Dear Friends, Faced with charges relating to rioting, mischief, causing hurt, failure to comply with the conditions of a provisional driving licence and riding a motorcycle without insurance, Morris, 19 years old believes that he is heading for jail. A report filed in March, by a probation officer assessed that Morris is not suitable for probation. Following which, a pre-sentencing assessment recommended that Morris be sent to the Reformative Training Centre (RTC). Unlike Morris, his mother believes that he should be heading home instead of the RTC so that she can keep an eye on him. His older brother also feels that …
Another Week Beyond – 2025
Dear Friends, Today, Singapore moves another step toward a new normal which is COVID-19 Safe. Eateries will be opened for dining-in and I know several of my colleagues will be going out for a meal. “Takeaway food is just not the same,” they tell me and eating out is one thing they have missed since 7 April 2020. Small group social activities will also be allowed and so, we will gradually be meeting our members face to face once again. However, we hope these meetings will be as efficient and sincere as those which we have been having online. Over the past 11 …
Another Week Beyond – 2024
Dear Friends, There is an African saying that if we educate a man, we educate one person but if we educate a woman, we educate a family. Men’s lack of involvement at home seems to be taken as a norm and if we look at our members who volunteer in their neighbourhoods, the majority are mothers. So how do we make sense of such an observation? Well, we think it is best to simply take the view that men are contributing, but in ways we are not aware of yet. Iskandar, 38 years old, is a father of 6 children. He lost his …
Another Week Beyond – 2023
Dear Friends, During the circuit breaker we were in touch with 235 persons who were unemployed and looking for work. We kept them informed of job opportunities and linked them to resources provided by the government, the labour movement and other non-government organisations. Most job applications were online and several needed assistance navigating e-portals as well as putting together simple resumes to upload. Our actions offered these members some comfort but those who have been unable to nail down a job would probably feel much discouraged. From speaking with these jobseekers, we also learnt that distance to the workplace is an important factor for …
Another Week Beyond – 2022
Dear Friends, The past 8 weeks were a very busy period for us, but we consider ourselves most fortunate to have been in a position of use to others. We were not simply attending to the needs of families, but a significant proportion of our energy was spent attending to the numerous offerings of goodwill. The generosity, care and concern that came forth were tremendous and the saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” came to mind. As we processed more applications for financial assistance, we got a sense that it was very difficult for people to be …
Another Week Beyond – 2021
Dear Friends, This has been a very different Ramadan for our Muslim friends and on Sunday, Hari Raya Puasa will be devoid of visits to extended family. Community activities synonymous with the past month of prayer and reflection were missing but it was our experience that the empathy for those who are less fortunate, and acts of generosity and compassion were not. A group of volunteers outreaching to rough sleepers ordered a batch of cookies from us. They have been providing toiletries and sundries but felt that a little cheer in a bottle of home-made cookies during Ramadan would be appropriate. These volunteers …
Another Week Beyond – 2020
Dear Friends, There are now 8 women utilizing their sewing skills to earn a small income. This week, they proudly completed their first order of 100 masks and are now on their way to fulfilling the other orders that have come in since we mentioned this initiative on 1 May 2020. As we continued speaking with more people applying for financial assistance, it was clear that work did not just provide a salary. More importantly, it provides purpose and a sense of self-worth. Hence, thank you Sew-Forth and everyone for the warm support that has enabled these women to say to themselves, “As others overcome, Sew Can We!” …
Another Week Beyond – 2019
Dear Friends, We continued to enable internet connectivity and have pushed out another 40 computers to students who needed them. Digital inclusion is social inclusion and especially now, when it facilitates the strong social connections that are so important for our wellbeing. Internet connectivity among our members will be uneven for a while more, even as we work at resolving the issue for the near and longer term. As we provide devices to meet immediate needs, we are also working closely with IMDA and MOE to get our members onto government digital inclusion programmes. Some members who had a head start with internet connectivity …
Another Week Beyond – 2018
Dear Friends, With the assistance of Lalamove, an approved courier who provided their services pro-bono, we delivered 41 computers and 7 portable wi-fi dongles this week. In total, we have given out 122 computers and 81 dongles. While school holidays begin today and home-based learning takes a break, our efforts to bridge the digital divide will continue as digital inclusion is very much social inclusion. 2 days ago, in a Channel News Asia feature entitled, Home-based learning blues: Life in a rental flat during the COVID-19 circuit breaker, a mother was quoted “In my heart, it is not cramped. We are thankful to have a roof over …
Another Week Beyond – 2017
Dear Friends, When a single mother with 6 children aged from 5 months to 14 years old realised that she had a problem with bed bugs, she cleared out her furniture. Exhausted and distressed, she called us asking what more she could do to resolve the problem. She did not call just to ask a question, but to tell someone that she worries constantly about the safety of her children. She also said she found it stressful ensuring that her children finished their schoolwork with the one computer and 2 handphones that they shared among themselves. While we will ensure …