Another Week Beyond – 2337

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, digital access, digital literacy, digital literacy

Dear Friends, Last year, our Board set out to explore how technology may empower our efforts for better programme outcomes. As such, with the support of the Info-Tech Board Committee, we introduced technology to those who have not been able to reap the benefits of a digitalised lifestyle. 5 mothers who were not digitally savvy learnt to set up a store on Shopee without capital and leveraged artificial intelligence to identify saleable products.  After the initial training, 2 mothers managed to operate their online store for about 6 months, and another is still operating today. Operating an online store had its challenges but we …

Another Week Beyond – 2336

Comms Team Another Week Beyond

Dear Friends, Sue, 56 years old moved into a new neighbourhood 7 months ago and about a month later, she sent a message to our Facebook page requesting educational support for her 13-year-old granddaughter for whom she has legal guardianship. She asked for a colleague who had spoken to her when she was living elsewhere, and we updated her that this colleague was no longer with the organisation. Nonetheless, we said that we are very happy to have reconnected and looked forward to continuing the friendship. Today, Sue appears to have settled in her new neighbourhood and we are in discussion …

Another Week Beyond – 2334

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family

Dear Friends, In 1991, we operated the Bukit Ho Swee Family Service Centre which was one of the first 4 pilot FSCs in Singapore. The FSC was conceptualised as a one-stop facility in response to the existing and emerging social needs of a locality. A few years later, the FSC focused on promoting the well-being of families as the basic building block of society and work with young and older people were regarded as support programmes. Today, there are 48 FSCs positioned as community-based social work entities that provide casework and group work to address personal, social, and emotional challenges. …

Another Week Beyond – 2333

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, We run a fathers’ support group on Sunday mornings at the Yishun neighbourhood.  Sundays because it is the only time the fathers can spare from their busy work schedule. This week, 3 fathers came by and as one was new, we recapped the goal of the group that had been collectively decided previously. The 3 goals were i. To have children’s best interests at heart, ii. To be a better father & iii. To learn from one another. The newest member commented that they sounded reasonable and added. “Yes, I certainly want to do my best as a father …

Another Week Beyond – 2332

Comms Team Another Week Beyond

Dear Friends, 11 caregivers listened intently to a briefing on what a personal accident insurance policy would mean for them. The briefing was conducted by a couple of volunteers in Mandarin and English and translated into Malay where needed. Their children who accompanied them were looked after by volunteers in another room and so they were able to give their undivided attention. One mother commented that the briefing was thorough, and she finally understood the importance of an insurance policy because the volunteers patiently answered all her questions. She was glad that donors were considering presenting her with personal accident …

Another Week Beyond – 2331

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends, The Girls Brigade invited us to speak about poverty at their annual camp called Fast Food and Fuzz.  The aim of the camp was to nurture a sense of gratitude among its participants for the various blessings they enjoy. In their invitation letter, they asked if we could explain the causes of poverty, the challenges faced by those affected and ways in which members of the Girls Brigade could make a difference for those affected. Last Saturday, 3 of our youth aged 13, 15 and 16 took to the stage to share about their experiences living in a rental flat …

Another Week Beyond – 2330

Comms Team Another Week Beyond

Dear Friends, 2 Mondays ago, we had the privilege of introducing our community development practices to a roomful of educators. We prepared a day-long programme where they experienced how we would go about addressing a neighbourhood conflict guided by a framework for non-violent communication. The goal of such work is to deescalate the conflict and to restore cordiality if not mutual respect and cooperation by attending to the needs of those involved. The process we introduced begins with an intentional effort to embody the quality of kindness before proceeding to analyze the situation. Kindness prepares us to empathise with unmet …

Another Week Beyond – 2329

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, On Monday evening, we welcomed 13 cyclists and their volunteer safety crew with a home-cooked dinner, clean towels, and ice-cold drinks. Since 2014, the Epic Cyclist Group has been organising an annual endurance ride that covers at least 1000 kilometres to raise funds and awareness for charity. Over the years, they have raised some   S$4.4 million dollars for the Kidney Dialysis Foundation and HCA Hospice Care. This year, the Beyond Epic Ride which began on Friday, 14 July at Betong Thailand, raised some $40,000 for our work. The cyclists aged from 35 to 64 years covered 250 km a day …

Another Week Beyond – 2328

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, community spirit

Dear Friends, 3 months ago, when we asked 3 mothers what would bring neighbours together, their spontaneous answer was “Food!” One of them is a volunteer who organises the distribution of food drop-offs by the Jamiyah Food Bank, elaborated that food is a way to do good. Every fortnight when the truckful of groceries arrives, 4 to 6 neighbours will help her sort the items in a way that makes it easy for residents to collect. The lack of food is a strain on families that heightens during the school holidays because children ask for food when they are home. However, these …

Another Week Beyond – 2327

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends, 2 Sundays ago, I was making my way to the office to prepare for our volunteer-run chiropractic clinic when the van in front of mine stopped. It was a one-way street and the driver got out and walked toward me. It was a courier van, and I was thinking that the guy was having difficulty locating an address and wanted directions. I certainly was not prepared for, “Hello Gerard. How are you? I miss you,” when he was standing next to my door. I felt a little awkward at first as I could not place him. Also, it was slightly after …