Speech by Ms Christie Lee, SIF Director, Programmes, at the Closing of Teacher Counselling and Building Students’ Resilience In Education (T-CARE) Project, in East Java, Indonesia, on 29 July 2025
Pak Aries Agung Paewai, Head of East Java Province Education Agency,
Ms Yum Sin Ting, Team Lead, School Social Work Chapter, Singapore Association of Social Workers,
Our Singapore International Volunteers,
Partners and Friends,
Selamat sore (Good afternoon)! Thank you all for being here to mark the closing of the Teacher Counselling and Building Students’ Resilience in Education (T-CARE) project. It is heartening to see so many of you gathered to celebrate the achievements of this meaningful collaboration.
Singapore and Indonesia share a long-standing and deeply rooted relationship. At the Singapore International Foundation, or SIF, we are proud to have contributed to this friendship. Since 1992, the SIF has partnered with stakeholders across Indonesia on more than 100 initiatives – in education, healthcare, youth development, and culture. These efforts reflect our shared commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient future together.
One of the key challenges we face today is the growing mental health needs of our youth. Students navigate a complex web of pressures: from social media influence to anxiety and bullying. At school, they do their best to cope with academic expectations and look to teachers and their peers to provide support, where needed. It is therefore important that schools are more than centres of learning; they must also be safe spaces where students feel supported.
This is where initiatives like T-CARE have sought to make a difference to better support schools. By equipping teacher-counsellors with the right skills, T-CARE has been able to help them foster positive, supportive environments and empower students with the resilience to thrive both in school and in life.
Over the past three years, T-CARE has been a robust collaboration between the SIF, the East Java Province Education Agency, and the School Social Work Chapter of the Singapore Association of Social Workers, with valuable support from the East Java Provincial Government. I am pleased to share that the project has made meaningful and lasting impact.
Through a series of workshops, about 590 teacher-counsellors from vocational high schools across East Java gained practical skills and knowledge in trauma-informed care, career guidance, cyber wellness, and communication with parents. These enhanced capabilities enable them to respond more effectively to the complex challenges students face today.
A core group of 22 participants were selected as Master Trainers for advanced training in peer supervision and specialised counselling practices. They also developed and implemented action learning projects that addressed real-world issues such as gaming addiction, peer support, career planning, and parent engagement. I am heartened to learn that more than 90 percent of Master Trainers reported feeling more confident in providing career guidance using psychometric tools within a broader developmental framework.
In May this year, we hosted the Master Trainers on a study visit to Singapore, where they gained first-hand insights into systemic approaches to school social work. Through visits and discussions with various education and community organisations, they explored holistic youth support models and cross-sector collaboration. These experiences enriched their perspectives and strengthened their resolve to drive meaningful change.
These Master Trainers have since become champions of student mental health in their schools and communities, contributing to a stronger response across the education sector. In total, nearly 800,000 teachers, students, and parents have benefitted from this project.
None of this would have been possible without the strong support of the East Java Provincial Government, the East Java Province Education Agency and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) in Indonesia. We are deeply grateful for your leadership and dedication to student and teacher well-being.
To our Singapore International Volunteers and our partners from the School Social Work Chapter, Singapore Association of Social Workers – thank you for your expertise and your generosity of spirit. Your contributions have not only built capacities but also forged lasting friendships between Singapore and Indonesia.
To the Master Trainers and participants – your commitment, creativity, and courage to innovate in your practice have inspired us all. I hope you continue to lead the way, share your knowledge widely, and advocate for stronger, more caring support systems for every child in your care.
I wish you every success in your future efforts and may the spirit of collaboration and friendship continue to guide our work together. Terima kasih (Thank you)!