The work can be very addictive

The first time Mr Albert Lee contacted an inmate's sister, she declined his offer to help her.

The brother, who was in jail for drugs, had signed a consent form allowing volunteers from the Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YR-CP) to contact his family members and check if they needed any assistance.

Then, sometime in late December, Nora (not her real name) called Mr Lee, sounding desperate.

"At first, she didn't want to give me details, but gradually, as I let her talk, she opened up," the 66-year-old volunteer said.

Nora's younger brother had been caught shoplifting and the police were going to arrest him at their home.

"She didn't say it, but I sensed she wanted me to be there. When I showed up at her home, she was very thankful to have someone there who understood the process," Mr Lee said.

This is just one of the nearly 100 cases he handles under the YR-CP as a Yellow Ribbon Champion.

He coordinates the programme in the Marsiling area and is also a volunteer, checking in on inmates' families.

For more than 30 years, the now retired shipyard safety manager has been working the ground in Marsiling as a grassroots volunteer. As part of the citizens' consultative committee (CCC), he planned activities for residents there.

In 2008, the CCCs became part of the welfare process in assisting needy individuals.

Mr Lee was appointed head of welfare, helping the needy in such areas as applying for grants and dealing with housing issues and their children's education.

Some of these families were the families of prison inmates. In 2010, the YR-CP was created to meet the needs of such families. Marsiling was one of the areas picked to pilot this project and Mr Lee and 57 other volunteers from across the island received specialised training in areas such as basic counselling.

Cases are referred through Singapore Prison Services case workers or family members who attend the Meet-The-People Sessions.

FOLLOW UP

Mr Lee would follow up with a visit to their homes to further assess the sort of assistance the family needs, be it finance, meals or housing.

The grandfather of two gives his mobile phone number to each household he visits.

"I told them that they could call me any time they needed help," he said.

"You don't have to always be visiting, in case their neighbours see. You just have to be there when they need you," he added.

When asked whether he feels tired from constantly helping others, Mr Lee shook his head and said with a laugh: "This work is like golf. When you look at someone playing, you wonder why they're hitting this tiny ball in a large open area and wonder where is the thrill in that.

"But when you finally do it yourself, it can be very addictive."

Retiree helps out actively with Yellow Ribbon Community Project.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Yellow Ribbon Community Outreach Project started in 2010 with just eight divisions.

Today, it compromises 56 divisions across 20 constituencies and has been renamed the Yellow Ribbon Community Project. Grassroots volunteers involved in the project would visit the families of inmates.

They also help in areas like applying for financial assistance, education, making housing arrangements and helping with employment. New inmates would be given an introduction letter about the programme, and they may sign consent forms allowing volunteers such as Mr Albert Lee to get in touch with their families.

In some cases, no help would be necessary since the families can manage on their own, but volunteers will continue to keep in touch. Family members are also encouraged to have regular visits or "televisits" to prison so that they can maintain their relationship with inmates.

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