TouchBase Thank you for enabling TOUCH to positively impact people from all walks of life! Second Chance at Education TOUCH Youth Learning Centre (TYLC) 32 early school leavers have enrolled with TYLC this year, for a second chance at education. More than 30% of them require short-term financial assistance facilitated by TYLC. The centre offers youths aged 15 to 20 a conducive environment to attain their GCE 'O' or 'N' level certificates. Besides academic classroom lessons, TYLC students enjoy a wide range of programmes and activities which develop their interests, character and life skills. For more enquiries, please call 6273 5568 or email tylc@touch.org.sg. Gaining insights into the needs of youths at risk TOUCH Youth Learning Centre (TYLC) On 30 January 2013, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health & Ministry of Transport together with the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) Master Plan Task Force members visited TOUCH Youth TYLC to discuss matters pertaining out-of-school youths and explored opportunities of future collaboration. Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim also visited the classes and interacted with the students. Character & Citizenship Education (CCE) and Leadership Day Camp TOUCH Leadership and Mentoring (TL&M) Last November, TL&M trained 74 primary school students from eight schools in the West 3 cluster to be CCE Champions of their schools. Held over three days, the students went through a series of high energy and interactive equipping sessions bringing out the CCE values of being an active and involved citizen. The students had a great time and enjoyed themselves as they learned before returning to their schools to impart the knowledge to their fellow students. Helping parents be heroes to their kids TOUCH Family Life Education (TFLE) In February 2013, nine parents from Ngee Ann Primary School attended a series of workshops, “Be a Hero to your Kids - The Six A’s of an Effective Father”, organised by TFLE. They were taught how to build a strong foundation based on the 6As of positive parenting – Authority, Accountability, Affection, Availability, Appreciation and Acceptance. Held over four sessions, each two-hour workshop was conducted in a highly interactive coffee-talk style. Workshops can be conducted in English and mandarin. For enquiries, please call 6317 9988 or email tcs.fle@touch.org.sg. Teens prepare for new stage in life TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) Sixty-two Primary Six students from TYA were given extra handles on how to make decisions on their own as they adapt to secondary school life. Through TYA’s annual Youthphoria Camp Explorer, the three-day camp organised by TYA in November 2012 included activities like “Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) Explorer” and “Learning Expedition” where the children were exposed to various CCA options and the types of subjects they will be studying in Secondary School. There was also a session titled “Who Am I?” where campers learnt more about themselves and their peers, including each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Helping employers hire the Deaf TOUCH Silent Club (TSC) TSC has been guiding the Deaf in finding employment and building good relationships with employers and employees since 1993. Published in March 2013, “Hiring the Deaf” is a project by TSC’s Work Assistance Programme for the Deaf community. It is a useful resource for employers as it provides tips on how to best assimilate the Deaf into the workforce and dispel common misconceptions about Deaf employees. This guidebook is supported by the Singapore National Employers Federation. For enquiries, please call 6317 9988 or email silent.club@touch.org.sg. Meals for frail elderly TOUCH Home Care (THC) The Meals-On-Wheels (MOW) programme continued to see strong demand for its home delivery meals. Driven almost entirely by TOUCH Home Care’s (THC) volunteers, 10,000 packs of meals are delivered each month, reaching out to over 200 frail elderly. THC’s clients can look forward to new dishes delivered in bento boxes with a wider selection of nutritious food. MOW is supported by volunteers from corporations, organisations, schools and individuals from the public. To volunteer with THC in Jurong or Toa Payoh, please call 6258 6797 or email thc@touch.org.sg. Road Safety Fun TOUCH Centre for Independent Living (TCIL) Some 40 trainees from TCIL visited the Road Safety Park at East Coast Park on 27 February 2013 accompanied by TCIL staff and student volunteers from Hwa Chong Institution’s National Police Cadet Corps. Moving around in groups, trainees learnt about traffic rules and how to use the pedestrian crossings and cross traffic junctions safely. They also learnt about the need to give way and to be alert and careful at all times. To learn more about our work with individuals with intellectual disabilities, please turn to page .