From Patron

It is with great pleasure that I strongly support the work of EMCC. I have followed their important initiatives and programmes, which have expanded and grown stronger each year.

Their counselling case load has increased 200% over the past year (2007). The majority of the cases are related to family relationship issues, in particular, conflicts in spousal relationships. Another growing category of casework involves youth related challenges such as depression, anxiety disorders, delinquencies, and parent-teen conflicts.

EMCC mediators are also active in cases at the Parents Tribunal, Community Mediation Centre, and Family Court. Two EMCC mediators, Francis Loo and Chia Swee Tin, have been conferred the highest honour of Master Mediator and the latter also as a Justice of Peace for the second term by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

EMCC has partnered with the Health Promotion Board to conduct seminars and talks on emotional wellness and stress on a nationwide scale.

In the area of youth work, EMCC has also increased its presence in our secondary schools with its Step-Up programmes which target high-risk youths and their parents. About 1,600 students are being reached annually through the programme.

Collaborating with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), EMCC has also embarked upon a special programme working with probationers under the supervision of the Ministry.

The responses to all these programmes have been positive and effective.

EMCC is embarking on even more ambitious programmes which will draw them closer to their vision of “Bringing HOPE to Relationships”. EMCC deserves your every support. I commend this movement to bring PEACE and HOPE to this fragile and conflicting world.

S. Dhanabalan
Patron