Another Week Beyond – 1817

Dear Friends

On a big sheet of paper, parents articulated the dreams they had for our kindergarten and their children. When we asked why there were 6 toes on the footprints they had drawn, we learnt that they represented an inclusive school that celebrated the differences in children.

The dream-building activity was an endeavour to strengthen our partnership with the parents who entrust their children to us. As in all partnerships, mutual trust is a key ingredient for success and we were touched that parents found it safe enough to share their personal stories openly. They revealed how they were bullied and feeling like a failure in school. Some teachers had nothing nice to say about them, but some really inspired them to keep trying. However, all present had to leave school prematurely. A 29-year-old father shared, “My siblings are now doing well because I went to work early. I only studied till Secondary 2, but I am proud that I did my duty as the eldest.” His story was not unique, and it seemed like the eldest child in the family was always expected to help run the family and the reward was to see a younger sibling succeed.

“Sacrifice” was a common theme in the lives of these parents and it continues to be so as they now endeavour to provide well for their children. They do not have much materially but from the list of dreams they had put on paper, they provided a picture that experts in early childhood education say is beneficial for children’s well-being. They aspire to provide their children the opportunities to learn through play, exploration and adventure. They believed that by doing so, their children will feel valued and loved; and be emotionally strong, confident and independent when they begin formal education. Their dreams revolved around providing a safe and happy home for their children, and that their children grew up to be well-adjusted individuals who were kind to others, animals and themselves.

Vulnerability is a paradox. When we make ourselves vulnerable, we feel a little weak and insecure but, it requires a certain strength to do so. As the parents and teachers listened to each other, they laughed, and they cried. They acknowledged the determination, discipline, commitment and perseverance within the stories that surfaced. They were vulnerable, but they were not weak. They found strength in trust, solidarity and humour.

We will be acting on the suggestions that emerged from the discussion. A parent pointed out that a strong home-school partnership also meant that teachers listened to what parents were teaching at home and observing about their children. Whenever teachers invite parents for a feedback session, parents experience an implicit expectation to do something for their child to perform better at school. However, this suggestion was not about turning the tables because a home-school partnership is not just about what teachers or parents bring to the table but what they commit to doing together.

Enjoy your weekend.

Gerard

“It takes two to speak the truth — one to speak, and another to hear.” – Henry David Thoreau

PAST AWB POSTS

2506 – Collective Wisdom, Community Building

Written by Wilson, Community Worker As is our practice at Beyond, we start every new year by sharing the goals we hope to achieve as a community. We gather young and old, have discussions and plot the journey ahead together. We call these sessions Community Conversations. Typically, everyone present introduces themselves and shares their experience volunteering in the community, and what “community” means to them. We then wrap up with a Beyond staff talking about the value of community development. That, however, was not how a session held in the Bukit Ho Swee neighbourhood went. The Beyond team just sat

Read More »

2505 – Saving Together, Growing Together

One of the most pervasive problems encountered by lower-income communities is building financial reserves. The daily demands for every cent, when you have little, usually takes priority. However, there is still a value of building such reserves, even if in small amounts. This is why we created the Community Tabung Programme. Loosely translated, “Tabung” means “money box” in Malay – an apt name for an initiative to help our members grow their savings in support of their children’s health and educational needs. It is a means to help our members achieve their aspirations and save for those rainy days. And

Read More »

2504 – Growth On The Sidelines

Amir* wasn’t always the calm, composed young man people look up to today. Not so long ago, he his fiery temper put him in the midst of a heated argument. So to witness him play the peacemaker recently was pleasantly astonishing. That moment could have shaped how others saw him — and how he saw himself — but instead, it became a lesson that helped him grow. Amir was playing at a futsal tournament. Two boys – Danial* and Josh* – got into an altercation. Danial accused Josh of “showboating” and not being a team player…costing them the game. Josh,

Read More »

2503 – How Roblox Helped James Minimize Screen Time

10-year-old James is like many of the children who attend our learning programmes. He has an unhealthy attachment to his phone with little interest in academics. When asked to focus on his schoolwork, he would often throw tantrums. Rather than play board games with Beyond volunteers, he’d stick to games on his phone. Still, James would voluntarily show up at our sessions, where he was always welcomed. Our approach isn’t about forcing change but about creating a space for it. We set a clear boundary — schoolwork first, then fun and games.  But getting through to James wasn’t easy. We

Read More »

2502 – Community wasn’t built in a day

Written by Shariffah, Community Worker What is community? This is a question that shapes much of what we do at Beyond. Building a thriving community isn’t just about solving problems or organizing activities — it’s about creating spaces where people can connect meaningfully, share ideas, and take ownership of their collective future. Community development often begins with small, intentional steps. Our “Community Day” is one such step. This isn’t just a celebration, but part of a process — a chance for residents to collaborate, discover their strengths, and build something meaningful together. Our last Community Day of 2024 was held

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2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

When a fire broke out in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat last year, the damage wasn’t confined to just the one unit. Smoke engulfed neighbouring homes, leaving behind physical damage and disruption. One of the worst affected residents was Madam Tan*, an elderly woman whose flat directly above the burning apartment. While her story didn’t make the headlines, her struggles were very real. She clearly needed help. This is where H comes in. The 28-year-old coach and former educator was no stranger to helping others, but this experience would touch him on a personal level. “I didn’t initially think about

Read More »

2451 – The Grace to Give

I joined Beyond in 2005 as a community worker reaching out to children under 6 years old to get them registered for early childhood education and after a couple of years, I was seconded to support our main grant maker. After which, I left social services but rejoined Beyond in 2016.  I came back and rejoined the sector to meet my needs for meaning, connection and well-being. Last Friday, I was supporting a corporate volunteer group to distribute care packs comprising necessities for the new school year to children in a neighbourhood where we work. This group engaged youth from

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AWB 2449 – When LIFE Happens

Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” We at Beyond, wholeheartedly believe this. So we’ve made it one of our missions to bring education to life for the kids in the neighbourhoods we serve. So, it is no coincidence that we call one of our education programme, LIFE! or Learning is Fun and Exciting! LIFE is a child-centric initiative that’s designed to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Activities are tailored to children’s individual strengths, interests, and learning styles. At every turn, we nurture them to become independent, self-motivated learners. We

Read More »

PAST AWB POSTS

2506 – Collective Wisdom, Community Building

Written by Wilson, Community Worker As is our practice at Beyond, we start every new year by sharing the goals we hope to achieve as a community. We gather young and old, have discussions and plot the journey ahead together. We call these sessions Community Conversations. Typically, everyone present introduces themselves and shares their experience volunteering in the community, and what “community” means to them. We then wrap up with a Beyond staff talking about the value of community development. That, however, was not how a session held in the Bukit Ho Swee neighbourhood went. The Beyond team just sat

Read more >

2505 – Saving Together, Growing Together

One of the most pervasive problems encountered by lower-income communities is building financial reserves. The daily demands for every cent, when you have little, usually takes priority. However, there is still a value of building such reserves, even if in small amounts. This is why we created the Community Tabung Programme. Loosely translated, “Tabung” means “money box” in Malay – an apt name for an initiative to help our members grow their savings in support of their children’s health and educational needs. It is a means to help our members achieve their aspirations and save for those rainy days. And

Read more >

2504 – Growth On The Sidelines

Amir* wasn’t always the calm, composed young man people look up to today. Not so long ago, he his fiery temper put him in the midst of a heated argument. So to witness him play the peacemaker recently was pleasantly astonishing. That moment could have shaped how others saw him — and how he saw himself — but instead, it became a lesson that helped him grow. Amir was playing at a futsal tournament. Two boys – Danial* and Josh* – got into an altercation. Danial accused Josh of “showboating” and not being a team player…costing them the game. Josh,

Read more >