Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance, at the Opening of the Yellow Ribbon Fair at Prison Link Centre (Changi) (PLCC) on Saturday, 30 September 2006, at 10am

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & SECOND MINISTER FOR FINANCE, AT THE OPENING OF THE YELLOW RIBBON FAIR @ PRISON LINK CENTRE (CHANGI) (PLCC) ON SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2006, AT 10AM

I am very happy to be here, to welcome you to the Yellow Ribbon Fair at the Prison Link Centre (Changi). This Fair is unique because the real VIPs are the reforming offenders who are showcasing their talents today, and caring Singaporeans like you.

2. This morning, we will be unveiling the “Forest of Hope” Community Art Mural. The mural expresses the encouragement and good wishes of members of the community, like yourselves, towards ex-offenders and their families. Over the past month, through the Yellow Ribbon Roadshows held in different parts of the island, and collection boxes placed at SMRT train stations, messages of hope and encouragement have been pouring in from people from all walks of life, young and old.

3. Through these simple messages, we have urged ex-offenders to persevere in their efforts to create better lives for themselves and their families, and we have also appealed to all Singaporeans to join this cause of supporting ex-offenders in their efforts. It may not take much effort to pen a message, but you will be amazed at the positive impact a little faith, hope and opportunity has on our reforming offenders and ex-offenders.

4. Earlier this year, I attended the 5th National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Bronze and Silver Presentation Ceremony at the Kaki Bukit Centre (KBC) Prison School. I met with 51 award recipients from various prison institutions. I was struck by their determination. They were determined to achieve their dreams and aspirations. They were like any other Singaporeans in wanting to achieve their dreams. But there was something more. Because of what they had been through, they had an extra determination. And this is why, we too must give them that extra encouragement and support for their efforts to live lives of dignity after their release.

Training and Service Learning Opportunities
5. Ex-offenders often face an uphill task in seeking employment after their release. Other than showing their determination to change, they have to prove that they have the skills that employers want. In view of this, the member agencies of the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network have pooled their efforts to provide a variety of vocational training, employability skills and academic learning that are relevant to the market, and which at the same time take into consideration the offenders’ aspirations. This is an integral part of how we help ex-offenders reintegrate in society.

6. For example, while I was at the Prison School, I came across the broadcast studio. The objective of setting up the studio was to allow inmates who were able to express themselves well and who were inclined towards the performing arts to discover and develop their skills. They learn script writing, music and video editing and are trained in the basics of creating radio and television segments using software that is comparable to those that are used in the market.

7. The studio allows inmates to gain hands-on experience, as they act as deejays for the radio and TV programmes that are broadcast within the Prison School every week. In fact, some of them have won the silver award in the Secondary/ Pre-University category for the Schools Video Awards that the Ministry of Education organises every year! I am very heartened to learn that some, having discovered their love for broadcasting or the performing arts, have chosen to further their studies in these fields after release, while working part-time in the entertainment industry as singers or emcees.

8. Another member of the CARE Network, the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) has for the past 24 years partnered with various organizations like the ITE, WDA and NTUC to offer various types of skills training to offenders to prepare them for employment upon their release. SCORE had also built up a database of over 1500 employers who are willing to offer jobs to offenders. I understand that last year about 3000 offenders and ex-offenders were provided employment assistance.

Unlocking the Second Prison – A Community Effort
9. As much as rehabilitation and aftercare programmes seek to help offenders and ex-offenders, the support of families and the community is ultimately crucial. MCYS, also a CARE network partner, has initiatives in place to engage the community during the rehabilitation of young offenders. For example, their School Liaison Network’s aftercare officers work closely with the mainstream schools which accept young offenders, to iron out any issues the teachers may encounter. Their network of more than 80 employers also provides job opportunities to young offenders, and the aftercare officers facilitate the job placement and help the offenders to adapt to work demands. What is critical is that we engage the support of the community early on, and give these young offenders hope and a fresh start as they rejoin society after rehabilitation.

10. The schools that have offered the offer ex-offenders second chances have often gone beyond merely taking them in. Some teachers have mentored these students while they pursued their studies. This caring and supportive environment has enabled many of them to achieve outstanding results and personal accomplishments. These success stories will I am sure encourage more schools to do the same.

11. Many schools and students have also stepped forward to contribute towards the Yellow Ribbon Project. Recently, students from Dunman Secondary, Jurong West Secondary, Tampines Secondary, Temasek Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore wrote and compiled messages of hope for ex-offenders into a special display. Some students also spent time helping to pack the symbolic Yellow Ribbon Packs consisting of Yellow Ribbons and stylized copper oak trees made by reforming offenders.

12. The Yellow Ribbon Project’s message of forgiveness and second chances is universal. The reforming offenders and ex-offenders who are here today are using the Yellow Ribbon Fair to show you their determination and commitment to start life afresh. I hope after visiting the Fair, you will be motivated to extend a helping hand and spread the message of second chances to reformed ex-offenders.

13. Let me conclude by reciting a few lines I have taken from one of the poems that reached the finals of the Yellow Ribbon Project Poetry Competition held in June this year, entitled, “Yellow Ribbon” (in Chinese):
“…Yellow Ribbon
A wish that at anytime, as long as you have the determination,
Regardless of whether in the past you were merely dust or filthy mud;
Yellow Ribbon shall never give up on you.”