Date

Milestones

Quotes

Nov 09

National Family Council forms Fathers Action Network (FAN) as a work group.

A consultative network for father-related issues and programmes, FAN champions active and responsible fatherhood.

In addition, FAN mobilises other fathers and networks within their communities.

Mr Richard Seow, chairman of FAN

“The formation of FAN gave focus to the national agenda of growing fatherhood involvement. More than anything else, it reflects the community-driven nature of the movement.” - Mr Jason Wong, DFL Secretariat

The Dads for Life Secretariat

Nov 09

DDB Asia creates DFL logo

“The DFL logo was contributed pro bono by DDB Asia.

When the Managing Director, heard about what we were planning to do, he met with me and told me that as a father himself, he found this very meaningful and vital, and wanted to do his part to support this movement.

When he announced to his staff about this project, a few hands went up to volunteer, and they were all fathers!”

Mr Jason Wong, DFL Secretariat

Nov 09

Singapore Fatherhood Public Perception Survey shows that fathers desire and need to be more involved in active fathering.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) commissioned Survey covers more than 2000 respondents from a cross section of the population.

97% of Singaporeans are of the view that fathers play an important role in their children’s lives.

96% of the fathers surveyed wish that they could spend more time with their children in their growing years.

- Survey Results

Nov 09

MCYS publishes The Difference a Dad Makes -What Does International Research Say?

A summary of research papers on fatherhood from all over the world, and its relevance to Singapore. Over 40,000 booklets distributed.

“…Our hope is that these resources are a starting point in equipping fathers and our partners with information and tools to do the best they can, so that children benefit.

Our hope is also that the resources will come “alive”, with fathers and practitioners themselves sharing their stories and tips with us based on their own experiences, so that the community “toolbox” will keep growing.

We have received very good feedback on these resources…

…we have distributed close to 237,000 toolkits, and close to 40,000 copies of a literature review summarising international research on fatherhood.”

Ms Grace Cheong, DFL Secretariat

19 Nov 09

Launch of DFL Movement

Held in conjunction with International Men’s Day, fathers and children station themselves in the city and heartlands to distribute DFL Tool Kits.

Since the launch, close to 240,000 toolkits have been distributed.

Watch video and read about it

Dads holding up their free toolkits

Mar 10

DFL publishes key findings of Fathers@Schools Survey 2009

Today, there is documented evidence that children benefit richly from their fathers’ involvement in schools, and that is true even when a child’s mother is already involved.

-Excerpt taken from Fathers@Schools Survey 2009

19, 20 & 21 Mar 10

Canon-DFL Photography Events

Dads attend photography talks to gain tips on how to create lasting memories with their family.

Dr Leslie Tay conducting the talk

1 Apr 10

Launch of Fathers@Schools and DFL website by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

66 schools onboard Fathers@Schools including 2 SPED Schools since its launch in April this year.

DFL publishes Fathers@Schools Resource & Development Guide

Read more about the launch here

Watch video of launch

“Since the launch, we have formed the Dads Amazing Executive Committee…

…The group has managed to increase their own involvement in the school, and increase the involvement of other dads in the school through organising activities…”

Mr Alex Devadass, Vice Principal of North View Primary School on Fathers@Schools

With launch of DFL website, Dads continue conversations online through forums

Over 3,500 registered users of the Dads for Life website over the same period.

Dads for Life forumer

"Gheetaman" and his children

“The forums have been very helpful on days when I run out of ideas where to bring my kids over the weekends.

All I need to do is login and look for "Things to Do This Weekend", and I get an instant supply of places to go and things to do!

I'm really thankful for what DFL is doing to encourage dads to take the initiative to lead, play and guide our children.

I would like to wish DFL a happy first anniversary. May the DFL become both a movement and motto as we truly be Dads for Life to our children.”

Gheetaman, Forum Participant

1 Apr 10

Dads for Life Blog Contest Commences

Children blog about their dads with the sentence beginning with, “You are my Dad for Life and I am very happy when you…”

Sabariesh Ilankathir and his dad

“You’re my dad for life and I’m really happy when you are with me. When I was about eight to nine years old, my grades in school dropped and it was a difficult stage of my primary school life…

...You told me to be determined and set personal goals by competing with my own marks than other students’ marks…”

Mr Sabariesh Ilankathir, 11 years old, Top 15 Winner

Also see article by Sabareish’s dad, Mr Ilankathir Dandapani

14 May 10

Inaugural DFL Conference

A groundbreaking number of fathers gather for insights, advice and skills on how to develop transformational relationships with their children.

Held on a Friday afternoon, with publicity targeted especially at employers to encourage their employees to attend, the Conference also marks the movement’s first foray into the workplace.

1,060 participants, mostly men and fathers, attended the inaugural Dads for Life Conference

Participants at the sold-out

Dads for Life Conference

“The fact that there was a turnout of more than 1000 fathers goes to show that fathers are also determined to show their commitment and passion towards becoming a better fathers.”

Mr Patrick Cheo, CEO, Adam Khoo Learning Technologies, and Panel Speaker at DFL Conference

“My wish is for all fathers to realise that every day you have as a father is a profound privilege, humbling as well as empowering, and we should all treasure that.

So as the DFL movement celebrates its first anniversary, I hope that you will be able to keep spreading this message to all fathers. Keep up the great work!”

Mr Adrian Pang, Artistic Director, Pangdemonium Productions, and Panel Speaker at DFL Conference

Panel of speakers

15 May 10

CEOs and Leaders’ Breakfast Meeting

CEOs and corporate leaders learn the benefits and costs of having close father-child relationships and having father-friendly business policies.

Mr Jeffrey Goh, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of AXS, said that his company has policies which encourage work-life balance. It has flexible work arrangements like ‘flexi-hours,’ where staff can choose what time they start or finish work for the day, but the standard total number of hours worked in a day is not changed.

“We have these family-friendly policies,” explained Mr Goh, “because we also observe that if the [employee’s] family has problems, the employee can’t perform.” It is important for staff to have that “an xing” (peace of mind) to work, he added.

-Excerpt taken from Dads for Life CEOs and Leaders Breakfast Meeting

12 June 10

DFL Blog Contest Awards Ceremony

Parents, children and educators turn up in full force for the Ceremony, a lively event with a free photo booth, goodie bags, and the winners’ entries proudly on display.

“The fact that she was shortlisted already made me very happy…I didn’t expect her to win.”

Mr Mohamad Rafey, father of Noor Adilah, contest winner in Primary Section

Noor Adilah and family

17-18 June 10

International Conference on Fatherhood in 21st Century Asia: Research, Interventions, and Policies, opened by Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development.

Organised in collaboration with National University of Singapore(NUS)’s Asia Research Institute (ARI), the conference is an important milestone in strengthening knowledge related to Asian fatherhood, to inform policies and programmes related to fatherhood here within the context of a limited, even if growing, research on fatherhood in Asia.

The 1st Fatherhood in Asia Research Conference.

“A summary report of findings from papers presented at the Fatherhood Research Conference in June 17-18 has been prepared and uploaded to the DFL website.”

“I expect the research on Asian fatherhood to grow in the near future, especially after the conference we held this summer and after the special issue in the (international academic) journal comes out.”

Prof Jean Yeung, ARI and NUS, Department of Sociology

Prof Jean Yeung

Jun-Jul 10

Various events and training opportunities by partner organisations

-5 Jun, National Library Board’s Fathers Read and Ride

-20 Jun, SAFRA’s National Runway Cycling and Skating 2010 (Fathers’ Day Event)

-17 Jul, Centre for Fathering’s (CFF) Screamfree Parenting Seminar

And Many More!

…This year’s initiative, themed “Dads Raise Little Booklovers” expands its focus to include father figures such as soon-to-be fathers, grandfathers, uncles and male caregivers/guardians with children up to 12 years old.

This extended focus highlights the importance of father figures as role models in the lives of their young charges.

-Excerpt taken from Fathers Read and Ride

We saw dads of all ages, shapes and sizes taking their kids on every imaginable human- powered wheeled vehicle, just to have a memorable family day together.

-Excerpt taken from Celebrate Father’s Day 2010, Runway Cycling and Skating

The ScreamFree principles invite parents to focus on themselves, grow themselves up, and calm themselves down...

…As Mr Runkel candidly put it, “Parenting is about parents. It’s not about kids, or it would be called kidding.”

…Mr Wong Suen Kwong, Executive Director of CFF, had this to say about Mr Runkel: “He has a way to unpack [the parenting approach], to make it more palatable for them.

-Excerpt taken from Screamfree Parenting Seminar–Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool

31 Jul 2010

Inaugural Fathers@Schools Learning and Networking Forum

A day of learning as fathers and teachers exchange ideas on dads’ involvement in schools, informally and formally through World Café Discussions.

Partner organisations CFF, Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) and SAFRA present their resources and programmes that Fathers@Schools can tap on.

“…With bowling, fathers can make full use of the sport to bond the whole family together.”

Wendy Kuan, General Manager, SBF

Fathers and teachers exchanging ideas

through a forum

11 Sept 10

Father & Child Fun Bowling Session - St Hilda's Sec Fathers@Schools

St Hilda’s Sec participates in SBF’s Father & Child Bowling Session.

The session started out with a boisterous crowd getting organized with their funky bowling shoes, picking out balls of all colours and weights, and some even doing what Singaporeans do best - browsing through the snack bar's goodies (nachos and cheese melt was a popular selection). This had to be sponsored by the good dads themselves - but it was worth seeing the joy on their teens' faces.

-Excerpt taken from Father and Child Bowling Session –St Hilda’s Secondary

1 Oct-11 Nov 10

The Joy of Being There Contest

Dads share their joyful and funny moments with their children by posting stories, photos and videos.

Gabriel Lee and his family

“The greatest benefit in participating in The Joy of Being There Contest has been sharing my journey of being a father with fellow fathers; to encourage them to capture the best moments because our children grow so fast.

Although you will always be their father, your greatest chance to be a positive influence is before your child's adulthood.”

As DFL turns one, we'll also be celebrating my son, Ethan's first birthday this November.

My wish for the DFL movement is that more fathers would come to know of the importance to daily put into practise the Father's Five. With more fathers playing an active role, the trans-generational gap between father and child will be narrowed.”

Mr Gabriel Lee, a winner for Pick-of-the-week in The Joy of Being There Contest

18 Nov 10

DFL First Anniversary Celebration

FAN and DFL key partners gather to commemorate what they have achieved in 2010 and look forward to another exciting year ahead

DFL publishes Dads the Way I Like It

A booklet containing Singapore children’s words and drawings on what makes them happy or sad, and their hopes for their fathers.

Click to download PDF file

“Our little successes have come about because of their (our partners, as well as supportive mothers and fathers) passion and their contributions.

It has been and continues to be a learning journey for all of us.

I suppose the greatest lesson we’ve learnt is the need to continually find ways to let people, whether it be individuals, companies or organisations, do what they do best, and to influence their communities in whatever they can.

Everyone is an agent of change and the journey is always about recognising and celebrating our role in this whole journey of promoting active fatherhood.”

Ms Grace Cheong, DFL Secretariat