Another Week Beyond 2428 – The Making of a Youth Leader

July 12, 2024

By: Nina, Community Relations

I met Atiqah ten years ago when I was a Community Worker. It was at a photography workshop we had organized for youths. She was a shy, soft-spoken 16-year-old. Her family had only recently moved in, so she didn’t know any other youths in the neighborhood yet. Throughout the few sessions we held, she mostly kept to herself, except when she offered to help me with minor tasks. Despite her discomfort being around others, she always showed up when invited to our programmes. I always admired Atiqah’s quiet determination and was pleased to see her slowly come out of her shell with each programme. After a few months, I was posted to another department and lost touch with her.

Fast-forward to a community event last month. I saw a familiar face confidently leading a group of volunteers, sharing stories about her neighbourhood. It was Atiqah. During the break, I approached her. She greeted me warmly. I told her I was so impressed by how she was “holding court” with the volunteers, and she sheepishly admitted to still being a little socially awkward. I assured her, she was doing an amazing job. I couldn’t help feeling like a proud parent knowing she was now a youth leader in her neighbourhood.

I asked her about her journey over the past decade and why she continues to give back to her community, despite her “social awkwardness.” She shared how programmes like HeadStrong (Beyobd’s youth mental health programme), introduced her to mentors who guided her, life-long friends who supported her, and presented volunteer opportunities that gradually built her confidence. These experiences fueled her passion to reach out to others who may be going through similar struggles. She said with all earnestness, “I volunteer because I want to give back the same way I was helped.”

Atiqah’s journey is a testament to the power of community support and the ripple effect it can have. Her transformation from a timid teenager to a confident leader is living proof of what is possible when opportunities are provided for growth and development. Atiqah’s story is just one of many in the communities we serve—people who choose to help others despite their challenges.

Between helping her mum run a food stall and exploring options to further her education to land a job in early childhood education, Atiqah still finds time to volunteer.

She gives her time to pay it forward.

What about you? What motivates you to give? Support our fundraiser, “Why I Give,” and share your stories with us. Your contribution will help us continue to make a difference in the lives of many more like Atiqah. Please consider donating today

PAST AWB POSTS

2450 – Change Happens When A Ripple Becomes A Wave

December 13, 2024 No Comments

Fahmidah, a 19-year-old active volunteer from Lengkok Bahru, recently stepped out of her comfort zone and joined her friends as a community guide for a Learning Journey organised by Beyond in collaboration with ImpactSG. This initiative connects members of ImpactSG with families living in public rental housing, who lead guided tours of their neighbourhood, offering a glimpse into their daily lives, challenges and strengths that define their community. These interactions foster mutual respect, deeper understanding, and an appreciation for the resilience and spirit within these communities. Before the event, Beyond worked closely with Fahmidah and several of her neighbours, preparing

2448 – Caring Through Sport

November 29, 2024 No Comments

Written by Hani & Shariffah, Community Workers When we received an invitation from SportCares to participate in a Sepak Takraw Tournament, we were hesitant to accept. It was only a week away and we were not sure if we could rally enough interest among our youth members in the different neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, we put the word out and within the day, we realised that our anxiety was unnecessary. Regus or Teams from different neigbourhoods started registering with us which affirmed our belief in the strength of people’s ability to self-organise around their interest and aspirations. These young people loved the

2447 – The Accidental Pianist

November 22, 2024 No Comments

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

2446 – Brownie Points of the Heart

November 15, 2024 No Comments

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

2445 – From Strangers to Friends: A Shared Journey

November 8, 2024 No Comments

Story Contributed by Adrian, Community Worker Each year, the United World College (UWC) partners with Beyond in a programme that brings their students on a Learning Journey into one of the neighbourhoods we serve. The intention is to give these students an opportunity to connect on a more intimate level with the community they often support as volunteers in our learning programme. This time, however, instead of the visit being led by Beyond staff, two Bukit Ho Swee youths – *14-year-old Zak and 15-year old Amir – stepped forward to be their guides. Inspired by one of their older brothers,

2444 – Makcik Kaypoh, our nosy aunties who keep children safe

November 7, 2024 No Comments

Community Fellows are residents who conceptualise and implement a project that addresses a concern they have identified in their neighbourhood. They receive some training in planning, organising and monitoring progress as well as the ethics and principles of community work that safeguard the wellbeing of those they engage and the integrity of their effort. We invite applications for Community Fellows once a year and have had 2 cohorts. In June last year, Rahimah and Sumarsih attended the Knowledge Festival (AWB – 2326) where Community Fellows presented a progress report of their efforts. They were most inspired and applied for Fellowship

2443 – Why Do You Work?

October 25, 2024 No Comments

I was visiting Meelah, a resident who has led food drives and many social activities to enhance the wellbeing of her neighbours. I listened intently, as she expressed her concern for families that would require assistance. I was touched that she continued to keep track of so many lives in spite of her own declining health. She donned on the new spectacles she had recently afforded and checked her reflection using her phone before looking at me expectantly for a response. “How? I look like a teacher or not?” She exclaimed while tucking some strands of hair behind her ears.

2442 – It Starts with “Hello”

October 24, 2024 No Comments

Every morning, like clockwork, four-year-old Lisa (not her real name) stops by her neighbour’s flat on her way to preschool. She stands at the gate, waiting patiently to say “Hello” to the elderly man who lived there. Known for his stern demeanour and habit of scolding noisy children, this Uncle wasn’t someone most would approach. At first, he ignored her. Undeterred, she stands there, day after day, offering her simple greeting. Then one day, something changed. The Uncle returned her greeting. Soon after, they began sharing quiet moments – sitting together, eating biscuits, and watching TV —always under the watchful