Another Week Beyond -1840

October 9, 2018

Dear Friends,

It is said that relationships aren’t great because they are free from problems, but they are great because people care enough about each other to make them work. It saddens us whenever our members get into a disagreement and even more so when it is over food, household necessities and inexpensive gifts. During a recent event, 2 care-givers with children-in-tow created a scene when one accused the other of taking her child’s gift of a school bag. They had to be separated and to prove her innocence, the accused purchased a similar bag and got a neighbour to bring it to the home of her accuser the following day. It was money that she could ill afford to spend, and the gesture would not have been necessary if there had been no disagreement.

“I don’t know where to put my face,” a father told us after the quarrel was contained. He articulated the sentiments of everyone else who were disappointed that their lovely afternoon had to end on such a sour note. “I wish they can see that their quarrel affects all of us and what is the organiser now thinking about all of us!” the man elaborated. He then asked us to “do something.” “Yes, we can help but it is the neighbours that have to do something,” we told him. 2 days ago, as we were inviting people to come for a conversation on the matter, we learnt that one of the mothers in the quarrel was hospitalised. When we informed the other, she immediately said that she would visit her at the hospital. We were most heartened that she would be doing something that hopefully will pave the way for reconciliation among neighbours.

At another neighbourhood, a WhatsApp group set up to promote cooperation became a battleground where insults were traded leading to much disillusionment and hurt among its members. On Monday, 6 neighbours gathered at the void deck for an ‘understanding circle.’ Although they came in peace, it was still awkward as the insults were fresh in their memory. The ice was broken when one of them asked for help to bring over some stools from her home so that the group did not have to sit on the floor. It was a gracious gesture that led another to bring some chocolate milk and paper cups.

These actions spoke to people and they took turns to speak of the unfairness they perceived in the distribution of food and other resources. With the conversation regulated by a talking piece, people took their time to elaborate how they came to their conclusion of unfairness while others listened without rebutting. When it was her turn to speak, the leader apologised sincerely for not managing the distribution exercises and other efforts better and advocated for dialogue and patience among members. As the conversation circled, rules of engagement and conflict resolution were established. As the tension subsided, the talking piece was put away and the conversation closed with a huddle.

Enjoy your weekend.

Gerard

Humility has such power. Apologies can disarm arguments. Contrition can defuse rage. Olive branches do more good than battle axes ever will. – Max Lucado

PAST AWB POSTS

2610 – Oranges, Dates, and Party Plates

March 6, 2026 No Comments

Story Contributed by Dira, Neighbourhood Leader Some evenings come together in unexpected ways. Our monthly community birthday celebration in Ang Mo Kio happened to fall at a time when Chinese New Year was still in the air and Ramadan was already underway. So the evening became a mix of all three – oranges for the New Year, dates for those breaking fast, and party plates laid out for the children celebrating their birthdays that month. Close to a hundred residents – seniors, adults and children – came downstairs to join the gathering. A few of us residents helped organise the

2609 – How We Spend Our Time

March 6, 2026 No Comments

Story contributed by Anne Marie, Resource Mobilisation It has been some years since we last stood behind a volunteer recruitment booth in a school setting, and so earlier this month, when we were invited to take part in Nanyang Technological University’s Social Impact Week, it felt like a return of sorts. For two afternoons, we found ourselves in the middle of student activity, surrounded by clubs, social enterprises and fellow agencies. We were there with a simple invitation: to talk about volunteering, particularly in support of the older youths in our academic programmes. At our booth, we asked visitors to

2608 – Holding The Middle

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Written by The Beyond Editorial Team She has always cared for others. Long before we knew her, Mdm Sng* was already checking in on elderly neighbours, helping them navigate services, passing along information, gathering what they needed. When we began working in the area, she reached out quickly. Not for herself. For others. Over time, though, something shifted. There was no single incident. Just the quiet accumulation of strain. Our team had become leaner. Priorities evolved. Expectations were not always spoken clearly. Along the way, misunderstandings surfaced. Community tensions are rarely linear. They sit in the middle of relationships –

2607 – Refreshing Our Purpose

February 20, 2026 No Comments

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?

2606 – Still Here

February 9, 2026 No Comments

As shared by Daybet, Former Beyond Youth Twenty years had passed since Daybet last walked through the doors of Beyond’s office. The space felt smaller than he remembered, but not unfamiliar. Before he could fully take it in, he saw a face that pulled him straight back into memory. “Uncle George!” George paused. It took a second. Then recognition landed – fittingly, on the very day he marked 23 years of working at Beyond. What followed was the easy rhythm of reunion: updates exchanged, laughter over half-forgotten details, stories filling in the years that had slipped by. “You remember Daybet?”

2605 – It Takes Time

January 29, 2026 No Comments

Written by Wilson, Community Worker I first met Jamie* early last year. She sat close to her mother and said very little. When I asked her questions, her mother often answered first, then turned to Jamie to check if she wanted to add anything. Jamie listened carefully, nodding, offering short replies when she felt able to. Her mother had approached us for support because Jamie was no longer in education or employment. Since leaving school, Jamie spent most of her time at home. Apart from attending school previously, she rarely went out, and once that routine ended, her days became

2604 – When Learning is Small Enough to Notice

January 29, 2026 No Comments

Story Contributed by Jie Ying, Community Worker Last Saturday, we gathered to mark the end of a small Early Learning Programme class at Lengkok Bahru. The class began in June last year with seven children. Over time, some families moved on as needs shifted and priorities changed. By January, three children remained. We did not see this as a shortcoming. Community work often teaches us that participation ebbs and flows, and that small numbers are not a sign of failure but an invitation to pay closer attention. With fewer people in the room, there is more to notice. Parents sat

2603 – When Youths Take the Field

January 20, 2026 No Comments

Story Contributed by Yik, Resource Mobilisation In December last year, a small group of children gathered at Delta Sports Centre for a football session. There were six of them, between four and nine years old. One of the youngest arrived with his mother, staying close as the day unfolded. The session wasn’t run by adults or coaches brought in from outside. It was planned and led entirely by Learning Coaches – youths from the community who already spend their weeks supporting younger children with learning. Over time, these youths have become familiar faces to families, people children listen to and