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 …
Beyond Expectations: A Learning Journey for both Mentor and Mentee
Beyond Expectations began in 2018 as a mentoring initiative by NUS students serving as mentors for 13 to 17-year-old youths from our Redhill rental communities. The initiative has gone a long way and has since expanded and diversified its mentor pool to include students from other local universities. In this short interview, we ask the team more about how the initiative began and why it is meaningful. 1. Could you give me a brief description of Beyond Expectations—what are its aims, what the team does, and who it serves? Beyond Expectations is a mentoring initiative in collaboration with Beyond Social …
Another Week Beyond – 2233
Dear friends, We used to be known as the Bukit Ho Swee Social Service Centre. When we adopted “Beyond Social Services” as our identity in 2001, we began envisioning what moving people beyond social services meant. Back then, our day was filled with supporting young people in conflict with the law or at risk of being so, as well as families with multiple problems. It was work where happy outcomes were few and far and between and we were always thinking that if only we could introduce the appropriate programme or service, those we engaged could move pass their problems. …
Another Week Beyond – 2232
Dear friends, Each year, we celebrate with pride and much gratitude our growth as a nation. At 57 this year, we had our National Day Parade live after 2 years and “Connections,” a short film highlighting resilience and solidarity was interwoven with the performances on The Float @ Marina Bay. “Connections” featured small acts of kindness that enabled us to weather the pandemic and stories inspired by medical workers, home care professionals, teachers, social workers, and artists were showcased to depict family, community, and togetherness. All of us at Beyond beamed with pride as our members Riduwan, Norashidah, Akilah, Nursoleha and …
Another Week Beyond – 2231
Dear friends, We have a donated coffee machine at our premises and a month ago, an intern was showing 3 children aged 10 to 12 years old how to use it. This intern has been a barista at a café and to get to know these young people better, she “opened shop” for a few hours with these young people as her team-mates. The “shop” was well patronised by colleagues and volunteers who contributed whatever they felt their drinks and snacks were worth. Youth work is non-formal education where young people’s holistic development is facilitated through social, recreational, and learning …