Another Week Beyond – 2416

For the past few years, I have enjoyed working with a man who is now in his 70s. I consider him an effective neighbourhood leader who looks out for his peers. On behalf of his neighbours, he would request pre-loved household appliances when needed and is always happy to gather them for an outing or event.  Apart from us, he is also a contact for a couple of food charities, and he would organise his peers to redistribute food rations to some 80 elderly people who regard him as their neighbourhood leader. 

Recently, this man told me that his peers have been questioning his effectiveness. They see many other residents receiving food and other household items that they do not get to share. 

They reckoned that it is because their leader has a poor relationship with donors and other charities that serve the neighbourhood.  

As I was having a cup of tea with this man at a coffee shop near his home, it was obvious that he was deeply hurt by his neighbours’ assessment of his efforts to care. When I asked if he felt betrayed by the people he cared about, he answered by shaking his head and looking away. Moments later, he started blaming us for encouraging others to replicate what he had been doing for years even before he met us. He concluded that there are too many groups and organisations like us who do not realise that we have not been fair in our distribution of resources. 

As I listened quietly, he became more forceful and started sharing stories of how competition for resources in his neighbourhood has led to quarrels and factions and even charities started having their favourite groups.  I also learnt of situations where he felt ill-treated by others, and I felt anger and bitterness in his voice.   

He was on a roll and seemed to have many unfriendly if not unkind things to say of others. Then, 

I raised my hand and asked if I may share a Cherokee story I know about two wolves that lived within us.  He paused and without my elaboration, he took it that black represented evil while white meant good. Then I told him that the two wolves were always fighting and who did he think would prevail. Without hesitation, he replied “Black! Of course.” 

We both paused and he quietened when I asked what it feels like to have a black wolf living in him every day. “It is the wolf we feed that wins,” I explained and he agreed when I invited him to join me in feeding the white wolf. So together, we sat in our chairs and took deep breaths to calm ourselves and to invite a little peace into our hearts.  

Before I left, we acknowledged that we were both getting on in years and living each day with peace in our hearts is probably how we may continue to live joyfully. 

For peace and community. 

Gerard 

 An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” 

 He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” 

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” 

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” 

PAST AWB POSTS

2502 – Community wasn’t built in a day

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2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

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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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AWB 2449 – When LIFE Happens

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2450 – Change Happens When A Ripple Becomes A Wave

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2448 – Caring Through Sport

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2447 – The Accidental Pianist

Shariff was only 10 when he was first mesmerised by the piano. A schoolmate was performing at a school event.  Something clicked for the 10-year-old that day – he had stumbled upon what was to become a passion. He found a very basic, beat-up keyboard at home, and began teaching himself to play. His instructors were YouTube videos. This year, Shariff was one of several children who attended a day camp organized by Genie in a Bottle, a volunteer group that picked Beyond as their charity of choice for YMCA’s Youth For Causes (YFC) programme. This initiative encourages youth to

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2446 – Brownie Points of the Heart

Story Contributed by Swathi, Community Worker In Ghim Moh, Angie was known for her many gifts – a talented chef, baker, seamstress, and a nurturing grandmother. Through Beyond’s Sew Can We and Bakers Beyond programmes, which provide seasonal income through sewing and baking projects, Angie applied her skills to create items that held meaning for her community. But as cancer began to reshape her life, hospital stays and treatments became part of her routine, pulling her away from her daily comforts. Despite her illness, Angie’s spirit remained intact, resilient and unyielding. During a recent hospital stay, some nurses encouraged her

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PAST AWB POSTS

2502 – Community wasn’t built in a day

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

Read more >

2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

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 >

2451 – The Grace to Give

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

Read more >