Dear friends, It was not an English lesson but together with a group of girls, we looked up the dictionary definition of the word “slut.” Upon confirming that it is most often used to describe women who are sexually promiscuous, they were incensed when they recalled the numerous occasions they were called so. “Sometimes people don’t use the word on us but by criticising how we dress, I think they also believe that we are bad girls,” one of the participants expressed during a recent Girls’ Night. Girls’ Night provides a safe space to discuss sexuality, relationships, and other topics that youth find …
Another Week Beyond – 2042
Dear Friends, “They look like they are studying at Hogswarts,” a child commented after meeting students from St Ninian’s R.C. Primary School in Edinburgh Scotland online. It was a hilarious moment but understandable as the fictitious school of wizardry in the Harry Potter stories was in Scotland. 9 young people aged from 8 to 14 years old, are part of “In a New Light,” a 13-session project to sensitise participants to the crisis of climate change. The project designed by Imaginate Scotland brings together artists and young people in Scotland, Bangladesh and Singapore who face barriers accessing the arts. As part …
Another Week Beyond – 2041
Dear Friends A group of children ran up excitedly to a colleague as she was on the way to a home visit. Dressed in similar tee-shirts, they greeted her with a big grin expecting a reaction. “Wow! You guys look so sharp and colourful. What’s up?” she obliged. Immediately the children gushed that they were now a sepak takraw team. Intrigued, she asked them to say more. They told her that they had just begun and pointed out their coaches who were waiting for them some 50 metres away. The coaches waved and my colleague recognised them as youth who …
Another Week Beyond – 2040
Dear Friends, Still in his school uniform, Ahmad, rushed to our Centre after completing extra lessons in preparation for his Primary School Leaving Examination. However, when he received his new laptop from Lt General (Retd) Winston Choo, Chairman of Metro Holdings Ltd, he was a little tongue-tied. Nonetheless, he managed a smile, posed for the camera, and spoke to the press. His father who accompanied him looked on proudly and told us that he was glad that Ahmad was given the opportunity to be a part of this cheque presentation event. As a charity, such events are common and quite …