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Ms Yun Li Hua (left) and Ms Chris Wong working at bread stall Roti Kari, hoping that they can one day run their own stall under a programme to help women ex-convicts.

ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

SummaryEx-drugs offender Yun Li Hua is working at Roti Kari stall with the incentive of owning the business, so she can improve life for her three children.The Bakery Rehabilitation Programme provides female ex-offenders with training, a salary, profit sharing and the chance to own the bread stall after three years.The programme includes support group sessions, where the women can lean on each other and learn skills on setting boundaries and coping with challenges.AI generated

Published Feb 09, 2026, 05:00 AM

Updated Feb 09, 2026, 05:00 AM

Singapore – Single mother and former drug offender Yun Li Hua, 45, is working hard at Roti Kari, a bread stall, with the hope that one day the business will be hers.

Ms Yun, who was jailed six times for drug offences, said she wants to turn her life around for her three teenage children.

“I feel I can have more control and advantages if I run my own business, so I’m enthusiastic to try this,” said Ms Yun, who has experience in the food and beverage (F&B) industry and whose mother is a hawker. 

“It’s not too fast-paced, and I feel I can manage.”

She is among a small group of female former offenders who are part of the Bakery Rehabilitation Programme run by Blessed Grace Social Services (BGSS). 

Under the programme, the charity has partnered F&B group DaJie Holdings to run bread stalls at hawker centres under the Roti Kari brand.

The women receive a salary and profit-sharing from running the stalls in the first three years. After that, ownership of the business will be transferred to them, if they choose to take over the business.

The first Roti Kari stall opened at Block 16 Bedok South Road in November 2025, followed by a second outlet at Tekka Market about a month later. 

A third stall is expected to open at Ci Yuan Hawker Centre in Hougang by the end of February.

(From left) Blessed Grace Social Services founder and executive director Billy Lee; Ms Yun Li Hua; Ms Carol Tan, one of DaJie Holdings’ founders; Ms Chris Wong; and Daily Roti director Victor Chia.

ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Mr Billy Lee, founder of BGSS, said the programme aims to motivate former offenders who may struggle to find a suitable job or to hold on to their jobs.

For example, some employers may not be able to deal with former offenders’ issues, such as giving up when they face problems at work or losing interest in the job quickly.

The programme gives them the chance to run their own business if they work hard, which could spur them to go the distance, he said.

As part of the initiative, participants must also attend regular support group sessions, where they can lean on each other and learn skills such as setting boundaries and managing their emotions.

The rehabilitation component is funded by a grant from the President’s Challenge, said Mr Lee.

DaJie Holdings, which runs food outlets under the DaJie brand and bakeries under the Bread Era brand, covers all set-up costs and bears any losses during the first three years.

Ms Carol Tan, one of DaJie Holdings’ founders, said the company wants to give the women a chance to build a future for themselves, especially since many of them feel other people treat or see them differently because of their criminal history.

The bread is baked at DaJie Holdings’ central kitchen, and the women focus mainly on sales and managing the stall.

Under the programme, participants undergo three to six months of training at a DaJie Holdings bakery, where they learn basic baking skills and operations. They receive a monthly allowance of $1,600 during this period.

After completing the training, DaJie Holdings helps them to apply for a hawker stall. 

In the first year of operations, they earn a monthly salary of $2,000 and get 10 per cent of the profits. This increases to 30 per cent in the second year and 50 per cent in the third year, with DaJie Holdings absorbing any losses during this time, Ms Tan said.

After three years, the business is transferred to the women, who keep 90 per cent of the profits. The remaining 10 per cent goes to the Daily Roti, a DaJie Holdings entity set up for the initiative, to cover marketing, administrative and other costs. 

At this stage, the women no longer receive a salary and are responsible for any losses.

Ms Tan said the company hopes to set up at least 20 outlets over the next three to five years.

Business is slow and it takes time to build up a customer base, she said, adding that the stalls are running at a loss currently.

Four former offenders are currently working at the stalls, said Ms Jeanmarie Seah, coordinator of BGSS’ female ex-offenders programme. 

Ms Chris Wong, 53, said she is grateful for the opportunity to try running a business. She has been jailed twice for drug offences and has had jobs ranging from cleaning to clerical work.

For Ms Yun, the programme, particularly the support group sessions, has been crucial in helping her stay on the straight and narrow.

“I feel like I’ve wasted a lot of time and haven’t done enough for my children,” she said. “I really want to change.”

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