Community 
"The Fathers@Schools programme and DadsforLife website are but first steps in the Dads for Life journey.
It is a journey that will require collective will and commitment, not just from fathers but from the community at large."
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
The DadsforLife movement launched Fathers@Schools and the DadsforLife official website on 1 April 2010 to further engage fathers in diverse communities, and get them more involved in their children’s lives, for life.
Fathers@Schools
Fathers@Schoolsis a programme that leverages on schools as key platforms to reach out to fathers. Schools onboard the programme will receive funding of up to $2000 each year to form a father group and to support the organisation of father-focused activities.
Website & Social Media Presence
The website, DadsforLife.sg acts as a resource and networking portal for all fathers, individuals and communities supporting Singaporean dads. It features easy-to-read research and parenting articles, fathering tips, a community forum, and an event calendar for fathers and their families.
These features will help fathers embrace their important fathering roles, provide them with some practical tips to help them in these roles, and anchor them in a larger community whose resources and expertise they can draw from.
To maximise its online reach, DadsforLife has also established a parallel presence on other popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter so that fathers can connect with one another at all times.
Officially Launched with a “Little Helping Hand”
The launch of both the programme and website, which was aptly held at North View Primary School, saw Guest of Honour, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, entering the school hall carrying his son in his arms.
The little boy remained unfazed throughout the event -whether sitting in the front row or on stage - snug in his father’s embrace.
In his speech, Dr Balakrishnan beckoned fathers to place high value on active fathering.
He urged the audience to remember that it is important that fathers -despite the volatile and fast changing world we live in- still hold on to certain basics in life, such as relationships, responsibilities, and values.
“We need to do our bit as fathers for a variety of reasons. First, our children need us. Second, our wives want us to do so. But third, and perhaps most important, we do it for our own sakes,” he said.
He pointed out that fatherhood is a privilege that must be claimed. And fathers will lose out if they forfeit the privilege.
Possibly the clearest illustration of how transient every growing stage of a child can be, was expressed in the Minister’s own observation of his son’s ability and willingness to be at the event with him.
“I can never get a boy like this, to sit through a speech with me, and not get too bored. In a year’s time, there’s no way he’s going to do this,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
With his son, Dr Balakrishnan, launched the Fathers@Schools Resource and Development Guide and took photographs with the programme’s Primary and Secondary School Representatives,
And at the flick of a switch, the father and son team officially launched the DadsforLife.sg website.
Plenary Sessions
In a plenary session following the launch, parents and school representatives heard from schools which had already implemented the Fathers@Schools programme.
Among the speakers was Mr Amos Choy, who help pioneer the Fathers Wing at Montfort Junior School in 2004. He shared about how his love for computer games led him to organise -among many other activities- highly popular gaming competitions for fathers and sons in the school.
Another speaker, Mr Jared Chee, shared about the valuable camping and bonding experience that he was privileged to enjoy with his daughter, at a recent school event.
He also used the acronym DADS to share why he became a member of Dads Amazing, North View Primary’s Fathers’ Group. For Jared, DADS stands for:
• Declaration –to declare publicly his commitment to his children's life
• Aspiration –to aspire to be a great father
• Demonstration –to demonstrate his love as a father
• Service –to serve the school his child is in
Jared, the dedicated father, felt that speaking at the plenary session allowed him to declare his commitment to his children publicly. And his take-home message for the adults attending was for them to love their children unconditionally.
“Nurture them through creative affirmation,” said Jared.
Even as a speaker, he learnt from the others who were presenting. What did he glean from them? Jared declared, “The role of the father is extremely important in shaping the future generation!”
See a video of the launch on our homepage and on our YouTube video channel.
Hear from the other plenary speakers next month!
About the Author: The DadsforLife Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.
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