as a salesman, succumbed to greed and stole $10,000 from the company he was working with.
It was then that he was arrested and forced to leave his baby daughter.
'Leaving my daughter behind and not being able to see her growing up was the worst thing that happened to me,' said the man whose past is mirrored in the tattoos blanketing his body.
He finally got his life back on track after passing his O-level exams last year, and getting a place in Republic Polytechnic's diploma in Sports and Leisure Management course. This was made possible through a grant he received from the Lee Foundation Education Assistance Scheme (LFEAS), managed by the Singapore After-Care Association (SACA).
Charity facts
Name: Singapore After-Care Association
What it does/who it helps: Prisoners, ex-offenders and their family members
... more
Established in 1956, SACA is a voluntary welfare organisation that aims to reintegrate former offenders into society.
One way it does this is by providing financial support through meal and transport allowances to tide the former convicts over until they find a job. With 16 paid staff and about 200 volunteers, SACA serves as an after-care support agency for inmates by providing counselling up to six months after their release.
Former drug addict Malik (not his real name) spent more than five years in prison for drug trafficking charges.
'So many changes had taken place in Singapore during the time I was inside. I was feeling so lost when I came out. That's when my case worker really helped me,' he said.
Tapping into Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises' (Score) database of about 1,000 employers, SACA helps former prisoners find jobs as well as obtain education grants from LFEAS.
Last year, out of 11,000 prisoners released from jail, the organisation helped about 2,000. Dealing with clients whose ages range from 16 to over 70, it works closely with the Prisons Department to identify those who need more help than others.
'The ones targeted are the ones deemed to be in greater need or of higher risk,' said Mr Prem Kumar, director of SACA.
Funded by the Prisons Department, National Council of Social Service and Score, the biggest challenge SACA faces is to get the community to embrace former offenders.
Said Mr Kumar: 'The ex-offender has to take the first step, but the second step needs to be taken by the community.'
Even with rehabilitative efforts, one in five of SACA's clients returns to jail. But these numbers are still 10 per cent lower than those who do not receive any help, stressed Mr Kumar.
To reduce these numbers, he expanded the Lee education grant programme in April this year to include focus groups and workshops for those studying. Activities like bowling, movie screenings and community service are also organised to bring these former prisoners together.
Five months after his release from prison in March, Eugene still calls up SACA's counsellors whenever he needs a listening ear, or even if he has problems following schoolwork. He is now spending all the time he gets after classes with his daughter, catching up on lost time.
Meal and transport allowances, counselling, job searches are all part of SACA's support services
By Jessica Jaganathan
BACK ON TRACK: Thanks to a grant from the Lee Foundation Education Assistance Scheme managed by SACA, ex-convict Eugene is now doing a full-time diploma course in Sports and Leisure Management at Republic Polytechnic after passing his O levels last year. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
A PICTURE-PERFECT moment of a family celebrating the first-month birthday of a baby girl was shattered seven years ago when police officers came to take her father away to prison.
Eugene (not his real name) had a difficult past. He was just 14 years old when he was sent to a boys' home after getting involved in gang fights. After that, it was a kaleidoscope of secret society meetings, and eventually a two-year stint in prison for illegal moneylending in 1997.
An attempt to turn his life around failed in 2000 when the 34-year-old, who was working as a salesman, succumbed to greed and stole $10,000 from the company he was working with.
It was then that he was arrested and forced to leave his baby daughter.
'Leaving my daughter behind and not being able to see her growing up was the worst thing that happened to me,' said the man whose past is mirrored in the tattoos blanketing his body.
He finally got his life back on track after passing his O-level exams last year, and getting a place in Republic Polytechnic's diploma in Sports and Leisure Management course. This was made possible through a grant he received from the Lee Foundation Education Assistance Scheme (LFEAS), managed by the Singapore After-Care Association (SACA).
Charity facts
Name: Singapore After-Care Association
What it does/who it helps: Prisoners, ex-offenders and their family members
... more
Established in 1956, SACA is a voluntary welfare organisation that aims to reintegrate former offenders into society.
One way it does this is by providing financial support through meal and transport allowances to tide the former convicts over until they find a job. With 16 paid staff and about 200 volunteers, SACA serves as an after-care support agency for inmates by providing counselling up to six months after their release.
Former drug addict Malik (not his real name) spent more than five years in prison for drug trafficking charges.
'So many changes had taken place in Singapore during the time I was inside. I was feeling so lost when I came out. That's when my case worker really helped me,' he said.
Tapping into Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises' (Score) database of about 1,000 employers, SACA helps former prisoners find jobs as well as obtain education grants from LFEAS.
Last year, out of 11,000 prisoners released from jail, the organisation helped about 2,000. Dealing with clients whose ages range from 16 to over 70, it works closely with the Prisons Department to identify those who need more help than others.
'The ones targeted are the ones deemed to be in greater need or of higher risk,' said Mr Prem Kumar, director of SACA.
Funded by the Prisons Department, National Council of Social Service and Score, the biggest challenge SACA faces is to get the community to embrace former offenders.
Said Mr Kumar: 'The ex-offender has to take the first step, but the second step needs to be taken by the community.'
Even with rehabilitative efforts, one in five of SACA's clients returns to jail. But these numbers are still 10 per cent lower than those who do not receive any help, stressed Mr Kumar.
To reduce these numbers, he expanded the Lee education grant programme in April this year to include focus groups and workshops for those studying. Activities like bowling, movie screenings and community service are also organised to bring these former prisoners together.
Five months after his release from prison in March, Eugene still calls up SACA's counsellors whenever he needs a listening ear, or even if he has problems following schoolwork. He is now spending all the time he gets after classes with his daughter, catching up on lost time.
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