Simei Care Centre

Today, everyone made their way down to the Simei Care Centre to get first hand experience of what the cottage industry is about, and to better understand the way the home is run.

When they first arrived, everyone gathered in a room and sat on couches in a circle.
Geoffrey (the guy in blue below) will be taking them on a tour of the Simei Care Centre.
However, before any tour was conducted,
Geoffrey started off by announcing that the students had to take a survey...

(... everyone filling out their forms with their most truthful answers)

Once everyone completed their forms,
Geoffrey went on to explain the purpose of the forms.


Do you wanna know what it was for?

On each form, a different scenario was written.
Hence, each student received a unique scenario.
By answering questions relating to the scenario, they would be able to determine the level of stigma they have towards mental patients.

After that, Geoffrey went on to asking them what they knew about mental illness?
What do they think patients with mental illness are like?
Many a times, thanks to Hollywood movies, we often perceive patients with mental illness to be serial killers and violent attackers and fighters.
Contrary to this, Geoffrey told us that this is the almost total opposite of what things are really like in real life. Mental illness patients behave just like normal human beings do, and they only turn aggressive and violent when they are provoked or when they feel threatened and vulnerable.

After a short explanation of what mental illness is,
the teenagers now know the types of mental illness, the cause, as well as ways it can be cured. Geoffrey made it a point to stress that early detection of mental illness is important as the chances of recovery are higher.

After learning more about them, the teenagers are now ready to meet the residents of the Simei Care Centre at their workshop =)
Everyone was busy at work, some were making mistletoe, some making Christmas cards, some cross-stitching Christmas designs, and others making flowers out of recycled materials.

Handmade Christmas Cards...

Handmade Mistletoe...


Handmade Recycled Material Flowers...

Cross-Stitched Designs...


Spending time with the residents of the Simei Care Centre was GREAT fun!!
They are extremely friendly and warm people, and they love having visitors join them =)


After spending about 30min at the workshop, it was time for us to take our leave.
Geoffrey took us upstairs to have a look at the bedrooms that were available at the Simei Care Centre.

There, everyone was impressed by the recreational facilities provided for the residents.
Some of them even started playing and having their own game =P



For the last stop of our tour, everyone gathered in the Homespun office.
With the help of Homespun, a company that reaches out to the cottage industries and bind them with local talents to create inspiring everyday objects, the people in the cottage industry are thriving. Basically, Homespun injects designs and ideas for products into the cottage industry, and the craftsmen in the industry (… who are underprivileged and/or handicapped) produce these products. Homespun also helps to create awareness, promote and sell the products. Ultimately, Homespun aims to be the platform for Asian designers to showcase their works of creations.

This is Catherine, owner of Homespun...

After everyone was done looking around and exploring all the interesting creations in the room,
it was time to get down to business and to discuss what needed to be done for the
PATH Market @ Vivocity event.

After giving the youths a brief...
Kenny told them to think about it on their way home, and to generate ideas for the PATH Market.
Should they come out with anything, they can post it on the tagboard on this blog =)

Unfortunately, no one has suggested anything yet =(
Come on guys... we need your input!!
If you think of anything, don't be afraid to share it =D
Don't be shy about it... the PATH Market is a team effort!