Second chance The Singapore National Co-operative Federation offers scholarships to young people interested in carving a career in the Industrial & Services Cooperative Society By Ahmad Osman GETTING jobs for former prisoners and drug addicts to reintegrate into society is the commercial and social mission of the Industrial & S ervices Cooperative Society (Iscos). Its programmes help former offenders build the economic independence, confidence, discipline and sense of responsibility to make life better for themselves and their families. It is satisfying for the staff of the co-operative with more than 8,500 members to see people released from prison and drug rehabilitation centres succeeding in the efforts to rebuild and restore their lives. These changes take time to materialise. "Frustrations will set in when we hope to see quicker results or expect that outcomes are proportionate to the effort put into our programmes," says Iscos executive director Freda Tham. Iscos staff, she says, must be humble, street-smart and realistic when they deal with people of different ages from all walks of life seeking a second chance "There is no fixed formula or manual available to help ex-offenders. It must come from the heart, and a lot of patience is needed to experience long-term change. "The job may not be glamorous. But it guarantees you satisfaction when you witness lives turned around for the better, just because you and someone in the community believe there is a future for them and act on that belief." Iscos is among the 74 co-operatives with more than one million members affiliated to the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF). SNCF is offering scholarships to develop young leaders of the co-operative movement, which is a vital component of Singapore's social and economic structure. Ms Tham says the movement here is essential because "we offer a commercial and social mission to various strata of society". She adds: "Eventually our mission is about making money to enhance the welfare of other Singaporeans. There is a sense of ownership in what we do. "It is indeed a good initiative to encourage employment within the co-operative movement in Singapore. It is now opportune to get younger people involved as they are the next generation to pass the baton to. "Co-operatives are now entering a phase of renewal and equipping themselves to compete in a larger arena. Challenges do abound for younger Singaporeans." Improving other people's lives is the main attraction of working in Iscos and the service sector of the co-operative movement. The key challenge for Iscos staff is getting public support and removing or minimising the stigma of working with former prisoners and drug addicts. Iscos also actively maintains close ties with corporate partners that provide alternative employment opportunities for members who prefer to work in other industries. Additionally, it provides annual grants for the children of members in financial difficulties to buy text-books, uniforms and other items for the new school term. Volunteers in its Fairy Godparent mentoring and tutoring programme help children of members who are in prison to cope with their schoolwork and other challenges. The co-operative also helps younger members to go back to school. Those who do well at each major academic level get book prizes and other awards. Regular enrichment programmes encourage members to take part in community service projects. They also get the training to reach out and help other people. Iscos is constantly exploring trends and opportunities in the job market. It is also building relations with the community to push the message that former offenders deserve a second chance, says Ms Tham.