2437 – A House is not a Home

Comms Team Another Week Beyond

By Pei Ling, Community Worker What is a home to you? Is it just a place filled with your stuff? Where you store your sofa, TV, bed, clothes?   These are questions we ask ourselves as we walk along the corridors of the small flats in the neighbourhoods we serve. We catch glimpses of everyday life along these corridors – mismatched footwear, potted plants, toys scattered about, and front doors of various colours – some freshly painted, some faded. Inside, some of these flats have varying degrees of stuff, but they most certainly hold more than that. For each is Home …

2436 – Small Fortune, Big Friends

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Community

By Jie Min & Marlina, Community Workers We were in conversation with 9 mothers who dreamed of having their own home-based business to alleviate their financial challenges. 3 of them had already started baking, cooking and catering from home for small events while the rest were just very interested in exploring how they could get started. Hence, we thought that inviting them to manage a booth at Parking Day, an upcoming community event on Saturday, 14 September 2024, would be a good hands-on learning experience especially for those who have never hawked their wares.  There was much excitement and enthusiasm …

AWB 2345 – Scoring Goals in the Community

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community, community spirit

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 …

AWB 2433 – All Are Welcome

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Community

As told by Vicky C, a resident of Bukit Ho Swee, to the Beyond Editorial Team I am 62 years old and I live alone in Jalan Klinik. About 5 years ago, I walked past the Beyond Social Services office. I was curious about what went on inside, so I peered in. I was greeted warmly by one of the staff – a community worker named Susie. Susie explained that the organization supported families who live in public rental flats and that I was very welcome to drop by anytime and make myself at home.  I used to work as …

AWB 2434 – You Are Enough!

Comms Team Another Week Beyond

By Adrina Tie, Community Worker At our weekly non-violent communication training, I was practicing how to convey one’s virtues to someone. Part of this process is my having to hear someone else tell me my virtues. When I heard what others present thought my virtues were, I felt a sense of warmth. I was then instructed to be grateful for all my good qualities. Honestly, it felt good. So, I was surprised when a fellow participant had the opposite response when it was his turn to listen to his virtues. He was uncomfortable and pulled away. He later explained that while …

AWB 2432 – Beyond The Jungle Gym

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” During the June school holidays, a volunteer group brought some of our kids to Pasir Ris Park for an outing. This was a fun afternoon for the kids, and a valuable life lesson for me. My unwitting “instructors” were two primary school boys. Both boys were confidently perched atop a 5-meter high jungle gym. They were waiting their turn to ride the slide that ran from the top of the jungle gym to ground level. At the foot of the structure, a 5-year-old boy was …

Another Week Beyond 2431 – An Exchange

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Zee had nowhere to go after one of our regular kids’ programme. His family was out and he did not have keys to his flat. At his request, we had an early dinner at the nearby prata shop. I knew Zee had stuff on his mind. His stepdad recently went to prison and I wanted to know how Zee was feeling. Instead, he chose to speak about safer topics and his interactions outside his family. He spoke about things that took me by surprise – social anxiety and issues of sexual orientation. Is this what eleven-year-olds talk about? When he …

Another Week Beyond – 2430

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community

Caring that Children Cross the Finish Line  By Rachel Goh, Communications Imagine being told you can’t join a big event after weeks of practice, determination, and excitement. That was the reality for two young people from Henderson and Jalan Tenteram. But what happened next is a testament to the power of community support and perseverance.  A few months ago, a sponsor offered children from our communities the opportunity to participate in a programme where they could learn how to cycle. The children would attend three training sessions and receive a brand-new bicycle, with the program culminating in a 5 km …

Another Week Beyond 2429 – An Experience of Connectedness and Contentment

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, community, Community, community spirit

by: Chia Jie Min, Community Worker  Last Tuesday evening, Lisfah, our community enabler, and I set up our usual table at the student care centre for the monthly “tabung” (savings) programme at Lengkok Bahru. We waited with anticipation for the usual buzz of mothers dropping in to sit with us, chat and swap stories about community happenings.   That particular day, however, many mothers could not attend. So, it was unusually quiet. Lisfah was looking a little forlorn as she was looking forward to catching up with her neighbours. She always found her conversations with them comforting as they reassured her …

Another Week Beyond 2428 – The Making of a Youth Leader

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, youth

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 …