Learning Journey to Simei Care Centre

On 15 November 2013, the 4th Saints Advocate had a Learning Journey trip to Simei Care Centre, which is a rehabilitation center for people with mental disorders. This was a meaningful and eye-opening learning journey as we had the opportunity to understand more about these people, and the mental illnesses that make them patients. From this experience, we also learnt to open our hearts and to remove our own stigmas that we unknowingly had concerning these patients.

4th Saints Advocate, visiting Simei Care Centre, filled with excitement!

My takeaways from the trip to Simei Care Centre:

1. I learnt that we are susceptible to such mental illnesses too and a substantial number of in-patients used to be professionals and very accomplished in their career or studies. They have the capabilities of normal people and most importantly, they are normal people, the same as you and I. In line with this, we should respect them and not discriminate against them.  Stress can get to us and we might also be victims of mental illnesses, which is why even as we have no right to judge them, we should care for them and help them recover. (Plus, we should try to control our stress level!)

2. It is difficult for them to get back to society/the workforce due to the social stigma. It is difficult to find jobs but nevertheless many of them try their best, and some do manage to become independent and rebuild their lives. A lot of them have the ability and skill to work, if only given a chance. I think if ever I become an employer, I will surely not discriminate against such applicants and I will give them a chance to prove themselves.

3. Their handicrafts are important to them for earning a living, and is also done to enable them for better recovery and to remain active. It is with great effort that they hand-make most of the items in the MOSES Gift Shop. Therefore, buying these items encourages them and also helps them sustain a living. Hence for us, we should do our best in selling their items during Friendship Week, and also share the message of their plight (the social discrimination that presses down on them, instead of the social encouragement that should be helping them up). Even if the items are quite expensive, it is also with great expense that they were able to craft these items.

4. SIMEI Care Centre is a meaningful VWO because it helps these patients settle back to society. It helps cure these people and believes in them. That's why, now whenever I advocate for SCC, I will do it with more compassion and drive.

-Lynn Monique Co, 4th Saints Advocate

Presentation of Photo Montage to Simei Care Centre (Community Builder Week)

During our Community Building Week, the Saints Advocate worked to raise awareness for people with mental illness, and for the work of Simei Care Centre as a psychiatric rehabilitation centre. They then organised for willing students to take photos while holding hands, in the likeness of Simei Care Centre's logo. This school-wide effort was organised into a photo montage and presented to Simei Care Centre on 14th June 2013, with the words "Persevere! Fight On!".

It was the second time that I had been to Simei Care Centre (SCC), but this was the first time that I had the chance to interact with a few of the residents there. At first look, many of them seemed a little quiet and unfriendly, but during the presentation of the frame, I could see that they were very touched and happy that there were students who were willing to support them and learn to understand and accept them. Most of them had smiles on their faces and when we brought the frame on stage, and many of them came forward to take a closer look. It was very heart-warming to know that Saints Advocate had made an impact on these residents. Even though the impact was small, bringing a smile to their faces was enough to make me smile as well. I had the chance to speak to one or two of the residents and they were really very happy that so many people were aware of the work that they did. When Justin and Siao Yen, the staff at SCC, thanked us for all the hard work, all I could think of was how it had been such a pleasure to have worked with SCC over the past year. It is also great to know that there are such selfless individuals who are doing their best to help those people who may be a little different from us assimilate back into society. The work that they do is a lesson to all of us, that as long as you have the heart to do it, anything is possible. I was very happy that I had the chance to present this token of appreciation to SCC and to share in their happiness. I hope that all of them are encouraged by this and I also hope that we will continue to work with SCC in the near future. :)

-Rosabel Tay, 3rd Saints Advocate

Rosabel expressing SAJC and Saints Advocate's support for the Simei Care Centre patients 
and the work that SCC is committed to doing

Presenting the photo montage to SCC