Another Week Beyond – 2325

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends,  We had a meeting with the leaders of a group of neighbours who call themselves Strong Women. When we reached their neighbourhood, we found these 3 women waiting for us and learnt that they had just returned from an early dinner together. Strong Women is about 18 months old, and it was formed with the purpose of nurturing …

Another Week Beyond – 2324

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Dear Friends,  An intern facilitated an exercise on creating a LinkedIn profile for 5 youths whose ages were not too different from hers. On a worksheet, the youth listed their work experiences, strengths/skills, and interests. As these youth were still in school, they were told that the category for work could include their volunteering and caregiving experiences. However, we soon …

Another Week Beyond – 2323

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community

Dear Friends, These 2 weeks, we have been training 3 mothers as health ambassadors for their neighbourhood. Their homes are within 3 different housing blocks, and each was tasked to inform those who lived in their block about available medical resources and activities that promoted their wellbeing. Health in 5 or Hi-5! is how we have packaged 5 ways to …

Another Week Beyond – 2321

Beyond Another Week Beyond

Dear Friend, Conversations that matter tend to be difficult ones. Even when people come together, they do not know where to start. Then when a problem is raised, those listening may get defensive and meaningful dialogue is stifled before it begins. Hence, to kickstart conversations about difficult issues, we adopted forum theatre in 2014 to generate awareness of problems within …

Another Week Beyond – 2320

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Community, donations, food insecurity, health

Dear Friends, Together with some neighbours, Marlina leads a community health initiative in their neighbourhood called Healthy You & Me. They are constantly reaching out to their neighbours with information on affordable healthcare services and inviting them to activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. In their conversations, they also convey that good health is not attained at clinics or hospitals but …

Another Week Beyond – 2319

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Family, Women

Dear Friends, I was mistaken that last Sunday was Mother’s Day and I sent out our greetings a tad too early. Nonetheless, the mistake has given me the opportunity to hear a single mom speak about her motherhood experiences. After listening to her, I started thinking that when Mother’s Day is celebrated in the media with stories of exemplary mothering, …

Another Week Beyond – 2318

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Family, youth

Dear friend, 20 months ago, a colleague was knocking on doors to meet students taking their “N” Level examinations and to wish them well. It was her way of establishing a relationship with young people in the neighbourhood that she had not met and reconnecting with those already on our database.  Amy, 16 years old, was not at home but …

Another Week Beyond – 2317

Beyond Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, community spirit

Dear friends, After presenting a report on the amount of food and household essentials they helped to distribute in their neighbourhood last year, we asked 10 residents for their feedback. They were pleased with their effort and told us that the volunteer work enabled them to make friends with their neighbours. A mother added that her children also accompanied her …

Another Week Beyond – 2316

Beyond Another Week Beyond, community spirit, food

Dear friends, “What does Ramadan mean to you?” I asked a young person, and her quick reply was simply “Connection!” She then elaborated that she would mindfully make time to break her fast with her family and to appreciate the relationships in her life. Importantly, Ramadan was about caring for the less fortunate among us. This past month, we had …