Singapore President Mdm Halimah Yacob Visits the SIF’s Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs Project in Jakarta, Indonesia

19 February 2020

Singapore President Mdm Halimah Yacob Visits the SIF’s Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs Project in Jakarta, Indonesia

Photo Gallery

On 5 February 2020, Singapore President Halimah Yacob paid her first overseas visit, as Patron of the Singapore International Foundation, to our Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs project in Jakarta, Indonesia.

President Halimah was at our partner organisation – the Foundation for the Development of Children with Special Needs (YPAC) Jakarta – where she engaged with our team of Singapore International Volunteers (SIV) and their Indonesian counterparts. Under the four-year project (2019-2022), special education practitioners from both sides are collaborating to raise capacity for the care and support of children with special needs.

The engagement was during President Halimah’s first state visit to Indonesia. She said: “As global communities, Singapore and Indonesia share a common goal to achieve positive sustainable development in areas such as inclusive education. I am heartened to witness the strong collaboration between the SIF, our Singapore International Volunteers from KKH and the Indonesian special education practitioners in YPAC Jakarta. The SIF’s Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs project has enabled the two sides to exchange knowledge and skills, while deepening our people-to-people ties. I hope that this cross-cultural project will continue to uplift the lives of children with special needs in the years ahead.”

Mr Agoes Abdoel Rakhman, Managing Director, YPAC Jakarta, shared: “YPAC Jakarta is proud to partner with the SIF in this capacity-building effort. I hope that our relationship will continue to grow and benefit children with special needs. This friendship has also strengthened ties between Indonesia and Singapore. We are thankful for the support by the SIF and Singapore to YPAC Jakarta and Indonesia.”

President Halimah’s visit to the project site serves as strong encouragement to the SIF in its efforts to further deepen cross-border ties through collaborations that effect positive change. Read more about our collective social impact in 2019 on Facebook and Instagram!

Students of YPAC Jakarta perform a medley of songs to welcome Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Singapore dignitaries to the SIF’s Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs project in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Singapore President Halimah Yacob (right) observing handicraft work by YPAC Jakarta students who are learning vocational skills to increase their job readiness.
Managing director of YPAC Jakarta Mr Agoes Abdoel Rakhman (standing, left) introducing a YPAC student (bottom, left) to Singapore President Halimah Yacob (standing, centre) and her husband Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee (standing, in white) at the SIF’s Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs project in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Singapore President Halimah Yacob (centre) and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu (standing, left) together with other Singapore dignitaries; and SIF and YPAC Jakarta representatives, at the project site where Singaporean and Indonesian special education practitioners are collaborating to raise capacity for the care and support of children with special needs.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu (standing, centre) and Members of Parliament Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Saktiandi Supaat (standing, first and second from left) also visited the SIF’s project in Jakarta, Indonesia to observe classroom teachings in occupational therapy led by SIV, Ms Png Hui Jun (in orange).