(6) Macao Renovation and Mutual Assistance Association

“Macao Renovation and Mutual Assistance Association”

Since 1989, several non-governmental drug treatment organizations were set up to help drug abusers to recover and reintegrate. During the following ten years, it was noticed that some rehabilitated drug abusers, due to the lack of professional skills and the difficulties to adapt to society, increased the possibility of relapse. Therefore, under the initiative of several rehabilitated and the support of the authority, in 2000, Macao’s first self-help group of voluntarily rehabilitated drug abusers called “Macao Renovation and Mutual Assistance Association” was established. The objective is through mutual encouragement and support between ex-addicts to help them to have a better return to the society and make themselves useful.

2.1 Business Unit

Professional Training

Since 2002, the Association realized different training courses including mosquito extirpation, air-conditioner cleaning, facility cleaning, repair and maintenance, and painting. In addition, some trainees attended and passed the examination of “Occupational Safety and Health Training” program held by the Labor Affairs Bureau, and this increase their qualification and competitiveness.

External Contracts

External contracts consisted of: facility cleaning, transportation, decoration, grass cutting and mosquito extirpation. There were 281 contracts in 2004, mainly was cleaning job (see chart 1) and the majority of contracts came from non-governmental organizations (see chart 2), an increase of 25.5% compared with 2003.

Team Morale

This is in order to increase the transparence of job distribution, in July 2004, Business Unit launched “Membership Reward Program” of the waiting procedure. Furthermore, to strengthen the team spirit, a “Award System” was created to active and well performance members.

2.2 Social Service Unit

Member status

The Association has 109 members with 24% full members and 76% Associate members (see chart3). 79.8% are living in Macao and the rest of 20.2% are living in Mainland China (see chart 4). 96% are males and 4% are females (see chart 5). 41% are aged from 41-50, then 25% of aged 51-60 and 22% of aged 31-40 (see chart 6).

Activities

Trainees attended the Chinese New Year Gathering

So as to assemble the members, the Association carried out different celebration and healthy activities for them and their families, such as healthy sport day, shrimp fishing competition, chess competition and New Year visits. In 2004, various activities were held 57 times with the participation of 636 persons/frequences. 57% were voluntary nature and 20% were vocational trainings (Chart 8).

Voluntary Services

Regarding social services, the belief of the Association is “We contribute the society as we are given an opportunity”. The members use their skills acquired by training, to provide services such as mosquito extirpation, facilities cleaning and household maintenance to alone elderly persons, children, mental illness rehabilitated. At the beginning of 2004, the Association with Macao Christian New Life Fellowship Association realized the community service project called Special Volunteers, in the purpose of enhancing drug abusers and Macao residents’ alert on AIDS and other infectious diseases. There were 145 persons/frequences of participation in 2004, with the majority in community services. (See chart 9)

2.3 Outreach Unit

For those who have just recovered from drugs feel being cared, with the support of the Social Welfare Bureau, a work team was set up in July 2004 with the objective of visiting and offering gifts to newly rehabilitated drug-abusers, in the hope that the caring is reciprocal. This helped to consolidate their abstinence. In addition, relevant data was collected to understand and analyze the needs and situation of ex-addicts, which served as indicators for future services, thus strengthen related backup services.

In 2004, improvements had been made either for Business or Social Service Unit. On one hand, Business unit strengthened the work procedure and regularization, while in July, the social service unit deployed a team targeting newly rehabilitated drug-abusers, by laying a good follow-up foundation for local drug treatment services. In addition, the Association has constant contacts with other social service associations to enhance the partnership by introducing more external resources.

Strengthen the Professionalism of the Business Unit

In 2005, the Business unit will emphasize the actual training on truck transportation and air-conditioner maintenance, while the introduction of the idea of customer service to optimize the service quality by listening their opinions.

Regular monthly gathering to heighten the spirit of mutual assistance and determination of persistence

The gathering is hosted by existing members and new members are welcomed. Through experience sharing and feelings express, which create a positive effect of “companions” that helps new members to prevail over drugs, as well as strength the mutual assistance between members.

Participate actively in social service, find more external resources

The purpose is to offer a positive image of ex-addicts to society, the core work of the coming year remains at outward services. At the same time, there are further collaborations with other related associations within the community to increase the acceptance and support of Macao residents for rehabilitated drug-abusers.