As Wednesday was Labour Day, we thought we’d share Salleh’s story in honour of all workers. This is also a timely reminder to ourselves to value and appreciate those among us whose hard work has made our lives easier in one way or another. 53-year-old delivery rider Salleh used to be a Chief Steward at a hotel, supervising the cleaning of crockery… While the job was stable, it was not fulfilling, “No matter how hard I work and how many problems I solve, my hours and pay never change.” So, when the health of his parents started failing, he quit. …
Another Week Beyond – 2417
Four friends aged 17 to 20 years old were telling us that their flats would be demolished in a year or so and they would be relocating to a different public rental neighbourhood. One of them seemed rather distressed but when we asked if he would be badly affected by the move, he clarified that he was living a few blocks away and was not affected. He was troubled that his friends were moving away and was thinking that it would only be a matter of time before he had to move to a different neighbourhood too. These young men …
Another Week Beyond – 2416
For the past few years, I have enjoyed working with a man who is now in his 70s. I consider him an effective neighbourhood leader who looks out for his peers. On behalf of his neighbours, he would request pre-loved household appliances when needed and is always happy to gather them for an outing or event. Apart from us, he is also a contact for a couple of food charities, and he would organise his peers to redistribute food rations to some 80 elderly people who regard him as their neighbourhood leader. Recently, this man told me that his peers …
Another Week Beyond – 2415
A 10-year-old girl we shall call Judith, was cared for by her grandmother. Judith’s mother works long hours and only returns home late at night and that was the reason, the family agreed that granny was better placed to care for Judith. Recently, she had to return to her mother who lives 15 kilometres away when granny took ill. Judith attends a learning programme we run in her granny’s neighbourhood. When she moved, we suggested linking her to learning programmes in her mother’s neighbourhood. She was adamant that we should not do so and reasoned that she would still be …
Another Week Beyond 2414
About 2 weeks ago, a colleague met some residents incidentally and asked how Ramadan has been for them. A young mother said that it would it nice if there could be a breaking of fast meal where neighbours could get together. When we informed them that we could provide some funds if they could it get one going, a lively discussion ensued. They made a list of neighbours who could prepare food that would add up to a healthy nutritious spread. We were heartened that they included fruits and vegetables in the menu as it seemed like the notion of …
Another Week Beyond – 2413
Yesterday, I had a discussion with some colleagues about how we may get residents in the neighbourhoods we engage to present themselves “better” to volunteers especially those from corporations who provide funds and other resources. This discussion was triggered by feedback that these residents do not brief the volunteers well enough on their tasks or explain to them how their time and efforts add value to their neighbourhood. The goodwill from corporations is important for the sustainability of our work and obviously, we want to create a positive experience for these corporate volunteers lest we lose their support. However, this …
Another Week Beyond – 2412
Ignite! Is a group of youth studying in institutions of higher learning who share resources,encourage each other and serve as role models for children in their neighbourhoods. It has been in existence for about 2.5 years and at its peak there were 25 members. 2 weeks ago, when a meeting was called, 3 members showed up and they were concerned that the group would no longer exist if there were no new members. Quickly, they discussed what a recruitment drive could look like and they drew up a collective list of friends they could invite to attend an introductory meeting. …
Another Week Beyond – 2411
An elderly person contacted us and told us that he would avoid engaging with a colleague I shall call Jane. He told us that Jane had a demon within her. The message via WhatsApp to a few of us left us perplexed. We thought that keeping the conversation going on the phone would only lead to more confusion and so we told him that we will chat over coffee. As I sat with him together with another colleague, this elderly person spoke in an agitated fashion, and we sensed his fear. He related his experiences of how friends have been …
Another Week Beyond – 2410
Children roaming the neighbourhood on their own was a concern identified by 2 Community Fellows in October last year. They had observed that some children were unkempt and still in their school uniform at a time when most children would have had their dinner and preparing for bed. These fellows were worried for the children, and they found themselves questioning if their parents cared. They also looked for programmes in the community which they could refer the children to and thought that if there were none suitable, they would create one. During the school holidays last year, they reached out …
Another Week Beyond – 2409
Community offers the promise of belonging and calls for us to acknowledge our interdependence. To belong is to act as an investor, owner, and creator of this place. – Peter Block Yesterday, lunch for 22 neighbours was prepared by our members of our community, at our premises with the harvest from our very own vegetable garden. While it was not quite a harvest festival celebration, it was nonetheless a joyous occasion. We were commemorating the end of an 8-session programme-cum-pilot study to explore the positive effects of urban farming on the physical and mental well-being of those aged 50 and …