General

Established in 1970, AWWA (formerly known as Asian Women’s Welfare Association) is a local non-profit organisation that provides community-based programmes and services to people of all ages. From early intervention programmes to special education for children and youth with special needs and multiple disabilities, caregivers support, life-enhancing services for families to senior community home, health and social outreach programmes and services to enable ageing-in-place and active-ageing, AWWA puts people first.

AWWA, a Singapore-based non-profit organisation with Institution of Public Character (IPC) status founded in 1970, has developed a unique expertise in diverse issues that range from special education for children and youth with special needs, health and social issues for families and seniors, such as healthcare, active ageing, caregiving and promoting an inclusive communities.

Since April 2015, we have rebranded and are now known simply as “AWWA”. Our new tagline is ‘People Giving to People’ where we put people first.

Mission:

To empower the disadvantaged to maximise their potential to lead dignified and independent lives.

Aspiration:

To be recognised as a model social service provider in Singapore and the region.

Aim:

To continually pioneer and develop comprehensive range of services from infancy to old age to fulfill our mission and aspiration.

Our Services
At AWWA, we are People Giving To People within our communities.

At AWWA, our services aim to improve lives and inspire hope.
We began our journey in 1970, as a group of volunteers coming together to care for traditionally underrepresented individuals. Today, our services serves over 5,000 clients ranging from children and youth with special needs, low-income families, caregivers, to the elderly.

• 222 students were enrolled in our school
• 1,240 members joined the resource centre
• 1,568 individuals participated in 23 educational workshops
• 327 physically challenged children received mobile therapy services
• 356 clients trained with assistive technologies
• 158 students under the age of 6-years-old were in our preschool, with 15 moving to mainstream schools after joining the programs
• 139 senior residents cared for by round-the-clock nursing staff
• 228 registered seniors in the activity centre
• 105 senior citizens attend the daytime rehabilitation centre with an average daily attendance of 48 seniors
• 757 family cases explored by our counsellors, where 66.8 percent faced financial difficulties
• 291 individual volunteers putting in 14,121 hours through 1,616 events and activities

And this is just where we begin to make an impact in our communities. Find out more about our services by exploring this section of our website.

Disability support

AWWA provides services to people with disabilities within our communities in Singapore, to help them enjoy a positive quality of life. We offer a wide range of disability support services to children, young people, adults, seniors and their families.

We believe persons with disabilities should enjoy a positive quality of life. We offer a wide range of disability support services to children, young people, adults, senior citizens and their families.

We support people with a wide range of individual needs and disabilities, including people with elevated and complex support needs. These include a disability that:

• Is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment, or combination of impairments.
• Results in the person having a substantial reduction of a capacity, and requiring support in the areas of communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, or personal care.
• Is permanent or likely-to-be permanent and may manifest through birth, in early childhood and youth or as an adult.

Support for persons with disabilities include: counselling, cross-disciplinary therapies, education and psychological services. They also involve working with families, to provide a conducive environment for both families and caregivers, along with advocacy and increase awareness for a more inclusive community amongst the general public.

The aim of AWWA is to engage with persons with disabilities, and their families to assist them in creating lifelong opportunities in the community and an enhanced quality of life. Join our mission by giving back or help share AWWA’s story with family, friends and colleagues.

Education & Development

Childhood and adolescence are significant life periods. Children & youth with special needs have distinct issues around learning, mobility, communication and socialising – activities that can be demanding even for young people who don’t face similar challenges.

For a child with disorder challenges, eg. autism, ADHD, etc, even an everyday activity like eating or tying one’s shoes can be a hurdle. Watching a child struggle is never easy and, for a family member, it can be heart breaking.

By providing essential education and development services, AWWA helps children & youth with special needs by equipping them with skills development and interaction, and at the same time helping family members cope, addressing the isolation that so many of these children and their families or caregivers experience.

AWWA advocates, supports and expands opportunities for independence, learning and a richer life experience for children & youth with special needs.

Through a range of specialised education programmes and support services, we further our mission to maximise that potential for independence among children & youth with special needs, and our aim to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in our communities.

We offer early intervention programmes for our youngest constituents and on-going programmes and support, both during and after school, as children grow into adolescence and young adulthood. We operate a range of academic and non-academic programmes through our schools.

Support and education in a holistic and nurturing environment provides immeasurable benefits for each child – and their family, caregiver and community – on emotional, physical and intellectual levels.

Family & Caregiver Support

AWWA strengthens communities by strengthening families and caregivers. Families are what support and connect us, whether we are related by genetics, marriage or close ties.

Whether you’re looking for counselling or therapy help, financial planning, caregiver support, youth programmes or vocational skills enhancement, we are here to help.

Families are the major provider of long-term care, and caregiving can exact a heavy emotional, physical and financial toll. Many caregivers experience conflicts between work and care responsibilities as caregiving – especially of a member of the family with special needs – can be a heavy weight on the entire family.

At AWWA, we are dedicated to ensuring that all members of the family can live life to its fullest even under the most challenging circumstances. We offer support to families, caregivers and persons in need through:

• Information and referrals
• Guidance and counselling
• Workshops and training series
• Academic and vocational support
• Home-based Personal Care (for persons with disabilities and seniors)
• After-school care service (for children/youth with special needs)
  Support group platform

Health & Senior Care

AWWA began supporting seniors about 40 years ago, beginning in 1976. It is our way of giving back to our nation’s ageing population, a community that has given and continues to give so much to us all.

Recognising that the ageing process affects every human being at some level, we understand that seniors do have specific concerns, needs and a desire to live a more active life and to age gracefully.

Decreased mobility and health issues, resources and even the deaths of friends and peers: these are factors that can have a significant impact on the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of seniors. And often, seniors are reluctant to admit that they can no longer perform activities that used to come easily; or even that they might feel helpless or be a little lonely from time to time.

AWWA supports seniors in our communities with programmes and aid through various centres and activities that offer a warm, nurturing environment. We also provide therapy and other services that enhance the lives of our seniors.