“I will never forget the night when Andrea* experienced flashbacks of traumatic experiences and I was trying to calm her down. She was sobbing as she said, “Nobody has ever listened to me like you,”

said Mirabel Ong, social worker at MWS Girls’ Residence.

Mirabel had just experienced a breakthrough. It had taken her almost 2 months to gain Andrea’s trust.

Like many of the other at-risk girls at the Residence, 16-year-old Andrea had gone through multiple adverse childhood experiences. “I struggled with the changes that were happening to me growing up. School work was stressful and I was constantly bullied. Mother was often too busy working to make ends meet so I had no one to turn to,” Andrea confided.

Left on her own, Andrea was sexually exploited by a neighbour, turned to drugs and also began stealing and missing school.

*Not her real name

“By the time she was referred to us, Andrea was like a zombie and in a very low mood. She was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and often experienced flashbacks of violence. The feelings of being abandoned by her mother aggravated her condition,” shared Mirabel.

From the onset, MWS Girls’ Residence applied the 5 TIC principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment in supporting Andrea.

“We believe the girls’ behaviours are all driven by trauma, not wilfulness,” explained Mirabel.

“The TIC culture is rooted in physical, emotional and psychological safety to earn the trust of the girls. We communicate regularly and transparently with them, and make sure we do what we promised,” added Audrey Rajalingam, Head of MWS Girls’ Residence.

The TIC approach is also collaborative. “I discussed with Andrea on her care plan, touching on areas like tasks and timelines, and explaining what would happen at every stage. Giving her a voice in charting her own journey of restoration empowered her and made her more committed,” Mirabel shared.

Along with the staff’s consistent care and supervision, empathy and regular affirmation, Andrea began to come out of her shell and was encouraged to explore her strengths.

“When I realised that I have a talent for playing the guitar, singing and song-writing, I told Mirabel I want to develop myself in these areas,” shared Andrea. With strong recommendations from MWS Girls’ Residence, Andrea enrolled in an Arts Incubation programme. She had since written a song for her school about overcoming difficulties during COVID-19.

“Apart from improving the girls’ psychological and emotional functioning, we also support them in reintegrating into the community. They are encouraged to resume studies or find employment and return to their families if possible,” shared Audrey.

The girls will also learn skills for independent living, for instance in managing their schedules and financial budgeting. Some also attend sessions on developing healthy relationships, managing toxic ones, and keeping themselves safe.

MWS Girlsʼ Residence supports youth afflicted with trauma issues.

MWS Girlsʼ Residence provides 24/7 care in a safe and nurturing environment for troubled and at-risk girls aged 15 to 21 years old. The residents are either mandated by the courts to serve their probation in a residential facility, or referred for their care and protection. Through a holistic programme comprising individualised care plans built around trauma-informed care principles, we aim to bring about positive changes in their overall well-being.

Back to Impact Areas Page