Category Archive

As shared by Daybet, Former Beyond Youth Twenty years had passed since Daybet last walked through the doors of Beyond’s office. The space felt smaller than he remembered, but not unfamiliar. Before he could fully take it in, he saw a face that pulled him straight back into memory. “Uncle George!” George paused. It took a second. Then recognition landed – fittingly, on the very day he marked 23 years of working at Beyond. What followed was the easy rhythm of reunion: updates exchanged, laughter over half-forgotten details, stories filling in the years that had slipped by. “You remember Daybet?” …

Story Contributed by Jie Ying, Community Worker Last Saturday, we gathered to mark the end of a small Early Learning Programme class at Lengkok Bahru. The class began in June last year with seven children. Over time, some families moved on as needs shifted and priorities changed. By January, three children remained. We did not see this as a shortcoming. Community work often teaches us that participation ebbs and flows, and that small numbers are not a sign of failure but an invitation to pay closer attention. With fewer people in the room, there is more to notice. Parents sat …

Written by Wilson, Community Worker On Thursday afternoons in Jalan Bukit Merah, the Homework Support room opens long before any volunteer arrives. Five mothers from the neighbourhood take turns unlocking the space, laying out snacks, straightening chairs, and greeting the first few children who always show up early – eager, restless, and ready to tell someone how their day went. This little programme began because some parents, especially those who struggled with English or had fewer years of schooling, wanted so badly to help their children but didn’t know how. Beyond now brings in trained volunteers to support the academics. …

Story contributed by Myna, Community Worker Our Early Learning Programme had been running for a few months in Bukit Ho Swee – a weekly, intervention-based literacy and numeracy initiative for young children, supported by volunteers from Bank of America. Seven children showed up regularly, dropped off by their parents. And every week, the volunteers greeted them at the door. But beyond those quick handovers during drop-off and pick-up, there hadn’t been much space for conversation. The ones guiding the children in the sessions had never truly connected with the ones guiding them at home. So, for the first time, we …

Story contributed by Jia Wen, Volunteer When Nadia* first joined the academic support group at Jalan Bukit Merah, the year was already in full swing. Most of the other youths had been part of the programme since the start where they had sat in a circle, shared what mattered to them, and co-created a social contract to guide their time together. It was a way to name the kind of space they wanted to build, one anchored in respect, self-control, freedom, happiness, and security. Nadia hadn’t been part of that process. She started coming midway through the year, often alongside …

Story contributed by Hani, Community Worker Children were staying out late, playing in unsafe places, sometimes breaking things. Footballs hitting windows. Shouting matches between neighbours. At first glance, it was easy to see mischief. But beneath the frustration, most residents were asking the same question: “Are they safe?” And so, we started reaching out to the children who were often seen wandering the blocks – fifteen of them, mostly in primary school – who would become what we called the Children Task Force. In the early weeks, it became clear they weren’t being difficult on purpose. They just didn’t yet …

Written by Wilson, Community Worker Qistina is a quiet, earnest 13-year-old who comes every week to our academic support programme for secondary school students. From the start, it was clear she struggled with mathematics. Like many of her peers, she found comfort in languages but stumbled when it came to numbers. When we first started the programme in March, Qistina was the only one who showed up consistently. Still, after the first session, one volunteer shared that she found Qistina unmotivated to learn. I asked gently, “Then how come she’s the only one who keeps coming back?” The volunteer paused, …

Written by Pei Ling, Partner Relations It was just before a youth programme at the office. Two boys sat in the pantry, quietly waiting for it to start. I asked, casually, “What are you up to these days? Studying or working?” A simple question. But one that opened the door to something deeper. The first youth, Adam*, shared that he had missed his N-level exams not once, but twice. The first time, he was hospitalised. The second time, he fell ill again, but didn’t seek medical attention. His younger siblings were unwell too, and his mother – a single parent …