RCS is looking to reach out to school-going children of low-income families by way of poverty relief and life skills education services.  It is our hope that holistic support will lead to the change of mindset and eventually the attainment of economic independence and resiliency in our clients. This purpose is rooted in RCS’s Director, Mr Vincent Lun’s desire to see these families transcend from being recipients of welfare assistance to being a blessing to the nation.

FAMILY PROGRAMME

BLESS Programme

Through the dedicated service and financial support of scores of selfless volunteers, the 6-month programme, now known as BLESS (an acronym for Blessing Lives, Empowering and Strengthening Society), helped more than 200 needy families in the North East district of the island.  Many of these families came as referrals from other agencies.

During the 6-month programme, volunteers would purchase basic food items and essential supplies at least once a month and personally deliver them to the homes of our clients.  With the clients’ permission, volunteers would stay and chat with them thus building trust and establishing friendship.   The befriending process brought encouragement to our clients who otherwise would be left struggling with little or no social and emotional support.

BLESS Banquet
The BLESS banquet was a culmination of the efforts of all our staff and volunteers.  This dinner catered to more than 200 needy clients from our BLESS Programme, These clients came from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  A number of them were old and wheelchair-bound and required special assistance to travel to and return from the banquet. Those who were single and home-bound were also recipients of daily meal deliveries and spring-cleaning services.

At the BLESS Banquet, clients experienced momentary respite from their usual routine with live entertainment and volunteers serving them as chauffeurs and hosts. Besides being a special dinner treat, the Banquet provided a unique opportunity for clients to receive warmth and hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere.  The therapeutic effect of our efforts was brought to fruition when clients who had been home-bound for many years agreed to resume therapy and treatment for their medical conditions after the BLESS Banquet experience.

CHILDREN PROGRAMME

SuperKidz Club – Story At The Void

In addition to providing food and essential supplies, RCS also reached out to children in the community through its original programme Story At The Void.  The goal of this programme was to inculcate wholesome values in young children thus helping them to become responsible and productive members of society.  Positive moral values were deeply etched in the minds and hearts of the participants through songs, games, role-play and dramatization

Story At The Void was a 7-week programme that catered to children aged 5-12.  The activities, jointly organized by our experienced volunteer facilitators and relevant Residents’ Committees, took place on Saturdays at designated HDB void decks in the East. At the end of the 7-week programme, a visit to a Home for the Elderly was organized.  During the visit, the children entertained the residents with songs they had learnt and presented their handicrafts to bless the hearts of these residents.  This visit also served to reinforce the morals taught at the void deck.

Article source: ZaoBao 8 January 2006

YOUTH PROGRAMME

Blaze Programme(Step Up)

In 2007, RCS started ‘Blaze’, a school-based social work programme targeting youths at-risk.  Weekly life skills workshops and counseling sessions were conducted to promote students’ social and emotional well-being.  Other activities such as soccer and hip hop dancing helped instill in the students the values of teamwork and self-discipline.

Over a one-year period, participants from Jun Yuan Primary School and Jun Yuan Secondary School showed improvement in their ability to manage anger and were more respectful towards authority.  There was also an increase in self-esteem among certain students which was evident in their ability to communicate more spontaneously with peers and teachers. Students were able to understand the importance of education as a means to achieving their life goals.  More importantly, the students volunteered their time and talents at the BLESS Banquet serving dinner to the clients and performing for them.

Community Involvement Programme (CIP)

RCS fully supports the Ministry Of Education's desire to instill social awareness and compassion in our students toward the less privileged in the community.  Through CIP, we create opportunities for schools and campuses to participate in projects that promote the welfare of those in need, both within the local community as well as overseas.

PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Parenting With Confidence

Apart from initiating community involvement projects, RCS also partnered with, Focus On The Family (www.family.org.sg) a provider of “Parenting with Confidence” workshops  to equip and encourage parents of children aged 0-5, 6-12 and 13-19. Six two-hour sessions of interactive learning through videos and discussions in a small-group setting provided practical insights and creative ideas for successful parenting.

A distinct feature of this programme was its potential to inspire parents to see and appreciate the uniqueness and possibilities in their children regardless of age. A natural outcome from each class was an informal support group formed by the participants themselves.   The group provided an opportunity for parents to share about the universal challenges of parenting and even personal successes thereby encouraging one another to persevere in this life-long task.

Fund Raising

RiverLife Community Services would like to say a big THANK YOU! to our volunteers, donors and community partners who have helped make a difference in the lives of our clients.