Eagles Mediation & Counsellling Centre. Annual Report 2011

Transcription

1 Eagles Mediation & Counsellling Centre Annual Report

2 Contents I About EMCC. 2 II Management Committee Members/ Charity Trustee Information 3 III Acknowledgement: Corporate and Individual Donors 4 IV Message by Honorary Chairman. 7 V Message by Executive Director 8 VI Counselling. 9 VII Mediation. 11 VIII Partnerships 13 IX X Equipping..14 Financial Report.. Appendix Annual Report

3 About EMCC Vision and Mission EMCC s vision is to bring hope to relationships. Its mission is to enable people to effectively manage personal, marital, family and organisational challenges and conflicts through the integrative and holistic approach of PeaceP.AC.T (Professional Services, Accredited Programmes, Charity & Fundraising, and Training & Consultancy). About EMCC When the founders of EMCC (Eagles Mediation & Counselling Centre) established the organisation in 1997, they envisioned EMCC impacting society through mediation and counselling. A full member of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and an approved Institution of Public Character (IPC) today, EMCC is one of the region s foremost organisations that pioneered family mediation and training. It has been appointed to provide specialised mediation service at the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents and the Family Court and it is one of the few agencies in the region with expertise to provide integrative services in mediation and psychotherapy. Ever more committed to embodying its founders aspirations to promote peacemaking and bring hope to relationships, EMCC has been proactively developing upstream initiatives in addition to its counselling and mediation capabilities. The initiatives are geared towards the prevention and early detection of psychoemotional and relational problems, as well as empowering individuals through imparting and equipping of knowledge and lifestyle or self-help skills. PeaceP.A.C.T (Professional Services, Accredited Programmes, Charity & Fundraising, Training & Consultancy) is EMCC s holistic platform that offers a full and integrative spectrum of services and programmes to foster psycho-emotional and relational wellness: Professional Services Counselling and mediation services, marriage preparation & enrichment, coaching, psychoanalysis testing & tools. Accredited Programmes Certification courses in mediation Charity & Fundraising Helping lower income families / individuals recover from their relational and psycho-emotional setbacks Training & Consultancy Personal well-being, peacemaking/ conflict management, psycho-emotional / relationship management, other life-skills equipping programmes for corporations, schools, community and the public Types of Counselling Individual Therapy Pre-marital Counselling Marital and Family Therapy Post Divorce Counselling Student Counselling Mental Health Anger Management Stress Management On-site Crisis Counselling Trauma Counselling Scope of Mediation Services Couple disputes Parent-teen conflicts Separation/ divorce disputes Maintenance disputes Training and Consultancy Mediation Skills Peer Mediation Programmes Peacemaking Skills for Parents Conflict Management Counselling Psycho-emotional & Relational Well-being Parenting & Fathering Youth Development & School-based Learning Funding EMCC is funded through public donations and can issue tax deduction of 2.5 times the amount of donation to our donors. It also receives project funding from ComChest. Annual Report

4 Management Committee Members Honorary Chairman Dr. John Ng Swee Kheng Honorary Vice Chairman Dr. Kenny Tan Ban Leong Honorary Secretary Ms. Siwilai Banjerdpongchai Honorary Treasurer Mr. Benny Ong Hock Siong Honorary Assistant Treasurer Mr. Yow Kum Pang Committee Member Mr. Chia Kok Leong Committee Member Mr. Francis Loo Sin Chong Committee Member Mrs. Maureen Ng Boey Lin Charity and Trustee Information Charity Registration Number: ROS Registration Number: IPC Number: Unique Entity Number: Registered Address: Banker Auditor ROS 0249/1997/WEL IPC UEN S97SS0164E 177 River Valley Road, #05-19 Liang Court (Level M5) Singapore DBS Bank D Arumugam & Co Certified Public Accountants 190 Middle Road #10-03 Fortune Centre Singapore

5 Corporate & Individual Donors EMCC wishes to express our deepest appreciation to the following organisations and individuals, and a few who have chosen to remain anonymous, for their generous donations to EMCC during the year. ORGANISATIONS Christ Methodist Church Community Chest Grace Counselling Centre Grassroots Pte Ltd Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Life Plannng Associates Pte Ltd Low Keng Huat (S) Ltd MacPherson Christian Church National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre STT Communications Ltd Tote Board (Social Service Fund) WHG Pte Ltd INDIVIDUALS Abubakker Hussain Thameezdeen Amutharajan Karthikeyan Ang Beng Hai Ang Cheng Hoy Christine Ang Eng Hieang Ang Wan Chen Arvinthan s/o A Muthu Paul Aznor Sophian Bin Mohd Aziz Boey Lim Seow Khim Chai York Eng Chan Audrey Chan Choo Leng Michelle Chan Hui Ching Nancy Chan Lai See Chan Pui Si Valerie Chan Sui Hung Daniel Chan Wei Wei Chan Yoke Wan David Chan Yen Lun Chang Shu Lei Cheah Amy Cheah Keng Hiang Cheang Denise Chee Geck Neo Helen Chee Wee Pin Cheglakov Gleb Chen Qinqin Chen Wee Pin Chen Weng Leong Stephen Chen Yixiu Cheng Nam Tuan Cheong Miew Cheng Cheow Soing Yen Chern Pei Pei Cheung Waiman Raymond Chew Khek Han Alec Chew Soon Hing Peter Chew Soon Lee Chew Yong Jack Chia An Ching Patrick Chia Hwee Ming Chia Poh Imm Chiang Shih Chuin Chiang Su Juan Gilbert Chng Kah Wei Chong Jin Siew Chong Siew Chien Frances Chong Yew Loon Chow Boon Kuan Alec Chow Zhiquan Chu Swee Seng Chua Buan Her Chua Kok Chong Chua Lay Nee Chua Mui Leng Chua Whee Ching Karin Chuang Huey Ching Ciambella Franca Danker Patricia Enid Desker Brenda Nonis Du Jiesi Ee Yoke Moy Pauline Eng Tien Wah Eng Zee Lin Eruku Ravi Srinivas Fan Ren Ray Fauzi Djauhari Foo Andrew Foo Lee Phoon Foo Marjorie Foo Yeong Chin Fumie Oh-Toyoura Candice Gan Theam Hee Peter Gan Wee Jin Timothy Goh Cheong Wei Goh Ching Poh Goh Choi Fong Goh Hin Tiang Goh Hou Lin Goh Kian Chye Eugene Goh Mai Chee Tracy Goh Shaw Peng Alex Goh Siew Kuan Jolene Goh Siew Lim Goh Teik Suai Goh Wee San Winson Gopalan K Harvinder Singh Grewal He Zhenlong Jackson Heng Lee Kiang Susan Hew Pauline Ho Guan Xiang Ho Lay Ching Ho May Yoke Doris Ho See Joon Ho Yoke Wah Hoo Zhou Lin Huan See Lai Huang Baojia Kam Yat Tin Keh Hui Peng Khoo Kay Hin Khoo Soo Leng Koh Aiwen Cyndi Koh Chin Mong Brian Koh Kaiyang Terence Koh Ke Ching Koh Kim Sai Eric Koh Kui Hong Adelina Koh Lian Ling Angela Koh Ngiap Khian Koh Poh Guat Eileen Koo Nguan Seng Kow Thim Mun Kuah Li Fen Kuai Ser Peng Kusumo Leonard Kwan Kim Kong Kwan Wai Woh Kwok Lai Fong Evangeline Lai Sidney Lai Wai Tat Lam May Cheng Jo-anne Lau Hao Jan Samuel Lau Sook Fun Lau Yoke Lin Law Yip Hang Lee Chee Mang Lee Chee Teng Lee Geok Tin Lee Hsien Loong Lee Kah Hui Lee Lay Suan Lee Li Tang Pearlyn Lee Lilian Lee Man Qi Lee Moi Huang Lee Phui Hong Lee Siak Leng, Royce Lee Soon Noi Lee Sue-ann Lee Suet Fong, Lisa Lee Teck Heng Lee Yew Chong Lee Yoon Kuang Leng Yen Li (continued on next page) Annual Report

6 Individual Donors (continued from previous page) Leo Hee Heng Leo Mun Wai Leong Mun Yue Leeanne Leong Seong Kan Leong Wai Sum Liang Yingtao Liew Chin Kok Liew Min Chee Liew Tian Seng Alvin Lim Bak Wee Lim Bee Chin Janet Lim Ben Ean Lim Chee Hong Lim Chin Chye Lim Chin Siong Lim Chuan Yen Lim Gwek Keng Lim Hak Poh Lim Heng Siew Mark Lim Hian Chin Lim Huey Yuee Lim Kee Huat Lim Kelvin Lim Khin Siong Lim Kim San, Joe Lim Kim Song Lim Kwee Tin Esther Lim Lay Ping Michelle Lim Lee Boon Lim Ley Peng Lilian Lim Meng Tao Daniel Lim Ming Lee Lim Mui Eng Hazel Lim Mui Kie Lim Sau Kiang Shirley Lim Tong Lee Lim Wan Nee Lim Yoke Mui Lim Yue-li Lim Zhipeng Benson Ling Li Ching Evelyn Loh Cheok Lam Loh Kok Foon Danny Loh Sze Min Lawrence Loh Yee Wei Nora Loh Yenlin Stella Loke Kok Khuen Loke Poh Ching Joyce Loke Poh Keun Loke Pui Yan Loo Kuen Feng Loo Sin Chong Looi Wah Mun Loong Jessie Low Keng Boon Low Lay Yan Low Lim Hsun Low Lin Yian Loy Shi Han Lua Sen Chew Lum Kok Leong Derek Lum Mei Leng Mah Wenmiao Mah Yoke Mak Li Po Sandy Mak Yuen Chau Manvinder Kaur Mari Chandrasekaran Marsh Alistair Bruce Menon Suzan Moh Puay Si Deborah Bridget Mohamed Asath Muhammad Juffry Bin Joihani Muhammad Najeed Bin Haji Ariffin Nattrass Colin Neo Cheng Chua Ng Bee Leng Ng Boon Chiang Ng Chong Yeng Lawrence Ng Ee San Ng Hwee Fen Ng Kah Siong Thomas Ng Khar Choo Ng Lay Khim Ng Lynn Ng Poh Cheng Ng Poh Luan Ng Sern Loong Ng Sim Mee Ami Ng Sunny Ng Wee Siong Ng Wei Huah Ng Wei-chern Paul Nor Mala Binte Ahmad Nunis Simon Vincent Oei Keng Leong Oh Siu Wai Ong Boon Chye Ong Cheng Sze Ong Ching Ann Johnny Ong Eng Seng Ong Eng Siong Ong Eny Ong Hock Siong Benny Ong Hui Cheow Ong Kim Seng Harry Ong Lee Leng Lilian Ong Lui Hong Ong Mei Chin Ong Poh Pway Lina Ong Shwu Hoon Ong Siew Keng Ong Siew Peng Jasmine Ong Soo Sin Ian Ong Soon Kiat Ong Tiong Yew Pang Chee Kong Pang Clive Pang Peck Theng Pek Song Keat Phua Chee Wee Phua Koon Teck Phua Lay Ping Phua Siew Jeng Erwin Png Gek Tiang Poh Chai Hapushpam Felix Quek Pei Jun Quek Soo Hoon Quek Sze Khee Rajesh Sreenivasan Rajiv Singh Ramesh S/O P Chandiramani Ramesh Thanapathy Rapeah Bt Abdul Kadeh Raymond Francis Rezalifah Binte Haron Richardson Maggie Rodrigues Constance Rosemawati Binte Abdul Rahman Rosman Bin Mohamed Noor Rozli Othman Santhosh Nodu See Mee Hwa See Nee Hoo Seet Choon Sing (Xue Junxin) Senthamarai D/O Somasundram Seow Kang Seng Si Hoe Sing Quee Siah Susan Sigirisetty Surya Kiran Sik Fern Fern Sim Ee Siong Sim Mao Xian Walter Sim Peck Leng Sim Tee Yang Sim Yong Hwee Sirisena Mervyn Siti Ahysa Bte Ahmad Sng Chiew Huat Sng Helen Sng Patricia Soh Chee Wai Soh Hwa Kiang Song Leng Yan Sharon Song Tat Seang Soon Boon Chiew Suhaimi Bin Sainy Sundaram Bhargavan Sundharamoorthy Sarma Suseno Nilam Henry Tai Kwong Yong Tan Bee Lan Joanne (continued on next page) Annual Report

7 Individual Donors (continued from previous page) Tan Bin Yong Christopher Tan Boon Huat Tan Cheng Tee Benny Tan Chia Loong Cray Tan Chin Hwee Tan Chor Suan Tan Chua Heng Tan Eng Hui Tan Gek Choo Lucy Tan Hiok Chai Tan Hong Chiang Tan Hong Kheng Irene Tan Howe Yang Tan Hui Ling Renee Tan Jack Jin Tan Jee Too Tan Jessie Tan Jody Tan Keng Boon Tan Khoon Hua Tan Kim Lian Tan Kim Teng Tan Kit Yeow Charlie Tan Kwee Eng Tan Lay Hong Tan Lee Koon Veronica Tan Peter Tan Phuay Miang Tan Poo Seng Tan Seng Pen Tan Siew Lye Cliff Tan Soh Hoon Tan Soon Hon Tan Yen Hau Desmond Tan Yen Ling Cheryl Tang Xiao Jun Tang Yuet Fen Sherine Tay Hock Joo Tay Hwee Li (Zheng Huili) Tay Kuan Kuan Tay Lay Suan Tay Leong Heng Tay Meng Ngee Tay Yin Fei Terrence Teo Choo Hong Teo Huat Chye Dominic Teo Li May Teo Mui Hoon Tham Kah Poh Tiang Lay Hua Toh April Toing Wee Sen Tong Mee Mien Too Kar Ku Vanitha D/O Gunasekaran Vnnikrishnan Ollavath Wahyu Suhendro Wang Dangli Wang Liang Pheng Dale Wang Meng Teck Wang Sam Wang Wende Wee Hui Li June Wee Jin Zoo Terence Wong Anthony Wong Cheng Yong Wong Chui Lee Wong Cuin-hau Rudi Wong Heu Wai Wong Kum Yin Wong Ley Kun Wong Li Choo Wong Mei Lan Rita Wong Shuk Yee Wendy Wong Siu Mun Wong Suat Li Wong Yong Cheong Yak Sock Cheng Yap Him Kuei Warren Yap Wai Meng Yap Wei Wei Yap Yong Teng Yau Lay Hoon Yau Wai Tat Yeap Teng Wah Yeo Choon Leng Marcus Yeo Eng Kwang Yeo Lay Har Janice Yeo Teow Koon Yeo Tze Hui Yeoh Mun Shern Yew Eng Hoe Yip Eng Wai Yip Lai Kuan Yong Bee Choon Yong Fen Chao Yong Jing Sing Yong Leonard Yoon Lay Beng Zhou Yongchang Annual Report

8 Message by Honorary Chairman Dr. John Ng It has been a most challenging year for EMCC! Despite having a new team of staff coupled with growing opportunities in mediation and counselling, EMCC has done exceptionally well. To this, we can only thank God for His grace and love! The management committee members and staff have stepped up to make this year an even more effective year! With the reduction of our counselling fees, our counselling cases have increased by 60% and close to 700 counselling sessions had been conducted. Lives have been touched, supported and given hope during their difficult journey of hurts and pains. EMCC could not have accomplished all these without your constant support and partnership. It is with deep gratitude that EMCC was one of the recipients of the President s Charity. Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, former Senior Minister of State for Law, has come on board as our new patron and we have a new team of younger management committee members. Your continual partnership will enable us to bring HOPE to many more families, couples and children. Thank you so much for making EMCC a part of your life! We have conducted 162 workshops in conflict management, marriage preparation sessions, mediation workshops and talks, inspiring more than 1,500 lives. This year, we have now a fulltime team to spearhead our mediation work and with the help of our associate mediators, we expect more mediation cases to come through our corridors. We are also committed to conducting of new peer mediation programmes in schools, working in conjunction with Community Mediation Centre. Annual Report

9 Message by Executive Director Benjamin Chan The year 2011 would always be remembered as a special year of blessings. It started with an unexpected but very pleasant surprise in receiving a one-off Community Chest grant of $150,000. This was a result of a bumper crop in the ComChest fundraising efforts in The excess funds were distributed to members of National Council Social Service (NCSS) identified as having worthy social service programmes for financial assistance. Shortly after that, we received approval in our application for a Tote Board Social Service Fund (TBSSF), which would give EMCC up to 3 years of grant funding with annual grant amounts of about $384,000. With this grant, we were able to offer a new subsidised fee structure to help financially needy clients receive our integrative mediation and counselling services. It was also a strong affirmation and recognition of our impactful programme that has a great reach among many of our clients, living in all different corners of the island. The most tangible outcome in this grant funding is reflected in the significant increase of our in-centre counselling caseload. We saw a 60% rise in caseload since the introduction of the new subsidised fee structure. In the area of mediation/conflict management services, we have seen significant breakthroughs in outreach efforts via schools/educators, peer mediation and Fathers@Schools workshops. We were able to reach students directly through peer mediation training and teach fathers how to deescalate conflicts with their teenagers through these parent-teen conflict workshops. Our mediation training workshops were significant in providing skills training for social workers, counsellors, mediators, family dispute resolution practitioners, educators and other professionals dealing with relational/interpersonal conflict issues of their clients. The workshops enabled us to train many to continue the good work of bringing peace to families and the community. Finally, it would be appropriate to record my appreciation to Ms Lim Peck Seah, my predecessor, and her team for their undaunted efforts and diligence in setting the foundation of much of the year s work. I am privileged to harvest the fruits of their labours. My current team and I are committed to continue their good work and build on the foundation laid. This meant that we were able to serve more clients than before, many of whom could not afford to receive professional services because of the financial burden. We have also increased our overall service productivity. Annual Report

10 Counselling Fast Facts REACHING OUT AND BRINGING HOPE A core area of service that EMCC provides is counselling to those who may face emotional, relationship or psychological challenges at different phases of their lives. Our in-centre clients comprise mainly individuals seeking resources to help them with emotional issues and couples / families who need more intensive psycho emotional support to cope with the stress arising from the competing demands of work and raising a family. Apart from our in-centre services, our counsellors are also actively involved in schools. Partnering Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in the Enhanced STEP-UP programme, EMCC counsellors help schools and parents address problems faced by students who are at risk of dropping out from schools. Recognising that the workplace plays an important part in an individual s total well-being, we also offer counselling services to corporations as part of their employee welfare programmes. Crisis counselling is another critical area offered in our range of services. When unforeseen accidents occur, they disrupt our daily routine and sense of balance, which may lead to emotional upheaval and even a sense of loss. These reactions can have an adverse impact on our daily lives, our relationships and ability to function optimally at work. Crisis counselling provides on-site support to help employees face and manage distressing or traumatic events in their lives. Coping with Emotional Issues Counselling can be useful to individuals seeking resources to help them cope with emotional issues. Building Strong Families The basis for our work stems from a core belief that the health of the family is crucial to society and strong families contribute to social harmony. Annual Report

11 Marriage Preparation Programme EMCC s Marriage Preparation Programme (MPP) performed well in 2011 as it has become established and received referrals by word of mouth from satisfied clients. The number of new cases increased by 84% to 35 and number of sessions shot up by 87% to 131. The programme prepared couples for a healthy and enriching marriage and harmonious family life. It equipped them with the necessary skills in managing differences, making room for open communication and facilitating support for the marriage partners. Clients who attended the sessions conducted by our qualified counsellors reported very high satisfaction levels (61% highly satisfied and 39% satisfied) in the feedback forms they filled in. Clients who come for MPP generally preferred the couplesonly sessions rather than the group sessions. Counselling Services In 2011, EMCC served more existing clients and new clients, thanks in part to funding from the Tote Board Social Service Fund. This grant allowed EMCC to offer a new subsidized fee structure to counselling and mediation clients who are financially needy. During this period, overall counselling caseloads increased by 6% to 888 while new cases went up by 17% to 246. In-centre new cases and caseloads increased 52% to 164 and 72% to 520 respectively. Total new school counselling cases and sessions at National Junior College and Raffles Junior college dropped 24% to 53 and 58% to 165. This was largely because school counselling at Raffles Junior College stopped at end of New cases in our Enhanced STEP- UP programme were down 12% to 29 but sessions up 42% to 203.The programme has been maintained with similar number of schools. Annual Report

12 Mediation Fast Facts NURTURING PEACEMAKING IN THE COMMUNITY Mediation is a collaborative problem-solving process whereby an impartial third party assists disputing parties to identify issues, negotiate constructively and explore a solution to their dispute. A mediator is, in essence, a conflict manager who assists disputing parties to resolve their conflict. The benefits of mediation are far reaching. Not only has mediation proved to be highly successful, mediation is also an effective life skill that can be put to use in various settings. With its years of experience, EMCC has earned its reputation of being a pioneer agency in family mediation. Our mediation service attains a high settlement rate for dispute parties. Mediation cases are mainly related to separation/divorce disputes (financial maintenance and child custody matters) and family disputes. EMCC also works closely with organizations to introduce mediation as a means of Annual Report 2011 resolution to address conflicts arising at the workplace and community. Conflicts arise because of differences in values, perceptions and worldviews in the pursuit of a common goal or interest. Mediation, conducted in the right way, can go a long way in helping to ease tension and work towards the eventual resolution of conflicts. Successful mediation creates an awareness of making necessary changes that can make a long lasting difference to the relationships at the heart of the conflict. EMCC also strives to raise the awareness of mediation as an effective means of conflict resolution through training sessions that it conducts to a wide spectrum of audience, from students to professionals. We hope that active education on mediation techniques and skills will contribute to a culture of peacemaking in the wider community. Mediating Family Disputes Mediation cases are mainly related to separation/divorce disputes (financial maintenance and child custody matters) and family disputes. Raising Awareness In order to raise the awareness of mediation, EMCC conducts mediation training to different target groups, ranging from students to professionals. 11

13 Power of Mediation A Moving Account The power of mediation is immense and transformational. Not only does mediation resolve the immediate issue at hand, it unravels deep-seated emotions that go right to the heart of the underlying conflict gnawing at the relationship between the disputants. Below is an abridged account of a mediation case: *Mdm Lee requested financial support from her daughter, *Lynn whom she is not in close contact with. It appeared that Mdm Lee felt that Lynn, also a mother, had made a bad marriage. Deep in her heart, Mdm Lee did not want Lynn to go through the same marital hardships that she had gone through and wished fervently that her daughter s marriage would be blissful. In Lynn s private session, she shared that her marriage was on the mend and that her children were doing well at school. She was more than willing to contribute to her mother s monthly maintenance but was constrained by her own financial circumstances. After deliberation, Lynn came up with a monthly maintenance sum that was within her means. Mdm Lee readily accepted the amount even though it was a small sum. The outcome showed that the crux of the issue was not about money. It was about a mother and daughter who clearly loved each other and yearned to have each other back in their lives again. When Lynn told Mdm Lee about her improved marriage and outstanding kids, Mdm Lee was visibly comforted and the light in her eyes was proof of her deep love for her daughter. Mediation Services Mediation cases which EMCC provided to the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents (TMP) in 2011 were down, leading to an overall drop in mediation cases conducted. cases (to 8) and 63% more sessions (13) in 2011 compared to However, overall new cases dropped 38% to 52 and sessions fell 52% to 60 in the same period. New cases refer to cases that have been accepted within the reporting period for the first time while sessions refer to the total number of professional service sessions conducted. The TMP offers a legal option for aged parents who are unable to support themselves to seek maintenance from their children, who are capable of supporting them but unwilling to do so. In other areas, EMCC mediators conducted 100% more new Mediation (TMP & EMCC) 38% decrease 52% decrease New Cases Sessions Annual Report

14 Partnerships Fast Facts ADDING VALUE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS EMCC places great value on its strategic partnerships. Synergy creates opportunities and the joint efforts that EMCC embarks on is instrumental to helping us move a step further in bringing hope to people and relationships. EMCC continues to be in active collaboration with Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in the Enhanced STEP-UP Service, a programme designed to support students who face challenges in and out of school. Our experienced counsellors worked closely with schools and parents to address the problems and issues faced by such students. In 2011, we conducted close to 200 sessions for both students and their parents. In some cases, we have seen some changes in the students, leading to improved academic performance and behaviour. Another important partner is Northeast CDC (NECDC), which Annual Report 2011 we have worked with for the past one and a half years to drive the Family & Fathering North East (FINE) programme. FINE was launched in 2010 to help families build stronger bonds with emphasis on the active involvement of fathers. EMCC was pivotal to helping organise fathering equipping workshops and fun fatherchildren bonding activities. In the past year, we reached out to about 600 fathers and their children through the various FINE programmes. These ranged from intimate fathering equipping workshops, fatherchild bonding activities through sports, arts & drama and outdoor fun by the sea to intensive father-son stay-in camps. Many participants seized the opportunity and signed up for the post-activity parenting coaching/counselling with EMCC s family counsellors and therapists. Helping Youths EMCC works closely with MCYS to reach out to youths who face challenges in and out of school under the Enhanced STEP-UP programme. It s FINE, Dads! Launched in 2010, FINE aims to help families build stronger bonds with emphasis on the active involvement of fathers. EMCC collaborated closely with NECDC to drive the FINE programmes. 13

15 Equipping Fast Facts PROLIFIC YEAR OF EQUIPPING OPPORTUNITIES Recognising that prevention is as important as intervention, EMCC proactively develops upstream initiatives aimed at deterrence and early detection of psycho-emotional and relational problems. EMCC s upstream initiatives included training, public seminars, school talks, incompany training as well as community outreach programmes. They were aimed at empowering individuals through equipping of knowledge and self-help skills to effectively manage their interpersonal relationship challenges. The training areas broadly covered mediation, conflict management, psycho-emotional health, father-related, youth, marital and parenting topics. In 2011, EMCC conducted 31 workshops compared with 34 in the previous year. The highest number of training workshops was in the field of mediation and conflict management with 16 in 2011 compared with 14 in the previous year. We also started to make strong inroads into schools with our Peace Begins with Me and At Home programme aimed at instilling fathers with the valuable skills of harmonious conflict and dispute resolution through mediation. EMCC s training programme helped the organisation to reach out to the public to generate awareness about our services and provide education. Reaching out Through our various educational initiatives, we have impacted over 700 training and workshop participants over the last year. Annual Report

16 Talk on Stress Management At the third lunch-time talk as part of the Civil Service College (CSC) Corporate Workplace Emotional Health Programme (WEHP) in January 2011, Ms Diana Chandra, Senior Counsellor at EMCC, provided an overview of stress and its impact on individuals to the employees of CSC. Besides recognizing the symptoms of stress, the participants were also equipped with various helpful stress busters. Those who were present shared that they benefitted greatly from the two experiential segments - the Deep Abdominal Breathing and Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercises which allowed them to practice the coping mechanisms during the session. In the one-hour session, it was observed that the participants gained greater awareness of stress management skills to help themselves and others at work. Although stress is an everyday fact of life, indeed it is our response which makes the difference in drawing out the positive benefits of stress. Transforming Conflict into Opportunity Dr. John Ng, Honorary Chairman of EMCC, conducted a 1-day workshop entitled "Transforming Conflict into Opportunity series: Understanding & Appreciating COSPI" on 18 February at EMCC Liang Social Service Hub. Conflict Style Preference Inventory (COSPI) is a new conflict management tool that has been developed by EMCC. It is an instrument that provides a profile of the participant's preferred conflict handling style during conflict situations. The workshop saw 12 individuals come together to learn how to use this diagnostic tool. We had a group of social workers from various voluntary welfare organisations, a dietician, a lawyer, and even a retiree who were all enthusiastic to find out more about this tool. Participants were introduced to the 12 different conflict styles, and were also given the opportunity to gain awareness regarding their dominant conflict styles. They also learnt how to manage and de-escalate conflict using the '8 Golden Rules'. After the workshop, about half of the participants were keen to introduce this programme to others as they found it practical and relevant for self-understanding and relational growth. Due to overwhelming response, a second round was conducted later in the year on 4 November. Annual Report

17 Leaving A Legacy of Love A sunny Saturday afternoon on 5 March saw about 300 parents arrive at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) for the 3rd Paya Lebar Parents Conference 2011: Leaving a Legacy of Love. The 4-hour event commenced with an address from the Guest-of- Honour Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC. Together with him present on stage were Host Mdm Cynthia Phua, Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, Ms Pamela Yoong, Principal of PLMGS(S), and the 7 workshop speakers. After an impactful illustration of parents' love through a drama skit by the VOICE, the participants proceeded to their respective workshops. Dr John Ng, Honorary Chairman of EMCC, gave a very interactive session entitled "Peace At Home". With about 40 parents present, including former Principal of PLMGS(S) Mrs Lee Siew Choo ( ), John shared about the nature of conflict. With humour and great wit, he helped parents understand how to learn and recover from these unsettling situations. Participants enjoyed the engaging and insightful session, and took home Eight Golden Rules' for conflict management. Nuturing Future Mediatiors Collaborating with a group of like-minded mediators and mediator trainers who have a strong passion in inculcating the younger generation with the value of harmonious resolution of disputes, EMCC co-organised a nonprofit peer mediation workshop for 72 secondary school students from 10 schools. Called Peacemakers 2011, the workshop was held from May Into its second year after a rousing success in the pilot project last year, this year s event continued to be supported by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), the Subordinate Courts of Singapore, the Speak Good English Movement, and St. Andrew s Secondary School. The workshop saw much lively engagement and enthusiastic participation from the students as they immersed themselves in the many practical exercises and role play sessions. The communications and emotions management skills they learnt were put to test in a friendly competition where they were given opportunities to mediate in fictitious dispute scenarios. Judges at the competition, who are practising mediators from the public and social sectors, were impressed by the maturity and the adroitness that the students displayed in mediation techniques. The students also scored favourably in their abilities to empathise with the parties underlying concerns, facilitate the creation of solutions, and reconcile strained relationships. Annual Report

18 Help Me Build a Castle, Papa Thirty-five families had a rolling good time at the sunny beaches of East Coast on Saturday, 30 July Through facilitated sharing, fathers and children have a chance to bond as they strived to build their dream castles hand-in-hand within a limited period of time. Precious shared memories were created as fathers had the chance to experience their children s world from their perspective. Through play and interaction, the children learnt the importance of teamwork, creative expression and more importantly, see the child in their fathers a side which they might seldom get to see in their daily lives. To witness the delight and joy of the father-child joint efforts in completing the sandcastles was truly a sight to behold. Papa s Magic Castle was one of the many activities organised under the auspices of FINE (Family and Fathering Initiative@Northeast). EMCC was the key coordinating agency. I am A Mediation Advocate! A group of professionals from diverse fields, ranging from banking to the retail sectors, came together for a mediation advocacy course in August. Held on 15 and 16 August, EMCC organised a Mediation Advocacy Workshop Transforming Conflict into Opportunity aimed at equipping participants with foundational mediation skills to resolve issues of interpersonal conflicts in the family, community and the workplace. Helmed by Associate Professor Lim Lei Theng from the law faculty of National University of Singapore, the workshop saw much lively engagement. Taking their turns at role plays and the mediation practice sessions, each participant had their shot playing mediator in different fictitious conflict situations. Through peer review and feedback sessions from the trainer, participants picked up learning tools that would come in handy in their daily work. Reaching out to Fathers@Schools EMCC participated in the Fathers@Schools Learning & Network Forum on 20 August 2011 at Pasir Ris Secondary School to lend weight to the growing national movement to elevate fathers involvement in their children s lives. The Fathers@School programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS). Dr. John Ng, EMCC s Honorary Chairman, gave his insightful perspective on parent-child conflict to a group of principals, vice-principals, teachers, school counsellors and parents support group members from various secondary schools. EMCC also took the opportunity to introduce its Peace Begins with Me and My Home programme aimed at equipping fathers with conflict management skills. Annual Report

19 Grooming Student Mediators It was a sight rarely seen. With teachers looking on, students engaged in shouting matches and dramatic stand-offs whilst their peers tried to play peacemakers to appease them. It was all part of the role-play sessions under the peer mediation training that EMCC conducted. The training for Greendale Secondary was held on 9 & 10 November and that for Singapore Chinese Girls School was on 24 & 25 November. The students were taught foundational mediation skills to resolve interpersonal conflict within the school context and had opportunities to put the skills they learnt to test in fictitious dispute scenarios. Champions of Conflict Management & Mediation EMCC held a series of workshops for different groups of professionals on conflict management, focusing on mediation as an effective means of conflict resolution. Professionals from the education field, namely the allied health educators from schools in the North Zone cluster and teachers from Tampines Secondary, had their first taste of mediation under the guidance of EMCC s expert mediator trainers. The workshops were held on 6 October and 2 & 3 November respectively. EMCC also concluded its third run of the Basic Mediation Advocacy workshops for working professionals for the year on 15 & 16 November. Peacemakers in the Family EMCC held conflict management workshops for couples and parents to equip them with basic mediation skills within the family context. Collaborating with Marriage Central, husband-wife team comprising EMCC s Principal Mediator Chia Swee Tin and EMCC Management Committee member Chia Kok Leong gave an inspiring talk titled Fight to Love / Love to Fight to couples on conflict management. Held on 19 November, the engaging couple shared with more than 50 couples on how they learn to normalise fights in their 40-year marriage. EMCC also brought its own brand of peacemaking to North Spring Primary School on 10 November where thirty-one parents had a firsthand account from EMCC s Executive Director Benjamin Chan on parent-child conflict. Benjamin spoke extensively on the importance of connecting emotionally and establishing a strong bond between parent and child. Annual Report

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36