[SINGAPORE] Adam (not his real name), was faced with the prospect of not having a home at the age of 21.
He admitted that the notion of not having a guaranteed place to sleep was a “scary one”.
A Ministry of Social and Family Development report in 2024 indicated that around 500 children and adolescents in Singapore were in out-of-home residential care, due to abuse or neglect.
While most eventually reintegrated with their families, a small number – around 30 a year – are unable to do so, and would age out into independent living by the time they turn 21 years old.
Cindy Ng, director of Melrose Home, Children’s Aid Society (CAS), said: “Thirty may seem like a small number, but each one represents a young person whose challenges ripple beyond themselves. As the years go by and this group grows, the impact – on their lives and the people around them – becomes even more significant. These are not isolated experiences; they shape our communities and ultimately, our society.”
Hence, the Thrive21+ programme, piloted in 2022 with partners such as CapitaLand Hope Foundation to support care leavers’ transition into independent living, was beneficial for this group of people, which includes Adam.
