Introducing Teen Challenge Singapore

A Unique Pioneering Organisation:

Teen Challenge Singapore seeks to provide solutions to the pressing needs of the marginalized in our community. This is because we believe in the potential that is contained in each life.

We want to provide inspirational and quality rehabilitative and therapeutic approaches that can set oppressed lives free through the uniqueness of the human touch and the awareness of God.

Since our founding in 1976, we have always attempted to identify and respond to contemporary youth issues at the street level and today, we continue to do so. Teen Challenge Singapore is a registered Volunteer Welfare Organization providing faith-based and community-based programmes & services located at its 3 Centres. Click HERE for a brief history of the founding of Teen Challenge in New York City by Rev David Wilkerson.

Vision Statement:

To see the transformation of restored individuals into useful, productive, law-abiding citizens; and for those who are open, to be committed to the Christian faith, values, and living.

Mission Statement:

To create a framework of healing communities as alternative sentencing options that challenges teen, youth, and adult offenders to reach their fullest potential.

Affiliations & Collaborations:

We are members of the Assemblies of God of Singapore, the National Council of Social Services, Global Teen Challenge, and the Association of Christian Halfway Houses Singapore.

We also collaborate and network with a number of other organizations and agencies like, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS), Singapore Cooperative & Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), Industrial & Services Cooperative Society (ISCOS), National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Singapore Prisons Service, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Juvenile & Subordinate Courts, the Family Courts, National Youth Council (NYC), Community Development Councils, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), Churches, Volunteer Welfare Organizations (VWOs), and other Christian Faith-based & Community Service organizations..

Alternative Sentencing Options:

Although we work in a collaborative effort with MCDS, NYC & CID in addressing the criminal behaviours of youth in Singapore, Teen Challenge Services and Programmes are ever ready to serve as alternative sentencing options for young people. Teen Challenge is a quiet, little-known success story in Singapore. True, it is known by probation officers for its track record and its referral sources which includes pastors, friends, juvenile and subordinate courts, it however works daily without much fanfare with a group of marginalized young people that society often rejects or remains wary about.

Funding sources:

We are funded by donations from individuals, churches and corporations; annual flag day, creative fund-raising activities, as well as specified grants and recurrent funding from MCYS, MHA, and NYC. We were also beneficiaries of the President’s Challenge for the year 2000, 2001, 2004, & 2005. A significant portion of our monthly expenditure is supported through gifts vouchers, donations of dry goods, canned foods, vegetables, fruit, meat, and household items like, soap, cooking oil, coffee, tea, sugar, rice, and other commodities which are always in need.

In addition to these donations, we also draw in some funds through our Teen Challenge Enterprises (TCE), which operates the TC Movers, TC Media & the TC Kopitiam. While our funding comes from multiple sources, TC Headquarters is still responsible to raise over 40% of the Annual Budget.

Standards and Accountability:

All Centres and programmes are accountable to the Board of Directors (BOD) annually and are appraised quarterly by the Executive Director in his report to the BOD. Records and Case Files are processed in detail through proper Case Management. Success stories are documented and the eventual reintegration of these men, boys and girls into society will be the true trophies of grace.

Benefits to the community:

The entire mind, body and spirit must be rehabilitated to successfully free one from the bonds of cigarettes, drugs and alcohol addiction (We live in an age where many youths pick up the habits of smoking and drinking at an early age!), delinquency, gangs and a criminal lifestyle. We strongly feel our critical role in Teen Challenge services and programmes as a part of the holistic approach of renewal for the total human being.

This is only one way, one programme, one proven solution to the temptations and wayward lifestyle of our teens and youth.

Conclusion:

The positive development of Teen Challenge Singapore since 1976 would not have been possible without several important factors. Factors such as the dedication of the leadership, unflagging zeal of the staff, partnership of concerned institutions, encouragement of sponsors, the active participation of our residents, the support of the government of Singapore and the overriding providence of God.

As we face an increasingly complex and intricate environment facing our youth and a consistent call to meet those needs in creative ways, we need strategic partners who believe in our work and share similar core values with regards to the community. Recent reports in the Straits Times placed Singapore as the 'Number 1' in globalization (in 2001 and 2005) is a major achievement as a nation but it can also mean that we may be experiencing societal, familial, and personal pressures that are unprecedented in the world! This assumption is a concern for Teen Challenge Singapore to monitor over the next 5-10 years.

In this matter, we are aware that many organizations are committed to having a positive impact on society that extends beyond the advanced technology, products and services that it creates by dedicating itself to the improvement of life skills and the creation of an environment that fosters open and creative thinking.

Their noble objectives to foster communication and continuous learning between people through the support of educational environmental, social and community activities worldwide will definitely be met by our existing network of Centres that cater to a wide group of marginalized persons.

Like these organizations, Teen Challenge Singapore believes that every individual should be treated with genuine respect and given encouragement to achieve their fullest potential. Our shared commitment to the promotion of skills, knowledge and social affairs of youth and their families form a perfect fit of values and can establish a foundation for collaboration for the future.

Through your unstinted support of our organization and activities (some of which are listed), we believe that, we can help youths establish meaningful connections with their families, peers and communities.