Dear Friends, It is said that a school is a place with four walls that holds the future within. For Azlinah, a mother of 3, it is also a place where people are always present for her children and her. This week she presented our teachers with a fabric coin pouch as a token of appreciation for Teacher’s Day. Each gift also came with a home-made “thank you” card prepared by her children. As a long-term social visit pass holder, our Healthy Start Child Development Centre has been a familiar and comforting place for her, she tells us. Over the past 3 …
Another Week Beyond – 2035
Dear Friends, Jobs and the ability to draw an income weigh heavily on the minds of many and it is no different for the young people we engage. After speaking to more than 50 youth between 16 to 25 years old, we discovered that most wanted to explore different career paths which they were interested in. However, they felt that they could not afford to do so as contributing to the household budget was priority. They were also rather clueless how they could explore their interests and would tend to gratefully take on whatever comes their way. Their sense of practicality is …
Another Week Beyond – 2034
Dear Friends, When the Rotary Club of Marina City wanted to provide a meal for 160 residents of a public rental neighborhood, we suggested that they engage 4 mothers who have acquired their food handling certification from the Singapore Food Agency. We have been supporting mothers to acquire this certification with a view that they may eventually start a micro-business catering for house parties and small events. There are no parties or events at the moment and this opportunity seemed like a nice little project to take on. The cook received an allowance of $12 for every hour’s work while …
Another Week Beyond – 2033
Dear Friends, Rose called us on the phone to inform that she was at the hospital with her mom who had a fall at home. She wanted to let us know that she may not be attending a training session we were holding the following day. She sounded frantic but calmed down after we told her that we would organise another session for her if necessary. Thankfully, after treatment, her mother was well enough to remain alone at home and Rose showed up for the session. She told the others, “At the hospital, I felt so lost. On one hand I had …
Another Week Beyond – 2032
Many years ago, my boss hosted dinner during a stay-in planning retreat. He started the dinner conversation asking my colleagues and I to share what we loved most about Singapore. I told him “the trees” and got on with my dinner but eventually all of us put aside our cutlery as he revealed the reason behind his question. He said that he would find it hard to see how anyone could do what we do if there was nothing we loved about the country. Most of us did not think much about his comment as we felt that we were just doing …
Another Week Beyond – 2031
Dear Friends, We continued to learn from our interns. This time, from those who were helping us with our efforts at providing internet connectivity to our members. They coordinated the distribution of donated pre-loved devices and often found themselves trouble shooting when members had difficulty connecting to wi-fi or were simply fumbling with an unfamiliar device. They made it clear to us that facilitating internet connectivity was not just a matter of providing a device or wi-fi connection but an ongoing promotion of digital literacy and this begins by removing barriers to learning and help seeking. A parent approached us hesitantly …
Another Week Beyond – 2030
Interns have been a very valuable resource for our work and the organisation. With the diversity of skills they bring, we have had much support in grant applications, communications, research, administration and fieldwork. This week, 6 of them who were helping us to administer our COVID-19 Family Assistance Fund said goodbye after 10 weeks and as they reflected on their experience during the exit interview, we continued to learn much from them. “Just because someone needs financial assistance, it does not mean that he or she can access it.” One of them sighed and recounted how almost everyone she met had much difficulty …
Another Week Beyond – 2029
Dear Friends, Morris (AWB – 2026) was all smiles as he got onto a WhatsApp video call with 2 volunteer mentors. One is a psychologist running his own practice and the other, an operations manager at a health and wellness business. Last week, the Court considered the supplementary report from his probation officer and he was given a 21-month probation order. He is to remain indoors from 10 pm to 6 am and will be electronically monitored for 6 months. He must also perform 80 hours of community service and his mother has been bonded to ensure his good behaviour and …
Another Week Beyond – 2028
Dear Friends, Today, Singapore votes. At a virtual Youth Day Celebration last Sunday, we asked our young people what they understood or thought about the elections as they were enjoying a meal prepared and delivered by a family living near them. With COVID-19 looming, we are mindful that wherever possible we provide opportunities for our members to put some money into their pockets. Perhaps, the food was so good that the question was ignored but eventually, one replied that he was a little too young to understand. Others concurred but another who was a little older added that if given a …
Another Week Beyond – 2027
Dear Friends, Now that we are in the second phase of our reopening, many of us are settling into a ‘Covid-19-safe’ routine that feels normal. It is easy to let our guard down against the virus threat or to forget the contributions of our essential workers these past months. Hence, we were most heartened that 9 youth aged from 12 to 17 years old, decided to reach out to neighbours who are front line or essential workers with a gesture of appreciation. With an interest in Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, they decided to use their skills to create notes …