PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION

9 King George’s Avenue 208581 Tel: (65) 63405430;63405432;62382032 Fax: (65) 63485977 Website: www.pa.gov.sg

EMBARGOED UNTIL 31 JULY, 11.30AM

27 July 2016

500 WOMEN LEARN ABOUT MANAGING CRISIS BEHAVIOUR AT LAUNCH OF “GUARDIANS OF THE FAMILY” PROGRAMME “Guardians of the Family” programme empowers women as main caregivers of the family by equipping them with essential emergency preparedness skills

As we celebrate the upcoming nation’s 51st birthday, it is important for Singaporeans to remember that the peace and security enjoyed today cannot be taken for granted with the global evolving terrorist threats. Every Singaporean, both men and women, should play an active role in keeping the country safe. This year, the Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council’s annual flagship event “Women Celebrate National Day” aims to equip more women with life-saving skills, and crisis behaviour management to better respond to any crisis by helping to allay the fears, guilt and anxiety of those affected.

2 Five hundred women will be introduced to a new awareness module on managing crisis behaviour, customised for women as part of community vigilance in celebration of National Day on Sunday, 31 July 2016. This is part of the “Guardians of the Family” Programme which seeks to provide women with emergency preparedness skills such as CPR-AED, first aid and community vigilance.

3 Jointly organised by the PA’s Community Emergency and Engagement (C2E) Council Exco and Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council, the event aims to empower women as main caregivers by equipping them with essential emergency preparedness skills so that they know how to react and respond in times of crisis. This is part of the People’s Association’s (PA) continuous efforts in building the capabilities of our citizens to be prepared for emergencies as part of the SG Secure framework. To train more women in the community, C2E Council will work with the WIN Council and Women’s Executive Committees (WECs) to roll out similar training sessions at the Community Clubs and women’s organisations islandwide.

4 Dr , Senior Minister of State for Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources & Ministry of Health, Adviser to WIN Council and Host of the event said, “In support of SG Secure, the WIN Council’s partnership with the C2E Council Exco hopes to create awareness among women who are usually the main caregivers, on the importance of crisis behaviour management, CPR-AED and first aid, in particular, how to calm and counsel victims during a crisis. They will also share what they have learnt with their family members and friends and encourage them to attend such training. This will help to create a community of prepared citizens who know how to respond effectively to a national crisis and who will stay united in the aftermath of one. We need the strong support of the community to keep Singapore safe and secure.”

5 Mr Justin Foo, BBM, Chairman of the C2E Council Exco explains the rationale behind the managing behaviour workshop, “In the event of a crisis, our normal responses may be compromised. It is therefore important for the community to understand how to render the appropriate response to the crisis situation. We want to expand our community emergency response network by empowering women with the required skills in handling crisis so that they know how to help their family and friends.”

6 The participants will be joined by Special Guests; Ms , Minister for Community, Culture and Youth and Adviser to Yuhua Grassroots Organisations, Dr Lily Neo, Adviser to Jalan Besar GRC Grassroots Organisations and Miss , Adviser to Fengshan Grassroots Organisations.

7 Your journalist and photographer are cordially invited to “Women Celebrate National Day – Guardians of the Family” on 31 July 2016 (Sunday), 8.30 am at ITE College Central (Multi-Purpose Hall) (see Annex A for programme and Annex B for the location map). Interviews with Dr Khor and participants can be arranged. Please confirm your attendance by 29 July 2016, 5.00pm via email to [email protected]

Contact persons : Christine Ong Senior Manager (Women’s Programmes) Active Ageing and Family Life Division Contact number: 9685 3226/ 6340 5081 Email: [email protected]

Florence Kang Assistant Director (Women’s Programmes) Active Ageing and Family Life Division Contact number: 97951086/ 6340 5080 Email: [email protected]

Archna Sharma Assistant Director (EP/Community Engagement) Emergency Preparedness Division Contact number: 96913730 / 62383643 Email: [email protected]

Issued by : Corporate Communications Division People’s Association Tel: 6340 5430/454/432/231

About SG Secure

SG Secure is a national movement to sensitise, train and mobilise Singaporeans to play a part to prevent and deal with a terrorist attack. It is the community’s response to safeguard our way of life against terrorism and community strife. Government's response alone is not enough.

Every member of the community must do his part by staying alert to ever-present security threats, staying united as one people during peacetime and in crisis, and staying strong to be resilient and bounce back quickly in a crisis. For more information, visit www.sgsecure.sg.

About People’s Association

The People’s Association (PA) is a statutory board established on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. We offer a wide range of community programmes and volunteering opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Our network includes more than 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs), over 100 Community Clubs, five Community Development Councils, National Community Leadership Institute and Water-Venture. More information at www.pa.gov.sg.

About PA Women’s Integration Network Council

The PA Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council was established in 1995 as the co-ordinating body of 105 Women’s Executive Committees (WECs) based in the community centres and clubs. The mission is to empower women to lead and contribute in the community to build a strong network of women of different ages, races, social and economic profiles.

The WECs organise a wide range of programmes to cater to the needs of women from different backgrounds. They also offer cause-based programmes initiated by the WIN Council which includes the GRoom-A-Child-To- Excel Mentorship Programme which develops the potential of girls from underprivileged families and Citi-Tsao Financial Education Programme for Women.

For more information on WIN Council and WECs, you can go to www.facebook.com/women.in.community Annex A

Women Celebrate National Day – “Guardians of the Family”

Sunday, 31 July 2016

ITE College Central Multi-Purpose Hall

Time Programme

0830 Arrival of Participants

0900 Managing Crisis Behaviour Awareness Workshop

0945 End of Workshop

0955 Arrival of Minister Grace Fu, SMS Dr Amy Khor and Advisers

1000 Skit and Launch of the “Guardians of the Family”

1010 Welcome Address by SMS Dr Amy Khor

1015 Speech by Minister Grace Fu

1020 Commencement of the First-Aid, IFAS CPR and AED Training

1100 Lunch

1200 End of Programme Annex B Location Map of ITE College Central