Story Contributed by Shariffah, Community Worker
In January, we gathered again in a familiar circle. Since then, three Capability Building sessions have brought together 26 Neighbourhood Leaders and Community Volunteers from three neighbourhoods. It was not a workshop in the traditional sense. It was a space to pause, reflect and ask ourselves what kind of community we are shaping together.
The most recent session, Refreshing Our Purpose, did exactly that. It slowed the momentum of activity and returned us to the questions underneath the work: What are we building? For whom? And how do we know it is truly shared?
Part of the conversation centred on a simple framework we use to reflect on how change happens. The “To–For–By–With” model helps us examine whether initiatives are done to residents, for them, by them or with them. It is a reminder that participation exists on a spectrum.
When invited to give an example of “To,” members candidly referenced last year’s food ration distributions.
“We were given the resources and asked to distribute,” one shared. “But now it’s better. There are discussions, especially for the upcoming distributions.”
The honesty in that moment mattered. Many of us had believed we were already working “with.” Hearing otherwise reminded us that good intentions do not automatically translate into lived experience. Participation is not something we declare. It is something we practise, repeatedly and imperfectly.
Later, the conversation turned personal. Several members spoke about workers who had journeyed with them through family challenges. At the same time, one or two shared that their own experiences of support had felt less personal than they hoped.
The room did not close up. It leaned in.
Having just spoken about fallibility as a shared value, we found ourselves living it. The exchange surfaced something important: help is relational. For many leaders, support is not defined by frameworks or skills. It is felt in presence, continuity and whether someone remembers your child’s name.
There were also affirmations. One member shared that she looks forward to these sessions each year, describing them as spaces that strengthen her confidence in navigating community work. In another conversation, when asked what Beyond meant to them, a group spoke of community, connection and knowledge. More than programmes, it was a place that holds honest conversations and equips them with language for relational work.
We entered the sessions wondering if our sense of purpose might have drifted.
Instead, we discovered strong common ground.
As these sessions continue quarterly, the intention is simple: widen the circle. Grow more leaders. Keep the conversations alive.
Because the real work begins after the chairs are stacked. It continues in void deck conversations, shared decisions, and consistent practice of building with one another.
Sometimes progress is loud.
Sometimes it sounds like a room willing to listen.
For weekly stories of resilience, hope and community spirit from families and individuals living in public rental housing, and volunteering opportunities, register here