We recently launched this programme to help Women PLWHAs. This consists of gathering them together for medical, emotional and spiritual care, counseling, training, and organising of income-gaining activities. We invariably have to provide support for the nourishment, schooling and even clothing where there are children.
The two Programmes will overlap, with PWAs of both genders being helped in-residence and externally, according to their needs.
Non-Resident Support Activities
There are many PLWHAs not in residence, among the most vulnerable being women with children, who are beginning call on CARE for succour. Presently we are caring for 7 PWA women and 7 children.
In a pilot project, 5 women PLWHAs with their 3 children were brought together for care and consolation. They were given groceries, and assisted financially to cover the costs of school uniforms, books and tuition for their children. All were treated to an outing including a movie, arcade games and a meal.
One volunteer and two CARE PLWHA residents join in this work of love and mercy. The programme will grow significantly in the coming year.
As far as we know, ours is the only shelter in Singapore that caters to PLWHAs who are destitute, homeless or rejected by their families. This is our trademark activity, with which we are identified. Our aim is to rehabilitate and discharge a resident as early as possible into normal life. We will then continue to care for him (or her in due course) on a non-resident basis.
CARE launched its school outreach programme in Feb 08 with a presentation to 500 pupils and 12 teachers of SJI. Subsequently, the students and teachers came to CARE to get to know and work with our PLWHAs on programmed attachments on 4 occasions from Mar to Sep 08, totaling 195 student-attendances and 19 teach-attendances in all over the whole project. This programme will be extended to other schools and greatly increase in number in the coming year
Our main activity remains the World Aids Day (WAD) Mass Promotion. We shall be producing a series of CARE pamphlets, brochures and booklets for the public. On the one hand, they invite PWAs who are lost and friendless to come to CARE for help. On the other hand, they seek to education and open the minds of the community to the plight of PLWHAs and rally their help and compassion. The first of these is due to come out this World Aid Day.
