SINGAPORE – Participants of the AsiaWorks Leadership Programme 47 (LP47) in Singapore created a special Mother's Day experience for 27 single mothers and 44 children of HELP (Help Every Lone Parent) Family Service Centre. Their goal was to touch the lives of these families through fun, love and play. They spent Mother's Day rock–climbing, playing games and enjoying a band performance at the National Community Leadership Institute in South Buona Vista and ended the event with a bumboat ride. HELP family service centre is a voluntary welfare organisation assisting single–parent families in need. These are families which have undergone a loss due to death, divorce or separation.

"Since my husband was killed in an accident in 2002, I have been busy coping with my three pre–school children, my job and household chores," said Mrs Yew–Lee Yeou Jen. "I would like to thank HELP family service centre in Ang Mo Kio for giving my children and me such a fun–filled and memorable Mother's Day. I would also like to thank the volunteers from AsiaWorks LP47, who enabled single mums like me to feel love and warmth."

LP47 felt that the single parents are one of the neglected groups in the community, celebrating Mother's Day would be an excellent opportunity to acknowledge them. At the event, children were given the opportunity to say "thank you" to their mums on stage.

A senior social worker of the family service centre, Miss Nellie Mok, 30, said, "On their own, single parents usually don't celebrate Mother's Day. When they are free, they are too busy with housework, the children of catching up on sleep. We wanted to give them the chance to relax and have fun with this year."

"If we put our hearts to it, it is possible to raise funds, organise the event in a short period of time and team work can create wonders," said Yeo Siew Mui, 28, a deputy general manager for a non–profit organisation, and the AsiaWorks Leadership Programme chairperson for this event .

AsiaWorks is continually looking for ways to contribute to the local community so that people can learn and grow through service to others. The AsiaWorks Basic Training, Advanced Course and Leadership Programme are offered to the general public on a monthly basis in cities throughout Asia .