Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home 30th Anniversary Lunch

Ustaz Muhammad Azri Bin Azman, President of Muhammadiyah Association and Chairman of Muhammadiyah Welfare Home,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon. I am happy to join all of you today at the 30^th Anniversary Commemoration Lunch for the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home.

Three decades have passed since the Muhammadiyah Association stepped forward to start a residential programme for juvenile offenders, abused and neglected children, and children who require close supervision. The Muhammadiyah Welfare Home has grown from strength to strength through the years. In its first year of operations, there were only 27 residents in the Home. Today, the Home provides shelter and support for more than a thousand at-risk children and youths.

The Home is celebrating 30 years of service to the community this year. This is a significant milestone for the Home and every person who has been a part of it. I have visited the Home on several occasions in the past. The Home’s dedication to supporting children and youths left a lasting impression on me.

Often, our children and youths face multiple stressors, which may stem from weak social support systems, negative peer influence and financial difficulties. It is important for us to come together as a community to provide better support for them and equip them with the skills needed to navigate the future. As one of 21 homes under the purview of the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) that cares for abused and neglected children and youths, the Home has remained steadfast in its mission through the years, giving every child and youth under its care the opportunity to realise his or her full potential.

The Home will soon be embarking on a new chapter of its journey with its relocation to a new compound in 2020. The relocation illustrates the Home’s growth and presents it with the opportunity to build on its existing foundations to take on a larger role in serving the community in the coming years. It is also encouraging to hear that the Home will be implementing new technologies in its new compound to enhance operational efficiency and safety and provide quality services for its residents.

On previous visits to the Home, I met many youths who had lived in the Home and, having benefitted from the support given, had come back to offer their services to the Home. These youths from the Home have become successful individuals now pursuing their dreams and careers. They came from disadvantaged backgrounds and, in some cases, were abused too but with the guidance and support of the Home, they were able to overcome their setbacks and make something out of themselves.

Unfortunately, despite the availability of such facilities, we continue to hear of child abuse cases that led to deaths. This is most unfortunate and sad as it is our duty to protect and nurture children, not abuse them for whatever reasons. Parents who feel that they are unable to cope with raising their children, should seek help immediately from the Family Service Centres or other social agencies supporting children that are found around the island. These centres could provide counselling or other support needed or point them to other relevant agencies for follow up help.

We could also do more as a community to alleviate the situation of children suffering from abuse. Often, people are afraid of being seen as interfering in another family’s affair but surely if there is prolonged and sustained cries of pain from a child in your neighbourhood arising from the abuse, and you are aware of it, that should be reason enough for intervention to save the child. During such times, keeping quiet instead of making the effort to find out what is happening is not an option.

In closing, I would like to thank the management, staff and volunteers of Muhammadiyah Association and Muhammadiyah Welfare Home for your professionalism, dedication and service to our community. I would also like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to all partners, sponsors and supporters of the Home, many of whom are here at this event, for your care and concern towards those who need our support.

I wish the Home many more years of success in your efforts to guide, nurture and empower our children and youths to become outstanding members of society.

Thank you.