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[Mid-year Update]: Making Women’s Lives Better, Thanks to You

June 22nd, 2017 | AGM and AWARE Updates, Employment and Labour Rights, Family and Divorce, Gender-based Violence, News

It’s only June, but we’ve already had a fantastic (and busy!) 2017 campaigning for housing for single parents, and advocating for the abolition of “illegitimacy” and marital rape immunity.

We launched “Building Dreams” to help under-privileged women secure employment. And our Helpline turns 25, helping more than 25,000 women.

It’s because of your generosity that we are able to make women’s lives better. From all our clients and our staff – THANK YOU!

You helped train and put lower-income women in jobs

We launched our “Building Dreams” programme to help under-privileged women find employment in the Eldercare and other sectors. So far, we have placed:

  • over 100 mothers in Job Readiness and Eldercare Training Programmes to upgrade their skills and increase their confidence, and

  • over 20 women in employment.

This would not be possible without our strong partnership with Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT) and the generosity of J.P. Morgan, our corporate sponsor for the Eldercare programme!   

You’ve helped to support: Nora, a 27-year-old mother of two. She resigned from her job as a childcare teacher due to a difficult pregnancy. Spotting her talent in crafting, DOT found a match for her with LOOMS, a social enterprise for women to create handmade accessories. From the confidence she gained there and training with DOT, she successfully landed a stable front-desk job at a local hotel.

Helpline turns 25, providing support for over 25,000 women!

In 1992, Singapore’s only women’s Helpline service was born in an old shop house on Race Course Road. Since then, we have responded to thousands of calls for help, and provided callers with further support through counselling, legal advice sessions and support groups. These services have helped our callers cope with their immediate crisis and eventually regain control over their lives.

Said one support group client: “Every week I learnt something about myself and others on this journey. It filled the gaps and I found the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that I had been searching for! Being present and physically participating each week was invaluable.”

(Image) Support Services ad from the 1990s   

You’ve helped to support: Amanda, a client who went through divorce. When faced with divorce, Amanda who had been a stay-at-home mum for years was distressed about her housing situation and losing custody of her children. She felt much better after speaking to our Helpliner, lawyer and counsellor. Soon after, she joined our Divorce Support Group, where she became a mentor and an inspiration to other women going through similar struggles.

You fought for single parents’ access to housing

For many single parents in Singapore, finding a home is an arduous journey due to discriminatory HDB policies. Over the last two years, with your support, we’ve been tirelessly pushing for changes to housing policies for unwed and divorced parents.

We released a study of 55 single mothers’ challenges with public housing, followed by a high impact advocacy campaign using comics,  infographics, videos and our current petition.

Single parents spoke openly about their frustrations with inadequate housing policies at our May dialogue. Rachel, an attendee and single mother, said “I also had to endure years of an abusive marriage just because they had a ridiculous law barring divorcees or singles under 35 from buying their own place. I think (AWARE is) doing a great job in highlighting the plight of the single parents having to go through all the unnecessary hurdles. Kudos!”

Join over 6,000 supporters and sign our petition (closing 1 July) urging concrete changes to housing policies so they are more inclusive of single-parent families!
 

You empowered survivors of sexual assault 

Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) turns three this year! Thousands of survivors of sexual assault have had a safe space to turn to thanks to our holistic services specially catered for them. This year, we are working with the Police to develop a training video, to strengthen police officers’ understanding of victim experiences. The video will feature victims’ voices testifying on their experiences with the police, and provide a unique insight into their perspectives.

(Image) AWARE staff wearing purple for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April

 

How else can you support us?

Our big annual gala event, Love Ball, will be happening on Friday, 8 September 2017 at St Regis! Join us for a fun-filled evening to celebrate our achievements in paving the way for gender equality in Singapore.

Catalyse Consulting provides consulting and training on unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion and managing workplace harassment. Promote safer and fairer workplaces – Bring us into your workplaces or tell others about us. Contact catalyse@aware.org.sg.

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We look forward to your generous support in the second half of 2017!