MILK, through our partner Beyond Social Services is dedicated to reducing delinquency among children and youth from less privileged backgrounds by providing guidance, care, protection and resources that keep young people in school and out of trouble. We provide alternatives and support to teenagers in crisis so that they do not have to resort to drastic measures. 

Some of the anti-delinquency programmes are listed below:

•     Community Beyond
•     Babes
•     Kids United Home
•     Campland

1) Community Beyond

Each year a significant number of youths aged between 14 and 20 are discharged from institutional care and left “homeless” because their families are unwilling or unable to care for them.  Without the appropriate care and guidance, they are likely to re-embrace high risk behaviours that push them onto the wrong side of the law and at worst, into incarceration.  Community Beyond is a small group bridging home aimed at helping marginalized youths beyond institutional care and integrating them into our community.

Objectives:

• To ensure that the youths stay clear of high risk behaviour because they feel valued and hopeful about their future.
   
• To prepare them for an independent living and help them to renew ties with their support network for better integration in the community.

Partner: Beyond Social Services

 

2) Babes

Over the years the number of teenage pregnancies has been significantly increasing.  Babes was launched to help these girls in need and providing them the support they need. The emphasis is on responsible decision making based on the options available to them.  In 2006 74 youths were helped in person and 176 via SMS counselling.

Objectives:

• To provide support and care to pregnant teens with emphasis on nurturing responsible decision making.

Partner: Beyond Social Services

 
3) Kids United Home

Kids United Home is a Small Group Home that takes in a maximum of 12 children at any one time. The small group setting attempts to replicate a family environment where residents look out for each other. The staff is trained to leverage on the small group size to promote and facilitate relationships that enable residents to contribute and share responsibility for the upkeep and activities of the home as well as the well-being of all.  The home has been operating at full capacity since December 2006.

 Objective:

• To give the young residents as much time as they need for self-recovery through personalised care.
   
• To give the youth support and opportunity to build character by exploring their potential
   
•  To allow the youth to reconcile with their communities and have old healthy relationships between supportive caregivers.

Partner: Beyond Social Services

 

4) Campland

Campland is an early intervention programme that encourages children to stay motivated in school. It is a preventative programme to identify delinquent behaviour and provide alternative care and guidance. Using experiential learning, values of teamwork and collaboration are imparted to the kids and provide them opportunities to develop healthy relationship with peers. In 2006, Campland helped 840 students in 12 primary schools.

 Objectives:

•  To improve self esteem among foundational stream studen
   
•  To impart leadership and teamwork skills that will enhance their ability to contribute positively to their school and their community
   
• To enhance the school’s efforts in nurturing and integrating foundational stream students.
   
• To provide these students with regular wholesome recreational activities within their school or in their community.

Partner: Beyond Social Services