Dear Friend, Many years ago, a mother with 3 very young children came to our door seeking assistance. An older colleague who used to work elsewhere took me aside and heaved a sigh. She told me that she was the caseworker for this woman’s mother at her previous place of employment and it pains her to see this woman in …
Another Week Beyond – 2029
Dear Friends, Morris (AWB – 2026) was all smiles as he got onto a WhatsApp video call with 2 volunteer mentors. One is a psychologist running his own practice and the other, an operations manager at a health and wellness business. Last week, the Court considered the supplementary report from his probation officer and he was given a 21-month probation order. …
Another Week Beyond – 2024
Dear Friends, There is an African saying that if we educate a man, we educate one person but if we educate a woman, we educate a family. Men’s lack of involvement at home seems to be taken as a norm and if we look at our members who volunteer in their neighbourhoods, the majority are mothers. So how do we make sense …
Another Week Beyond – 2017
Dear Friends, When a single mother with 6 children aged from 5 months to 14 years old realised that she had a problem with bed bugs, she cleared out her furniture. Exhausted and distressed, she called us asking what more she could do to resolve the problem. She did not call just to ask a question, but to tell someone …
Another Week Beyond -2011
Dear Friends, “I am Generation Equality – Realizing Women’s Rights” is the United Nations theme for International Women’s Day on 8 March. Thus, it was fitting that 16 teens commemorated the day with their mothers by attending a conversation with body building champion Melissa Sarah Wee.Mel runs her own dessert business catering for the likes of FB, Twitter and Spotify and …
Another Week Beyond – 2009
Dear Friends, Thank you very much for responding to last week’s appeal to support those affected by the COVID-19 challenge. Your notes and calls of encouragement are much appreciated, and several have also asked us how you may support our efforts as volunteers. After reviewing the feedback from our members in the next few days, we will come back with possible …
Another Week Beyond – 2008
Dear Friends, Like many others, we were heartened to read about the wave of help following an appeal by Food Bank Singapore for volunteers. Obviously, not receiving a food bundle that one depends on would be a cause for anxiety even without this concerning Covid-19 climate. Hence, we were glad to receive a truck full of groceries from the Food Bank …
Another Week Beyond – 1949
Dear Friends, In my note last week, I reflected on how we could honour parents as the child’s first educators. I considered getting parents to teach music and other subjects that drew children’s attention to the strengths and beautiful things within their families, communities and culture. I also suggested using the stories of parents and families to convey values where …
Another Week Beyond – 1947
Dear Friends, A study of 147,004 patients conducted by the Singhealth Regional Health System reviewing the period 2012 to 2017, found that those who lived in rental housing were 1.57 times more likely to die in the period, compared with those who were living elsewhere. Public rental housing was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality. This statistic hit home …
Another Week Beyond – 1940
Dear Friends, A year ago, we broached the idea that “Families, not services, lead change” (AWB – 1839) to several families and we are glad that 11 of them have signed up for the Community Independence Project (CII). These families have been divided into 2 groups and they each received a tablet PC to login onto an online journal that …