2447 – The Accidental Pianist

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

Shariff was only 10 when he was first mesmerised by the piano. A schoolmate was performing at a school event.  Something clicked for the 10-year-old that day – he had stumbled upon what was to become a passion. He found a very basic, beat-up keyboard at home, and began teaching himself to play. His instructors were YouTube videos. This year, Shariff was one of several children who attended a day camp organized by Genie in a Bottle, a volunteer group that picked Beyond as their charity of choice for YMCA’s Youth For Causes (YFC) programme. This initiative encourages youth to …

2442 – It Starts with “Hello”

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community

Every morning, like clockwork, four-year-old Lisa (not her real name) stops by her neighbour’s flat on her way to preschool. She stands at the gate, waiting patiently to say “Hello” to the elderly man who lived there. Known for his stern demeanour and habit of scolding noisy children, this Uncle wasn’t someone most would approach. At first, he ignored her. Undeterred, she stands there, day after day, offering her simple greeting. Then one day, something changed. The Uncle returned her greeting. Soon after, they began sharing quiet moments – sitting together, eating biscuits, and watching TV —always under the watchful …

2438 – A Game Changer

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Community

A Game Changer Submitted by: Adrian, Community Worker During a community gathering in April, along with the spread of food on the table, a robust serving of soccer talk was served up. This is a topic that energized the youth who were present. Their excitement wasn’t just about the game; they were eager to form a proper soccer team. So enthusiastic were they, that that very evening, the Bukit Ho Swee Soccer programme was born. Our first training session took place at an outdoor court that was well-maintained and ideal for practice, but it was too far away. The commute …

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 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 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 …

Another Week Beyond 2426 – Grizzly to Teddy

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

by Wilson, Community Worker Grizzly to Teddy During one of our recent learning programmes, one of the kids who attended was an often moody, sometimes truculent 8-year-old.  Let’s call him “Teddy.” Our expectations of Teddy were, from experience, tempered. How well he participated in our activities and interacted with others depended on his disposition from week to week. At this particular session, Teddy was what we had come to describe as “his usual self” – shouting vulgarities and being disruptive. He risked injury by playing with a sliding door, even after being asked by a volunteer to stop. In fact, …

Another Week Beyond – 2421

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth

“Don’t bring your hooligan attitudes from your neighbourhood into ours!” A mother screamed at a teenager as he continued taunting her from a distance. Just a few minutes ago, the teenager and his friends were enjoying a game of street soccer against opponents below 12 years old.  His friends and he were visibly bigger and those watching were rooting for the “home team” of younger boys.   When spectators accused one of the older boys of unsporting rough play, play stopped, and angry words were exchanged all around. Recognising that they were not welcome, the older boys left the court grudgingly, …