Dear friends, Last year, with the help of 7 volunteers, we engaged the caregivers of children enrolled in our early childhood centre to better appreciate why some children are frequently not at school. 15 agreed to meet on a virtual call and while it was explained to them that we were gathering views on absenteeism and our work, the main purpose …
Another Week Beyond – 2218
Dear friends, Firstly, Selamat Hari Raya Adil Fitri to all our Muslim friends. Trust that the long weekend was joyous and blessed. The children were busy. They were taking turns to be “packed” into a cardboard box that would be sent to a destination of their choice. “Home” was the most popular destination and they had imagined themselves jumping out …
Another Week Beyond – 2217
Dear friends, 9 youth showed up for a screening of the movie “Inside Out” even though they have all seen it before. Some of them have seen it several times too. The movie was our way of continuing a conversation on mental health and inviting more youth to join HeadStrong, a safe and brave space for learning strategies to improve psychological and emotional …
Another Week Beyond – 2216
Dear friends, Over the past couple of weeks, we have been distributing Care Packs provided by T-PRIDE and the Temasek Foundation to our members in different neighbourhoods. T-PRIDE was established in November 2020 to enhance community resilience during a pandemic. The Care Packs contained face masks, sanitisers, mouth gargle and a digital blood pressure monitor. When Ferlynn who lives at the …
Another Week Beyond – 2215
Dear friends, Over the past 2 Sunday mornings, we had the privilege of sitting with a group of neighbours who have come together because they want to make their neighbourhood a better place for all who who live there. Their neighbourhood comprises 2 blocks of flats with a total of 322 units where approximately 44% house families with young people …
Another Week Beyond – 2214
Dear friends, Early last month, after hearing her 3 children grumble that we have not invited them on an outing for a long time, the mother told her children to contact us to see what they could do for their community. She told them to gather their friends as well. So, 3 weeks ago, 4 youths showed up at our office …
Another Week Beyond – 2213
Dear friends, On Sunday evening at 8 pm, a colleague received a text from a mother of 3, I will refer to as Donna. Donna wrote that she was in pain, feeling extremely anxious and frightened. She was texting from the hospital and requested for my colleague to meet her there. A few minutes later, a nurse from the hospital called …
Another Week Beyond – 2212
Dear friends, This week’s sharing is co-written with Felice, an intern who was moved to pen down her experience after helping with a recent conversation among mothers on the theme of “Health and Dreams”. Felice was struck by the genuine care and concern people accorded each other even though they did not really know each other well and importantly, how people …
Another Week Beyond – 2211
Dear friends, “We are here to create a safe and brave space. What do you think that is?” This was how we began our very first session for 4 youth to explore if they would like to nurture a small community where members help each other learn strategies for psychological and emotional wellbeing. A safe space is one where people feel …
Another Week Beyond – 2210
Dear friends, As they pick up their food packs during a food distribution exercise at the end of the month, representatives from some 100 households will also vote for 2 proposals they would like implemented in their neighbourhood. On their neighbourhood phone chat group, they have already seen a short video pitch of the 4 different proposals put forth by neighbours …