ijhcc annual report 2014 annual report 2014.pdf · i wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all our...

Infant Jesus Homes and Children’s Centres

IJHCC Annual Report 2014

1

1 Mission Statement

2 Chairman’s Message

3 Management Committee

4 Staff

5 Funding

6 IJ Village

7 IJ Galilee Centre

8 IJ Clementi Centre

9 Statement of Accounts 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IJHCC is a charitable institution which was formerly known as Convent

Orphanage and Home for Abandoned Babies when it was first set up in 1854.

The change of name took effect from 1 June 1995. IJHCC was registered

under the Charities Act on 5 August 1992.

Registration number 0888

Registered/ Mailing address: 503 Ang Mo Kio St 13, Singapore 569406

Auditor: Fiducia LLP



2

Mission Statement

The mission of IJHCC is to provide a caring and supportive environment conducive to the

balanced growth and personal formation of children at risk to help them grow into responsible young

persons, well-equipped for life, with a capacity to contribute to society.

We offer …

transitional Shelter for children in need of protection and care;

a safe and caring formative experience for children and youth through different programmes

offered;

opportunities for their physical, mental, social, emotional, moral and spiritual development;

financial assistance and support to the families so as to promote the growth of children and youth

as independent and responsible world citizens; and

opportunities to reach out to others less fortunate.

“There is always a sense of joy for the one

who knows how to love.”

Blessed Nicolas Barre



3

Chairman’s Message

The Infant Jesus Homes and Children’s Centres (IJHCC) was established from the very beginning to

reach out to the most vulnerable children in need of protection and care. We have continued to serve the

mission of the IJ Sisters to the service of the poor by providing a safe, caring and educative environment

for children and youth through the different programmes offered in our centres.

IJHCC reached a turning point in its long history with the closure of our Children’s Home in Block

442, Clementi Avenue 3. Due to the changing social landscape in Singapore, it became apparent that the

demand for children’s residential centres was falling rapidly and it was no longer cost effective for IJHCC to

operate a small Home with a maximum capacity of 8 children (only 3 children remaining at the time of

closure) but still having to maintain a full set of staff due to legislative requirements.

Looking forward, IJHCC will continue to focus its efforts on the disadvantaged children and youth

in our community, including those from the IJ Schools and the Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood. We have made

big strides to acquaint and introduce ourselves to the many governmental agencies and other Voluntary

Welfare Organisations operating in Ang Mo Kio. These include the National Council of Social Services (NCSS)

and their affiliates such as the Social Service Offices (SSO) and Family Service Centres (FSCs). Outreach will

continue and be expanded to include the neighbouring schools and the students who will benefit from the

student care, pre-schooler foundation/enrichment programmes and services offered at both our premises,

namely IJ Village and IJ Galilee Centre.

In line with the Charities Council’s call for improved governance of Charities in Singapore we have

continued to focus our efforts in sourcing qualified and dedicated volunteers to assume responsible

positions in the various committees necessary for the operations at IJHCC. This has resulted in a fully

independent team of Management Committee members and ably supported by Sub-Committees

governing the main areas of Audit, Human Resources, Programmes & Services and Fund-Raising.

I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all our loyal staff members for the unwavering love and

care they have shown to our beneficiaries throughout the years and their utmost dedication towards the

call of the IJ Mission. Inevitably we must also place on record our deep appreciation to all our volunteers

and generous donors – their continuing support have been a great source of inspiration and comfort to

IJHCC.

God Bless All.

Yip Soon Weng, Francis Chairman IJHCC Management Committee



4

Management Committee

NAME DATE OF APPOINTMENT POSITION HELD

Mr YIP Soon Weng, Francis 28 Nov 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Chairperson

Ms France HO 01 Jan 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Hon. Gen. Secretary

Ms Doreen YIP 21 Oct 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Hon. Treasurer

Sr Jocelyn KANG 20 Nov 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Member

Ms Annabel PENNEFATHER 20 Nov 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Member

Mrs Pauline TAN 01 Jan 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Member

Mrs Shu Quo MATHEWS 01 Jan 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Member

Mr Alexander C. LOUIS 08 Nov 2013 to 31 Dec 2014 Member



5

Staff

Executive Director Ms Jennifer Lim (resigned on 28 Feb 2014)

Deputy CEO Ms Sheryl Khong (resigned on 21 Feb 2014)

Finance & Administration Manager Ms Prisca Teng

Accounts Assistant Ms Pauline Pang Chong Eng

Programmes & Services Manager Ms Seey Seey Leong

Community Engagement Executive Ms Sara Kwek (resigned on 30 May 2014)

Ms Stephanie Reloo (w.e.f 29 May 2014)

IJ Village

Operations Executive Ms June Wong Yu Yen

Caregivers Ms Valencia Reynalyn Sumagit

Ms Melu Rhea Manglinong

Ms Tin Tin Htwe Roselyn (resigned on 25 June 2014)

General Worker Mr OH Gek Kwang

Cook Ms ER Swee Koon Lucy (deceased 27 Aug 2014)



6

IJ Galilee

Head of Centre Ms Sandy Ang Geok Chin

Teacher Ms Theresa Lo Nyuk Ngo

Child Development Officers Ms Doris Ong Bee Neo

Ms Komathy d/o Selvaraj

Cook / Cleaner Ms Anthoniamah A/P Suppiah

IJ Clementi Centre – Ceased operations in Nov 2014

Head of Home Ms Sandy Ang Geok Chin (duties ceased with closure)

Counsellor/Case Worker Ms Latha d/o Segaran (re-deployed to IJ Village)

Child Development Officers Ms Priyatharishini d/o Manohar (left on 30 May 2014)

Ms Angelin Shobe Pereira (left on 30 Sept 2014)

Ms Wong Shi Ning (left on 10 Oct 2014)

Social Service Assistant Ms Pearly Lim Yan Xin (left on 07 April 2014)

House Parents Ms Seng Bu (left on 17 Nov 2014)

Sr Helen Daw (left on 17 Nov 2014)

Ms Villones Carmi Dolores (re-deployed to IJ Village)



7

IJ Village (IJV)

IJ Village provided the venue for the annual Self Awareness Camp for four groups of Secondary Four

students, where the students spent two full days together with an overnight stay to provide an

opportunity for them to reflect on their final year in school and ponder the various choices opened to

them going forward in life. The students were from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in Toa Payoh

and the camps took place during the four weekends of January.

The facilities at IJ Village were used by the children from IJ Galilee and IJ Clementi on a regular basis

throughout the year. Programmes completed included the following:

Culinary workshops introducing Asian food (Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese) and baking

lessons for muffins, biscuits, cupcakes, etc.

Enrichment workshops for art and drama

Music programmes

Enrichment workshops for dance and movement

Discovering pottery programmes

Meditation and relaxation exercises

Table tennis training programmes

Miscellaneous sports activities

Arts and craft



8

The programme on “Discovering Pottery” consisted of 9 sessions held during the December school

holidays and conducted by Goodman Ceramic Studio. The studio was sponsored by the We Care Arts

Fund, a joint partnership between the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Community Development

Council (CDC). It is hoped that programmes of this nature would continue to be funded by the NAC or

affiliated organisations in the future.

The Enrichment Workshops for Art and Drama were conducted by students from School of the Arts

(SOTA) who volunteered their services for the children as part of their community service programme in

the school.

The Enrichment Workshop for Drama and Movement was conducted in two modules of 6 lessons each

during the June and December school holidays. The teacher was Ms. Melissa Chiew who obtained a grant

from the National Arts Council (NAC) directly for this workshop.

Pottery

Drama and Movement (Skit planning)



9

Sports and games



10

Other Care Services

IJ Village is also a Home exclusively to a small group of four elderly ladies who were lovingly

cared for by the IJ Sisters from when they were babies at the Convent Orphanage and Home for

Abandoned Babies at Victoria Street. The ladies have continued to be well taken care of by IJHCC

with the help of two staff (caregivers) and volunteers. They live in simple comfort and dignity in

a pleasant and supportive environment.



11

IJ Clementi (IJC)

Located within the heart of Clementi Central, IJ Clementi offered 2 main programmes:

RESIDENTIAL CARE PROGRAMME

Licensed as a Children and Young Persons (CYP) Home since September 2011, IJ Clementi was a Home to

children between the ages of 3 to 12 years from disadvantaged family background.

With a conducive “home” environment, these children received the much needed care, attention and

support while they learned to build up their confidence and attained positive values and life skills. Our

Child Development Officers provided the children with programmes that promoted their social and

emotional well-being as well as developed their self-help skills.

Parents and/or guardians were assisted with the arrangements for permanent care of their

children/wards during and after discharge from the Home.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL HOURS SUPPORT PROGRAMME

This programme provided a safe and positive environment for students outside of normal school hours

and supported them socially, emotionally and academically in the process of their growth and

development. In order to achieve these objectives the students were introduced to a range of varied and

enriching activities to widen their experiences and perspectives of life including the following:

Homework supervision

Social and peer interaction

Enrichment activities such as music, drama and movement

Sports activities

Excursions and outings

This programme had a total of eight children when it ceased with the closure of IJ Clementi by

November 2014.

Due to the changing social landscape in Singapore in the past several years, the demand for

residential care of children in Singapore has decreased significantly. This, coupled with a view on

cost- effectiveness, it was no longer financially viable for IJHCC to continue funding the

residential service for a total of seven children residing at IJ Clementi then.



12

The high cost of maintaining the minimum staff strength as per the Ministry of Social and Family

Development (MSF) requirements had to be incurred, despite the few residents. Thus, after

much deliberation, the decision to cease operations at IJ Clementi by the end of the school year,

was made by the Management Committee in early 2014. The closure of IJ Clementi and all its

programmes were finalised and completed in November 2014 after the MSF Placement Unit

made alternative residential care arrangement for the last three remaining children under the

care of IJ Clementi.



13

IJ Galilee (IJG)

Since its establishment in 1982, Galilee Centre has been providing learning support services to children from disadvantaged family backgrounds. The Centre aims to influence and promote the children’s growth into becoming independent and responsible world citizens. It is crucial that the children are provided with an environment that facilitates, supports and nurtures the physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth of each child. Therefore, in order to maximise a child’s potential, a holistic approach is adopted by staff and volunteers alike at the Centre. In addition to providing a safe, caring and educative environment for the children, social assistance and support are also rendered to their families. With our care and learning support services, we envisage that the talents and learning potential of the children will be harnessed, with high self-esteem and confidence.

The following learning support programmes are offered for the children enrolled at the Centre.

1) Headstart Programme

Using partial Montessori approach with emphasis on independence, and psychological development,

children aged 2.5 to 6 years, are offered the following:

* Reading / Writing * Language & Mathematics * Music & Movement (Keyboard playing lessons included) * Art and Craft * Outdoor Play * Moral Education * Character Development 2) Learning Support Programme

Primary school children aged 7 to 12 years receive the following:

Homework supervision

Academic Support (English, Mathematics & Science)

Reading/Writing

Music and Movement (including Drama / Piano lessons)

Character Development

Art and Craft

Outdoor Play



14

3) Youth Participation

A small group of 5-7 secondary school youths who were with the Centre in their primary school days

regularly return to assist in tuition or music activities, especially during the school holidays. They also

mentor the children and are sometimes involved in running activities for their younger peers. We hope to

encourage these youths to continue active participation in our events and programmes.

Highlights of Events and Activities for the Children in 2014:

Educational Tour @ MacDonald on 18 March 2014

Badminton Tournament on 21st March 2014

Gardens By the Bay on 9th June 2014

River Safari on 11th June 2014

Farmart Tour on 25th June 2014

Outing to Botanical Gardens on 25th November 2014

Snow City on 17th December 2014

Bakery, Pottery and Music and Movement classes at IJV (June and November/December holidays 2014)

Children having fun feeding the animals at Farmart Centre

Badminton Tournament



15

Gardens by the Bay Outing

River Safari Outing



16

Statement of Accounts



17



18



19



20



21



22



23



24



25



26



27



28



29



30



31



32



33



34



35



36



37

ijhcc annual report 2014 annual report 2014.pdf · i wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all our...

Documents