For the very first time, Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network’s member agencies are jointly organising the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) to raise the awareness of the Singapore community towards the needs of ex-offenders in their difficult journey towards leading normal lives. This will be done through engaging and in partnership with various government, community and religious organisations.

The goals of this initiative are as follows:

• Create Awareness of giving second chances to ex-offenders.
• Generate Acceptance of ex-offenders and their families into the community.
• Inspire community Action to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders.

The inspiration for the YRP is linked to a popular song in the 70s, ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree’. The song itself was reportedly based on an actual incident in the USA about an ex-offender’s fears and hope as he asks his wife for forgiveness as he is traveling home. She showed that she welcomed him back by tying yellow ribbons round the oak tree in their city square. Learn more about the song in this short write-up.

The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network’s vision is to offer hope, confidence and opportunities for reforming offenders. The CARE Network brings together various community and government organisations responsible for the rehabilitation of reforming offenders. They are namely, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Singapore Prison Service (Prisons), Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), National Council of Social Service (NCSS), Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited (ISCOS), Singapore After-Care Association (SACA) and Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA). SCORE provides the secretariat support for CARE Network. CARE Network seeks to engage the community in rehabilitation, coordinate member agencies’ activities and develop innovative rehabilitation initiatives for reforming offenders.

In line with its vision and role, CARE Network and our strategic partners are jointly organizing the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) to raise the awareness of the community towards the needs of ex-offenders and their families.

Aside from the Yellow Ribbon Project, the CARE Network has implemented the Case Management Programme for ex-offenders since March 2001. This service is delivered by trained full-time Aftercare Case Managers (ACMs) from SACA and SANA. You can find more information on CARE Network at its website – www.carenetwork.org.sg

“I’m really still in prison and my love, she holds the key, a simple
yellow ribbon’s what I need to set me free…”

The three lines above from the song aptly describes the ex-offender’s helplessness and need for the acceptance and forgiveness from his loved ones and the community to set him free. This is because offenders encounter two prisons. The first is the physical prison and prison officers hold the key to this first prison. However, it is a matter of time before they will be released from this first prison. Once they are released, the ex-offender enters into a second ‘prison’, which is the psychological and social imprisonment. The "she" who holds the key to the second ‘prison’, refers to the ex-offender’s family, friends, neighbours, employers, colleagues, volunteers, religious group and the community at large. In other words, ordinary Singaporeans like you and I who hold the keys to unlocking the doors of this second ‘prison’.

The YRP seeks to help ex-offenders who take responsibility for their own actions and are trying their best to persevere and earn back the trust from family, friends, colleagues, employers and the community.

The schedule of programmes and activities are shown below.

Main Organisers

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