It all started with an idea, and a "because we can" attitude.
OUR STORY
"Bro, let's start a non-profit organisation that rehabilitates drug addicts this way."
"You're really serious about this?"
"Yeah man let's do it!"
"Why?"
"Because we can."
Co-founders Yong Qi and Mateen had this conversation in April 2018 while they were studying, after revisiting a video on the "Rat Park Experiment". The biggest question haunting them since their first conversation on addiction five years prior - have we misunderstood addiction this whole time?
check out this TEDtalk on addiction
No doubt, rehabilitation programmes based on psychological evaluations, medical treatments and counselling are vital when it comes to treating Substance Abuse Disorders (SUDs). However, the feeling that something was missing always lingered in the minds of the two co-founders - and that was the role of community.
Community
/kəˈmjuːnɪti/
noun
2. the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common.
Seeing this gap in Singapore's existing efforts to rehabilitate drug addicts, Yong Qi and Mateen, together with 8 other co-founders, made a choice. Since they were still students in university and thus could connect with youth better, they were in the prime position to fill this gap. And because they could, they set out to do so through Uncage.
OUR PLANS
The co-founders envisioned a tightly-knit community of clients, volunteers, and partners, taking on society head on. We aim to create this self-sustaining community that will last eternally.
Then again, it's easier said than done. Hence we've put together a plan for us to work towards our goal of creating this community. It is going to be a long journey, but hang tight - good stuff is about to happen.
Dec 2018
Mentorship Programme
Collaboration with Singapore Prison Service
Jan 2019
Launch of first fundraiser
Sep 2019
Launch of first awareness campaign
Dec 2018
Registration of Society
Collaboration with CARE Network Agencies
Apr 2018
Formation of Uncage
Jun 2019
Pilot test
Dec 2019
Validation
We are here!
OUR COMMUNITY
Uncage was founded by a group of youths, each with different backgrounds, goals, aspirations and skill sets. After coming together, we all wanted to pursue one mission - to dedicate ourselves to an aggressive and sustained approach to reducing drug recidivism in Singapore.
THE TEAM
EXCO
HODs
