Issue 3 - Association of Muslim Professionals
Transcription
Issue 3 - Association of Muslim Professionals
ISSUE 3 • JUL – SEP 2009 MICA (P) No: 260/10/2008 • ISSN 1793-8694 TA ND IN G LOVE SIB SPON RS S E R RE C PECT EN E UNDE TI RES P A ILIT Y A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS SU NC E I L I E ORT P P FAMILY KEEPING THEM ROOTED AND STRONG 1 BUILDING STRONG FAMILY TIES Dear Readers Family is an important part of our lives. They form the strong support system we fall back on when facing tough times. We see this in our clients, where the breadwinner loses his job, and the entire family rallies together to help him pick up the pieces and share the burden. Together, they figure out cost-cutting measures to ease the financial strain, be it shopping for cheaper alternatives or cutting down the use of electricity where possible. We see housewives who have stayed at home for over a decade return to work or set up home-based businesses to supplement the household income. The older siblings take on the ‘head of the household’ role when both parents go out to work and at the same time, learn to be more responsible as they care for their younger siblings. In this issue of AMPlified, we feature several articles on the importance of family ties, starting with the AFYS Family Day which AMP organised in April. The event brought together 57 families who enjoyed a whole range of activities organised for the entire family, from the parents to the children. We also feature the Mother’s Day lunch served to single mothers from our Adopt a Family & Youth Scheme (AFYS) who are often so busy earning a living in order to give their children a better future that they do not have the time to give themselves a treat. Finally, an AFYS client shares the struggles her family faces and how they cope with only her husband’s income to feed her family of 11. However, with strong support from her and her husband, their children have gone on to do well in their studies. We hope you find this issue inspiring and heartwarming. Happy reading. Mohd Anuar Yusop Executive Director, AMP WHAT’S in STORE Strengthening Familial Bonds 1 INSPIRASI Workshop Series 2 Spending Smart 3 Intercultural Exchange 3 Café Le Caire Mother’s Day Special 3 Be Smart, Be Cybersmart 4 Sanctuary for Youths 4 Take the Lead 4 Giving Back to the Community 5 Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds 5 Young AMP Reading Circles 2009 5 The Heroes of AMP 6 The Key to Strong Family Ties 6 Building A Skilled Community 6 Fees for Less 7 Pledge for Education for All 7 Towards a Brighter Future 8 Nurturing the Youth 9 Marketplace 10 Highlights 10 For advertising enquiries, please email [email protected]. We welcome feedback, comments and suggestions on the articles that appear in AMPlified. Please address your correspondence to [email protected]. 2 ISSUE 3 • JUL – SEP 2009 EDITORIAL LINE-UP Supervising Editor Mohd Anuar Yusop Editor Winda Guntor Subeditors Nurul Jannah Mohd Ismail Suziyana Hamid Creative Muhd Hafiz Syahiddin Johar Contributors Aspalela Mohd Salleh Celia Hamid Mariah Noor Mohd Mariam Mustaffa Mohd Shahar Hussein Nurul Jannah Mohd Ismail Salim Rafick Ali Shereen Mohd Idris Siti Izyan Hussain Suhaili Saad Suzieyati Malimar Zaleha Ahmad Photography Fauziah Rahman Juniati Idris Zein Mariah Noor Mohd Muhd Hafiz Syahiddin Johar Norsiah Muslim Shereen Mohd Idris Suzieyati Malimar Suziyana Hamid ite our fav s a t , n e h bon cipa nd parti matc e ga Do mong he tel a t ing dur T ing sa he winn ndcastle of the d ay “Don Particip ’t drop the b all!” ants le arn as a te am duri how to work ng the game STRENGTHENING familial bonds Workshop fo r th e parents on how to cope with the reces sion by Suzieyati Malimar In times of economic instability, the need for family support is more crucial than before. In view of this, AMP organised the inaugural AFYS Family Day for its beneficiaries under the Adopt a Family & Youth Scheme (AFYS) on 4 April. The full day event, conducted at Costa Sands Resort in Pasir Ris, featured a parental workshop, an empowerment session for the youths and beach activities for the children. The day ended with a BBQ dinner by the seaside for the families. A total of 167 beneficiaries participated in the event. The event kicked off with the parental workshop entitled ‘Rising in Resilience: Outliving the Financial Crisis’ conducted by Focus on the Family Singapore, a local charity dedicated to helping families thrive. Participants found the workshop very useful as it covered topics such as managing finances, what to do when someone loses his/her job and keeping the family together. Activities for the youths and children were carried out close by. The children were kept entertained at the beach with team building games such as the sandcastle building competition and telematch race. Meanwhile, the youths attended a workshop on problem solving and learned how these skills can be applied in school and at home by taking ownership of the problem at hand. Later in the evening, the families gathered at the beach for the BBQ dinner. The families bonded while they enjoyed the sea breeze and barbequed the food items together. The event closed with the presentation of tokens such as food items, baby products and school materials to the families. 1 1 INSPIRASI by Zaleha Ahmad Photos courtesy of INSPIRASI PPIS WORKSHOP SERIES Zaleha Ahmad, Centre Director of INSPIRASI@AMP, giving her opening remarks Participants during a group discussion Even though many counsellors, social workers and mentors work closely with Malay/ Muslim clients, some may not have a good grounding of the cultural and religious sensitivities involved when dealing with these clients. Some may also be unsure and receive conflicting views on certain issues pertaining to the Malay/Muslim community. To clear common misconceptions on such issues, INSPIRASI@AMP and INSPIRASI PPIS co-organised two half-day workshops on 23 and 28 April. The first workshop focused on family planning and contraceptive methods in Islam. It was conducted by Ustaz Nazirudin Md Nasir, Head, Office of Mufti, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), and Mdm Fatimah Eunos, a consultant at Insyirah Consultancy. The workshop dispelled the notion that Islam was against any form of contraception. Though the idea of not having children is against the concept of children as a gift (rezki) from God, Islam stresses that the quality and well-being of each member of the family must be fulfilled. Thus, the encouragement to have children is within the context of the ability of the parents to remain responsible and care for the children both materially and spiritually. The session also discussed the various modes of contraception permissible in Islam. The second workshop was also conducted by the two trainers and was entitled ‘Unplanned Pregnancy: Is Marriage the Solution?’. It gave an insight into the various fatwas or rulings with regards to the issue of sex outside marriage and the status of a child born out of wedlock. It also discussed the legal rights of the child both from the Syariah and secular perspectives. The session also allowed the participants to deliberate on the issue of whether marriage should be the solution for unplanned pregnancies. Both workshops were well-received by the participants and many looked forward to more of such workshops to be conducted in the future. 2 ISSUE 3 • JUL – SEP ISSUE 3 • JUL – SEP 2009 2 2009 $ PENDING MART by Aspalela Mohd Salleh Loss of jobs, pay cuts and no salary increments. These are common issues that arise during an economic downturn. What then can be done to ensure that the impact of the downturn is lessened? This was what a group of 30 beneficiaries from AMP’s Adopt a Family & Youth Scheme (AFYS) and Ready for School Fund (RFS) learned in the first of a series of financial management workshops organised by AMP under the Community Leaders’ Forum (CLF). The workshops are aimed at ensuring that participants are better prepared to face the challenges brought about by the current economic slump through proper money management. The invited speaker for the workshop was Abang Abu, an enthusiastic motivational speaker and entrepreneur who shared the fundamentals of money management. Among others, he emphasised the importance of financial Participants of the Projek Bijak Belanja workshop, conducted by speaker, Abang Abu Participants of the Junior Boss Workshop, which focused on financial management for children responsibilities, how to differentiate between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ and how to manage cash flow and cash balance. The session was well-received with many participants leaving the workshop with a better understanding of how they should manage their finances. The next two sessions will focus on daily cash management, the importance of setting short-term and long-term financial goals and credit and debt management. Intercultural X change by Shereen Mohd Idris Making AMP’s presence felt on a regional level, Young AMP hosted a student delegation from Indonesia for dinner and conversation on 24 May at the National Library. Young AMP members, 15 Singaporean undergraduates and PropNex CEO, Mr Ismail Gafoor, welcomed the delegation, which comprised programme coordinators, lecturers, and undergraduates. They were from Institut Teknologi Bandung’s School of Business and Management, on a cross-cultural study trip to Singapore and Malaysia. Indonesian students looking on as Mr Ismail Gafoor, CEO of Propnex, shares his thoughts The Indonesian entourage and their hosts from Young AMP The library was the chosen venue, as a reflection of the rich repository of knowledge that was exchanged between the two groups. After a warm introductory exchange between the undergraduates, Mr Ismail Gafoor shared with the group his personal, fiery, and inspiring reflections on tackling business challenges. The Indonesian delegation, in return, shared with the Singaporeans the upcoming business trends in Indonesia. Café Le Caire MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL by Suzieyati Malimar Mother’s Day is a day of appreciation for all mothers, for their never-fading love and unrelenting effort in raising and nurturing their children. It is a day that is even more special for single mothers who often have to work much harder to raise their children all by themselves without the support of a husband. This year, Mother’s Day was made a little sweeter for five single mothers and their eleven children from AMP’s Adopt a Family & Youth Scheme (AFYS). They were treated to a scrumptious Middle Eastern buffet on 9 May as part of Café Le Caire’s Mother’s Day celebration. One of the mothers, Mdm Maznah*, was extremely touched by the gesture and said that this was her first time celebrating Mother’s Day. As the sole breadwinner since her husband’s passing in 2002, Mdm Maznah worked hard to support her four young children. Feeling deeply appreciated, Mdm Maznah had a huge smile on her face as she sat back and enjoyed the buffet with her children that day. *Name has been changed 3 3 BE SMART, BE CYBERSMART by Siti Izyan Hussain On 7 March, officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ‘detained’ students and mentors from the Youth Enrichment Programme after their weekly lessons. Fret not! The students and mentors had not breached any laws. They were voluntary participants for a workshop on cyberterrorism which was conducted exclusively for them. The participants benefited greatly from the educational session where they discussed what constitutes as cyberterrorism and how to prevent themselves from falling into the trap of radical ideology. SANCTUARY FOR YOUTHS by Siti Izyan Hussain Troubled youths can now stop by the youth drop-in centre in AMP to share their problems with a youth counsellor. NUR@Pasir Ris opened its doors in March 2009 and has since seen 25 youths and their parents who have been assisted in coping and dealing with issues plaguing the The cozy counselling room where the youths will youths. Aged between meet with their counsellor 12 and 21, most of the youths were walk-in clients or referred by the NURteensLINE, AMP Helpline and schools. The centre was opened as part of the Integrated Programme for Troubled Teenagers under the Community Leaders’ Forum (CLF) to provide immediate crisis intervention and individual counselling. The centre provides a safe and friendly environment for the youths, as well as parents, to disclose issues that concern them. Excited participants awaiting the start of the workshop take the lead YEP! The Youth Enrichment Programme (YEP) Annual Camp was held again this year from 12 to 14 June at Si Ling Secondary School. With over 90 students from various secondary schools participating, it proved to be an overwhelming experience for students and volunteers alike. This year’s theme was ‘Take the Lead’ and it was targeted to develop students’ interest in taking up leadership roles and building their inner selves. Back in base camp, meal times were truly an experience. Students were treated to several meal themes like ‘Italian Dinner Night’ where students had pizza and ‘Dim Sum Breakfast’ with a variety of pau as well as siew mai on the menu. To give the students the experience of trying out various local and halal cuisines, delicacies like nasi lemak, fried carrot cake and Hainanese chicken rice were served. Students were treated to various interesting activities like ‘Mac’s Trail’, which was held at the Jurong Bird Park. Within their assigned groups, the students were left to solve several clues involving Mathematics and general knowledge along the trail. The students rose to the occasion by completing the entire trail and were treated to the spectacular ‘Friends of the Birdies’ show. The overall aim of the camp was met through its activities and at the same time, the students had fun while fulfilling their duties and living in the Islamic way where they were nurtured to have a prosperous and fruitful life. The students were enthusiastic and are already looking forward to our next activity. Look out for details soon! The most popular activity was the AMP Idol Night, where students put acts together and performed for an opportunity to win movie tickets and Diadora school bags. Local group, ‘Raven’, graced the event as the Guest of Honour. They gave smashing performances to an explosive audience. 4 by Salim Rafick Ali ISSUE 3 • 4JUL – ISSUE SEP 2009 3 • JUL – SEP 2009 Students engaged in an afternoon of birds and Math puzzles Winner for AMP Idol Night, Aziz Bin Razali, impresses at the Jurong Bird Park students and judges with his drumming skills on a makeshift drum set GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY by Mariah Noor Mohd A few teared, humbled by the realisation that their lives were indeed blessed compared to the less fortunate. Others vowed that they would work together to build a happy home and give their children a promising future. They were part of a group of 16 young couples from Club INSPIRASI who participated in the INSPIRASI Gives Back project, aimed at providing a platform for these couples to contribute back to the community. Under the project, the couples visited 20 children from Darul Ma’wa Children’s Home in June and took them on an excursion to Snow City. To emphasise the importance of family unity and enhance solidarity, each couple was paired up with one child and assumed parental roles to ensure each child returned home happy. Participants creating handmade cards for the children from Darul Ma’wa The event proved to be heartwarming and enlightening for all participants involved. During the reflection session, the couples expressed the need to build a strong and happy family. They were extremely touched when they were given a thank you letter from the children saying how happy they were to have their company for the day. The children of Darul Ma’wa HEALTHY BODIES, Young AMP ReadingCircles HEALTHY MINDS by Mohd Shahar Hussein As part of AMP’s staff wellness programme, the Human Resource department organises bimonthly health talks with the objective of enhancing the awareness and importance of health and how one can strive for a healthy lifestyle. The first in the series was a lunch talk in January on ‘Stress Management’. The speaker, an Occupational Therapist from Changi General Hospital, shared a list of workplace stress factors and how these can be dealt with so that the organisation and employees can function effectively and efficiently. ‘Diet and Cholesterol Management’ was the topic for the second lunch talk. The topic was indeed a wake-up call and reminder for those with a good appetite. The dietician presented a detailed account of how managing one’s diet can be effective in individual health management. The third talk was on ‘Anger & Conflict Management’, where the speaker shared how to manage emotions and issues that can trigger anger and ways to overcome them. With the knowledge gained from the talks, it was also hoped that the productivity of AMP staff will increase, contributing to AMP’s enhanced performance. As the common maxim in managing organisations goes, ‘Workplace Wellness: Healthy Employees, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI’. by Shereen Mohd Idris 2009 Over the past four months, Young AMP’s monthly Reading Circle sessions remained focused on developing critical thinking abilities and instilling strong faith in youths. The first two sessions, held at the National University of Singapore (NUS), were facilitated by Dr Syed Farid Al-Atas, Head of the Malay Studies Department, NUS. The sessions covered various topics such as media manipulation and religious thought in secular contemporary society. The discussions impressed upon the participants the necessity of developing and maintaining critical perspectives and attitudes. The next two sessions focused on reminding the participants of Man’s ultimate dependence on the Creator. The community’s absolute vigilance and efforts expended for its advancement would have a better chance of fruition when its members strike a balance between their various personal, social, and religious obligations and responsibilities. The sessions were facilitated by Ms Naz Georgas, Community Organiser, Lecturer and Board Member of American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) in New York. The discussion will continue over the next few months. The Reading Circle 2009’s theme focuses on ‘InSight: Changing the Outside from Within’. For more information, please visit www.youngamp.sg. 5 5 THE HEROES OF AMP by Mohd Shahar Hussein Social workers assist individuals, families and communities who are disadvantaged to address challenges and positively impact changes in their lives. Social workers make an essential contribution to the promotion of social cohesion, through both preventive work and their response to social problems. Their efforts are an investment in the current and future welfare of our community. On 6 May, the staff of AMP took some time off from their daily routine and commitments to get together to reflect on the significant role of the champions of social justice and social inclusion over the last five decades. Shereen of Young AMP presented a lively account of the well-known personalities and luminaries who, over the years, have been unselfishly involved in social work and the tremendous impact of their contributions. Fun time with song and games and light refreshments were part of the programme. The significance of the session was well-encapsulated in the opening remarks by Mr Mohd Anuar Yusop, Executive Director of AMP – “All of us at AMP are involved directly or indirectly with social work. It is now time for you to enjoy this afternoon and give yourself a pat on the back for the efforts and contributions you have given as a team in the social work field”. And enjoy they did. Working together on a jigsaw puzzle STRONG FAMILY TIES by Celia Hamid Family resilience is important, especially during troubled times like this, with the recession still plaguing our economy. When a family member loses his/her job, family support is critical in helping him/her back to his/her feet. The amount of time you invest in your family will help you weather any storm and form a solid family foundation. Below are some tips to help you achieve that. 1. COMMUNICATION Communication is key to any relationship. More than that, it is how you convey your messages through the tone used. Positive facial expressions and body language are also important. It is not just about what you say, it is also about how you say it. 2. SPEND TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER Uniting your family by engaging one another in activities that everyone can take part in strengthens family bonds. Playing board games, going cycling around the neighbourhood and having a meal together are some of your options. If you have the funds, plan for mini trips where the goal is to simply spend time with one another. 3. SPIRITUALITY Praying, attending religious classes or reading constructive and inspirational material can heighten your sense of peace. In turn, it lessens the risk to adversity. Religious beliefs and observation could provide stability in maintaining a healthy family relationship. Suhaimi serenading Suziyana during the ‘Don’t Forget the Lyrics’ game 4. BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER When a member of your family faces a problem, spend some time with him/her to talk things through. Be the shoulder for them to cry on. Discuss as a family possible solutions to his/ her problem. This will help build trust and companionship. building a skilled community by Suhaili Saad In the last issue of AMPlified, it was reported that AMP introduced the Temporary Assistance Package (TAP) to assist families who had been affected by the recession and retrenchment. A total of 55 applicants who fulfilled the eligibility criteria have been enrolled under TAP thus far. These applicants and their families have undergone a thorough case assessment by AMP and will receive varying forms of assistance based on their needs for one year. These include financial assistance and management, economic empowerment and socioeducational assistance. Thus far, almost $20,000 has been disbursed to assist the clients. This amount goes towards paying off utilities arrears, children’s school and tuition fees as well as providing sponsorship for the various skills upgrading courses and selfsufficiency skills programmes. AMP expects to receive more applications for TAP and will continue providing assistance to those who need it. It is hoped that TAP will help our community to be stronger and more resilient in this difficult time. 6 ISSUE 3 • 6JUL – ISSUE SEP 2009 2 • JUL 3 APR –– SEP JUN2009 2009 Photo courtesy of Iman Kindergarten & Childcare FEES FOR Students of Iman Kindergarten & Childcare get a good balance of work and play in school by Nurul Jannah Mohd Ismail Good news, parents! Starting this month, a joint pilot programme by Iman Kindergarten & Childcare and AMP offers disadvantaged preschoolers a spot in one of their preschool centres at a discounted rate. These students will pay a monthly fee of only $50 instead of the usual $150. The programme, in line with AMP’s Ready for School Fund, hopes to assist 100 preschoolers in K1 and K2 from lowincome families in their academic pursuit. It will run from July to December 2009. Iman Kindergarten & Childcare is an approved institution of early childhood by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS). It provides a well-rounded 3-in-1 programme comprising academic subjects, enrichment and moral orientation to children. For interested applicants, please visit www.amp-rfs.sg or contact Ms Aspalela at 6416 1425 or visit AMP directly at 1 Pasir Ris Drive 4, #05-11, Singapore 519457. PLEDGE FOR The Ready for School Fund Pledge Card Drive helps to raise funds for disadvantaged students Earlier in June, AMP collaborated with the Malay Language Learning & Promotion Committee (MLLPC) to raise awareness of the Ready for School Fund through the promotion of pledge cards. At the Malay Language Seminar 2009 held at Meridian Junior College on 4 June, AMP garnered the support of several schools to participate in the Pledge Card Drive which will take place later this year. The Ready for School Fund Pledge Card Drive is extended to companies who wish to fulfill their Corporate Social EDUCATION FOR ALL by Nurul Jannah Mohd Ismail Responsibility (CSR) programme and schools who wish to carry out their Community Involvement Programme (CIP). Since October 2003, AMP’s pledge card programme has raised almost $300,000 with the support of 24 schools as well as the Islamic Bank of Asia. The funds raised will be channelled to AMP’s Ready for School Fund, which assists disadvantaged students from the preschool to university level. Pledge your way into the hearts of the needy. Find out how you can get involved by calling Ms Norizan at 6416 3966 or emailing her at [email protected]. 7 7 by Suzieyati Malimar Photo courtesy of Mdm Sahlawati and family “How do you cope with nine children?” That is what everyone always asks Mdm Sahlawati Salbi, 41, when they find out how many kids she has. It is definitely not easy, she readily admits, especially when there is only one breadwinner in the family. Mdm Sahlawati’s husband, Mr Mohd Shahrin Shamsudin, works as a sales coordinator and earns $1,200 a month. For the moment, Mdm Sahlawati is unable to go out to work as her youngest child is only 6 years old and requires her full attention. In 2007, she and her husband sought help from AMP’s Adopt a Family & Youth Scheme (AFYS) for financial and educational assistance. The family has since received assistance for their utilities expenses, payment of outstanding school and examination fees, home tuition as well as Ready for School Packs for their schoolgoing children. Mr Shahrin and seven of his children. Not in the photo are Mdm Sahlawati and two of her daughters. AMPlified caught up with Mdm Sahlawati recently to find out the challenges she faces in managing a large family. AMPlified: What is a major concern for you and your husband in managing a large family? Mdm Sahlawati: Our concern mainly revolves around our children. Though we may not have much, we always try to give our children the best. Education is very important to us and we do not want our children to lose out on a good education just because we do not earn enough. This was why we approached AMP for assistance. AMPlified: What are the challenges you normally face? Mdm Sahlawati: Our household income is definitely not enough to cover the monthly expenses. Most of my husband’s salary goes towards our children’s transport expenses and food. Sometimes, we are able to give our older children $2 each to buy food in school but there are times when we do not have enough, so they do not eat in school. Another challenge is that we are unable to save. Last month, two of our children were sick but we did not have any money to see the doctor as my husband had not received his salary for the month. Thankfully, we received emergency financial assistance from AMP and my children were able to see the doctor. AMPlified: What other measures have you taken to ensure that your children do not lose out on education? Mdm Sahlawati: We have approached our children’s schools and they have placed our children under MOE’s Financial Assistance Scheme. Some of my children are lucky as their school also provides food for them. We have also approached the Family Service Centre for the School Pocket Money Fund for our children. However, they are only entitled to 24 months of assistance. At the moment, only my eighth child is eligible to receive money from the Fund. AMPlified: How are your children faring in school? Mdm Sahlawati: All of my children are doing well in school and I am very proud of them. My eldest child has just finished her ITE course in Beauty Therapy and has applied to further her studies in the same industry. My second child is also studying Beauty Therapy, a course which is difficult to get into. My third child, who will be sitting for his GCE ‘N’ levels at the end of the year, came in 1st in standard for last year’s mid-year and final year examinations. He intends to study Culinary Skills in ITE. AMPlified: How do you encourage your children to do well in their studies? Mdm Sahlawati: My husband and I only studied until Secondary 4, so we want our children to do better than us. We explained to them the importance of furthering their education for a brighter future. We also tell them not to worry about money. As long as they have the interest to further their studies, we will find a way to support their education expenses. 8 ISSUE • JUL3– SEP • JUL 2009 – SEP 2009 8 3 ISSUE To help Mdm Sahlawati or others like her, you can sponsor a family under the scheme at $250 a year or $20 a month. Call us at 6416 3966 to find out more. A ge: 23 O ccupation: cc upation: Executive Of ficer, Youth Orga nisatio n: A sso ciation of M usli m Professionals Years Worke d with Youths: 4 Volu nteers with: C A R E Cor ner FSC Q ueensto w n M erc y Relief she also helps out at Mercy Relief. hd Ismail nnah Mo a J l ru u by N Meet Izyan. A young, vibrant, dedicated counsellor whose passion for youths drove her to join AMP’s Youth Unit. Don’t be fooled by her small, demure exterior. Currently pursuing a double major in Psychology and Criminology, she packs a punch especially when it comes to dealing with troubled youths. Izyan started working with youths when she was 19 and volunteered with CARE Singapore. A year later, while working with Absorbent Minds, a company which provides facilitation services for youth camps, she returned to her alma mater, Pioneer Junior College, to facilitate a camp organised by her juniors. Not long after, she volunteered her services with CARE Corner FSC Queenstown for their youth programme – ‘W.A.Y’ – We Are Youth. She still volunteers as and when they need her help. When she has a moment to spare, When asked why she chose to work with youths, she said, “Youths are the assets of the future. Being young, they are at the most volatile stage of their lives where they are in constant search of their identities. They need guidance but unfortunately, sometimes the environment they are in is not conducive for them to develop to their fullest potential. This is a shame as more often than not, they are individuals that have a lot more in them waiting to be unleashed yet others judge them with a negative eye. Being a youth myself, I face the same challenges most of them are facing. I believe I still have a lot more to contribute in helping them challenge their own abilities.” Challenges faced by youths today are too many to ignore. Izyan pinpoints the main issues as “family issues in terms of communication with parents and siblings, differences in the level of expectations, confidence and motivation issues, smoking, peer pressure, their coping mechanisms and sexuality.” She added, “Youths have a fear of being judged so they put up a tough exterior to protect themselves from anyone whom they think might hurt them. These defence mechanisms make it hard at times to really pinpoint what the actual issue at hand is.” However, like every other job, there are its rewards. For Izyan, satisfaction comes from seeing the youth able to cope and handle their situation better rather than resort to the maladaptive methods they are accustomed to. She said, “The most rewarding is definitely when I see them achieve something for themselves; no matter how small it may seem to others. It is often enough to satisfy the youths and improve the belief system they have within themselves.” An only child, she attributes her success to her supportive parents who constantly encourage her to maximise her potential and to be independent and self-confident. On sharing her hopes for the youth of the community, Izyan said, “My hope is for them to realise the potential they have within them and the power they hold in their hands. I hope they will make use of that power in the best way that will benefit them.” You can also be a part of this fulfilling endeavour by signing up as a volunteer with AMP. Email us at [email protected] for more details. Izyan helps troubled youths and their parents work out their differences during counselling sessions 9 9 MARKETPLACE MR ONN BIN DOLLAH Mr Onn Bin Dollah first started out by rendering reflexology services to his relatives and friends while working as a freelance Safety Engineer Inspector. With a desire to expand his clientele, he enrolled in AMP’s Micro Business Programme and underwent numerous courses in reflexology. Now a certified therapist specialising in foot reflexology and body massage, he operates out of his home, in a mini clinic within. MIL’S DESIGN To loosen your tense muscles or for a pampering treat, please contact Mr Onn at 9721 8142 or 6765 1069 or email him at [email protected]. MIL’s Design specialises in unique and exclusive crystal favours and souvenirs designed for weddings and special occasions. It also offers traditional wedding must-haves such as sirih junjung and sirih dara. Injecting creativity into the products of MIL’s Design is Mdm Tumilah Selamat, an AMP Micro Business Programme graduate. Through the programme, Mdm Tumilah perfected her creative flair and expanded her services to offer delicious cakes, pies, pastries and traditional kuihs like koswi, lapis serikaya, bakar talam lauk and lompang. For more information or orders, please contact Mdm Tumilah at 6445 3447 or via email at [email protected]. JULY ■ INSPIRASI Counsellors High Tea – Talaq & Women’s Rights AUGUST ■ ■ ■ Financial Management Workshop – Lifestyle Financial Management Workshop – Credit & Debt Management AMP Charity Golf 2009 SEPTEMBER ■ AFYS Hari Raya Shopping & Iftar HIGHLIGHTS UPCOMING All products and services featured in Marketplace are offered by AMP’s clients who run home-based businesses to supplement their household income. INSPIRASI Counsellors High Tea – Talaq & Women’s Rights July 2009 Women have always been seen as being on the receiving end of talaq where they do not have much say in the matter – is this a fact or just a myth? This will be one of the issues that will be discussed at the upcoming Counsellors High Tea session. The session is open to all social workers and counsellors. Please email Ms Rosedah Anuar at [email protected] for more information. AMP Charity Golf 2009 August 2009 AMP’s third charity golf tournament aims to raise funds for its Ready for School Fund. The Fund assists underprivileged school children of all races, from preschool to tertiary level, by equipping them with school essentials such as stationery and school bags, cash disbursements and other financial assistance. To be a part of this worthy cause, please contact us at 6416 3966. ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS AMP @ PASIR RIS, 1 Pasir Ris Drive 4, #05-11, Singapore 519457 | Tel: 6416 3966 | Fax: 6583 8028 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.amp.org.sg | Co. Reg. No: 199105100D 10 ISSUE 3 • JUL – SEP 2009