to glow at night golden domes Heritage mosque’s · 27 Feb - 2 Mar 2014 SUNTEC Singapore Halls 401...
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By KENNY CHEE NEARLY two-thirds of former mental health patients who took up a series of courses to boost their job skills have found work. Private education institute Kaplan launched the scheme for beneficiaries of the Singapore Association for Mental Health two years ago, but only went public about it yesterday. More than 40 people have passed the courses in that time, learning life skills such as work- ing in a team, managing stress and handling job interviews – helping them to fit back into soci- ety and find employment. Of these, nearly two in three have found jobs such as cleaning or kitchen work. Paul (not his real name), who has been living with chronic schizophrenia for 35 years, is now employed as a customer service officer at one of the association’s centres. “I’m not afraid to fail now,” said the 58-year-old, adding that the courses had taught him how to meet challenges and solve prob- lems better. His condition is being managed with rehabilitation and medication. The association is a voluntary welfare organisation and regis- tered charity that promotes men- tal wellness. Its services include support and care for people and families with psychiatric, psychosocial or other social or re- lationship problems. The courses, which are held once a year, are based on current ones run by Kaplan but are tai- lored for former mental health patients. They typically last six days and are fully subsidised by the Workforce Development Agency. The emphasis is on learning through interaction with others, such as role-playing in situations that could be encountered in a work environment. Beneficiaries of the association are referred by the Institute of Mental Health, hospitals, grassroots organisations. family service centres, schools and volunteer welfare groups. Ms Julia Yeo, deputy head of clinical services at the associa- tion’s activity hub at Pelangi Village, said: “Some beneficiaries have not been working for a while and they are fearful (of the work environment), so the courses help build their confidence.” Kaplan’s executive vice-presi- dent Leon Choong said: “It’s im- portant for people to build up their dignity and find a job and purpose.” [email protected] The courses have proved successful in helping former mental health patients find employment. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Doors opened for ex-mental health patients
Transcript of to glow at night golden domes Heritage mosque’s · 27 Feb - 2 Mar 2014 SUNTEC Singapore Halls 401...
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By MELODY ZACCHEUS
THE 189-year-old Masjid Sultanin Kampong Glam is planning tolight up its two golden domes inthe evenings in an effort to makeit a beacon for tourists.
“This will help the masjidstand out and support the Singa-pore Tourism Board’s efforts topromote Kampong Glam as a desti-nation,” said the chairman of themosque’s board of trustees, MrMohamed Patail.
The idea will form part of a pre-viously announced $4.37 millionfacelift to improve accessibilityfor the mosque’s congregation
and boost the local heritage area.Tourists will be granted access
to the rooftop of the mosque’sfour-storey annex via a new lift –providing a panoramic view of sur-rounding streets and shophouses.
An external glass lift to themosque itself will improve accessfor elderly and disabled worship-pers while maintaining an unob-structed view of the mosque fromthe street. About 5,000 worship-pers visit the mosque for Fridayprayers, while a similar number oftourists visit each month.
The project is due to be com-pleted in December next year andincludes plans to upgrade its
400-seat auditorium to enhanceguests’ audio-visual experience.
Featuring architecture inspiredby the Indo-Saracenic style, theoriginal Masjid Sultan was built in1824 by Sultan Hussein Shah, the19th-century ruler of Johor andSingapore. It was torn down tomake way for the current mosque,which was completed in 1932.
The upgrading project is slatedto start in August and finish intime for the mosque’s 190th anni-versary next year.
Staff and worshippers say ithas been a long time coming.Cracks and mould have emergedand the electricity trips duringthunderstorms.
“Over the years, we’ve patchedthings up but these have beenshort-term solutions,” saidmosque secretary Nasir Ibrahim,
72. “Our switchboard for in-stance, looks ancient. The renova-tion is timely... we want the placeto be safe for worshippers.”
Worshipper Abdul Rahman,66, said: “It’s an old building andit suffers from wear and tear,which is visible from the street.”
The renovation includes rewir-
ing the entire building, repaintingits interior and exterior and con-structing two new ablution areas.
The mosque will remain opento worshippers during renova-tions. While some of the cost ofthe repair and restoration will bedefrayed under the Majlis UgamaIslam Singapura’s Mosque Upgrad-
ing Programme and the Preserva-tion of Sites and Monuments’ Na-tional Monuments Fund grant,the mosque still needs to raiseabout 80 per cent of the sum.
“We hope the Muslim commu-nity and Singaporeans will donategenerously,” said Mr Patail.
By KENNY CHEE
NEARLY two-thirds of formermental health patients who tookup a series of courses to boosttheir job skills have found work.
Private education instituteKaplan launched the scheme forbeneficiaries of the SingaporeAssociation for Mental Healthtwo years ago, but only wentpublic about it yesterday.
More than 40 people havepassed the courses in that time,learning life skills such as work-ing in a team, managing stressand handling job interviews –helping them to fit back into soci-ety and find employment. Of
these, nearly two in three havefound jobs such as cleaning orkitchen work.
Paul (not his real name), whohas been living with chronicschizophrenia for 35 years, is nowemployed as a customer serviceofficer at one of the association’scentres.
“I’m not afraid to fail now,”said the 58-year-old, adding thatthe courses had taught him howto meet challenges and solve prob-lems better. His condition is beingmanaged with rehabilitation andmedication.
The association is a voluntarywelfare organisation and regis-tered charity that promotes men-
tal wellness. Its services includesupport and care for people andfamilies with psychiatric,psychosocial or other social or re-lationship problems.
The courses, which are heldonce a year, are based on currentones run by Kaplan but are tai-lored for former mental healthpatients.
They typically last six days andare fully subsidised by theWorkforce Development Agency.
The emphasis is on learningthrough interaction with others,such as role-playing in situationsthat could be encountered in awork environment.
Beneficiaries of the association
are referred by the Institute ofMental Health, hospitals,grassroots organisations. familyservice centres, schools andvolunteer welfare groups.
Ms Julia Yeo, deputy head ofclinical services at the associa-tion’s activity hub at PelangiVillage, said: “Some beneficiarieshave not been working for a whileand they are fearful (of the workenvironment), so the courses helpbuild their confidence.”
Kaplan’s executive vice-presi-dent Leon Choong said: “It’s im-portant for people to build uptheir dignity and find a job andpurpose.”
[email protected] courses have proved successful in helping former mental health patients findemployment. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
An external glass lift will improve accessibility for elderly and disabled worshippers while maintaining an unobstructed viewof the mosque from the street. About 5,000 worshippers throng the mosque for Friday prayers. PHOTO: MASJID SULTAN
Doors opened for ex-mental health patients
Light-up part of Masjid Sultan’s $4mfacelift ahead of its 190th anniversary
Heritage mosque’sgolden domesto glow at night
B6 HHOOMMEE T H U R S D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 2 7 , 2 0 1 4
