Oogachaga Counselling and Support



Oogachaga is Singapore's first and most well known LGBTQ-friendly counselling organisation.

Its vision is to be the most recognised agency for developing fulfilling life experiences between individuals and communities of all sexual orientations and genders.

Oogachaga's mission is to enable LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) individuals to make informed decisions that strengthen their beings and to achieve a fulfilling life.

=History=

Founders
Oogachaga was started by artist Jason Wee and friends Steve Wong and Kenneth Lau in 1999 as a support group for young men in their 20s. Better known as “OC” today, Oogachaga has expanded its target group to the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) individuals of various age groups with services including counselling, personal development and support groups, forums and workshops.

The name Oogachaga was inspired by the names of its forerunners as well as the dancing baby from Ally McBeal, "Baby Cha-Cha".

C. Singam became the driving force behind Oogachaga soon after its formation, offering his residences near the city area as venues for the meetings of the support groups, named OC1, followed by OC2 and so on. At first, meetings were held in a HDB apartment and then at a ground level shophouse unit around the River Valley vicinity.

Singam also started Oogachaga's counselling service in 2000.

Tanjong Katong
Later, the first office for Oogachaga was located on the third level of a shophouse unit at Tanjong Katong as the venue for support group meetings. The flat was rented by long-serving AfA volunteer D. Tung who lived their with his pet dogs and kindly let Oogachaga use the premises during the weekends. Interviews to recruit members for future OC Men's support groups were conducted there before the move to their new headquarters at Emily Hill (see below).

Bryan Choong
On 3 May 2005, Fridae profiled Bryan Choong, one of Oogachaga's leading facilitators. Choong revealed that Oogachaga and Looking Glass would be presenting regular personal development and growth workshops for lesbians, gays and their friends on the first Tuesday of every month in 2005. Their second workshop in 2005 would be entitled "Coming Home To Our Families - To Tell or Not to Tell?", to be held on 3 May 2005 at 7:30pm at Utterly Art, #02-01, 208 South Bridge Road. Oogachaga would also be launching a new men's support group on 6 May 2005.

In 2005, Oogachaga's first support group for women was started.

On 16 Feb 2006, Oogachaga started the OCMSM (Oogachaga Men who have Sex with Men) hotline, Singapore's first hotline manned by gay volunteers. This community outreach service enables MSM to talk about issues regarding their sexuality issues or to find out more information on HIV and STI.

Emily Hill
When more funds became available in 2007, an office at Emily Hill and a spacious room, meant for arts activities, also in the same complex, were rented for administrative work and support group meetings. Professional counsellors and personal development trainers were also roped in to make the support group activities more comprehensive.

In 2009, Oogachaga underwent a rebranding exercise in which it renamed itself "OC". It also adopted a more holistic mission statement which sought to foster all-round development of LGBTQ individuals in Singapore.

The Office Chamber
It shifted its office to the third and fourth levels of The Office Chamber at 230 Jalan Besar. Entrance to Oogachaga's premises was via the back door to the car park on the ground level!

40A Mosque Street
In 2011, it moved to a more central location at 40A Mosque Street in the Chinatown area. Its new office was much more stylishly furnished than the previous one at The Office Chamber and was more accessible to its volunteers and support group members.

It also procured sufficient funds to employ three full-time staff to schedule its hotline, counselling, support group and other activities.

OC's first and current centre director is Bryan Choong. In 2013, the designation was changed to 'executive director'. Choong was initially assisted by Peh Yin Yee and Andrew Chan. When Peh resigned in 2012, her position was taken over by Dharesheni Nedumaran. Later staff members included Shay Goh and Bi Ling.

On Saturday, 9 Jan 10, OC held its tenth anniversary celebration at Play disco along Tanjong Pagar Road from 4-7 pm.

57B Pagoda Street
In June 2014, Oogachaga moved from its premises at 40A Mosque Street to nearby 57B Pagoda Street. It raised funds for its relocation on GIVEasia. The advantages of the new location were:


 * A 3-year tenancy agreement and 40% increase in floor area with only a 10% increase in rent.
 * Separation of office space and activity areas.
 * Additional space for in-house activities, counselling rooms, storage and a volunteers’ mini-lounge.



=Forums and events organised=

2009: Book Launch of Tong Lei
=Current Services=

Oogachaga's services include:


 * 1) Face-to-face counseling
 * 2) Hotline counselling: 626 86 626
 * 3) Support groups for gay and bisexual men
 * 4) Support groups for lesbian and bisexual women
 * 5) Forums for the LGBTQ community
 * 6) Workshops for practitioners such social workers, counsellors and mental health professionals.

=Links=


 * Oogachaga's website
 * Oogachaga's Facebook page
 * Oogachaga Counselling and Support's Facebook page
 * Oogachaga Singapore's Facebook page
 * Bryan Choong Oogachaga's Facebook page
 * OC Family's Facebook page