Community Mediation Centres

Resolving Conflicts in the Olden Days
In the olden days when conflicts arose it was inevitably settled in an informal manner through the good services of the village elders or penhulus. Parties are encouraged to air their views and open up. Solutions are suggested and the best option adopted for resolving the conflict. In fact, some might add that in the past, conflicts were resolved by parties out of high respect for the elders and kampong heads. Nowadays, much skills and techniques are required in order to resolve conflicts.

Now...
The Community Mediation Centre (CMC) was set up by the Ministry of Law to provide an informal and user-friendly means of settling inter-personal, social and community disputes between people.

Conflicts and disagreements among people can lead to disharmony and tension in society. They come about because of differing interests, perspectives or views among residents. They can also arise because of disputes over scarce resources or competing values and principles.

In Singapore, community disputes do occur between neighbours. These conflicts can range from very minor and petty disagreements to violent arguments over competing values and resources. In the olden days, disputes and conflicts among the members of the community were settled within the community by the village elders or leaders. As time passed and with the influence of the outside world the kinship relationships gradually gave way to more contractual and ‘less friendly’ relationships. The establishment of community mediation centres will provide a useful avenue for resolving these modern community disputes.

Mediation as a tool helps parties to resolve their disputes in an amicable manner. It is useful because disputants can meet and discuss how best the conflict or disagreement between them could be resolved without the need to proceed to litigation or resorting to violence. In the process, it helps clear misunderstandings and build community cohesion and harmony.

Community Development Councils (CDCs)

The concept of Community Development Councils was introduced in 1996 to foster community bonding among residents. Community bonds are strengthened when the community's social needs are met by its own members. There are nine CDCs in Singapore. Each CDC will initiate, plan and manage community policies and programmes such as medifund, edusave scholarships and bursaries, study loans, and other assistance schemes. CDCs will also work with other related agencies to develop the community and strengthen social cohesion.

Their Mission
To be the people's partner in achieving community bonding and social cohesion.

Their Vision
A vibrant community with one heart.

CDC Structure
Singapore will be divided into several communities based on contiguous neighbourhoods. The CDC may or may not cover the same electoral boundaries. It will also cover an area with at least 150,000 residents. Furthermore, it will be managed by a Council comprising the Chairman and members. The Council will have between 12 to 50 members. The CDC is governed by the CDC Rules 1997.

Functions of the CDC
A CDC initiates, plans and manages community policies and programmes. These include Medifund, Edusave scholarships and bursaries, study loans, community libraries, recreational facilities and the various assistance schemes under the Ministry of Community Development & Sports (MCDS) such as the Public Assistance (PA) Scheme for destitutes and Small Families Improvement Scheme (SFIS), and the Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS) currently administered by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). In addition, the CDC will also organise mega community projects to cater to the needsof the old, young, the poor and the handicapped.

Funding of the CDCs
Each CDC is provided with a start-up grant of $1 per resident living in that CDC. In addition, sources of funds can come from well-wishers. For every $1 donated, the government will top-up $3. If a person donates through GIRO, the government tops up $4 for every $1. These funds will be channelled into the activities and projects carried out by the CDC.

Residents' Committee (RCs)

The RCs were first introduced when the government found out that there was a need for the people of a housing estate to mix with one another, thereby improving the understanding towards other people of different races and religion.

Their aim is to help the People's Association foster social cohesion and community development within a particular housing estates. As the subzones of various town are further subdivided into cluster of HDB flats around these RCs, they bring the people closer towards one another. An example is "Punggol South Zone 6".

The RC, meanwhile, is made up of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Asst. Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor and various other members. These people are all selected within the housing estate by the P.M. Office when they volunteer to be a member.

To achieve their aims, the RCs often organise functions and various activities such as tea parties, trips to nearby countries to let the people have a chance to come together. They print out poster, banners or even go to house to house visits to sell tickets to promote these activities all for the sake for the community. When one goes around housing estates at night, they might also see some stalls being set up along roadsides. These are the "Night Markets" or "Pasar Malam" in Singapore. They too, are organised by the RC who invites stallholders to sell anything ranging from sumptuos food to household items.