Ex-offender, orphaned and homeless at 14, now a social worker helping others: 'What I am doing today does not feel like a job at all'
Rizwan Habib spent his youth as a homeless orphan and a school dropout. He entered a cycle of crime that led to seven different jail terms. Now 44 years old, he works as a social worker helping inmates and former offenders. His efforts earned him a President's Challenge Springboard Fellowship on October 25. This program aids people who have overcome major life hardships. He plans to use the fellowship to earn a Master's degree in Social Work from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
At 14, Rizwan Habib was a Primary 2 dropout, orphaned, homeless and caught in a cycle of crime that would eventually see him jailed seven times. Today, the 44-year-old social worker helps inmates and ex-offenders rebuild lives, a journey that earned him a President's Challenge Springboard Fellowship on Oct 25.The programme supports individuals who overcame significant life challenges in rebuilding life. Through this fellowship, Rizwan intends to graduate with a Master's degree in Social Work from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). In an interview with AsiaOne, he recalled his journey and second chance in life.'I don't think I was a bad kid'Rizwan was about five when his father cut familial ties. He subsequently witnessed his mother's struggle with drug addiction, unemployment and homelessness.By age 11, the only child was stealing and committing petty crimes to feed his mother's drug habit. This led to his first arrest at the age of 12, and he spent three years at the Singapore Boys' Home and Reformative Training Centre.