DADs for Life Fosters Lasting Connections Among Fathers

Find out how Justus Ong, 52 takes an active role in his child’s life and how his community of support has helped him in his fatherhood journey.

Not only does Justus know how many members are in the K-pop group, SEVENTEEN, he can also correctly identify every singer—a formidable feat, considering how coordinated the group looks. For Justus, keeping up with his daughter, Xin Er’s interests is his way of staying connected as she turned 18 this year. These days, the father-daughter duo bond over exercise, movie nights and Korean music.

Justus attributes the close relationship he has with Xin Er to the strong bond they have built since she was little. His involvement began when Xin Er entered St. Margaret’s Primary School (SMPS), where Justus was introduced to DADs for Life through the Centre for Fathering. Inspired by the message of active fathering, Justus joined other father volunteers in SMPS to organise ICAN Fathering workshops, parenting talks and NERF gun games for dads and their children. These activities created opportunities for fathers to interact with their children while learning valuable parenting skills in a fun and supportive environment.

“I couldn’t have done so much without the support of the school and camaraderie of the other fathers in the DADs for Life support group,” Justus said. The men often come together to share parenting tips, celebrate each other’s successes, and provide a listening ear to one another. Even after their children graduated from SMPS, they continued volunteering together in the Parents Support Group when their children moved onto St Margaret’s Secondary School.

A long-time friend and fellow volunteer, Mr Lee Boon Seng, 50, whose daughter was also from SMPS, had served alongside Justus for nearly a decade. He shared that the relationships built through DADs for Life extend far beyond school activities. The group of fathers would get together regularly to share experiences and support each other in their fatherhood journey. Another fellow father, Mr Terence Lee, 50, commented that although his daughter, Johanna is already 17, the friendship formed over the years keeps the fathers going. Many of the dads who first met when their children were in primary school are still in touch with each other today.

Precious memories of his fatherhood journey

Although it has been more than ten years, Justus fondly remembers the DADs for Life camp he attended with Xin Er when she was in Primary 5. During the camp, the father-daughter teamed up to decorate a log cake together. Despite the task being challenging at first, the pair soon found their momentum, persevered, and even won the first prize during the competition. “The look of pride and accomplishment on Xin Er’s face was priceless and I’ll never forget that,” Justus recollected the event with a smile. 

In the initial parenting years, Justus found it difficult to juggle work and having time for his family. Determined to be an active father, Justus started adjusting his work schedule by setting aside dedicated time for his family, without compromising his work deliverables. Justus believes that small steps like setting aside an hour a day to bond with Xin Er will remind her that she is loved and valued. In addition, showing up at volunteering events in schools has further strengthened his relationship with Xin Er. 

As Justus reflects on his fathering journey, one thing he knows for sure—being a dad isn’t just a biological role, it’s a lifetime commitment of influencing his child in a positive way. Justus hopes to cheer every father on this parenting journey, encouraging them to take small, intentional steps to spend time with their children. “It’s not about being perfect,” he says, “but about being present. As we support each other as fathers, we not only grow as individuals but create lasting, meaningful bonds with our children that will carry them through life.”