Story contributed by Myna, Community Worker
Written by Pei Ling, Corporate Relations
When we attend meetings, there’s usually an agenda – a list of items to cover, outcomes to aim for. But that’s rarely how it works when our community members come together.
There’s no PowerPoint. No timekeeper. No script.
Just open minds and open hearts.
That Friday evening, a group of parents from different neighbourhood clusters gathered at our office. Some had never met before, but as the first conversations began, they eased into familiarity. They spoke of school, family, and what it means to raise children in a world that feels different from the one they grew up in.
We had planned to talk about education. But the conversation took its own course.
It moved from memories of childhood to worries about bullying, school avoidance, and how some children seem to carry more than they should. One parent shared how volunteering helped her reconnect with herself. Another asked if they could do something together – not just talk, but act. And just like that, plans for a follow-up meeting started forming.
These weren’t random reflections. They were windows into what families are navigating every day, and also, into what they’re ready to do.
This gathering was part of a broader exploration into what a new community-led programme could look like. It starts with listening and understanding what matters most to parents, and surfacing the hopes and challenges that shape their everyday lives. Over time, these conversations will help families identify shared priorities, map out strengths in their communities, and make simple plans to support each other in ways that feel right to them.
We hope these small groups will continue to meet – not just to talk, but to try things out together. That might mean shared care arrangements, informal learning circles, or even forming neighbourhood networks that can be strengthened through deeper partnerships.
Eventually, we hope to connect these family-led efforts to broader resources – including education, health, and psychosocial support – so that no parent has to navigate the system alone.
It’s early days. But there was something steady in the way these parents lingered after the 3-hour session ended. No one seemed in a hurry to leave. Some stayed to help clean up. Others continued talking by the door.
We may not have followed the agenda that night. But we followed what mattered.
And sometimes, that’s where the real work begins.
“We change the world one room at a time. This room, today, becomes an example of the future we want to create.” – Peter Block