About us

Our mission, vision and history

Our Vision

Communities free and healed from the trauma of human trafficking, slavery and abuse.

Our Mission

For those affected by trauma and those who support them, HAGAR is an expert in care and recovery.

When healing happens, the cycle of trauma stops.

Our Values

Respect: We believe in the right of all people to be heard and treated with respect and dignity.

Integrity: We commit to act ethically and honestly, striving to do the right thing at all times and in all circumstances.

Compassion: We want compassion and kindness to be evident in our attitude, communication and in active, practical ways

Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards, listening and learning from those we support, our partners and each other, to continuously improve all that we do.

Our History

HAGAR was founded in 1994 in response to the prevalence of extreme domestic and community violence affecting women and children in post-civil war Cambodia. In 2008, HAGAR began operations in Afghanistan to support vulnerable women and children. The following year, HAGAR established an office in Vietnam to care for women who were affected by the growing magnitude of exploitation and abuse. More recently, HAGAR began delivering programmes for women through our support office in Singapore, and we are partnering with organisations in Myanmar to increase their capacity to provide Trauma-Informed Care.

With 25 years of experience, HAGAR has transformed into an internationally renowned leader in recovery services for survivors of human trafficking, slavery and abuse.

The HAGAR Story

The Hebrew name Hagar means “one who flees” or “one who seeks refuge.” The story of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, is the story of millions of exploited, abused, and trafficked women and children.

In around 2000 BC, Hagar worked in a foreign land as a domestic servant for a rich man called Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Sarah was unable to bear children and, following a common practice of the time, Sarah offered her servant to Abraham. When Hagar became pregnant, Sarah grew jealous and threw her out of their home. An angel found Hagar alone in the desert. He promised a blessing on her child, naming him Ishmael, which means “God hears.” In response Hagar declared: “You are the One who sees me.” The story of Hagar is known to many faiths including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

HAGAR is committed to providing sanctuary and hope to women and children like Hagar and Ishmael, walking the whole journey with each one.

Our Team

Paul Chan

Board Chairman
Currently the Director of Financial Services with Great Eastern life, Paul is also the Chairman of the International Certification & Standards Board of Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) and a Past President of the Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS). Aside from his professional achievements, Paul serves on the Board of Trustees of World Revival Prayer Fellowship, and has been actively serving in various ministries of the church including preaching, supervising cell groups and mission work including the church involvement in supporting Hagar’s work. He also serves on the board of Hagar International. Paul holds an MBA, the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation, Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) and the Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM) qualification. He has also co-authored two books with Dr B C Ghosh, Strategic Planning for SMEs in Singapore & Malaysia, and Smart Retirement Planning.

Paul Chan

Board Chairman

Currently the Director of Financial Services with Great Eastern life, Paul is also the Chairman of the International Certification & Standards Board of Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) and a Past President of the Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS). Aside from his professional achievements, Paul serves on the Board of Trustees of World Revival Prayer Fellowship, and has been actively serving in various ministries of the church including preaching, supervising cell groups and mission work including the church involvement in supporting Hagar’s work. He also serves on the board of Hagar International. Paul holds an MBA, the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation, Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) and the Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM) qualification. He has also co-authored two books with Dr B C Ghosh, Strategic Planning for SMEs in Singapore & Malaysia, and Smart Retirement Planning.

Sylvia Chan

Board Director
Sylvia’s career experience spans the gamut of refinery operations, and engineering design to talent management, and strategic HR. She left the corporate world in 2008 to pursue personal interests and eventually started Lotus Culture in 2010 – a social enterprise which provided employment for sexually trafficked and exploited women and girls in Cambodia. Its mission was to help rebuild lives. Despite these efforts, Sylvia realised quickly that beyond addressing the symptoms of human trafficking, more needs to be done to tackle the root causes. In 2012, she set up EmancipAsia Ltd. to raise public awareness about this societal issue, to engage the masses and empower individuals, communities and businesses to take action to combat this heinous crime.

Sylvia Chan

Board Director

Sylvia’s career experience spans the gamut of refinery operations, and engineering design to talent management, and strategic HR. She left the corporate world in 2008 to pursue personal interests and eventually started Lotus Culture in 2010 – a social enterprise which provided employment for sexually trafficked and exploited women and girls in Cambodia. Its mission was to help rebuild lives. Despite these efforts, Sylvia realised quickly that beyond addressing the symptoms of human trafficking, more needs to be done to tackle the root causes. In 2012, she set up EmancipAsia Ltd. to raise public awareness about this societal issue, to engage the masses and empower individuals, communities and businesses to take action to combat this heinous crime.

Cheryl Chong

Board Director
Cheryl has been a long-time supporter of HAGAR’s work with survivors of trafficking and abuse. Prior to joining the private sector, Cheryl worked in the Ministry of Home Affairs where she took a lead role in Singapore’s Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons. During those years, Cheryl was responsible for the development and review of policies and laws related to international organised crime, and actively identified emerging trends and issues that impact Singapore’s security landscape. Collaborating closely with foreign embassies and the civil society, she fostered strong stakeholder partnerships in combatting human trafficking in Singapore. She then moved on to the education and healthcare industry and was the Associate Director (Corporate Development) of a social market research company before joining the Missions Department of her Church. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Counselling.

Cheryl Chong

Board Director

Cheryl has been a long-time supporter of HAGAR’s work with survivors of trafficking and abuse. Prior to joining the private sector, Cheryl worked in the Ministry of Home Affairs where she took a lead role in Singapore’s Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons. During those years, Cheryl was responsible for the development and review of policies and laws related to international organised crime, and actively identified emerging trends and issues that impact Singapore’s security landscape. Collaborating closely with foreign embassies and the civil society, she fostered strong stakeholder partnerships in combatting human trafficking in Singapore. She then moved on to the education and healthcare industry and was the Associate Director (Corporate Development) of a social market research company before joining the Missions Department of her Church. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Counselling.

Chua Eng Hui

Board Director (Treasurer)
A senior consultant with Luo Ling Ling LLC, Eng Hui is a member of the Criminal Law practice under the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. Eng Hui started his legal career in the Attorney General’s Chambers where he served as a Deputy Public Prosecutor for 5 years from 1987 to 1993. In 1993, he was transferred to the judicial service where he served as a District Judge before moving on to private practice. Eng Hui has extensive experience in criminal legal practice, having handled numerous crime law cases all the way up to Court of Appeal level. In addition, Eng Hui also has substantial experience in cases involving corruption, fraud and deceit.

Chua Eng Hui

Board Director (Treasurer)

A senior consultant with Luo Ling Ling LLC, Eng Hui is a member of the Criminal Law practice under the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. Eng Hui started his legal career in the Attorney General’s Chambers where he served as a Deputy Public Prosecutor for 5 years from 1987 to 1993. In 1993, he was transferred to the judicial service where he served as a District Judge before moving on to private practice. Eng Hui has extensive experience in criminal legal practice, having handled numerous crime law cases all the way up to Court of Appeal level. In addition, Eng Hui also has substantial experience in cases involving corruption, fraud and deceit.

Lee How Giap

Board Director
Armed with 27 years of experience working with Philips, AT&T, Lucent Technologies and Corning; across 3 countries, Singapore, Indonesia (4 years) and China (16 years), How Giap spent considerable time over the last 2 decades on his regional career. Having retired from Corning in April 2011, his last position was as the Vice President of Manufacturing for Corning Greater China Telecom. He also held many other positions, prior to that, including, President of Corning Optical Fiber for Greater China, General Manager of a joint venture in China (Lucent Technologies) and Plant Manager for AT&T in Indonesia. Elected for an early retirement from the corporate world, so that he can move from achieving “success” to “significance”, How Giap is now using his skills and experiences to educating young people, engaging in charitable work and consulting work with SMEs locally and regionally. How Giap and his wife, Alice, worship at the Covenant Evangelical Free Church in Woodlands.

Lee How Giap

Board Director

Armed with 27 years of experience working with Philips, AT&T, Lucent Technologies and Corning; across 3 countries, Singapore, Indonesia (4 years) and China (16 years), How Giap spent considerable time over the last 2 decades on his regional career. Having retired from Corning in April 2011, his last position was as the Vice President of Manufacturing for Corning Greater China Telecom. He also held many other positions, prior to that, including, President of Corning Optical Fiber for Greater China, General Manager of a joint venture in China (Lucent Technologies) and Plant Manager for AT&T in Indonesia. Elected for an early retirement from the corporate world, so that he can move from achieving “success” to “significance”, How Giap is now using his skills and experiences to educating young people, engaging in charitable work and consulting work with SMEs locally and regionally. How Giap and his wife, Alice, worship at the Covenant Evangelical Free Church in Woodlands.

Michael Chiam

Executive Director
Having spent close to 20 years serving in the international humanitarian sector, Michael is no stranger to global poverty issues and social evils that are prevalent in impoverished and oppressed communities in the developing countries. Michael brings with him extensive programme and executive experience having provided direct oversight of numerous global development projects in about 25 countries worldwide. Immensely grateful for the chance to marry both his life mission and his career, Michael’s personal mantra keeps him focused and rooted even in turbulent times – “You only live once, so make the life in your years count.” Outside of work, Michael also volunteers with The Navigators as a mentor in the 20-30’s ministry. Michael has a MBA in NGO Leadership and serves on the board of Hagar Social Enterprises Group.

Michael Chiam

Executive Director

Having spent close to 20 years serving in the international humanitarian sector, Michael is no stranger to global poverty issues and social evils that are prevalent in impoverished and oppressed communities in the developing countries. Michael brings with him extensive programme and executive experience having provided direct oversight of numerous global development projects in about 25 countries worldwide. Immensely grateful for the chance to marry both his life mission and his career, Michael’s personal mantra keeps him focused and rooted even in turbulent times – “You only live once, so make the life in your years count.” Outside of work, Michael also volunteers with The Navigators as a mentor in the 20-30’s ministry. Michael has a MBA in NGO Leadership and serves on the board of Hagar Social Enterprises Group.

Help us transform lives

Join HAGAR to empower survivors of trafficking and abuse to start a new life.

Help us transform lives

Join HAGAR to empower survivors of trafficking and abuse to start a new life.

Help us transform lives

Join HAGAR to empower survivors of trafficking and abuse to start a new life.

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