Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Community”
Nazariah is a community enabler and part of the Parents’ Circle in the Collaborative Change Agent programme addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence in her neigbourhood. The programme is one of the ways that we work towards building “restorative neighbourhoods” one of our building blocks in creating sustainable, safe communities.
Read more to find out how and why she decided to take an active stance against sexual violence in the community and how the journey has been for her.
CW: mentions of sexual violence In 2018 I was conducting an applied drama programme with 11 and 12 year old girls. During that period, they began telling stories about their experiences of gendered violence, and one girl brought up that she had two cousins who were sexually abusing her. We met with the families involved to facilitate a process of restorative justice, alongside the family’s decision to report to the police. After hearing other similar stories of sexual violence, we started talking to mothers in the neighbourhood and got the mandate that this is an issue they wanted to take …
Dear friends, We initiated a meeting with 4 mothers who had previously expressed their concern about the well-being of children in their neighbourhood during incidental conversations we had with them. To break the ice, we asked everyone to raise their hands if they identified with a statement we were going to put forth. “As a child, I was often in trouble with adults for being naughty,” had a couple of hands going up. As we continued with statements about childhood experiences there was always a hand or two raised if not all until, we posed “I wished I had a trusted …
Dear friends, After almost a year of meeting monthly online, 6 mothers in a mutual support group met in person for the first time. Each brought some food from home and the mood in the room felt like a reunion of old friends. A few remarked that being in the same room with each other gave them a very different impression of each other and made them question if they had really known each other for a year. It has indeed been a year and it was timely to take stock of everyone’s experience being a member of the group. So …
Dear friends, 6 community fellows chosen by their neighbourhood came together last Saturday to think more deeply about their projects. Between them, they are working on 5 projects which addresses concerns that have received the support of their neighbours. These include enhancing voluntarism among neighbours, helping families overwhelmed with debt, facilitating community access to health and healthcare, sexual safety for youth, and caring for the elderly who are feeling isolated. As the conversation progressed, the value of simply being curious become evident. Fellows realised that by asking each other relevant questions, they gained a clearer picture of what working on their project meant. …
Dear friends, Firstly, Selamat Hari Raya Adil Fitri to all our Muslim friends. Trust that the long weekend was joyous and blessed. The children were busy. They were taking turns to be “packed” into a cardboard box that would be sent to a destination of their choice. “Home” was the most popular destination and they had imagined themselves jumping out of the box to surprise mommy when she opened it. As their mothers laid out the food and got ready to break their fast, these 7 children kept themselves entertained with an empty box that originally contained tiered tiffin carriers …
Dear friends, Over the past couple of weeks, we have been distributing Care Packs provided by T-PRIDE and the Temasek Foundation to our members in different neighbourhoods. T-PRIDE was established in November 2020 to enhance community resilience during a pandemic. The Care Packs contained face masks, sanitisers, mouth gargle and a digital blood pressure monitor. When Ferlynn who lives at the Yishun neighbourhood learnt that she and her neighbours will be receiving the care packs, she felt strongly that the gift distribution exercise presented an opportunity for neighbours to learn or be reminded about the dangers of hypertension. Many in her …
Dear friends, Over the past 2 Sunday mornings, we had the privilege of sitting with a group of neighbours who have come together because they want to make their neighbourhood a better place for all who who live there. Their neighbourhood comprises 2 blocks of flats with a total of 322 units where approximately 44% house families with young people below 18 years old. The other units house older persons and working adults. It has been a privilege because on both occasions when the meeting ended, we walked away moved by the generosity of care these people extended to each other …
Dear friends, As they pick up their food packs during a food distribution exercise at the end of the month, representatives from some 100 households will also vote for 2 proposals they would like implemented in their neighbourhood. On their neighbourhood phone chat group, they have already seen a short video pitch of the 4 different proposals put forth by neighbours who are vying to serve as a Community Fellow. Nonetheless, at the food collection point, more information about each proposal will be available. We are holding the selection of a community enhancement initiative in conjunction with a food exercise to suggest …
Dear friends, Now that the Year of the Tiger is on its way, a sharing related to cats seems apt. Grey, one of several cats in the neighbourhood sauntered in, stretched himself and rested near the straw mats where 2 families were sitting on. Despite not drawing any attention to himself, he was noticed, and everyone present could not help smiling at Grey’s timely entrance. It was as if he had come to watch what the children who were performing would be saying about him and his feline friends who prowl the neighbourhood. The occasion was a modest interactive theatre performance by …
