Celebration Day. — Methodist Message picture.
FIFTY-THREE adults and children from 13 families turned up for the Sembawang Family Service Centre’s Family Celebration Day on June 2, 2002. It was their very first Family Day.
The Family Celebration Day was held in conjunction with the National Family Week to promote closer family ties through activities which require family members to work as a team.
It was a special occasion for the families to celebrate birthdays and wedding anniversaries. There were also sandwich-making and salad-making demonstrations, followed by food preparation competitions.
The Sembawang Family Service Centre at Block 326 Sembawang Crescent opened its doors in August 2001 to provide counselling, family education programmes and social needs to the less fortunate in the area.
In July 2000, the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) invited Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC) to take up the challenge of assisting the MWS in providing social service to the poor and needy in Sembawang.
After much prayer and discussion, leaders of the church decided to partner the MWS in this mission. Mr Hsieh Fu Hua is the Chairman of the Sembawang Family Service Centre Branch Committee which overseas the operation of the centre. A team of volunteers from CCMC’s Social Concerns Committee pay regular visits to the centre.
The centre conducts family education programmes such as talks, workshops and group discussions on parenting and other topics to help families strengthen ties and handle stress.
On June 25, 2001, the Student Care Centre opened its doors to children living in Sembawang. The centre can serve a maximum of 60 children in the morning and afternoon sessions.
The children at the Student Care Centre often take part in programmes organised by CCMC. They include children’s concerts, visits to the zoo and other places of interest, Christmas and Easter parties, school-holiday outings and overnight camps.
The centre’s social workers also reach out to nearby schools such as Canberra Secondary and Sembawang Secondary, providing assistance and care to the students.
Ho Sau Kuen is the Director of the Sembawang Family Service Centre.