575 awards given to Singapore Prison Service volunteers and community partners

SINGAPORE – Instead of taking it easy in his golden years and spending his days doting on his grandchildren, Mr Jimmy Yuen goes all out to help those who need spiritual healing.

For over 20 years, the 74-year-old, a volunteer with the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry, has been serving as a religious counsellor, teaching the faith and supporting inmates through their rehabilitation.

And he is far from being the only volunteer who sacrifices time and effort for inmates and ex-offenders.

On Aug 2, a total of 575 awards were given out to volunteers and community partners during the annual Singapore Prison Service (SPS) volunteer award ceremony held at the Singapore Expo.

Mr Yuen, who is from the Church of the Risen Christ in Toa Payoh, received the Long Service Award (25 years). 

“I’m called to serve, and I will put all my energy whenever possible to be there for the boys (male inmates and ex-offenders)... I will make sacrifices to be there for the boys because it is a calling from God, and it is my duty,” he told The Straits Times.

Since 2007, the SPS volunteer awards ceremony has served as a platform to recognise those who dedicate their time and energy to the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates and ex-offenders.

SPS partners about 4,200 volunteers from more than 60 organisations, and will continue to rally for more community support. 

The awards presented include those for long service, appreciation plaques, 10 years’ Journey Shields and the Throughcare Hero Award, which was launched in 2023.

Volunteer Mohammed Sufian Mohd Noor was one of four presented with the Throughcare Hero Award for supporting inmates during their incarceration and his continuing support after their release.

Since 2019, Mr Sufian has been volunteering with the Industrial and Services Co-operative Society, where he co-facilitates support group sessions and shares his incarceration experiences with other ex-offenders and the community as a motivational speaker.

Mr Sufian, 54, who was previously incarcerated nine times for drug-related offences over a 21-year period, said he knows many inmates who attend his programmes.

He told ST: “I’m not there to tell them how good I am, or how much better. I just convey a message to them that people like us can change.”

Mr Sufian, who is also a befriender at the Family and Inmates Throughcare Assistance Haven, said the aftercare recovery process that he conducts intentionally includes family members so they can understand what the ex-offenders are going through.

He said the path of rehabilitation and recovery cannot be walked by an ex-offender alone, and that their families can help by listening to their concerns.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, who was the guest of honour at the award ceremony, said that through the commitment, resources and networks of volunteers and partners, “we are able to deliver effective and meaningful programmes to inmates”.

Associate Professor Faishal told the audience: “Beyond the prison walls, volunteers and partners provide care and support to ex-offenders as they embark on their desistance journey in the community. This phase is especially meaningful and important.

“Your support helps the ex-offenders sustain their commitment to change. Your guidance leads them to new prosocial networks and a positive lifestyle.”

Dr Joyce Chan, assistant director of the community partnership and family policy branch, rehabilitation and reintegration division at SPS, said volunteers receive training.

Dr Chan said: “Prison volunteer training will be provided as part of their onboarding to become an SPS volunteer. In the onboarding training, the prison volunteers will be oriented to the aspects relating to security and safety awareness, sensitivity and ethics, and they will be given an overview of the inmates’ life in prison.”

In addition, continuous training will be offered to prison volunteers to keep them abreast of the correctional landscape and best practices.

Volunteers can contribute as an SPS befriender, an academic tutor, or a facilitator of religious, family or other personal development programmes.

For 75-year-old volunteer Ranjit Singh Vahan, volunteering is a commitment.

Mr Singh, who received the Long Service Award (15 years), said he strongly believes in the Punjabi word “sewa”, meaning “service”.

“When we serve, it is not a question of religion, age or social standing of the recipient (inmate),” said Mr Singh, who is from the Sikh Welfare Council.

“When you volunteer to do something, you cannot just say it in words... you must do and show others to set a good example.”