Another Week Beyond – 2233

August 19, 2022

Dear friends,

We used to be known as the Bukit Ho Swee Social Service Centre. When we adopted “Beyond Social Services” as our identity in 2001, we began envisioning what moving people beyond social services meant. Back then, our day was filled with supporting young people in conflict with the law or at risk of being so, as well as families with multiple problems. It was work where happy outcomes were few and far and between and we were always thinking that if only we could introduce the appropriate programme or service, those we engaged could move pass their problems.

Social service is notoriously known to be a revolving door for repeat clients, and we were adamant that we should be an exit door instead. With much passion and youthful idealism, we proclaimed audaciously that “By 2025, every child and youth in Singapore, despite a disadvantaged background has the opportunity to refuse a lifestyle of delinquency and welfare dependency.” 2025 is not far off and this week, we held our first conversation to take stock of our progress with a view of refreshing the vision.

The operative word of the vision is “opportunity.” Initially, we imagined opportunity as a comprehensive range of services to divert people away from the justice and welfare systems and for those already in the system, to reintegrate them with mainstream society. After 10 years, we come to appreciate that the opportunity to steer clear of delinquency and welfare dependency is the environment in which people live and their agency to solve problems arising from daily living in their family and community. Hence, we reimagined low-income neighbourhoods as villages that raise their children well and Singapore as a society welcoming and accepting of all, especially the less fortunate among us.

In the spirit of social integration iFly Singapore welcomed 40 of us to fly with them last Saturday and another 40 will do so tomorrow. This indoor skydiving facility has been in Singapore for 10 years, but it is not an attraction that our young people would find affordable and so, the privilege of enjoying a free-fall experience was not lost on them. Much thanks to iFly for opening their doors so widely and warmly.

Today we still believe that we are an exit door for social services, and we humbly acknowledge that people are more likely to head for the exit when the entrance to an inclusive society that is accepting of all is wide open.

For peace, community and opened doors.

Gerard

Exclusion is always dangerous. Inclusion is the only safety if we are to have a peaceful world. – Pearl S. Buck

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