By Mark, Community Worker
When is a game of football more than just a game of football, more than just 22 people chasing a little ball on a field?
The long answer is: when it helps build confidence in young people, when it helps connect a community, and when it helps create camaraderie amongst neighbours.
Recently, Beyond received tickets to attend local football matches – ideal opportunities for members of the community to unite in their shared passion for the Beautiful Game.
When I was tasked with coordinating the ticket distribution in the Beach Road area, I approached a 13-year-old boy I knew in the neighbourhood for help.
I’d seen Abu actively participate in community activities before, and knew he loved football. I figured he’d make a good assistant.
When asked, his initial response was subdued. Still, I sensed he was interested and offered to ask his mother’s permission. Not only did his eyes light up, but he also immediately began suggesting names of people he thought would be interested in attending the games.
His mum, Cik Nora, was initially concerned about how Abu’s schoolwork would be affected, and if he’d be in bad company. I assured her Abu would be under my supervision, and that this experience would be a very positive one for him.
Like Abu, Cik Nora also got swept up in the excitement of helping to organize a community event. She too rattled off names of her neighbours she thought would be interested.
Cik Nora was already involved with community work through Project Masak-lah! – a Beyond-supported initiative in which neighbours cook and prepare Bento meals for those who need it. So, she got her existing network of contacts involved too.
The number of attendees at the games were very encouraging – a real community engagement success. The funny thing was, my dedicated assistant Abu, did not even attend. He had a prior engagement – something he knew about for weeks. And yet, he diligently and selflessly helped to ensure others were able to experience the games.
This is what we do at Beyond. We serve the aspirations of Singapore’s low-income families. We are merely the catalyst for self-directed community action, interaction and growth – from Abu, to his mum, to their neighbours.
And that, in my book, is a well-scored goal!
“Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.” – Brian Solis