Another Week Beyond – 2308

Dear friends,

“What is it that makes you…YOU?” 6 undergraduates from the Singapore Management University (SMU)explored the question together with 7 of our youth. Any casual observer would see that these 2 groups of young people were different in so many ways and may even wonder if a meaningful conversation between them would be possible.

To move them to common ground, we screened “Soul,” a computer-animated   film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. As people laughed and got teary-eyed, a felt connection and a sense of safety emerged that enabled a young person to reveal a rather peculiar strength. She shared that she enjoys observing everyday objects and can identify a unique characteristic about them. She elaborated that this would sometimes irritate those who are with her as they cannot understand her fascination with a wall for instance. “It is just a wall lah!” they would tell her. Many things are similar but seldom are 2 things exactly the same and she experiences a sense of competency and comfort whenever she establishes a connection with an object.

If anyone thought that the sharing was bizarre, it was not apparent, but it seemed to encourage others to speak comfortably about qualities, talents or habits that defined them. “I am also observant and because I have a sister with autism, I notice such traits among others. I am glad a friend did not get angry with me when I suggested he went for a check-up which confirmed what I had suspected.”

Sensitive, sociable, and listening were some other traits that were shared as strengths but the main message from the conversation was that regardless, we have it within us to lead a purposeful life. Our strengths are not our life’s purpose, and we don’t need to have a clear or spectacular purpose in order to live our life. Everyone is enough as they are, and   life is worth living and can be beautiful regardless of the path it takes.

Participants were then invited to reflect on what do they really care about and to write it down on a card we had handed out.  All cards were then passed around the room for people to pen down impressions they had of each other. The feedback was meant to help everyone to further reflect on their life purpose which will be discussed in more depth another time.

The SMU students  will join our youth in 2 other upcoming workshops to explore different ways to enhance mental health. With the understanding that we have enough regardless of how we answer the question, “What is it that makes you…YOU?”, we are confident that they will be experiences where there is much care, respect, and connection.

For peace and community,

Gerard

Life is full of possibilities. You just need to know where to look. – Joe Gardner from Soul

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Written by Shariffah, Community Worker What is community? This is a question that shapes much of what we do at Beyond. Building a thriving community isn’t just about solving problems or organizing activities — it’s about creating spaces where people can connect meaningfully, share ideas, and take ownership of their collective future. Community development often begins with small, intentional steps. Our “Community Day” is one such step. This isn’t just a celebration, but part of a process — a chance for residents to collaborate, discover their strengths, and build something meaningful together. Our last Community Day of 2024 was held

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When a fire broke out in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat last year, the damage wasn’t confined to just the one unit. Smoke engulfed neighbouring homes, leaving behind physical damage and disruption. One of the worst affected residents was Madam Tan*, an elderly woman whose flat directly above the burning apartment. While her story didn’t make the headlines, her struggles were very real. She clearly needed help. This is where H comes in. The 28-year-old coach and former educator was no stranger to helping others, but this experience would touch him on a personal level. “I didn’t initially think about

Read more >

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I joined Beyond in 2005 as a community worker reaching out to children under 6 years old to get them registered for early childhood education and after a couple of years, I was seconded to support our main grant maker. After which, I left social services but rejoined Beyond in 2016.  I came back and rejoined the sector to meet my needs for meaning, connection and well-being. Last Friday, I was supporting a corporate volunteer group to distribute care packs comprising necessities for the new school year to children in a neighbourhood where we work. This group engaged youth from

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