From conceptualising to managing to writing 90% of it.

1. Photographed by Dominic Khoo, www.whatisthesight.com
MICA (P) 021/02/2010 ISSN 1793-8562 ISSUE 02/JUNE 2010
SPARKS Igniting Change
I arrived in Singapore from Panama when I was 14
and I faced some integration dif culties.
Knowing I am a Westerner, people form these preconceived notions
about me. The promiscuous image of a Westerner is not always
attering and because of this, it was dif cult for me to make friends. THE PRAYING MANTIS STANCE
The locals just didn’t believe I was sincere, no matter how hard I tried. The Karate Kid … in Singapore
starring Vincent Ng
Fitting In
by Juan Rierra
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
Panamanian Kid fits into Singapore
Although it wasn’t easy to overcome this, and I never fully that knowledge can be used to help others by sharing with HOW TO KARATE-CHOP ALL TIES
did, I learnt to appreciate those who could see past these them your life experiences. I was able to share with people A Client’s perspective
prejudices. These have become true friends and great how I lived in Panama. Through that they realised that the
colleagues. The stereotypes were an obstacle and as I unhappiness they were facing from not having the latest
learned to overcome it, I gained better interpersonal skills. gizmo was insigni cant compared to people who are
DRUNKEN ROOSTER CHARGE
These skills have come useful in many aspects of my life. ghting starvation on a daily basis. I was able to help them Grasping a second chance in life
realise that life in Singapore is good, with their family and
The second problem that I faced was adapting to an friends around.
entirely different environment. When I rst moved to
Singapore, everything was different from Panama. I missed If I had kept dwelling in the past, I would never have been
my friends, I missed the environment back home, and I able to embrace my new life here. I learnt to put away my
became pessimistic about tting in here! As time passed, I past, adapt to my new surroundings and make my life
learnt to adapt. I used to climb trees in Panama for fun, but mean something to me.
living in Singapore I changed that to watching movies.
Sometimes I wonder if marginalised groups within a
I nally understand that although I might not like sudden community, ex-offenders for example, actually experience
change, that doesn’t mean that change is bad. A different the same thing; feeling like a “foreigner” trying to blend in
experience in life will give a different view of things and to the “local” culture…
A PUBLICATION OF SINGAPORE AFTER-CARE ASSOCIATION
12 HELPING EX-OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES GET BACK ON THEIR FEET

2. Age: 33
Editor's Note Length of imprisonment: 8 years
I
3 Learning to Stay Out of Trouble
Learning to
How have you fared since
4 The Straight & Narrow I am very excited about June’s starting on the Programme?
charity lm premiere − The Karate I decided to further my education which is a
6 功夫小子
Kid. Not only is it my favourite big step forward at my age. Starting so late is
Stay Out
8 Working with the Local Community genre (martial arts) with my not to my advantage. However, this has also
10 Enhancing Aftercare Professionalism
favourite actors (Jackie Chan and helped me keep away from company which
Jaden Smith), the message within might in uence me to go astray yet again.
Let’s Make Cookie Dough the movie sings the same tune as
11 The Key to Grasping a Second
Chance in Life
12 Fitting In
our mission. If someone asks, who
your life mentor is, you probably
won’t have anyone to mention. I
remember in my school’s band, I
of Trouble What is your relationship with
your case worker like?
She is like a mentor to me. She would make
sure I get everything in place so that I can
often saw musicians handling their SACA’s Education concentrate on my studies.
instruments with gloves. That is Support Programme
because the oil form the hands will change the quality of the Do you remember the first
bells. If we realise, everything we touch is changed and provides funding, time you met her? How was it?
everybody we touch is changed. support networks and She made me feel comfortable and that I
We do have many mentors in life. I am grateful to my teachers workshops to motivate could con de in her and that she sincerely
wanted to help me.
(other than my parents) for giving me the education that made student-clients who are
me who I am in society today. They changed me. I am grateful
for the friends I have who saw me through tough times and enthusiastic about What do you think of
mentorship? Is it essential to
moulded my character. They changed me. Sometimes, being in upgrading their skills the reintegration process?
the situation makes us oblivious to what an outsider sees.
Having a mentor prevents you from making a mistake that can
and continuing on their I think it is a good idea to introduce the
mentorship aspect as part of the Programme.
be avoided. learning journey. It is important as clients like me would have
no idea what to do upon release and if there
SACA has a mentoring programme. Volunteers from the public
is no one to guide us we may just rely on
can join our programme to guide ex-offenders in their
friends who might give bad advice instead.
reintegration. Minds, spirits and hearts, not just physical can be
Mentorship would ensure that we get the
touched. Everybody we speak to, rub shoulders with or even
right advice regarding getting back on our
smile at, are changed in some minute way. We leave a piece of
feet.
ourselves behind with everyone we meet, and we take a piece
of them with us.
How would things be different
if you didn’t have a mentor?
Little changes can make a difference. I think that I would be left on my own as
nobody would understand what I am really
going through. I would not get the help I
need and in the end I may give up and go
back to my old ways.
SPARKS is published thrice yearly by the
Singapore After-Care Association. All rights Christine Ng
reserved. Reproduction in any form in whole
or part, in English or any other languages is
Managing Editor
Latest! My colleagues
prohibited. The views and opinions expressed SPARKS — Igniting Change
Under the initiative of
or implied in SPARKS are those of the
contributors or readers and do not Paci c Agriscience, a trusted me & treated
necessarily re ect those of the publisher.
MICA (P) 021/02/2010
company with
extensive expertise in
me with patience &
Singapore After-Care Association,
81 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209408.
agriculture science & kindness. They didn’t
technology, our
Telephone: +65 6294 2350/+65 6294 2763
Fax: +65 6295 0095 student-client
judge me because of
Website: www.saca.org.sg
Email: enquiries@saca.org.sg MAILBOX successfully
completed a 6 weeks
my past, I felt
If you are interested to receive or advertise in
SPARKS, please email enquiries@saca.org.sg,
We appreciate your views! Contribute a story, opinion, feedback or even a commentary. Your entry
may win you a Sandwich Maker, courtesy of AKIRA! Email your contributions to: sparks@saca.org.sg,
internship during his accepted.
with the subject: Subscribe / Advertise. school holidays.
subject: Mailbox; or post it to: Singapore After-Care Association, 81 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209408.
3

3. The Straight & Narrow
30 OCTOBER 2009 - *Gary nally saw
blue skies and green grass. The rst thing he did
was to pick his daughter up from school. Feeling
guilty that he had been absent from her life, how
must she have felt seeing other kids’ fathers waiting
outside the school gate…
For the rst few months after release, Gary had
dif culty nding a job. It was heart wrenching to see
his 80 year old mother bending over washing dishes
at a nearby hawker center to feed him and his
daughter. Gary was desperate, but he vowed to not
abandon his family again. However, Gary did not
even know how to write a resume; worse he didn’t
really have much to write on his resume. Unlike
most people, he has little work experience, no
awards and no quali cations. Negativity then starts
to set in...
There was also another problem. Gary had no Gary is now holding a sales position at a local gym.
friends. He didn’t want to revisit old friends simply Though he is grateful to his employer for giving him
because he found himself going back to jail a chance, he realises the important steps he himself
whenever he was with them. But addicts go back to took to prevent his reoffending. We would like to
old habits if there is nothing to ll the void… share some of them with you…
In prison, everyone was the same. They had the
same clothes, the same haircut, the same slippers
and even the same type of spectacles. But outside
the name of the game is being different, being you.
1 OVERCOME EMOTIONS Gary knows
of friends who reject offers because it
doesn’t pay a lot, or when it is labour intensive
and then complain there are “no jobs”.
2 HAVE A FOCUS Taking care of his
family is his priority now. He would like his
mum to nally have life a little easier and also
4 FIND A MENTOR Gary looks up to a
fellow ex-offender who is now happily
married with a family. He keeps in touch with his
wants to be a role model for his daughter. mentor and turns to him for advice and
The longer he stayed unemployed, the stronger the “Just because I am handicapped by a tainted Before he was aimless in life; something a single encouragement when the going gets tough.
urge to take shortcuts to an easy life. Trouble is, past, society is not going to give me any special parent of a young child could ill afford to do.
these shortcuts usually led him to prison in the past. treatment,” Gary says. Jobs aren’t dif cult to Gary hopes to pursue a degree in psychology
Gary took up a job as a bouncer in a night club at
Clarke Quay. It was a practical decision as he
couldn’t stay unemployed. Yet he also knew having
nd at all. It is expectations that are set too high
that often cause great disappointment.
Gary conditioned himself and took on the rst
offer that came his way. He did not want to lose
3 CUT OFF ALL NEGATIVE TIES WITH
THE PAST Revisiting his old haunts only
tempted him on the well trodden path to more
and wants to do social work one day. It is his way
of saying “thank you” to those who have given
him a second chance.
a job in a night spot was not wise for a recovering trouble and suffering. During hard times Gary’s
addict. He desperately wanted to not repeat the the opportunity to accumulate whatever mind often dragged up memories of when he
mistakes made so many times before. experience he could so that with time, he would *Gary not his real name
used to splurge on alcohol and women with the
have more to write on his resume. money he made from dealing drugs. A real
He decided to give resume writing another shot. He
battle royal took place within him to force these
listed down what little quali cations he had. While Life doesn’t stop just because Gary is past his
still working as a bouncer (after all, it paid the bills) thirties and doesn’t have a successful career. If mental images deeper so they didn’t torment
he waited patiently to get called for interviews. He he continues to wallow in self pity, he would him all the time.
did get some calls and eventually got an offer. never move forward.
4 5

4. It does
J
Jet Li, who took up Singapore citizenship last June ought to know
we’ve our own Prince of Wushu here. Vincent Ng, born and bred
in Singapore was a very active kid. Since kindergarten, he just
wouldn’t sit still. Like a superhero, he discovered he had
not matter how
many times
you fall,
extraordinary jumping powers. If then, had he decided to go the
superhero route; he would have been known as The Frog Prince.
what matters is
Good thing he didn’t. how many times
Vincent started as a sports athlete in Primary school. His seniors
you pick
took note of his never-ending energy and cajoled him to join the yourself up...
lion dance club at a tender age. While helming the Lion’s head,
his teacher discovered his potential for something greater and
took him out of school to train in a proper Wushu school.
There, he met his mentor, Mdm Chua. Just like out of a period
kung-fu ick Mdm Chua and her husband, the then childless
couple, immediately took a liking to this young boy. They sincerely
wanted to groom him to be the martial artist they thought him
capable of becoming. They trained him without letting up, and
even had him sleep over for early morning regimes.
Even now, the slogan “No Pain, No Gain” is Vincent’s favourite. Vincent is a very strict coach, as was his mentor with
He loves feeling his muscles ache; knowing his body is him. A student’s fear turns into respect over time
responding to the punishing regime. Vincent admires Bruce Lee, through patient nurturing. Vincent feels one needs to
perhaps the greatest martial arts icon of all time. To him, Bruce be living rightfully, in order to be an example. Having
Lee is a legend who epitomised what being Chinese really meant. gained many life experiences, the man who makes no
This made the West sit up and take notice of Chinese culture. mistakes does not usually make anything.
By Christine Ng
The opportunity to compete in the World Wushu championships Vincent advises parents to start their children young in
has given him a broader perspective of life. Vincent feels that the a hobby or a skill. At Wu Fang, children are motivated,
present generation is too preoccupied with technology that is encouraged and impressed. Games are played with
detrimental to a young person’s development. Wushu has helped children to motivate their interest. Then
him both mentally and physically. His short attention span has once-in-a-blue-moon, the seniors demonstrate moves
been corrected by the need for focus in Wushu. He also feels that to remind the young children their aspiration to attain
martial arts have instilled a discipline in him which would have that level of skill. Finally, encouragement and
otherwise been sorely lacking. admiration is given to the child.
Vincent’s martial arts training school “Wu Fang” currently has 800 Wushu is a never ending learning journey.
students all over Singapore. Having received valuable guidance
from his mentor decades ago, he wants to now pass it on. He
nds mentoring challenging and ful lling. Wu Fang has
instructors teaching in schools, community centers as well as
country clubs. Vincent remembers a school teacher who, For more information on Wu Fang,
intrigued by her student’s change in behaviour, found herself visit www.wufangsingapore.com
following him into Wu Fang. The boy had been a notorious bully
in school, weak in his studies.
6 7

5. How corporations can get involved: Businesses work with
Working with the SACA to improve the quality of life in various areas. You can
take a pro-active approach in helping to reduce crime by
supporting the successful reintegration of ex-offenders.
Local Community
One of the many ways to get involved is to help
ex-offenders learn new skills by offering them employment
or training/upgrading opportunities. You can also provide
nancial or practical resources through our agency. Perhaps
you could also encourage your staff to volunteer as a
The relationship between SACA and GSPL dates back to  when GSPL founder mentor or a befriender in our volunteer programmes.
Marcus Lim first came to our office in Dunlop Street to set up our IT network. From that
point on they introduced SACA to the wonders of modern technology. Today, they
support SACA in web and email hosting and are currently involved in a project to
develop a web application for managing the volunteer and client databases.
This year marks a decade
of working with Marcus
and the rest at GSPL. I must say
that they offered their services to
us way before CSR was the thing to do.
We continue to be grateful for
their assistance and desire
in wanting to work with
our client group.
– Prem Kumar, Director of SACA
Quick Facts:
GSPL is an IT solution company specializing in web applications
GSPL contact info:
based on open source technology.
Main Line: 6294 0552
Email: support@gspl.com.sg They help in online payment systems, Management Information
Address: 200 Jalan Sultan, #11-07 Textile Centre Systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Content
Singapore 199018 Management System (CMS), web, email and domain hosting.
usetechnology.lovepeople
9

6. Enhancing The Key to Grasping
Aftercare Professionalism a Second Chance in Life
W
By Christine Ng
P
Prisons Department has come a long way in
engaging the community as volunteers. In July 2008,
during a dialogue session with the Senior Parliament
Secretary (SPS), a number of key issues pertaining to
volunteer management and engagement were
It is recognised that the provision of structured
training and development programmes will
not only continually seek to renew volunteers’
skills to stay relevant, but also certify their
achievement and quali cation upon
We live in a time where we
need to believe in second chances.
At one point or another, we all need a second
chance. A relationship goes sour, a deal falls
When Edison Chen was involved with the
sex scandal, he needed a second chance
raised. On further examination of the state of completion of the programmes. apart, a test is not passed, and a child breaks from the public in order to continue his
volunteer involvement in Prisons, it became more your heart. Disappointment can easily become entertainment career. When a child lies to a
apparent that there were existing service gaps in the Singapore After-Care Asspciation has been despair and we wonder, parent, they earn their trust back with
volunteer management approach. appointed as the agency to conduct training second chances.
for all prison volunteers. The "Should I try again?
SACA
Prisons value the contributions of programme will be tiered to
volunteers and envisage a long term cater to the varying needs and
Will I get a second chance? I had a friend at 26, who decided there was
no light at the end of the tunnel. He killed
partnership in the rehabilitation
appointed agency objectives of volunteering within Do I even want one?" himself by jumping in front of a train.
journey. Such partnership is forged prisons.
and sustained by having volunteers to conduct What are second chances? The vital ingredient in surviving life's
who are aligned with the objective of
Prisons Volunteer All volunteers shall undergo the setbacks is to believe. My friend gave up
reducing re-offending, thereby basic training programmes; believing life could get better for him and I
contributing to a safer homeland. Training while attendance for the Do we really need them? am sorry that I didn't talk to him when life
intermediate and advance levels was hard. This leads me to the second vital
Volunteers’ expertise needs to be matched with of training shall be voluntary and on a needs ingredient, talking! Talk about your
Prisons’ areas of needs, including emerging needs, basis. These basic programmes shall also be
Do we believe in them? problems and your feelings.
arising from changing demands and expectations made available to Prisons’ community partners
internally and externally. who engage prisoners on a regular basis. Yes, we do need them but who is giving us I wake up every morning, go to work and do
these second chances? Is it just our own special the house chores. It might be mundane, but
ability to say, we have been forgiven, or do we guess what, “I love my life!”
seek a second chance that is to be given by
someone else. Everyone deserves a second chance. We
need to give ourselves as well as others too.
When Tiger Woods cheated on his partner, he If we didn't feel we had a second chance,
begged for a second chance at reconciliation. there would be no point to anything.
Recipe by Noor Haslinda Bte Mohd So’od
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