Latest news with #Awwa
Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
15 receive social service honours, including founding member of S'pore's first inclusive pre-school
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Awwa chief executive J.R. Karthikeyan received the President's Award for Social Service Professionals at the inaugural Social Service Professional Awards on July 2. SINGAPORE - When Awwa chief executive J.R. Karthikeyan first thought about starting Singapore's first inclusive pre-school, he was sceptical about whether it would last as he thought it would be mistaken for an early intervention care programme. 'I wasn't sure we had the right playbook to set it up right,' he said. But he added: 'Because there are no existing rules to play by, you have more control over setting standards that are aspirational and possibly meaningful.' He went ahead to set up Kindle Garden Preschool in 2016, and nine years on, more than 650 children have attended the pre-school, located at the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru. Mr Karthik received the President's Award for Social Service Professionals at the inaugural Social Service Professional Awards on July 2. This is the highest accolade conferred to social service professionals with more than 15 years of experience, who have made significant contributions to the sector. 'The award is incredibly valuable to me because it affirms my contributions, and it's spurred me to do even better by my staff and the clients we support,' said Mr Karthik. In his 17 years with Awwa, he has also opened a therapy hub, set up a 300-bed adult disability home, and started an initiative that engages seniors with dementia to take on volunteer work. The Social Service Professional Awards recognise the contributions of social service professionals in Singapore, including those in the fields of social work, youth work and counselling, among others. Held in conjunction with the Social Service Summit organised by the National Council of Social Service, it recognised 13 individuals and two teams at the ceremony held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has designated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals to honour their contributions. Singapore currently has more than 20,000 social service professionals. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was the guest of honour, presented the President's Award to three individuals: Mr Karthik; Ms Priscilla Lim, medical social work lead at the Singapore National Eye Centre; and Ms Chan Lay Lin, principal medical social worker at the Institute of Mental Health. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli presented the Excellence, Merit and Team Awards. One of those who received the Excellence Award was Ms Charlene Heng, deputy director of SOS Academy at Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). She recalled how she was inspired to start the charity's Be-A-Samaritan programme, which equips participants with the skills to respond to suicide distress, when she walked past a neighbour who was crying several years back. She realised many people could encounter a suicidal person but not approach them, as they do not know what to do or say, and are afraid to trigger the person. 'Sometimes a person just needs human companionship at that critical point,' she said, adding that neighbours, friends and colleagues could be trained to help those around them who are in distress. The Be-A-Samaritan programme has trained close to 6,000 participants since it was set up in 2022. Ms Charlene Heng, deputy director of SOS Academy at Samaritans of Singapore, was one of those who received the Excellence Award. PHOTO: SAMARITANS OF SINGAPORE Ms Heng also developed SOS into a SkillsFuture-recognised training provider. The academy has trained over 2,000 social service, mental health and community healthcare professionals. She said fund raising for new initiatives was a constant challenge in her 20 years in the social service sector, requiring 'painstaking' advocacy work. During the Covid-19 pandemic, her team started a 24-hour text-based helpline, CareText, after finding that young people preferred texting as a form of communication. There was no funding, and many risks around confidentiality and the worry that clients would screenshot and post their messages online, she said. But the team decided to start it anyway due to the urgent need during the 2020 circuit breaker, as people were confined to their homes and needed someone to text when they felt distressed. The service has since grown to respond to about 20,000 CareText messages every year. Ms Heng said that some companies wish to donate to the Samaritans, but are afraid to be associated with the suicide prevention cause. She hopes to break the stigma against suicide prevention, and work with more communities to tailor training to different contexts such as workplaces. 'If everyone is equipped with the skill set, I truly believe that is an answer to suicide prevention,' she said. Correction note: The headline of this story has been edited for clarity.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
15 receive social service honours, including founder of Singapore's first inclusive pre-school
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Awwa chief executive J.R. Karthikeyan received the President's Award for Social Service Professionals at the inaugural Social Service Professional Awards on July 2. SINGAPORE - When Awwa chief executive J.R. Karthikeyan first thought about starting Singapore's first inclusive pre-school, he was sceptical about whether it would last, as he thought it would be mistaken for an early intervention care programme. 'I wasn't sure we had the right playbook to set it up right,' he said. But he added: 'Because there are no existing rules to play by, you have more control over setting standards that are aspirational and possibly meaningful.' He went ahead to set up Kindle Garden Preschool in 2016, and nine years on, over 650 children have attended the pre-school, located at the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru. Mr Karthik received the President's Award for Social Service Professionals at the inaugural Social Service Professional Awards on July 2. This is the highest accolade conferred to social service professionals with more than 15 years of experience, who have made significant contributions to the sector. 'The award is incredibly valuable to me, because it affirms my contributions, and it's spurred me to do even better by my staff and the clients we support,' said Mr Karthik. In his 17 years with Awwa, he has also opened a therapy hub, set up a 300-bed adult disability home and started an initiative which engages seniors with dementia to take on volunteer work. The Social Service Professional Awards recognise the contributions of social service professionals in Singapore, including those in the fields of social work, youth work and counselling, among others. Held in conjunction with the Social Service Summit organised by the National Council of Social Service, it recognised 13 individuals and two teams at the ceremony held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has designated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals to honour their contributions. Singapore currently has more than 20,000 social service professionals. Guest of honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the President's Award to three individuals: Mr Karthik; Ms Priscilla Lim, medical social work lead at the Singapore National Eye Centre; and Ms Chan Lay Lin, principal medical social worker at the Institute of Mental Health. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli presented the Excellence, Merit and Team Awards. One of those who received the Excellence Award was Ms Charlene Heng, deputy director of SOS Academy at Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). She recalled how she was inspired to start the charity's Be-A-Samaritan programme, which equips participants with skills to respond to suicide distress, when she walked past a neighbour who was crying several years back. She realised many people could encounter a suicidal person but not approach them, as they do not know what to do or say, and are afraid to trigger the person. 'Sometimes a person just needs human companionship at that critical point,' she said, adding that neighbours, friends and colleagues could be trained to help those around them who are in distress. The Be-A-Samaritan programme has trained close to 6,000 participants since it was set up in 2022. Ms Charlene Heng, deputy director of SOS Academy at Samaritans of Singapore, was one of those who received the Excellence Award. PHOTO: SAMARITANS OF SINGAPORE Ms Heng also developed SOS into a SkillsFuture-recognised Training Provider. The academy has trained over 2,000 social services, mental health and community healthcare professionals. Ms Heng said fund raising for new initiatives was a constant challenge in her 20 years in the social service sector, requiring 'painstaking' advocacy work. During the Covid-19 pandemic, her team started a 24-hour text-based helpline, CareText, after finding that young people preferred texting as a form of communication. There was no funding, and many risks around confidentiality and the worry that clients would screenshot and post their messages online, she said. But the team decided to start it anyway due to the urgent need during the 2020 circuit breaker, as people were confined to their homes and needed someone to text when they felt distressed. The service has since grown to respond to about 20,000 CareText messages every year. Ms Heng said some companies wish to donate to the Samaritans but are afraid to be associated with the suicide prevention cause. She hopes to break the stigma against suicide prevention, and work with more communities to tailor training to different contexts such as workplaces. 'If everyone is equipped with the skill set, I truly believe that is an answer to suicide prevention,' she said.
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
TribeX at NCSS Summit 2025 showcases tech used by social service agencies
[SINGAPORE] A small robot that has a warm temperature, allowing one to be comforted when holding it, is one example of the technologies showcased by non-profit organisation Awwa at National Council of Social Service (NCSS) Summit 2025's TribeX on Wednesday (Jul 2) and Thursday. The companion robot, called Lovot, helps children with developmental needs practise social interactions and emotional recognition. Lovots can also be used to support seniors who are socially isolated. Currently, Awwa has eight Lovots in operation. Another piece of tech showcased by Awwa was a robotic exoskeleton, which physiotherapists use to help people with mobility issues overcome physical challenges. This wearable device adapts to each user's conditions and provides precise, guided movements. Ng Lee Lee, director of disability and inclusion at Awwa, said: 'Technology enhances and augments service delivery, because it rapidly changes, may be customised to suit individual needs, and can be cost-effective.' Physiotherapists use the robotic exoskeleton to help people with mobility issues overcome physical challenges. PHOTO: LINDSAY WONG, BT Digital platforms Meanwhile, Care Corner showcased three digital platforms at TribeX. The first is Scribe, a transcription and summarising tool used by case workers during sessions with clients. Gina Lin, head of Innovation Squad at Care Corner, said it reduces time spent on case documentation by 50 per cent. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 'This efficiency allows social service professionals to focus more on the beneficiaries and their needs, rather than being bogged down by administrative tasks,' she added. Buddy is a parenting app with bite-sized resources and interactive lessons. Around 400 parents have used it since its launch in 2023. Lastly, Carey is a microsite for youths seeking mental health support. They can conduct mental health check-ins, instantly book counselling sessions and access self-help content. Lin said: 'Technology is crucial in the social services sector because it enables in-time support for beneficiaries… This empowerment fosters greater independence and self-sufficiency among those we serve.' Pro Bono SG is another charity that showcased its digital platform at TribeX. LawGoWhere is a one-stop legal help portal that people can access when they do not know where to go when they require assistance. Kelvin Lim, senior manager at Pro Bono SG Academy, said: 'Legal awareness often only becomes urgent when someone's already in crisis. At that point, the pressure is high, and the legal system can feel overwhelming - full of jargon and unfamiliarity.' LawGoWhere breaks down complex legal concepts into bite-sized and user-friendly content. The platform also features a self-help tool that guides users to their optimal ports of call. Besides social service agencies (SSAs), tech companies such as Amazon Web Services also showcased their own innovations that can be used in the sector. Tan Li San, chief executive of NCSS, said: 'With SSAs demonstrating their adoption of innovative technologies at the exhibition, including AI-enabled solutions to enhance service delivery, TribeX demonstrates how the fusion of talent and technology is transforming social services in Singapore.' Largest-ever summit TribeX is part of NCSS Summit 2025 – which is the largest NCSS summit thus far – bringing together more than 2,000 social service professionals. At the summit, which took place at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, NCSS also announced the launch of the SG60 Towards Sustainability Fund. The S$7.5 million fund provides one-off funding of S$30,000 to eligible NCSS members, who can use it to build capabilities in measuring, monitoring and reporting the effectiveness of their programmes for beneficiaries. Tan said: 'With improved reporting of outcomes, SSAs can share high-impact programmes with funders to attract sustained funding for those programmes.' Applications for the fund are open from Wednesday. The Social Service Professional Awards, which also took place on Wednesday, recognised 13 individuals and two teams for their contributions to the social services sector. JR Karthikeyan, chief executive of Awwa, won the President's Award for Social Service Professionals. Since joining in 2007, he helped to set up the Allied Health Professional Group, a therapy hub, and the inclusive preschool Kindle Garden, among other initiatives. He said: 'At Awwa, we strive to build and maintain a culture of teaching and learning, and we encourage continuous improvements and innovation that may ultimately lead to a higher quality of life for those we serve.'
