=DREAMS Boarding Residence
Children of families living in public rental housing communities, some of whom are 2nd or 3rd generation occupants of public rental homes, grow up in more challenging environments than their peers at school and inherit some of the challenges their parents face.
Without additional support, including help for their care and holistic development, they risk becoming entrenched in a cycle of inter-generational poverty.
We are delighted to be embarking on a meaningful partnership with =DREAMS (Singapore) to set up a first-of-its-kind boarding facility to provide wrap-around after-school support for these children so that they have an equal opportunity to dream big and realise their aspirations.
=DREAMS is a first-of-its kind secular, co-ed weekday residential model that provides after-school education and holistic support. Similar to boarding schools attended by students from families with means, =DREAMS aspires to create a child-centric system of care that empowers promising children from rental flat communities to dream of a future where they are not limited by family circumstances.
Under this initiative, Secondary 1 and 2 students residing in a HDB Rental Flat will be supported for up to 6 years, to Pre-tertiary level. A home-away-from-home during the school days, youth can look forward to after-school academic and holistic support at the =DREAMS campus. This includes differentiated, age-appropriate programmes ranging from coding classes, eco-citizenship cultivation lessons, to leadership and critical-thinking training, incorporated into their term schedules or offered during breaks.
Recognising that it takes a village to raise a child, =DREAMS adopts an inclusive approach towards creating sustainable support through collaborating with different stakeholders such as parents, schools and community partners.
Under this initiative, Secondary 1 and 2 students residing in a HDB Rental Flat will be supported for up to 6 years, to Pre-tertiary level. A home-away-from-home during the school days, youth can look forward to after-school academic and holistic support at the =DREAMS campus. This includes differentiated, age-appropriate programmes ranging from coding classes, eco-citizenship cultivation lessons, to leadership and critical-thinking training, incorporated into their term schedules or offered during breaks.
Recognising that it takes a village to raise a child, =DREAMS adopts an inclusive approach towards creating sustainable support through collaborating with different stakeholders such as parents, schools and community partners.
=DREAMS welcomed its first intake of students in Jan 2023 and expects to enrol up to 40 students by December 2023. It targets to house a full-term target of 240 residents by 2028.
(Images by Masano Kawana)
Outcomes:
Youth development
Youth development
- Nurture youth from low-income families to succeed by discovering their assets and realising their aspirations.
- Support socio-emotional development of the children, including improved self-concept, increased peer acceptance and empathy for others.
- Empower these youth to complete tertiary education and enable their families to exit social welfare assistance, thereby breaking out of the poverty cycle in the longer term.
- Outreach to 97 families, schools and community partners through Open House, campus visits and sharing sessions.
- Recruitment of 36 student volunteers to journey with the residents.
- Established partnerships with 31 organisations that will provide holistic developmental support and differentiated programmes to the residents.
Our Partners:
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