Another Week Beyond – 2345

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends, In the spirit of community-led change, our learning programmes have been moving toward self-organised and self-directed learning. Peer Learning Circles are study groups supported by a circle of volunteers who do not teach but provide academic resources and learning guidance. The initiative is also constantly on the lookout for neighbours who offer the hospitality of their homes for the learning to take place. We envision Peer Learning Circles as an initiative that provides an opportunity for families, neighbours, and others in the locality where the students live, to play a part in encouraging their efforts to learn. Currently, …

Another Week Beyond – 2341

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community

Dear Friends, The Lengkok Bahru September Babies Celebration impressed on 13 children that they were loved by family and friends. A mother baked a 4kg vanilla cake adorned with chocolate sprinkles and youth living in the neighbourhood kept the party going with games, good cheer, and gentle banter. The celebration took place at the rooftop garden of the Leng Kee Community Club and the parents and youth who organised the event were determined to get the next one going after their Member of Parliament assured them that they could continue using the facility for this purpose without charge. Mr Eric …

Another Week Beyond – 2331

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends, The Girls Brigade invited us to speak about poverty at their annual camp called Fast Food and Fuzz.  The aim of the camp was to nurture a sense of gratitude among its participants for the various blessings they enjoy. In their invitation letter, they asked if we could explain the causes of poverty, the challenges faced by those affected and ways in which members of the Girls Brigade could make a difference for those affected. Last Saturday, 3 of our youth aged 13, 15 and 16 took to the stage to share about their experiences living in a rental flat …

Another Week Beyond – 2327

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends, 2 Sundays ago, I was making my way to the office to prepare for our volunteer-run chiropractic clinic when the van in front of mine stopped. It was a one-way street and the driver got out and walked toward me. It was a courier van, and I was thinking that the guy was having difficulty locating an address and wanted directions. I certainly was not prepared for, “Hello Gerard. How are you? I miss you,” when he was standing next to my door. I felt a little awkward at first as I could not place him. Also, it was slightly after …

Another Week Beyond – 2324

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends,  An intern facilitated an exercise on creating a LinkedIn profile for 5 youths whose ages were not too different from hers. On a worksheet, the youth listed their work experiences, strengths/skills, and interests. As these youth were still in school, they were told that the category for work could include their volunteering and caregiving experiences. However, we soon realised that our instruction was not exactly necessary as everyone in the room had no trouble making a list of their work experiences. They began working when they were 14 or 15 years old, and they have had a variety …

Another Week Beyond – 2317

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, community spirit

Dear friends, After presenting a report on the amount of food and household essentials they helped to distribute in their neighbourhood last year, we asked 10 residents for their feedback. They were pleased with their effort and told us that the volunteer work enabled them to make friends with their neighbours. A mother added that her children also accompanied her on home visits as they too wanted to meet other children.  Often, they reminded her to visit other mothers so that they could follow her to meet their friends. They also said that the work challenged them to speak to all …

Another Week Beyond – 2315

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Arts, Children and youth, Community

Dear friends, After a performance at the Esplanade in 2019 to mark our 50th Anniversary, our community theatre took a short break that turned into a rather long one because of COVID-19.  Hence, we were thrilled when a young person from the programme took the lead last August to revive it with new members and some volunteers skilled in theatre craft. The group is aiming to launch its first forum theatre performance by the end of May even though they don’t have a name for the show yet. Inspired by the efforts of young people addressing the issue of sexual violence at …

Another Week Beyond – 2314

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community, HeadStrong

Dear friends, “What was one thing that you were stressed about this week?” The young people present responded to the question thoughtfully. They were then instructed to pen down how they felt immediately after the stressful incident and how they felt a day later. This was a simple exercise in developing self-awareness because when we document an experience, we are listening carefully to ourselves. Over time, we become more familiar and comfortable with our emotions, which puts us in a better place to prevent them from upsetting our well-being. However, not all of us can find the words to say …

Another Week Beyond – 2312

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, youth

Dear friends, A youth who was new to the programme picked up a guitar hesitantly and started strumming at the back of the room. She knew the song the “band” was playing, and she mouthed the lyrics which spoke to her. “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?” Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin, like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?” explained her so eloquently. She knew every word from “Firework” by Katy Perry and they moved her from playing rhythm guitar in the background to centre stage …

Another Week Beyond – 2301

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear friends,  Happy New Year. I wish you much kindness and calm as your year unfolds before you.  My colleagues and I spent yesterday morning recalling experiences at work that we are grateful for and articulating milestones we aim to reach for the year ahead. Importantly, it was an occasion to honour each other’s efforts because it is so easy for such a “stock-taking” exercise to turn into a performance appraisal where presentations become a show of strength.  As community workers, we are a commitment to journeying with those on the margins toward a meaningful and fulfilling life. This journey …