Newly launched Pasir Ris SSO has already seen 180 cases

SINGAPORE — The 22nd Social Service Office (SSO) was officially launched in Pasir Ris yesterday, drawing the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s target of opening 24 SSOs by the end of this year closer.

Two months into its operations, the Pasir Ris SSO has already seen 180 cases of residents seeking help, mainly to do with financial difficulties and marital issues.

Previously, residents of Pasir Ris town — which has a population of about 130,000 — had to seek assistance or make enquiries at the Tampines SSO, the closest office to them.

SSOs were introduced in 2013, to coordinate and plan the provision of social services, as well as administer financial assistance under the national ComCare scheme.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, as well Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Member of Parliament Zainal Sapari — who are advisers to Pasir Ris Grassroots Organisations — were present at the launch.

One issue identified by the Pasir Ris SSO with the Pasir Ris Family Service Centre (FSC) was the growing need for after-school programmes for latchkey children, in particular those who come from low-income families and are living in rental flats, and may lack parental guidance at home.

Last month, the SSO and the FSC rolled out WonderKids, a 10-week pilot programme, which saw 18 students leaders from Hai Sing Catholic School hold after-school sessions for eight children identified by the SSO and FSC.

The children are given a greater exposure to CCAs such as tchoukball and robotics, mentored by various students leaders in their homework and tasked to put together performances at the end of the 10th week. The sessions, lasting three hours each, are held weekly.

Through the programme, the SSO and FSC hope to provide good role models for these children, and avoid them ending up loitering around their neighbourhoods and be subject to negative peer influence.

Chua Zi Qi, 15, one of the student leaders said of her experience mentoring the children: “At first, I thought it would be weird for me to (interact) with these children, but as time passed, I found it meaningful to teach them. It really helped me boost my confidence at the same time, as I needed to talk to them when I teach them.”

The programme will be reviewed at the end of the 10 weeks, but with the positive feedback so far, another 20 children will be brought on board the programme, said Ms Tan Sushan, 32, general manager of the Pasir Ris and Tampines SSOs.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Tan said: “What the SSOs represent is really about the community coming together to make a difference.”

He added: “We don’t believe that all the SSOs on their own are meant to solve the problems, it is about pulling in the voluntary welfare organisations as well.”