27/10/2026
What does it take to believe in a second chance when the road ahead feels uncertain?
For our staff Richard, a simple act of community outreach became the beginning of his journey into social work. While working in his church, he encountered families facing financial difficulties, strained relationships and loneliness, and learnt the importance of listening without judgement.
That experience eventually led him to Lakeside Family Services’ TJ Haven, where he now supports inmates and ex-inmates as they navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives. Through his work, Richard has learnt that starting over is rarely easy. One client he supported faced repeated job rejections and struggled to rebuild trust with his family, leaving him questioning whether society would ever look beyond his past.
Together, they worked through these challenges one step at a time, from exploring employment opportunities to navigating difficult family relationships. After several setbacks, the client eventually secured a job, regaining confidence and a renewed sense of purpose.
For Richard, the experience reinforced his belief that rehabilitation cannot happen in isolation. Meaningful change takes patience, understanding and a community willing to offer second chances.
“Hope is not pretending that the past did not happen. Hope is believing that the future can still be different.”
Through A Million Steps – Into a New Season, you can support TJ Haven’s work with inmates, ex-inmates and their families, helping them rebuild relationships, find stability and embrace new beginnings.
Support our campaign and help someone take their next step. Donate today:
https://lakeside.org.sg/support-us/a-million-steps-into-a-new-season/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=AMS+Richard&utm_content=AMS+Richard
