No Matter How Dark It Gets, There’s Always Room for Light 

June – August 2025

Recovery Story: Zul

"His wife and children were in Malaysia — far away, beyond reach. Each day spent behind bars was a reminder of the distance that separated them."

 

Growing up, Zul (not his real name) faced a rough start in life after losing his father at the tender age of ten. At that time, support for single mothers was limited, and Zul described his secondary school years as a painful chapter.  

Deprived of a father figure, he instinctively had to step up at a young age to help provide for his family. The demolition of his childhood kampung, which led to constant relocations, made the task that much harder. 

Zul was first introduced to drugs by his peers at 14. Each time he accepted an offer, his cravings only grew stronger, until he found himself abusing drugs even when he was alone. His loss of control led him to drop out of secondary school, marking the beginning of a downward spiral that left him feeling completely consumed by addiction. 

Over time, the need for higher doses to feel any sense of relief deepened his dependence. Each payday, his salary would be spent on fulfilling his drug cravings. The cycle felt unbreakable until he was arrested for the first time.  

Everything began to change when Zul was selected to be referred to WE CARE for his emplacement programme – Project SAFE 1.1, a collaboration between WE CARE and the Singapore Prison Services (SPS), funded by NCSS.  

For Zul, it marked the beginning of something new. As part of the programme, a WE CARE counsellor met with him during his time in the DRC, offering support and guidance even before his reintegration into the community had begun.  

These in-care sessions would evolve into regular check-ins, tailored to help him navigate both his rehabilitation journey and his practical day-to-day needs. 

While the programme offered a glimmer of hope, Zul carried a heavy, decades-long burden in his heart. His wife and children were in Malaysia — far away, beyond reach. Each day spent behind bars was a reminder of the distance that separated them.  

The ache of being apart from his family was deep and constant. It was a silent fracture in his spirit that he felt nothing in the world could mend. In early recovery, many report feeling similar intense pain – a grim reminder that addiction is not just about the highs. 

At WE CARE, the journey toward healing continued. Through regular counselling sessions and participation in recovery support groups — including self-help support groups and group counselling — Zul began to feel a shift within. 

The darkness that once clouded his days slowly began to lift, replaced by flickers of hope and a reawakening sense of self-worth. Each session brought new insights. His counsellor didn’t just listen — she guided him gently toward self-reflection, helping him understand the weight of his past and the possibility of a different future. 

The road, however, wasn’t always easy. In moments when loneliness crept in and the pressure of finding employment grew heavier, Zul was especially grateful for the support of his SAFE buddy. He still remembers the day when his SAFE buddy accompanied him to the Social Service Office (SSO), walking beside him, patiently helping him apply for interim financial aid.  

To Zul, it wasn’t just about money — it was about being seen, about someone showing up when it mattered most. 

During his recovery journey, Zul began to uncover strengths he never realized he possessed while under the shadow of addiction. Recognizing his own qualities of respectfulness, humility, and resilience has allowed him to view life not as a burden, but as a gift — something to be cherished, not taken for granted.  

While the lost time with his family and the damage to his health cannot be undone, Zul now believes he holds the power to create the life he has always longed for. 

With unwavering determination, Zul, now 66, reached a major milestone in his recovery journey on 16th January 2025 by receiving the one-year award at WE CARE’s 18th Finisher Awards. Held twice a year, the Finisher Awards celebrates clients and beneficiaries that reach 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years of sobriety.  

Receiving this award filled him with a profound sense of gratitude and fulfilment — feelings that had long been missing during his years of substance abuse. Today, Zul uses this milestone and his newfound inner strength as motivation to walk firmly along the path of recovery.  

Zul’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter how dark the past, the future always holds room for light — and with courage and the right support, every new day is a second chance. 

 

I am Alina, a SUSS counselling undergraduate, who enjoys running and exploring new places. As an intern at WE CARE, my four-month internship journey has been both raw yet deeply heartwarming. For someone who works for a non-profit organisation that helps cancer patients, having this new experience has been invaluable towards my personal and professional growth in my counselling journey.  

Witnessing WE CARE’s 18th Finisher Awards and having the privilege to write Zul’s story were two of the many experiences that opened my eyes to a level of sincerity, genuineness, and togetherness I never knew existed until I met the recovering community at WE CARE.  

 

By Zul and Alina 

Alina recently completed her counselling internship at WE CARE.