DadsforLife.sg serves as a focal point for all activities of the national Dads for Life movement to inspire and involve all Dads to play a more active role in their children’s lives for life. It seeks to enable fathers in Singapore and Singaporean fathers around the world to communicate with and support one another in their growth as Dads.
It uses the acronym A.C.T to put into action a three-pronged approach which hopes to mobilise fathers to ACT:
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Be Aware of the importance of their roles as husbands and fathers.
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Commit to become good fathers and role models to their children.
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Spend Time to acquire Tools and bring Transformation to lives.
DadsforLife.sg provides the latest research evidence, resources, events and ideas so that fathers can acquire fathering tools for themselves. At the same time, it provides a platform (also on Facebook, Forums and Twitter) for community discussions so that fathers can share with each other their journey, knowledge and experiences.
Dads for Life Movement
Dads for Life is a national movement to inspire and involve fathers to be good influencers in their children’s lives for life. The movement is strongly anchored in research that highlights the distinct benefits of paternal involvement on child development in terms of improved cognitive, socio-emotional, psychological and academic outcomes. Active paternal involvement is also linked to better couple relationships among parents, lower levels of maternal stress, and positive changes in fathers' self-identity, all of which suggest overall benefits for the family.
Dads for Life is an initiative of the National Family Council, and is supported by the Fathers Action Network (FAN).
Fathers Action Network (FAN)
The Fathers Action Network (FAN) is led by members from various organisations and business enterprises and was constituted as a work group of the National Family Council in November 2009. Heading this network is Mr Richard Seow, Non-Executive Vice Chairman of Parkway Holdings Limited. As a consultative network for father-related issues and programmes, FAN seeks to
- increase awareness and knowledge about the critical impact of fathers’ involvement on their children’s lives;
- identify and leverage multi-sectoral resources - across Government, community, employers, schools, and families, to support fathers in their co-parenting roles; and
- empower and support fathers in their roles as parents.
Network members were chosen for their passion for the cause of active and responsible fatherhood, and their ability to mobilise other fathers and networks within their communities. The network composition is intended to represent and reflect the diversity of family life, as well as the collaboration needed across the government, community, and business sectors in order to provide a total supportive environment for fathers.
Organisations represented on the Fathers Action Network
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ADAM Association The Association of Devoted and Active Family Men (ADAM), or Persatuan Adam, was registered in 2004. Its mission is to raise awareness on men’s responsibilities and roles in society - as fathers, husbands and individual members of the family. Some of its key activities include outreach programmes and public education initiatives. |
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Centre for Fathering Registered in 1999, Centre for Fathering was set up to promote father’s parental involvement in children’s lives. Centre for Fathering seeks to support and equip fathers in their parenting roles through preventive social work in the form of family life education to parents at an early stage of their parenthood. Some of the programmes run include Eat with Your Family Day, Father-Child bonding activities and parenting and marriage preparation talks. |
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National Library Board The National Library Board's mission is to provide a trusted, accessible and globally-connected library and information service through the National Library and a comprehensive network of Public Libraries. The 10,000 Fathers Reading! Initiative was launched by NLB in 2007 and aims to encourage fathers to be more involved in their children's development and bond with them through reading. The initiative focuses on the importance of father figures as role models in the lives of their young charges. |
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NTUC U Family NTUC U Family’s objective is to build up a community of "strong and happy families" in Singapore through the development of family-focused initiatives to strengthen family bonds and support working parents. Their work is anchored in the belief that better work-life integration contributes to happy families, leading to more engaged and productive workers. |
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People’s Association The People’s Association (PA) was established as a statutory board in 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion. It initiates and offers a wide range of programmes and services to cater to the needs and interests of Singaporeans from all walks of life to achieve its mission of building and bridging communities to achieve one people, one Singapore. |
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Singapore Children’s Society The Singapore Children's Society was founded in 1952, and helps to protect and nurture children and youth of all races and religions, especially those who are abused, neglected, and/or from dysfunctional families. Each year, they reach out to about 45,000 children, youth and families in need. |
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Singapore Sports Council The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is Singapore's lead agency tasked with developing sports in Singapore. SSC’s vision is to create a Sporting Singapore where Sports is a way of life. SSC aims to develop sports champions and create enjoyable sporting experiences for Singapore through the three strategic thrusts of cultivating a sporting culture, achieving sports excellence and creating a vibrant sports industry. |
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Yayasan Mendaki Yayasan was set up more than 20 years ago by Malay/Muslim Community leaders in partnership with the government to empower disadvantaged Malay/Muslim individuals and families through excellence in education. |
Members Profile
Chairman
Mr Richard Seow
Chairman
Singapore Sports Council
Members
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Mr Abdul Mutalif Hashim President ADAM Association |
Mr Adam Khoo Executive Chairman and Chief Master Trainer Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group Pte Ltd
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Mrs Kiang-Koh Lai Lin Director/ Reading Initiatives National Library Board
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Ms Maimunah Mosli Senior Social Worker PPIS Vista Sakinah |
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Dr Bervyn Lee Senior Director, Sports Pathways Development, Sports Development Group Singapore Sports Council |
Mr Darren Lim Media Personality |
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Mr Mathew Pereira Sports Editor The Straits Times |
Mr Peter Quek Chief Executive Officer Centre for Fathering Limited
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Mr Vincent Schoon Managing Director Macwuerth Team (MTI) Pte Ltd |
Mr Alfred Tan Executive Director Singapore Children’s Society |
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Mr Peter Tan National Family Council Representative Principal Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
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Mr Tok Hock Soon Deputy Director/Family Life People’s Association
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Mr Jimmy Wee Gim Weng Executive Secretary National Taxi Association |
Prof Jean Yeung Professor / Department of Sociology Senior Research Fellow Asia Research Institute National University of Singapore |
