Another Week Beyond – 1937

September 16, 2019

Dear Friends,

On 21 Nov 2014, we received an email from Darren Tan who informed us that he had attended a kindergarten run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary as well as many of the activities we were running in the 70s and 80s. He lived a stone’s throw from our previous office at Block 44, Beo Crescent and was grateful for the “upbringing” he had received from us. Hence, he was also writing to inform us that he had written us into his will. At that point, we had just downsized the organization and were just coming to grips with fund-raising. Hence, Darren’s email was a huge dose of encouragement. However, we were also much saddened when we later learnt that he had a painful chronic condition that prevents him from working.

We turned 50 in August this year and to mark this milestone, we have put together a publication entitled, “Going Beyond Social Services” that tells our history through the perspectives of different people who had passed through our doors. These include ex-programme participants such as Darren, volunteers and staff as well as partners and those who have supported or helped further our cause. We are aiming to launch this publication on 17 October which is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Each copy cost $30 and we are collecting orders now. Please register on this link and we will come back to you. The publication was also an opportunity to engage 14 Secondary 3 students from the School of the Arts Singapore. These talented young persons interpreted the stories creatively and retold them in dance, poetry, monologues and illustrations. Their creative responses will be featured on social media but here is an ink drawing by Chen Xilai who presented the story of Rapti, an ex-colleague who was our research coordinator.

We would not have come so far without the support of friends like you who believed in what we do. The publication is a documentation of our collective soul the past 50 years and a tribute to all who have been a part of our community. Looking forward to your continued friendship and support.

Enjoy your week.

Gerard

“From its origins as the Bukit Ho Swee Community Service Project in August 1969 to what it is 50 years later, Beyond Social Services, the organisation has broken the mould in its approach to poverty alleviation and youth development programmes, helping beneficiaries look past their current circumstances to uncover the wealth of talent individuals have and the resources they can create and share together as a community to achieve richer and more fulfilling lives. These are models of empowerment and community development that can enrich so many more in Singapore through transformative growth in body, spirit and mind.” -Dr Gillian Koh, Institute of Policy Studies.

PAST AWB POSTS

2515 – The Hand That Folded, The Heart That Shared

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Story contributed by Myna, Community Worker Ayu* is a single mother working toward the day when all three of her children can live under the same roof again. Due to financial strain, two of them are currently in the care of her aunt while Ayu focuses on rebuilding her stability. Recently, she left a job where she had endured months of bullying. The emotional and financial toll was heavy, but she was grateful to walk away from a place that had worn down her confidence. Since then, she’s been searching for work with one simple hope: a kind environment. But

2514 – Labour of Pride

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Story contributed by Hani, Community Worker Earlier this month, I was going door to door to invite youths to join a new sports programme. I stopped by a flat where two of the boys on my list lived. Their father, Jamal*, greeted me at the door and invited me to wait while one of his sons made his way back from school. We started with small talk. He asked about the programme; I asked about his day. The conversation flowed easily. He shared that his family had returned to Singapore about seven or eight years ago after living in Indonesia

2513 – Where It Hurts

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Story Contributed by Xu Yang, Volunteer During a recent session at Beyond’s Homework Support programme for primary school children, I was playing a math board game with two boys, Frank and Steve, and another volunteer, Stef. As I was still figuring out the instructions, Frank suddenly pulled all the tiles toward himself. Then, out of the blue, he turned to Stef and said, “You wear glasses and have an ugly face. Go away.” I didn’t quite know how to respond. I suggested that if he wasn’t comfortable, maybe we could return to our original table, since we had joined Stef’s.

2512 – The Burden of Education

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Written by Amelia, member of the community Growing up, I was always aware that I was the “costly child.” My school fees and medical expenses were a constant concern for my parents. My younger brothers were born in Singapore, so they had access to fully subsidised education. My schooling, however, came at a price – one that my family struggled to afford. In Malaysia, school-related costs were manageable. If I recall correctly, my school fees amounted to only about $100 a year. But in Singapore, the difference is stark. I saw it firsthand when my brothers started primary school. Their

2511 – More Than A Meal

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Story Contributed by Hani and Siti, Community Workers “This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful – in a word, more alive.” – Alice Waters During Ramadan in March, a group of mothers in Ghim Moh began planning their annual iftar gathering. This year, they wanted it to mean something more than simply inviting neighbours to break fast together. They wanted to open their doors wider and welcome not only familiar faces but new ones as well – families they hadn’t yet met, residents of all ages, races, and religions.

2510 – Trusting People As The Experts of Their Own Lives

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Written by Wilson, Community Worker In social work, we’re taught to see people as the experts of their own lives. It’s a principle that feels empowering – and in theory, it is. But in practice, I’ve often heard something quite different. Before joining Beyond as a community worker, I spent nearly five years in various social service settings. A recurring belief I encountered was that people from lower-income communities couldn’t always be trusted to make the “right” decisions for themselves and their families. “Look at where their choices have gotten them,” I’d hear. It was a perspective I came to recognise, but never fully accepted. And my time at Beyond has continued to challenge it. One moment in particular stands out.

2509 – If Community Isn’t Found, Can It Be Built?

May 30, 2025 No Comments

As shared by Wati to the Beyond Editorial Team As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslim families across Singapore prepare for Hari Raya Aidilfitri – a celebration that marks the end of fasting, and a time for reflection, forgiveness, and renewed connection. Homes will soon be filled with the aroma of festive dishes, the rustle of new clothes, and the warmth of reunion. For Wati, Hari Raya is more than just a celebration – it serves as a reminder of why she gives back. Wati is a mother of seven who recently moved to Kebun Baru.

2508 – The Pen is Mightier Than The Lock

May 30, 2025 No Comments

Story contributed by Shariffah, Community Worker The lock was heavy. Solid. Final. The street soccer court in Yio Chu Kang had been closed off after repeated acts of vandalism. A group of boys stood by the fence where they used to gather after school – a simple court that had been their meeting point and favourite hangout to kick the ball around with friends. “So unfair…”, one of them muttered. Another shrugged. “Aiya, nothing we can do. Just find something else.” But one of our Community Workers heard more than frustration in their voices. He saw an opportunity to show