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“I feel grateful and elated to be awarded this prestigious scholarship by TOTE Board. Learning is a lifelong experience and the Harvard Business School SPNM programme will give me invaluable insight into core management concepts for development of creative strategies, to manage change in my organisation and the social service sector. The rich and dynamic exchange among course mates from around the world will be invaluable to my professional development.“ |
Mrs June Tham has devoted 26 years of her life to the education of children with special needs. She is also serving on specialist committees such as Panel of Advisors to the Family & Juvenile Court.
Mrs Tham joined the Margaret Drive Special School as its Principal and Executive Director in 1989, The school came under the umbrella of Rainbow Centre in 1992 when the latter was founded.
Rainbow Centre (RC) is a voluntary welfare organisation with a mission to enhance the quality of life of children with special needs through education and training to enable them to achieve their fullest potential. Today, RC runs two special schools, an early intervention programme for over 700 children with autism spectrum disorder, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, developmental delay and multiple disabilities aged 2 months to 18 years. In addition, it runs a Training and Consultancy Unit to develop and conduct training courses for parents and professionals, and a Family Support Group Programme for families of children with special needs.
Mrs Tham was instrumental in the growth of RC by developing two purpose-built special schools, expanding the early intervention programme to serve more children, and starting of the Training & Consultancy Unit to train teachers, professionals and parents. She also co-authored / co-edited three publications on special needs to raise funds for Rainbow Centre and promote greater awareness on special-need issues.
With the benefit of the Tote Board scholarship, Mrs Tham hopes she will be able to draw from her experience with special-need children to do more for the social service sector.
