ISCOS 5 Es – Pillars for Reintegration

“We can never build the future for our members, but we can build our members for the future.” ~ Anonymous

Securing a stable job is the foremost need of an ex-offender who wishes to start life afresh. A steady income enables them to stand on their own and provide for their families, reducing the chances of them turning back to crime (recidivism) for livelihood.

We at ISCOS help to connect ex-offenders with employers who are willing to give them a second chance. Through our initiative called Corporate Doors, we continually engage the business community to hire at least one ex-offender, bringing about a more compassionate and accepting society.

We also employ qualified ex-offenders within our organisation and affiliate businesses like Mister Clean (cleaning business), I.M.BOSS (F&B) and Connect Centre (call centre within and outside prisons). These social enterprises also serve as a training ground for ex-offenders.

Members who need retraining are encouraged to avail themselves of the benefit under our Skills Assistance Subsidy Scheme, so they can take up short courses to boost their employability. This project is widely supported by LEE FOUNDATION as well as WDA and other certified training centres.

“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” ~Victor Hugo

We have seen changed lives of ex-offenders who are determined to finish their education, even after serving their sentence. They are now reaping the fruit of their hard work and are gaining respect from family members and friends.

ISCOS helps to connect young ex-offenders to industry partners and agencies with existing back-to-school programmes. With an invigorated desire to discover their interests, talents and skills, coupled with a changed mindset to do better, these youngsters will have the chance to build their career.

For the middle-aged and elderly ex-offenders, we highly recommend skills upgrading and retraining through our Skills Assistance Subsidy Scheme (SASS). We encourage them to take up relevant short courses to facilitate their immediate job placement. Through SASS, almost 90% of the course fees are subsidised by ISCOS.

Not forgetting our members’ children from low-income families, we actively provide educational assistance under the Fairy Godparent Programme, where we implemented several projects like the Book Grant, Tuition Bursary, Project CARE, and many others. Together with corporate partners, we organise educational trips and enrichment workshops for the ex-offenders’ children with a goal to build their self-esteem and instil in them positive life values.

"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!" - Madam C.J. Walker

"We were young, but we had good advice and good ideas and lots of enthusiasm."- Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corporation

We highly salute ex-offenders who were not held back by their past but strove to create opportunities not only for themselves but for others. In fact, successful entrepreneurs who once had a brush with the law are now helping fellow ex-offenders through employment and training opportunities.

We support members who wish to develop their own businesses by evaluating the feasibility and giving sound business advice, so they can operate with clearer understanding of all possible risks. We can also connect them with industry partners and government bodies that have existing programmes for would-be entrepreneurs.

Members who are keen to explore the food business can take advantage of the I.M.BOSS (F&B) franchise scheme.  This affiliate social enterprise has trained ex-offenders who are now running their own F&B businesses. 

“Our whole mission is enriching lives through learning. Basically, that means exposing them to everything, whether it's swinging a golf club or developing a picture.” – Terry O’connor

At ISCOS, we create opportunities for ex-offenders to discover and enhance their talent in sports, the arts and other enriching activities. By engaging them in these healthy interests, ex-offenders begin to realise what they can potentially achieve, thus building their character and self-esteem. Through these activities, our members also acquire a more positive outlook in life and the society in general.

The ISCOS Football Club (IFC) is one very successful sports rehabilitation programme introduced by ISCOS. The players have joined in various competitions, and have even won some of them. We also have IFC players who have been identified to join the local S-league, proving once again that ex-offenders can be like other individuals, given the right motivation and social support.

ISCOS members can also participate in other engaging activities like Dragon Boat, Netball and Running. 

“You get the best of others when you give the best of yourself.” – Harvey S. Firestone

ISCOS involves ex-offenders in various community service and volunteerism efforts so they too can have a sense of empowerment in being able to help someone. As they interact with other less fortunate, they learn compassion and gratitude, which in turn allows them to appreciate deeper the second chance given to them.

When asked to serve others, it is astounding that our members respond with great enthusiasm, sacrificing their time and energy to make a difference in someone else’s life. One such group is the ISCOS Peer Mentors, comprising our members who have successfully reintegrated into society and are now living very productive lives. They provide inspiration and moral support to young offenders six months before they are released from prison. Through sharing their life struggles and victories, they serve as real-life motivators to younger offenders so the latter can receive meaningful advice from those who have been in their shoes.

Another example of a community service project we do is the annual Tribute of Love organised by the Yellow Ribbon Project, where our members and volunteers serve the elderly with food prepared by prison inmates. 

Other members give back to the community by volunteering their expertise in ISCOS in the areas of design, photography, video editing, etc.