Another Week Beyond – 2347

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community, Community Enablers Fellowship

Dear friends,  Sara was checking out her surroundings as she had just moved into the neighbourhood. She noticed many young people joyfully utilising the basketball and street soccer courts and several others playing catch or chatting in small groups around a playground. A few metres from her, a boy simply dropped his bag on the floor and ran toward the playground …

Another Week Beyond – 2346

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community, community spirit

Dear friends, “After so many years on the job, I continue to be amazed by how neighbours treat each other like siblings,” my colleague commented to the parents who had organised a barbeque to recognise their children’s efforts at a recent street soccer tournament. The team did not win but the parents wanted to applaud the teamwork and sportsmanship displayed. …

Another Week Beyond – 2344

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community, Volunteers

Dear friends, “What are the most important values to hold in being a local volunteer?” This was a question on a Kahoot quiz put forth to 72 volunteers who also reside in the public rental neighbourhoods we engage.  Last Saturday, these volunteers were attending a Neighbourhood Volunteers Appreciation Event which was also an opportunity for volunteers from different neighbourhoods to collectively reflect on …

Another Week Beyond – 2343

Beyond ABCD, Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, Of late, we have been requested to speak about our work to different audiences. These past 2 weeks we have shared how Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is practiced in our work on 3 occasions and we have another 2 engagements in the next fortnight. ABCD believes that people have talents and can organise themselves to achieve their …

Another Week Beyond – 2341

Beyond 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 …

Another Week Beyond – 2339

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community, Employment

Dear Friends, Marlina, who has been living in a public rental neighbourhood for more than 12 years has recently joined us as a colleague responsible for coordinating programmes where she lives. She told me that securing a full-time job with employment benefits was not something she thought was possible after being a full-time caregiver for many years. Blessed with an …

Another Week Beyond – 2333

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, We run a fathers’ support group on Sunday mornings at the Yishun neighbourhood.  Sundays because it is the only time the fathers can spare from their busy work schedule. This week, 3 fathers came by and as one was new, we recapped the goal of the group that had been collectively decided previously. The 3 goals were i. To …

Another Week Beyond – 2329

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, On Monday evening, we welcomed 13 cyclists and their volunteer safety crew with a home-cooked dinner, clean towels, and ice-cold drinks. Since 2014, the Epic Cyclist Group has been organising an annual endurance ride that covers at least 1000 kilometres to raise funds and awareness for charity. Over the years, they have raised some   S$4.4 million dollars for the Kidney …

Another Week Beyond – 2326

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, Last Sunday, we concluded the first run of our Community Fellowship Programme with a knowledge festival where 6 fellows from 3 neighbourhoods presented their efforts and their learnings to their neighbours as well as some service providers they had collaborated with. This programme received significant funding from the Bank of America for which we are thankful. It’s been 18 months since …

Another Week Beyond – 2325

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends,  We had a meeting with the leaders of a group of neighbours who call themselves Strong Women. When we reached their neighbourhood, we found these 3 women waiting for us and learnt that they had just returned from an early dinner together. Strong Women is about 18 months old, and it was formed with the purpose of nurturing …