Catholic Aids Response Effort s1

CATHOLIC AIDS RESPONSE EFFORT Annual Report (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012)

1. MANAGEMENT

1.1 Members of the Governing Board 1.1.1 In the course of the year under review, an Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 31 March 2012.

1.1.2 The following members were elected to the Management Committee at the AGM:

President - Jacinta Rajoo Vice President - Anthony Soo Wai Seng Secretary - Gabriel T H Ong Treasurer - Ambrose J L Tan Asst Treasurer - Joseph S C Chen Committee Members - Abel Tan Albert Teo Chu Ying Fabian Anthony Susanna Goh

1.1.3 Rev Father Adrian Anthony was the appointed Spiritual Director.

2. STAFFING

2.1 Employees

2.1.1 The following were employees of the Charity as at 31 December 2012:

Name Designation Date Joined Michael Charles Loh Executive Director 1 May 2011 Florence Seah Programme Manager 1 July 2011 Janice Tan Admin/Accounts Executive 9 Jan 2012 Vincent Joseph Programme Executive 18 May 2012

2.1.2 Immanuel Lin (Executive) left CARE in January 2012 to join the Order of the Carmelites Discalced as a postulant.

2.2 Salaries

None of the Charity’s employees was paid in excess of S$100,000 per annum. CATHOLIC AIDS RESPONSE EFFORT Annual Report (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012)

2.3 General Membership

2.3.1 As at 31 December 2012, a total of 26 members were registered with CARE. Of these, 10 served on the Management Committee.

2.4 Volunteers

2.4.1 As at 31 December 2012, CARE registered 27 volunteers although not all of them were active.

2.4.2 In 2011, CARE advertised for volunteers through the Catholic News. The response was poor and we managed to recruit only 1 volunteer, namely Sr Clare, a Good Shepherd nun who conducted English lessons for our residents. She stopped volunteering with us in July 2012 when she accepted a new posting to Indonesia.

2.4.3 In 2012, CARE’s volunteer recruitment took on a new strategy. We depended mainly on introduction via ‘word-of-mouth’. In the year under review, we interviewed about a dozen potential volunteers and as a result of these interviews, 4 volunteers joined us. CARE welcomes the following newly-recruited volunteers:

Peter Heng (Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) George Ho (Postulant, Order of the Carmelite Discalced) Diana Khoo (Our Lady of Perpetual Succour) Betty Ong (Our Lady of Perpetual Succour)

2.5 Training for Employees & Volunteers

2.5.1 CARE staff and volunteers attended the following training during the year under review:

Date Name of Event Participants 12 Jan CNPL Light Event – Sharing on Successful Staff: Collaborations between Non-Profits and Michael Loh Corporations 24 Feb Caritas Executive Director’s Network – Training on Staff: “Speaking to News Reporters” Michael Loh 15 Mar Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy – Talk on Staff: “Tough Love and Organisational Performance” by Michael Loh Prof Steven Kelman Florence Seah 28 Mar 7th Charity Council Governance Seminar – Good Staff: Governance Keeps the Regulator Away. Michael Loh 4-6 May Caritas Retreat - “Lead Like Jesus” Volunteers: Anthony Soo CARE Annual Report 2012 2 CATHOLIC AIDS RESPONSE EFFORT Annual Report (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012)

Date Name of Event Participants Ambrose Tan Joseph Chen Staff: Michael Loh 22 May SGCare Seminar – IMAGINE: A World Without Staff: Volunteers (Attendance by Invitation Only) Michael Loh 25 May Caritas Executive Director’s Network Staff: Michael Loh 1 Sep Caritas Social Mission Conference – Partnering the Volunteer: Poor, Living Our Faith Anthony Soo Staff: Florence Seah/ Janice Tan/ Michael Loh/ Vincent Joseph 7 Sep Caritas Executive Director’s Network – Sharing on Volunteer: Action Research Anthony Soo Staff: Michael Loh 10-14 Sep 2012 CAPCHA Conference, Latkrabang, Thailand Staff: Michael Loh 29 Sep Caritas Leaders’ Forum - Volunteers: Jacinta Rajoo Anthony Soo Staff: Michael Loh 5 Oct VC Connect – Risk Management for Volunteer Staff: Programmes Michael Loh Vincent Joseph 12 Oct NCSS ED Networking - Implementing an Effective Staff: Performance Management Programme Michael Loh 31 Oct NCSS HR Network Session – Guidelines on Fair Staff: Employment Practices Janice Tan 3 Dec NCSS ED Networking – Training Needs Analysis for Staff: Social Service Sector Michael Loh

2.5.2 Staff and volunteers who attended these training are better equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills and feel more confident in carrying out their duties.

CARE Annual Report 2012 3 CATHOLIC AIDS RESPONSE EFFORT Annual Report (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012)

3. GOVERNANCE

3.1 Institution of a Public Character The Commissioner of Charity extended CARE’s IPC Status for a period of 2 years and 9 months, commencing 1 November 2012.

3.2 Governance Evaluation As reported to the Commissioner of Charities on 16 May 2012, CARE is almost 100% compliant with the Code of Governance for Charities and Institution of Public Character. This evaluation is for the period 1 January to 31 December 2011. The evaluation for year 2012 will be submitted after the AGM. Members may log on to the Charity Portal (www.charities.gov.sg) for more details.

4. PROGRAMMES & SERVICES

4.1 Residential CARE Shelter

4.1.1 During the year under review, the CARE Shelter continued to be our major activity.

4.1.2 Admissions: Total residents as at 1 Jan 2012 25 Total admissions during the year 11 Total discharges during the year 9 Total as at 31 Dec 2012 27

4.1.3 Distribution by Religion: Buddhism/Taoism 12 Catholicism 3 (including 1 attending RCIA) Christianity 5 Hinduism 1 Islam 4 Others 2 Total 27

4.1.4 Distribution by Ethnic Groups: Chinese 22 Malay 3 Indian 2 Others 0 Total 27

4.1.5 As in 2011, the year under review had a significant number of referrals from the Prisons Department.

4.2 Pastoral Care for Residents

4.2.1 CARE’s approach to pastoral care is holistic in nature. CARE not only provide physical needs like food and lodging, it also caters to their psychological, emotional and spiritual needs.

New residents are motivated to help themselves through participation in CARE’s in-house programmes which are designed to help them deal with their personal issues in order to rise above any obstacles that may hinder their rehabilitation.

For residents who require counseling and personal coaching, they are attended to by staff and a small team of specially selected and trained volunteers. Spiritual guidance by a Catholic priest is also available to those who are keen and interested. Residents who are able, are encouraged to seek employment so that they can be financially self- supporting which is the first step towards reintegration to society.

4.2.2 During the year under review the following programmes were organised to provide holistic care and spiritual development for our residents:

(a) Meditation and Prayer (b) Ethics (c) English Lessons

4.2.3 From July 2012, Fr Albert Ng (Holy Trinity Church) started making monthly visits to the Shelter to provide pastoral care and spiritual guidance to the residents. He conducts morning prayers, reflection and listens to confessions.

4.2.4 Several residents who were willing were sent for counseling and spiritual healing at the Catholic Spirituality Centre to help them with their personal issues.

4.2.5 Groups like the Catholic Nurses’ Guild, Dei Gloriam and Maitrepal continued to organize regular lunch and festive parties for the residents. A pastor and his group from Kampong Kapor Methodist Church also made occasional visits to the residents bringing them food and sharing with them the good news.

4.2.6 Two outings were organized for the residents. Fr Albert took some of our residents on a boat ride cum fishing trip off the west coast. Several residents and the staff played bowling at Superbowl, Hougang.

4.3 Employment for Residents

4.3.1 Cottage Industry A market survey and costing showed that candle-making was viable as a cottage industry for CARE’s residents. As such, a pilot project was started in August 2012 with participation by five residents who were not employed.

Over the five months (Aug-Dec 2012), about 1,500 candles of varying sizes and shapes were produced. Out of these, 1,384 were sold raising a total of $5,187 to support the charitable activities of CARE.

CARE would like to extend its thanks to the 4 University Scholars Programme students who carried out the market survey and costing on our behalf. They are Chong Li Yue, Law Tian Boon, Leong Li Ting and Yuan Yi.

We wish also to place on record our appreciation to the following churches that supported the project:

(a) Church of Sts Peter and Paul (b) Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (c) Church of the Risen Christ

4.3.2 Three residents continued to help out with gardening work at a sponsor’s home on a weekly basis. Another resident continued working at the Patient Care Center, Communicable Disease Center during the year under review.

4.3.3 Some residents took up temporary assignments recommended by CARE supporters.

4.3.4 The employment statistics for the year 2012 are as follows:

Employed Employed Census for Month Unemployed Full-time Part-time the Month January 6 6 14 26 February 6 7 15 28 March 7 6 16 29 April 9 2 16 27 May 10 2 15 27 June 9 6 13 27 July 9 5 13 27 August 12 3 15 30 September 11 4 16 31 October 9 3 17 29

November 8 3 17 28 December 8 3 16 27

4.4 Non-Residential Programme

4.4.1 The programme continued to serve mainly women PLWHAs and their dependent children. Majority of these women are foreigners who are married to Singapore men. The year under review had 3 new beneficiaries who were recommended by their friends already on the programme. There were no referrals from either CDC or other hospitals.

4.4.2 The profile of our Non-residential Clients is as follows:

Non-Resident S’pore S’pore Thais Total Description Malay Indian PLWHA Women 2 1 8 11 Children 4 2 13 19 Total 6 3 21 30

4.4.3 The financial support continued in the form of monthly food rations, monthly transport pocket money for school-going children and the annual school text-book allowance.

4.4.4 During the year under review, our non-resident beneficiaries continued to receive monthly food ration in the form of NTUC supermarket vouchers (S$40 in value). On top of this, they also receive grocery items such as rice, sugar and noodles donated to the Charity by well-wishers.

4.5 Advocacy

4.5.1 2012 Calendar of Advocacy Events

No. of Date Name of Event Participants 7 Feb Talk to Charis Board Members and Volunteers – The 50 Challenge of Living as a PLWHA 5 Mar Talk to St Joseph’s Institution – Secondary 3 Odd Classes – 200 Living With HIV 6 Mar Talk to St Joseph’s Institution – Secondary 3 Even Classes – 200 Living With HIV 1 Sep Caritas Social Mission Conference 2012 400 3-4 Nov Mini-exhibition at Church of the Risen Christ 300 17-18 Nov Mini-exhibition at Church of the Nativity of the Blessed 700

No. of Date Name of Event Participants Virgin Mary 30 Novr World AIDS Day Mass and Mini-exhibition – Church of 45 Sts Peter and Paul 1 Dec WAD Forum – What’s AIDS Got to Do With Me? 26

4.5.2 Student Outreach As in previous years, our Student Outreach programme consisted mainly of talks to students in Catholic schools. The SJI students also conducted a Lenten project (collection of food items) for CARE residents. For more details about the talks, refer to the 2012 Calendar of Advocacy Events (above).

4.5.3 World AIDS Day A Mass was held on 30 November 2012 to mark World AIDS Day (WAD) at the Sts Peter and Paul Church. The main celebrant was Fr Albert Ng. In his sermon, he called on Catholics to pray for the ill especially those living with HIV and AIDS and for God to give them the courage to carry on living their lives meaningfully. In conjunction with the mass, a mini poster exhibition was held as part of our Advocacy outreach to the Catholic community. The panels highlighted the plight of the PWHAs and how we, as a Catholic community, can respond to their needs and help them live with dignity.

On the next day (1 December) a forum was held also at Sts Peter and Paul Church. Three panelists discussed the various issues facing PLWHAs and they were:

 Fr Paul Staes, Chairman of the Archdiocesan Senate of Priests.  Associate Professor Albert Teo, Member of CARE Management Committee and Volunteer at the Communicable Disease Centre, TTSG  Dr Lee Cheng Chuan, Senior Consultant, Communicable Disease Centre, TTSH

The emphasis was on stigmatization of PLWHAs in Singapore. Fr Staes said the best thing for Catholics to do is to offer care and the last thing to do is to condemn the sick. Dr Lee spoke about the issues facing PLWHAs especially of stigmatization and discrimination. Assoc Prof Albert, on the other hand, shared from his own personal experience and the challenges he faced as a volunteer working with PLWHAs.

A CARE resident who was present at the forum said that he was happy for such forums to take place as it gives the public a better understanding and creates more awareness of the truth behind being HIV-positive.

As part of our advocacy efforts in reaching out to Catholics in Singapore, CARE collaborated with the Catholic News with 2 published articles during the months of November and December 2012. CARE Annual Report 2012 8 CATHOLIC AIDS RESPONSE EFFORT Annual Report (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012)

5. MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 Fr Thomas Kamau On 24 March 2012, Fr Thomas Kamau from Kenya visited the Shelter and prayed over some of the residents. He also heard the confession of one Catholic resident. Fr Kamau was the administrator of the Consolata Hospital in Nyrie Diocese, Kenya and is currently lecturing in health administration at the University of Ohio.

5.2 CAPCHA 5.2.1 Following the launch of the Catholic Asia-Pacific Coalition for HIV/AIDS on 1 July 2011, CARE continued to be a CAPCHA member.

5.2.2 CARE’s Executive Director represented Singapore at the 2012 conference held at the St Camiliian Pastoral Centre in Latkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand from 10-14 September 2012, where he presented the Country Report for Singapore.

5.2.3 The 2012 conference programme included an exposure visit to various organisations in the Bangkok region working on HIV/AIDS. CARE’s Executive Director visited the ACCESS Foundation to learn how they carried out their successful advocacy programme which empowers PLWHAs to advocate for themselves through various media including public events such as exhibitions and public education fairs, TV and radio programmes as well as publications like books and newspapers. The very strong message from ACCESS is this – do not use our clients as the target or victim but as collaborators for a successful advocacy programme.

5.2.4 There was also a day of spiritual nourishment and recollection led by Fr Adriano Pelosin, Head of the Missionary Society of Thailand. The participants were asked to re-visit the reasons for their involvement in the work they do and through the reflection, to remain focused even in the face of the many trials and distractions.

5.3 Dr Amy Khor Visits CARE At the invitation of CARE, Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS visited the Shelter and held discussions with the Management Committee. The visit took place on 2 August.

Besides discussing the issues and challenges faced by CARE residents, Dr Khor was also briefed on the type of services CARE offered to the residents in terms of rehabilitation. The meeting also briefly touched on CARE’s re-location plans and funding options for our new premises.

After the meeting, Dr Khor was brought on a walk around with the residents. The residents took the opportunity to bring up to Dr Khor certain issues faced before their admission to CARE Shelter.

The visit paved the way for regular dialogue with the Ministry and for CARE to provide feedback to the Advisory Committee on issues relating to HIV/AIDS whenever required.

5.4 Health Promotion Board CARE was invited to participate in the People Living with HIV Think Tank session organized by the Communicable Disease Education, Adult Health Division of the Health Promotion Board. CARE President and Vice President represented the Charity at the session held on 5 October 2012.

5.5 Premises

5.5.1 During the year under review, the Ministry of Health and Singapore Land Authority actively assisted CARE in its search for a new location to house its Shelter Home. Several sites were offered and viewed but were found not to be suitable for our use.

5.5.2 After several months of search, we finally found a vacant single-storey building (former Childcare and Maternal Health Clinic) at Mandai which meets most of our requirements. All documentation for the lease has been completed and a Re-location Committee has been formed to look into the renovation of the premises. MC Member and Hon Secretary, Gabriel Ong, was appointed to chair this committee.

6. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2012

6.1 The audited Statement of Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2012 is attached.

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

7.1 On behalf of the Management Committee, I wish to record our thanks to Rev Fr Adrian Anthony for his spiritual guidance and to the Good Shepherd Sisters for use of their premises.

7.2 I also wish to record my special thanks to all our kind sponsors and partners. Without their generous support, collaboration and contributions, we would not get where we are today.

7.3 Last but not least, my personal thanks and appreciation to all the hardworking members of the Management Committee, staff and volunteers. Without their support, time and effort, we would not have been able to operate the Shelter and offer our services to the people we serve at CARE and in the community. .

Jacinta Rajoo President Catholic AIDS Response Effort

CARE Annual Report 2012 11