Story contibuted by Myna, Community Worker Through the Community Tabung initiative with families in Bukit Ho Swee, a regular savings programme grew into a space for trust, friendship, and shared responsibility. On the first Friday of the month, a group of parents from Bukit Ho Swee gathered at the bowling alley. Shoes were exchanged at the counter, bowling balls rolled across the floor, and children hovered nearby, watching and cheering. For once, they were not meeting in their usual space to sit in a circle and count savings. This Friday was set aside simply to be together. The idea had …

Story contributed by Shariffah, Community Worker Through the A Full Plate initiative with FairPrice Group, residents in Yio Chu Kang turned a simple food distribution into a moment of shared responsibility on PSLE results day. By early afternoon, the lift lobby at the rental block in Yio Chu Kang was quietly busy. Cartons of food and household items from FairPrice Group’s A Full Plate initiative were stacked at one corner, bags were laid out in neat rows, and residents moved around each other in an easy rhythm – taping, sorting, packing. A Full Plate is an annual initiative by FairPrice …

Story Contributed by Karen Bock, Volunteer When Karen first walked into Beyond in 2019, she was looking for a place to keep giving through her hands. Years before, she had taught sewing and handicraft to helpers in a shelter, and when that programme ended, she carried their stories and laughter with her. She hoped to find a space where creativity could continue to build connection. She started with an art class for children in Lavender. When COVID reshaped everything, the class moved online. Then, after the pandemic, it stopped entirely. Yet even when the programme ended, something inside her didn’t …

Written by Nina, Community Relations I had just arrived at the Sew Can We booth at Boutiques Singapore and greeted the mothers managing the sales – some familiar faces, others I was meeting for the first time. As we settled into conversation, one of the mothers I had only just met asked, “You brought food?” She mentioned she had sandwiches in her bag if I hadn’t eaten. It was a quiet act of care that set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Around us, the fair was in full swing – families drifting between stalls, children tugging at …

Story contributed by Myna, Community Worker Written by Pei Ling, Corporate Relations When we attend meetings, there’s usually an agenda – a list of items to cover, outcomes to aim for. But that’s rarely how it works when our community members come together. There’s no PowerPoint. No timekeeper. No script. Just open minds and open hearts. That Friday evening, a group of parents from different neighbourhood clusters gathered at our office. Some had never met before, but as the first conversations began, they eased into familiarity. They spoke of school, family, and what it means to raise children in a …

Story contributed by Adrian, Community Worker On 26 September, 15 volunteers joined us at Lengkok Bahru to distribute 140 Popular vouchers to families with children and youth. It was a fairly warm afternoon that stretched into early evening, and we were having the kind of weather that makes you slow down a little, greet familiar faces, and notice the small rhythms of the block. Volunteers arrived prepared and they began moving respectfully through shared spaces and approaching each home with care. For some, this wasn’t their first visit. That familiarity matters. Over time, these distributions have become less about transactions …

Story contributed by Myna, Community Worker By mid-morning on 11 October, the void deck was bustling. A boy counted chairs, checking if there were enough for the aunties near the fan. An uncle compared PMD chargers and showed a neighbour the safer one. At one table, residents discussed how to reach older folks; at another, officers answered questions about vaping. Scenes like this don’t happen overnight. They grow from years of neighbours learning to trust one another and choosing to act together. Before 2023, several resident groups in Jalan Kukoh were doing good work separately. Over time, volunteers realised they …