Good Life Befrienders

The Good Life Befrienders programme was started as a way to meet the unique needs of youths with disabilities and to support their post-school goals, particularly of being engaged and connected in the community. Volunteers befriend youths with disabilities and together, they engage in activities that are often typical of teenagers. This initiative helps youths with disabilities who may be otherwise relatively insulated, to connect with other members of their community. Their network expands with the befrienders visiting them and/or going out together on a regular basis. This initiative also helps to deepen the befrienders’ understanding of issues related to inclusion. Volunteers are paired up with our students who are between 15 and 18 years old, and they commit to spending time together weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, over a period of at least 6 months. 

Our befriending journey with Keith, a boy with autism, was featured on:

Channel NewsAsia: “How to help people with autism? It starts by just being a friend”

Photographer Bob Lee’s project: Finding What’s Next

The Straits Times: “Finding out what's next: Challenges faced by autistic people after they turn 18”