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SANANEWSVOL 45 • JAN-MAR 2010 • MICA (P) 122/03/2010 • ISSN 0129-6621

p3Moving forward for our youths To Dream. To Live. SANA All-Cash Donation Draw

p4Driving with PremierFlag Day 2010 takes a twist from the ordinary

p7Leading the TeamSANA Recreation Club Bi-Annual General Meeting

p8The Motorcycle Notebook Mr Mohan Singh rides the volunteering path with SANA

For many, it is a long and lonely road fraught with many challenges, and the companions

make all the difference. To every volunteer, donor, sponsor and partner: we are very

thankful that you are a friend of SANA and all whom we are

reaching out to.

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SANA kick-started the first family oriented event this year on 13 March with plenty of adrenalin rush for the Forest Adventure @ Bedok Reservoir.

Participants were equipped with a harness and helmet, attached to a safety line in this aerial course built through trees. Feeling a strong rush of adrenalin, participants get to swing from tree to tree and zip across Bedok Reservoir. With the support of family members, each participant started to trust themselves more and be confident to undergo the grand course which takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete.

Aftercare Family Enrichment Programme (AFEP) which falls under the umbrella of SANA Support Group (SSG) targets to provide additional support to aftercare clients and their families, using experiential learning and family enrichment workshops. The first AFEP Workshop ‘Family Bonding’ will be held on 24 April at SANA.

SANA Support Group (SSG) acts as a second support net for SANA clients and their families. The programme serves to provide a more sustained, structured and robust approach to look into prolonged aftercare needs of SANA clients and their families. Family and community involvement have been proven as effective tools to help drug addicts in their rehabilitation and recovery process.

Friends of SANA, send in your feedback on how we can make better for you! Email us at news@sana.org.sg to share your volunteering experience at SANA. We are happy to give a token of appreciation with every entry. Please include your full name and contact details in your email.

Mr Handrick NgBoard Member

Susana NgExecutive, Corporate

Charlie Goh Head, Corporate

Murni MastanExecutive, Corporate

We’d love to hear from you!

SANA would like to send a note of appreciation to Mr Peter Lim for supporting SANA Support Group with a generous donation. With your help, this new programme launched in late 2009 will be able to do more for our clients and their families!

New meeting day for Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

is every Wednesday, 7.30pm to 8.30pm

at SANA Training Wing

Editorial Board

What’s On

The Attitude to Altitude

thank you

Understanding Addiction Community Talk

We would like to thank Oogachaga for inviting SANA to be a part of the panel discussion

on 30 January 2010.

ContributorsRachel Tan Head, Aftercare

Concept : SANA

Design / Layout : Jen Design

Jeremiah MarkExecutive, Volunteer Management

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Youth is such a precious time in our lives to aspire and to be inspired, yet many young lives are ruined with children and youths falling prey to the dangers of drug and inhalant abuse.

Drug Abuse DESTROYS Dreams and Lives

SANA All-Cash Donation Draw

Join us today in our fight against drug abuse that has crushed many dreams and lives, broken up many families, leaving the spouses and children in despair and helplessness.

We need you to support us in our work. Endorse our mission to keep the dreams alive and to live in a drug-free community by participating in our annual SANA All-Cash Donation Draw 2010.

Proceeds of this event will fund our various programmes in our vision for a drug-free environment for all Singaporeans, especially the children and youths who are the most vulnerable to the many negative

In 2009, the SMART Programme was developed in response to the increase of young inhalant abusers under the age of 20. The first two runs in January and July 2009 were conducted for probationers who were under supervision with MCYS. The acronym for SMART: Self-Management through Activities, Reflection of Relationships and Therapy, aligns the methodologies adopted in the programme. Specifically, this programme targets youths between ages of 14-18, with the primary objective of strengthening their resilience against inhalant and drug abuse.

We are currently in the process of recruiting more volunteers for the next run which starts in early July 2010. If you are 25 years old and above, active and outgoing, enjoy interacting with youths, and have a counselling background, get in touch with us! Ideally, you should be able to commit on weekday evenings and Saturdays.

influences around them.

SANA’s youth programmes includes the Anti-drug and Inhalant Abuse Badge Scheme (for the Secondary Schools’ uniformed groups), Aspire Camp (for target groups in Primary Schools) and SMART Programme on inhalant abuse. SANA also partners student unions of Institutions of Higher Learning, as well as Community and Grassroots organisations to organise outreach programmes to spread the anti-inhalant and drug abuse message.

The draw is scheduled for 31 July 2010.

A big THANK YOU to the schools and organisations that have participated in this year’s Donation Draw. Your support is awesome!

Calling the schools and organisations, there is still time! With every $2 ticket, stand a chance of winning the top prize of $50,000 with 49 other cash prizes. Email us now to arrange for purchase of tickets or for bulk consignment.

(Charlie@sana.org.sg / 6732 1122 ext 67)

Ms Valerie Wong valerie@sana.org.sg 6732 1122 (ext. 59)Mr Suman suman@sana.org.sg 6732 1122 (ext. 78)

Contact

Youth Programme needs Volunteers!

thank you

What’s On

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SANA Flag Day 2010 in conjunction with World Drug-Free Day

Thank you for joining our fight against drug abuse that has broken up many families, leaving the spouses and children in despair and hapless.

Be our Drug-Free Ambassadors on 26 June 2010 to help us reach out to as many of our fellow Singaporeans as possible, and spread the anti-drug message to the community.

Many of our nation’s children and youths are falling prey to the dangers of drug and inhalant abuse and their young lives ruined. The youth community is constantly exposed to the many negative influences around them. Thus, public education is a vital channel for us to spread our anti-drug message to the young people, as well as the larger community at the grassroots.

Celebrate World Drug Free Day 2010 with us and be a part of this fight against drug abuse!

Donate $50 and get to put down a personal message or note of encouragement on one bag, which will

then ‘go places’ with our Drug-free Ambassadors. All donations are

2.5 times tax-exempted.

To show your support in other ways, donate online on www.sana.org.sg

To volunteer, please send your reply to flagday@sana.org.sg by 30 May 2010 with the following details and your preferred shifts and stations: • Name • School / Institution • I/C no • Email address • Contact No.

The proceeds will go towards our community outreach projects and events. We believe that every dollar raised will help us to reach out to one more person with the important message of living a drug-free life.

Adopt a Bag!

CALL FOR DRUG-FREE

AMBASSADORS!

Action on the Ground Our DAPCs (Drug Abuse Prevention Committees)

and religious affiliates, as well as partnering schools will be supporting the Flag Day at the grassroots. Look out for events near you, and

more excitement to come!

VOLUNTEER ShIFTSShift 1 - 9am — 1pmShift 2 - 12noon — 4pmShift 3 - 3pm — 7pm

COLLECTION POINTSEast - Pasir Ris MRT StationSouth - Central - Outram Park MRT StationWest - Jurong East MRT StationNorth - Woodlands & Ang Mo Kio MRT StationsNorth - East-SANA office, Sengkang

Check us out at www.sanaflagday.org

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SANA Flag Day 2010

Up to some Good We have always believed in Corporate Social Responsibility, even before the term was coined. Working hard for the business is how we keep it sustainable, with responsibility to our shareholders as well as helping to create jobs. (Premier has more than 2000 taxis on the road today.)

Having a business on track also means that we are ready to give back more to society. I have come to understand SANA’s role, which also encompasses the crucial preventive aspect, helping the youth and the families that are victims of drug abuse.

Preventive, not just corrective Helping youth get on the right path is so important because they are the future of Singapore. Drugs are a disastrous ‘distraction’ in a child’s important journey of ‘growing up’. The harm caused to health is as severe.

I want to tell all the young ones this: Be Resilient! All of us were young once, and we understand that young people are a curious and experimental bunch. But take the responsibility to understand the repercussions, and the long term damage that drugs can cause. It’s your choice. It’s your strength of character that you are testing against temptation. I believe that our youth today are intelligent and streetwise – so think through the risks you want to take: is that a ‘progressive venture’?

Donate some sweat!Though Premier is partnering with SANA for the Flag Day, our staff is also encouraged to help out beyond official capacity. This is our way of opening up new possibilities for my colleagues who have the passion to do good, that here is an avenue for them to contribute to society while volunteering with SANA.

This is the second year in a row that we are inviting our taxi drivers to pledge a portion (no matter big or small) of their income earned on the day of the event. It is again voluntary, and it is a way to engage everybody at Premier.

Premier Corporation Pte Ltd is one of the largest privately owned transportation companies in Singapore. Incorporated since 1995, the company has expanded its operations steadily under its 3 wholly owned subsidiaries.· Premier Taxis Pte Ltd· Premier Rent A Car Pte Ltd· Premier Automotive Services Pte Ltd

Premier Taxis was formed when the holding company was granted a Taxi Operator’s License following the deregulation of the Taxi Industry in 2003. Since the launch of the first 50 units of SilverCabs in March 2004, the company has expanded their fleet steadily and currently operates over 2,000 taxis. Their stringent selection and training process ensures that Premier is uniquely positioned to respond to our passengers’ demands for quality service, and safe and comfortable rides.

Driving for a Good CauseIn conjunction with the Drug-Free Day on 26 June, some friends of SANA will be making a special donation to get the ‘once in a lifetime’ rides, with Premier management staff as drivers and SANA Board members as porters. Our top donor gets fetched by Mr Lim Chong Boo, MD of Premier and Mr Lim Poh Quee, ED of SANA. Indeed, as what the humble and unassuming leader of Premier Corporation says, “There’s never a job too small when it comes to charity!” Mr Lim, thanks for driving the point home!

We’ve Got the Drive! SANA Flag Day 2010 isn’t going to be one that is run-of-the-mill: this year, SANA and Premier Taxis are ‘Driving towards a Drug-free Singapore’ together and inviting the community to join us in our mission against drug abuse.

Besides sponsoring the donation bags and stickers, Premier is actively participating in SANA’s public outreach initiatives for the event, and helping to raise funds for our preventive drug education and aftercare counselling services. Mr Lim Chong Boo, Managing Director of Premier Corporation, shares more on the driving force behind the collaboration with SANA.

Taxi

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SANA HACS has started volunteer training on Saturdays from 2pm to 5 pm. There will be two runs per year, six sessions for each run. The current class held at SINDA Auditorium commenced on 20 February 2010 and has ended on 27 March 2010. The 24 participants are HACS Exco members and potential counsellors from all walks of life. Training is conducted by Chairman K Murugayan, Vice Chairman N G Kumar and an external trainer, Mr Hindran.

The training is essential to ensure that service to our clients is consistent and delivered with uniform concepts in the approach, and to help the religious affiliate to identify potential religious counsellors.

The SANA Christian Counselling Services hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Monday 22 February 2010 at the Dragon Gate Restaurant, HarbourFront Centre. About 70 volunteers, friends and guests were present. This yearly feast is a way to show our appreciation for the hard work that our volunteers have put in. It is also a time to celebrate the Lunar New Year and to enjoy fellowship with one another.

In his dinner address, the chairman of CCS, Rev Stephen Pang, thanked the volunteers for their commitment and contribution to this ministry, and expressed his gratitude to the friends and partners of

CCS for their continuing support. He then shared his plans for CCS in the coming year which included the recruitment of more volunteers to cater to the growing needs for counsellors in prison, and the development of a structured counselling programme.

The ultimate highlight of the evening was, of course, the sumptuous dinner that had been prepared for the volunteers. Everyone enjoyed the dinner and had a good time enjoying the fellowship.

Mr Patrick ChowVolunteer SANA Christian Counselling Service

Medal of honour (Gold) 1. Rev K Steven2. Rev George Ian BeedMedal of honour (Silver) 1. Ms Florence Ng2. PST Sam RasooMedal of honour (Bronze) 1. Ms Jenny Lim Certificate of Appreciation 1. Rev Dr George Seow 2. Mr Lemuel Ho3. Mr Daneshwaran4. Mr Reuben Bala 5. Mr Paul Tan 6. Mr Ronnie Tan

Training for excellence

INCARE-RELIGIOUS PROGRAMME

The programme was derived from the inputs and experience of all the senior prison counsellors (past and present). The first half of the programme introduces the counselling approach while the next half delves into the rehabilitative reforming methodology. The latter is extracted from religious perspectives including the moral and ethical aspects.

Mr K Murugayan Chairman SANA Hindu Aftercare (Counselling) Service

Celebrating Commitment

Rev Stephen Pang (on the left) presented the Certificate of Appreciation to Rev Dr George Seow, who is also the CCS representative in SANA Support Group.

Several awards were given out on that evening in recognition of the excellent work that the volunteers have done:

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Training for excellence

SANA is currently exploring new avenues of advance courses for our volunteers. We are working with external training agencies to provide our volunteers with additional content outside of our 6 basic SANA courses.

One such session was the talk on ‘The Secrets of the 4 Elements’ which was held on the evening of 9 February 2010. The talk was mainly a profiling session which would allow volunteers to better identify their strengths and weaknesses. We would like to thank Aventure holdings Pte Ltd for organising this 2-hour session to kickstart a string of fresh perspectives for the rest of the year. We have also held the second session, a Cash-Flow game during our Monthly Volunteer Gathering on 26 March. The aim is to develop our volunteers’ financial literacy, aiding them in improving their financial management so that they may in turn aid their clients during mentoring/counseling sessions.

We hope that with these programmes and many more to come in 2010, volunteers will benefit in the area of personal growth and development and share with their clients and loved ones.

Volunteers Corner

SANA Recreation Club Bi-AGM 2010/2011The 2nd SRC Bi-Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 20 March 2010, 11.30am. Mr Poh Geok Ek, SANA President nominated Mr Shepherdson as the chairman, Mr Daneshwaren as the treasurer and Ms Corina Seah as the Auditor. The rest of the committee members were elected during the Bi-AGM.

SANA would like to thank the Committee Members of term 2008/2009 for their commitment in organising the various recreational and social activities during their tenure. We also wish to thank those who contributed their time and effort from the preparation, right up till the event itself.

Learning Journeys

ChairmanMr Percival Joseph ShepherdsonVice-ChairmanMr Jalaludin s/o Peer MohamedTreasurerMr Daneshwaran RanganathanAuditorMiss Corina Seah Li LingSecretaryMs Siti Raihani Bte Abdul AzizCommittee MemberMdm Sarjit KaurCommittee MemberMs Fatmah Bte Haji Mohd SalimCommittee MemberMr Salim Bin SuriCommittee MemberMr Vicknesh ThiagarajahCommittee MemberMr Saravanan RenganathanCommittee MemberMr Harry Koh Teck Hin

SRC Committee 2010/2011

Mr Poh (far right) with the elected committee members after the Bi-AGM

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The toughest swerve is…convincing my ‘counsellees’ that religion is of outmost importance to steer their life in the right direction and not to falter. They do feel very vulnerable to succumb to their vices once again due to their long association with their peers. They face so many challenges upon release: finding a job, having a roof over their heads, getting temporary financial aid for to tide them over, looking after their children’s educational needs. This is indeed daunting!

Distress in the rear viewMost of the inmates are sole bread winners. They need to be gainfully employed so as to sustain the family after release. While the spouse goes to work, the children could be left alone and are very vulnerably exposed to the vices in society. Without the dedicated parental love, guidance and supervision, the child could be led astray.

The Motorcycle Notebook

‘Touching Hearts’

Dedicating to volunteering with SANA Sikh

Aftercare (Counselling) Service since 1979 while

throttling to and fro the Prisons via his Harley

Davidson for the last 15 years, Mr Mohan Singh (age 57) shares more on his work on helping

many to gear their lives back on track.

Support SANA’s vision for a Drug-free Singapore! Donate through www.sana.org.sg or reach us to find out more about how to be our ‘Partner against Drug abuse’ through sponsorship. Cheques can be made payable to ‘SANA’ or ‘Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association’.

Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association • 2 Sengkang Square Sengkang Community Hub #05-01 Singapore 545025 • Tel: (65) 6732 1122 Fax: (65) 6732 4564 www.sana.org.sg

Taking drugs not only destroys the life of the person, physically and emotionally, but also that of the whole family, especially the children who are very vulnerable. It is really a pity to see young children sent to homes because of family neglect.

Igniting the Engine of LifeI have always been passionate about bikes and my current choice of transport is my Harley Davidson. I love riding on ‘success’! Just like how William Harley & Arthur Davidson who have achieved iconic success through sheer hard work and honesty, it has proven that success is possible with religious commitment. In adversity, through religion, the motivation and strength is begotten with one’s principles, and value in life reinforced.