CAPT Renew
CAPT Renew is a newly established ACE committee that aims to support the reintegration journey of halfway house residents through meaningful activities and genuine conversations. Through interactions with halfway house residents, we hope to cultivate empathy and compassion in CAPTains through understanding the lived realities and reintegration needs of the residents.
Vision Statement
Shaping minds, bridging hearts, renewed lives
Mission Statement
Through supporting the reintegration journey of halfway house residents, we hope to nurture empathetic and open-minded CAPTains through meaningful engagements, genuine connections, and a deeper understanding of halfway house residents’ lived experiences.
Gabriel, Yoke Teng
Directors of AY 25/26
Directors' Message
Community Engagement is a process and opportunity to learn and grow by understanding and hearing lived experiences from communities on the ground and stakeholders involved with the community. It is a meaningful process to be a part of as you really get to learn from broad perspectives about the community while also learning more about yourself in the process. We wish for CAPTains to meaningfully interact with the halfway house residents and learn more about them, through engaging in activities that the EXCOs and engagers have planned! We also look forward to helping our engagers and EXCOs learn and grow while having fun in the process, and create an environment and culture in CAPT Renew where everyone feels safe to express themselves, try new things, and grow!
The Team
Rachel
Training & Development Vice-Director
you never know until you try :’’)
Yi Jie
Publicity & Awareness Vice-Director
You only live once :3
Thaddeus
Admion & Finance Vice-Director
Thought I will be learning about life but it was just science
Pre-engagements
Pre-engagement 1:
CAPTains attended a talk by Associate Professor Narayanan Ganapathy from the NUS Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Through this session, CAPTains gained an overview of the prison and rehabilitation systems in Singapore, as well as the challenges that halfway house residents face in their journey of reintegration, such as stigma, fractured family relationships, and difficulties in securing employment. The speaker also introduced real crime cases in Singapore and explored the social, economic, and personal factors that can lead individuals to offend. This pre-engagement equips CAPTains with a more informed and empathetic understanding of the residents they will be interacting with, helping them to engage in conversations that are respectful and grounded in awareness.
Pre-engagement 2:
CAPTains visited the State Courts of Singapore to observe live court hearings. By listening to and watching a range of cases, including several drug-related offences, CAPTains were able to see how the judiciary operates in practice, beyond what is described in theory. They observed how different stakeholders in the courtroom (judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers, accused persons, and others) interact, and how a variety of factors are considered in sentencing decisions.
Engagement & Impact
Our past engagement sessions include baking activities, where CAPTains and residents work together to bake chocolate cookies. These hands-on tasks create a relaxed, non-judgmental environment where residents can enjoy the process of making something from scratch, share stories, and pick up new skills. We also played simple games that encouraged laughter and light-hearted interaction, helping to break the ice and build rapport.
Beyond structured activities, small group conversations and one-to-one small talks form a core part of our engagements. CAPTains offer a listening ear and genuine companionship for residents to share their experiences and aspirations, allowing the residents to feel that they matter too. In addition, CAPTains also organised digital literacy sessions to equip residents with the latest practical skills such as using smartphones, navigating essential apps, or accessing necessary online services.
Through these engagements, CAPT Renew aims to contribute to the wider rehabilitation journey of residents by reducing social isolation, allowing them to feel that society cares for them, and rebuilding their confidence to reintegrate into the community.
CAPTains grow not only in awareness but also in character and empathy. By interacting directly with halfway house residents, CAPTains confront and unlearn stereotypes they may have previously held about ex-offenders. Hearing residents’ personal stories of family, work, and hope helps CAPTains recognise the complex social and structural factors behind crime and incarceration, and to see residents as individuals rather than labels.