Chapter 12 : MWH new premise in Bedok North

Current state

Artist impression of new premise

Muhammadiyah Welfare Home (MWH) is a gazetted children’s Home of the Ministry of Community, Youth & Sports (MCYS) since Dec 1989. The Home takes care of about 70 male children, most of them come from broken families. They are between 10 and 17 years of age and are ordered by either the Juvenile Court or MCYS to reside in the Home for 2 to 3 years.

In the last quarter of 2009, the Home is moving to its new premise at former Min Xin Primary at Bedok North St 3. We are in the midst of renovating the new site so that it would be conducive for the children to stay and undergo rehabilitation in the Home. With this move, MWH is exploring expanding its social services and increasing its intake to 100 children in the future.

To fulfil this aim, MWH still needs to raise an estimated $500,000 in cash or kind to fund the renovation and restoration works of the Bedok site as well for the furniture and fittings for the new premise.

------------------------MWH Book Project 2009--------------------------

A volunteer driven effort.

MWH book 2009 titled 'MANY ROADS HOME'

- dedicates a voice to the young protaganists (mostly former children of MWH) who have overcome adversity and endured several painful knocks of blunders and struggles during their adolescent years.

- features the unsung heroes (volunteers, agencies and corporations) who have, in one way or the other shaped the lives of the children. It is hoped that the collection of their human stories could inspire, touch someone's life and be a rallying point to others. The books are expected to be published in Sep 09. All proceeds from the project will be chanelled directly to the Home to support the above cause.

Chapter 11 : May 09 update

Volunteer involvement:

To date, we have 93 passionate volunteers working in this project - 45 local professionals from the government/private sectors, 45 local students and 3 foreign professionals (from Australia, UK, China).

Slighly over 30 volunteers are involved in the writing, illustrating and designing of the book. A volunteer is developing the project website and another will be checking the accounts. The rest are in the events/marketing team.

We are collaborating with 5 schools and their involvement as such:
Ngee Ann Polytechnic - participating in events
Raffles Junior College - book writing, illustrating
ITE Bishan - participating in events
Lasalle School of Filming - developing the corporate video for the Home and project
Temasek Junior College - fund-raising activities
There is a possibility for corporate/organisation volunteer involvement as well.

Roadshow/fund-raising activity:

On 30 Apr 09, Temasek Junior College (TJC) students will be having a fund-raising event in their school compound, through sale of T-shirts, handphone chain and other merchandises. All proceeds will be chanelled to the MWH book project. The students aim to raise some $750 from this effort.
Income / Expenses (as at 21 Apr 09)

We sent out 80 appeal letters to the Home's regular donors in Mar 09.

Received $34 600 in cash/pledges from 13 individuals, 7 of which are from the Appeal letters.
Received 19 GIRO pledges during Welfare Fiesta event in Mar 09, $270/mth
Received $1400 from sale of merchandise during Welfare Fiesta event in Mar 09
Spent $1270 on project expenses (since Sep 08)

Total income = $36 270 - $1270 = $35 000
At this juncture, we have covered the cost of printing of books and professional fees. All income coming in now will be chanelled directly to support MWH renovation cost.

Future plans:

To confirm Patron for project by Jun 09
To follow book publishing schedule closely so that the book can be published by Sep 09
To ensure best quality of writing, illustration and design for book
To continue to have roadshows to promote GIRO pledges and MWH book project awareness at least once a month
To approach corporations for sponsorships for MWH new site from May 09 onwards