Every year 11,000 ex-offenders walk out the prison gates with a burning desire to change. This bright flame has now been further fueled by the launch of the Yellow Ribbon Project in 2004 by President Nathan. To keep this fire burning within them, the organisers, CARE Network, needs to join hands with the community and other government organizations to create a stable social platform on which reformed offenders and their families can start life afresh. The "Keys" needed to release them from this second social prison lies with family, friends, employers and the community. Let's give them the KEY.
Project Goals - The 3 'A's:
Create Awareness of giving second chances to ex-offenders.
Generate Acceptance of ex-offenders and their families into the community.
Inspire community Action to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders.
The Yellow Ribbon Project engages the community to offer second chances to ex-offenders who sincerely want to change. It hopes to inspire a ripple effect of concerted community action and ownership to support ex-offenders and their families.
How are we achieving these goals?
To achieve the goals of YRP, a variety of events and activities will be organized where you can simply participate and take the first step to show your active support. Go to our event schedule for more informaton.
If you are interested to take further steps in helping ex-offenders and their families, click on "I want to help", "Make a Difference" or simply "Contact Us" to explore other partnership or awareness opportunities.
The inspiration for the YRP is linked to a popular song in the 70s, 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree'.
"I'm really still in prison and my love, she holds the key, a simple yellow ribbon's what I need to set me free..."
The 3 lines from the lyrics above, aptly describes how ex-offenders are actually incarcerated in 2 prisons. The first is the physical prison. However, it is a matter of time before ex-offenders are released. However, when they are released, they enter into a second 'prison', which is the psychological and social imprisonment. The "she" who holds the key to unlocking the second 'prison', refers to the ex-offender's family, friends, neighbours, employers, colleagues, volunteers, religious group and the community at large.
About the Song - "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"
Background
The song is believed to be based on an actual incident that occurred on-board a southern bus bound for Miami in Florida, USA. One of the passengers explained to the driver that he was just out of prison, having served three years for passing bad checks. In a letter to his wife, he had written that she didn't have to wait for him; but, if she was still interested, she could let him know by tying a yellow ribbon around the only oak tree in the city square. As the bus rolled down the U.S. 17, nearing the man's hometown of White Oak, Georgia, the driver was asked to slow down so that all the passengers could see whether the ribbon was in place. To the man's tearful relief, it was. The driver pulled over and phoned the story in to the wire services, which spread all over the country. Songwriters Irwin levine and L. Russell Brown read about it the newspaper then put together their million-selling ballad.
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree Words and Music by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown. Performed by Tony Orlando
I'm coming home, I've done my timeNow I've got to know what is and isn't mineIf you received my letter telling you I'd soon be freeThen you'll know just what to do If you still want me If you still want me
Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak treeIt's been there three long years Do ya still want me? (still want me)If I don't see a ribbon 'round the oak tree'I'll stay on the busForget about usPut the blame on meIf I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
Bus driver, please look for me 'cause I couldn't bear to see what I might seeI'm really still in prison And my love, she holds the keyA simple yellow ribbon's what I need to set me freeI wrote and told her please
Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree It's been three long years Do ya still want me? (still want me)If I don't see a ribbon 'round the ole oak treeI'll stay on the busForget about usPut the blame on meIf I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
Now the whole darn bus is cheerin'And I can't believe I seeA hundred yellow ribbons 'round the ole oak tree
I'm comin' home, mmm, mmm
Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree...
© All rights reserved. Words and Music by by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown.
Ex-offenders with a Desire to Change
“It's about my future. Will I face discrimination outside? How will I deal outside? Will I stand strong against the waves that are about to come, going back to old peers, my old ways, talking about me being released?”
The Yellow Ribbon Project seeks to help ex-offenders who take responsibility for their own actions and are trying their best to persevere and earn back the trust from their family, friends, colleagues and the community. The Yellow Ribbon Project engages the community to offer second chances to ex-offenders who sincerely want to change.
“Although I have been released and I feel that I'm a changed person, the emotional prison is still there because people sometimes give me looks when they hear about my past... I know it's tough for the public perception to change, but I hope that people will learn to accept us, that we have changed.”
REHABILITATION AMBASSADORS
All Rehab Ambassadors serve a two-year renewable term and are exemplary individuals that possess the following qualities:
Have a strong interest and believe in the acceptance of ex-offenders back into the community.
Display willingness to offer ex-offenders second chances.
Believe in the 3 goals of the Yellow Ribbon Project namely, to create awareness of giving second chances to ex-offenders, generate acceptance of ex-offenders and their families into the community and to inspire community action to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders. This is seen through their willingness to hire, mentor, perform, share and support to encourage ex-offenders and their families.
Rehabilitation Ambassadors 2004
Employers
Mr Michael Tan, Director, Cars International
Mr Phillip Leow Pee Lip, Managing Director, Fong Shen Mould Precision Engineering Pte Ltd
Ms Jacquie Tan, Kriston Food & Beverage Pte Ltd
Mr Colim Lim, Director, Sarskill (S) Pte Ltd
Mr Howard Ang, Managing Director, Toprint Computer Supplies Pte Ltd
Artistes
Mr Moses Lim , established artiste and comedian
Sports
Mr Sheik Alauddin, former world silat champion and is curretly the technical director of the Singapore Silat Federation
Mr Leslie Kwok, national swimmer
NEW! Rehabilitation Ambassadors 2005
Employers
Mr Joshua Hua, Managing Director, Syntech Engineers Pte Ltd
Youth – NEW!
Mr Glenn Lim, Youth Counsellor and Public Speaker Find out more about Glenn at http://www.glennlim.net/
back
Our Supporters from various Organisations / Schools
We wish to express our gratitude and appreciations to all the agencies that have joined us for this journey of Hope and acceptance.
Together, we can Unlock the Second Prison and give ex-offenders and their families a second lease of life.
Our Supporters (2005)
A - Adam Road Presbyterian Centre
Admiralty Secondary School
Anglican High School
Anika Insurance Brokers & Consultants Pte Ltd
Attorney General Chambers
B - Baptist Community Care
Bedok Methodist Church
Bedok North Secondary School
Bedok Town Secondary School
Best World International Ltd
Bethany Church
Bethel Assembly of God
Bethesda (Frankel Est) Church
Boon Lay Gardens Primary School
Braddell-Westlake Secondary School
Breakthrough Missions Limited
Bukit Batok Secondary School
Bukit Panjang Govt High School
C -Canberra North Zone '1'
Canberra Secondary School
Care Assembly of God
Care Community Services Society
Catholic High Primary School
Central Singapore Community Development Council
Centre of Christian Agape
CHIJ St Theresa's Convent
Choa Chu Kang Secondary School
Chong Boon Secondary School
Christ Church Secondary School
Christian Care Services
Chua Chu Kang Secondary School
Church of our Saviour
Church of Praise
Church of The True Light
City Harvest Church
Central Narcotics Bureau
Cold Storage Group
Community of Praise Baptist Church
Concord Primary School
Corrupt Practices Investigation Branch
D - Damai Primary School
Dunman High Secondary School
E - East Spring Primary School
Eastview Primary School
F - Faith Community Baptist Church
Fajar Secondary School
Fernvale Primary School
Focus On The Family Singapore Ltd
FSM Technology
G - Geylang Evangelical Free Church (GEFC)
God at Work
Grace Assembly of God
Grace Baptist Church
Green Haven Halfway House
H - Henry Park Primary School
His Sanctuary
I - Immigration and Checkpoint Authority
Innova Junior College
Inland Revenue Authority
Industrial and Services Co-operative Society (ISCOS)
ITE College East
J - Jamiyah Halfway House
Jireh Industries
J-Team Productions
Jurong Green Community Club
Juying Secondary School
K - Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
Kent Ridge Sec School
KFC Singapore
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School
L - Land Transport Authorityast
Leng Kwang Baptist Church
Lexmark International (S) Pte Ltd
Lifelink Christian Church
Light of Christ City Church
Living Hope Methodist Church
Living Streams Christian Church
M - Makino Asia Pte Ltd
Maritime Port Authority
Ministry of Community Development, Youths and Sports
Media Development Authority
Mee Toh Primary School
Meridian Primary School
Ministry of Home Affairs (HQ)
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Education (HQ)
N - Nanyang Junior College
Nanyang Polytechnic
National Library Board
National Parks Board
National Technology University
National Council of Social Service
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
National Healthcare Group
Northeast Community Development Council
Northland Secondary School
Northwest Community Development Council
National University of Singapore Student Union – NUS Volunteer Action Committee
National University of Singapore
O - Open Hand Christian Fellowship/ Next Chapter Community Service
Orchard City Church
P - P.E.A.C.E. Community Resources
Pasir Ris Secondary School
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls School
People’s Association (CDC Planning and Development)
Peirce Secondary School
Pentecost Methodist Church
Perses (Sepak Takraw)
Pertapis Halfway House
Presbyterian High School
Prime Minister's Office
Prison Fellowship Singapore
Public Service Division
Punggol Secondary School
Roman Catholic Prison Ministry
Renewal Self Development Centre
Riverside Secondary School
Roti Mum Singapore
S - Singapore Anti Narcotics Association
Singapore Aftercare Association
Singapore Civil Defence Force
Sembcorp Logistics
Seng Kang Secondary School
Serangoon Gardens Secondary School
Serangoon Junior College
Serangoon Secondary School
Siglap Secondary School
Silat Federation
Singapore Buddhist Federation
Singapore Chinese Girls School
Singapore Land Authority
Singapore Management University
Singapore National Co-Operative Federation
Singapore Police Force (Public Affairs)
Singapore Polytechnic
Singapore SOKA Association
Singapore Sports Council
Singapore Sports School
Southwest Community Development Council
St Andrew Junior College
St Andrew's Cathedral
St Andrew's Community Chapel
St Anthony's Canossian Sec School
St Hilda's Church
St Hilda's Secondary School
St James Church
St John's Chapel
St John-St Margarets Church
St Patrick School – Military Band
Stratford Court Condominium
Subordinate Courts
T - Taman Bacaan Female Halfway House
Tampines Secondary School
Tashine Peer Support Network
Teck Ghee Constituency Office
Teen Challenge Halfway House
Temasek Polytechnic
The Ashram
The Hiding Place
The High Point Halfway House
The Salvation Army - Changi
The Singapore Baptist Church
The Turning Point Halfway House
TLC Student Care
U - Universal Music
V - Victoria Junior College
W - Wesley Methodist Church
White Sands Primary School
W - Yishun Junior College
http://www.iscos.org.sg/
http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/index.jsp
http://www.ncss.org.sg/ncss/index.asp
http://www.prison.gov.sg/
http://www.score.gov.sg/
http://www.saca.org.sg/
http://www.sana.org.sg/
Fearing ostracism from friends and neighbours, Mrs Ong never told them the truth about her husband. They think he has been posted overseas for a work stint. In fact, he is serving time in the prison. They think she is busying herself by working day and night because she hates sitting at home. In fact, she does so to make ends meet. Supporting four children and paying off the debts that her husband had left – with just 24 hours in one day, is no easy task. Not knowing who to confide in and feeling the pressure to keep up with lies just to ‘fit’ into society, Mrs Ong often feels stressed, depressed and suicidal. This may be a story, but it is not uncommon. Family members like Mrs Ong need help.
For each inmate incarcerated, many more family members get trapped by the second prison. Many, if not helped, risk falling into psychological and emotional turmoil. To close the gap between families who are getting help and those who are not, we need your support. Make a contribution to the Yellow Ribbon Fund today.Besides support programmes to strengthen families affected by incarceration, the Fund contributes to the development and implementation of reintegration programmes for ex-offenders.
New!YRF Disbursement 2006
National Cadet Corps adopts Yellow Ribbon Fund as choice charity for 2006
Volunteering Opportunties in aid of Yellow Ribbon Fund
© Copyright 2005 CARE Network. All rights reserved. Reproduction or copying of images prohibited.
0 comments:
Post a Comment