Another Week Beyond – 2132

Dear friends,

“Our Singapore Spirit” is the theme for this year’s National Day Parade and on its official website, visitors are invited to say what the Singapore Spirit means to them.  As of 28 July 2021, the top 2 traits articulated are “hard-working” and “caring.” We can’t disagree as our work is significantly sustained by the caring people who donate their time and resources.  Just this Monday, someone brought in 2 bags full of chocolate beverage mix for our members. He told me that they happened to be on sale at the supermarket and so he thought of us and another charity.

We are always grateful for gifts with no strings attached and perhaps even more so when we are   invited to give. A group of volunteers from “Homeless Hearts of Singapore,” told us that they wanted to provide something special for 40 rough sleepers this National Day and they accepted our proposal to provide shortbread with cranberries. So, just in time for these volunteers to distribute them this National Day weekend, we delivered the shortbread this morning along with a bag of toiletries and essentials such as disposable masks.

As our women were baking the shortbread, they thought that it would be nice to provide the rough sleepers a little more. Initially they wanted to add a reusable mask but figured that washing it properly would be a challenge and so they asked if we could secure some disposable ones. This request was easily solved as Heng Mong Hin, the sundry store that recently closed (AWB – 2127), had left us their remaining stock.

Our women then asked if we could secure toiletries and washing detergent and Soap Cycling Singapore, responded generously. As we needed to rebottle the detergent, we visited a shop dealing in water dispensers who enquired why we needed so many bottles. Upon learning of the endeavour, the cashier packed them nicely and then told us it was free-of-charge.

The National Day Parade which aims to unite Singaporeans from different backgrounds and cultures together is unfortunately postponed because of the current COVID-19 safety precautions.    However, we take much comfort that as long as we work hard at caring for each other, and especially for the least among us, we are united.

Happy 56th National Day.

Gerard

PAST AWB POSTS

2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

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I joined Beyond in 2005 as a community worker reaching out to children under 6 years old to get them registered for early childhood education and after a couple of years, I was seconded to support our main grant maker. After which, I left social services but rejoined Beyond in 2016.  I came back and rejoined the sector to meet my needs for meaning, connection and well-being. Last Friday, I was supporting a corporate volunteer group to distribute care packs comprising necessities for the new school year to children in a neighbourhood where we work. This group engaged youth from

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2450 – Change Happens When A Ripple Becomes A Wave

Fahmidah, a 19-year-old active volunteer from Lengkok Bahru, recently stepped out of her comfort zone and joined her friends as a community guide for a Learning Journey organised by Beyond in collaboration with ImpactSG. This initiative connects members of ImpactSG with families living in public rental housing, who lead guided tours of their neighbourhood, offering a glimpse into their daily lives, challenges and strengths that define their community. These interactions foster mutual respect, deeper understanding, and an appreciation for the resilience and spirit within these communities. Before the event, Beyond worked closely with Fahmidah and several of her neighbours, preparing

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2448 – Caring Through Sport

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2447 – The Accidental Pianist

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

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2446 – Brownie Points of the Heart

Story Contributed by Swathi, Community Worker In Ghim Moh, Angie was known for her many gifts – a talented chef, baker, seamstress, and a nurturing grandmother. Through Beyond’s Sew Can We and Bakers Beyond programmes, which provide seasonal income through sewing and baking projects, Angie applied her skills to create items that held meaning for her community. But as cancer began to reshape her life, hospital stays and treatments became part of her routine, pulling her away from her daily comforts. Despite her illness, Angie’s spirit remained intact, resilient and unyielding. During a recent hospital stay, some nurses encouraged her

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2445 – From Strangers to Friends: A Shared Journey

Story Contributed by Adrian, Community Worker Each year, the United World College (UWC) partners with Beyond in a programme that brings their students on a Learning Journey into one of the neighbourhoods we serve. The intention is to give these students an opportunity to connect on a more intimate level with the community they often support as volunteers in our learning programme. This time, however, instead of the visit being led by Beyond staff, two Bukit Ho Swee youths – *14-year-old Zak and 15-year old Amir – stepped forward to be their guides. Inspired by one of their older brothers,

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PAST AWB POSTS

2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

When a fire broke out in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat last year, the damage wasn’t confined to just the one unit. Smoke engulfed neighbouring homes, leaving behind physical damage and disruption. One of the worst affected residents was Madam Tan*, an elderly woman whose flat directly above the burning apartment. While her story didn’t make the headlines, her struggles were very real. She clearly needed help. This is where H comes in. The 28-year-old coach and former educator was no stranger to helping others, but this experience would touch him on a personal level. “I didn’t initially think about

Read more >

2451 – The Grace to Give

I joined Beyond in 2005 as a community worker reaching out to children under 6 years old to get them registered for early childhood education and after a couple of years, I was seconded to support our main grant maker. After which, I left social services but rejoined Beyond in 2016.  I came back and rejoined the sector to meet my needs for meaning, connection and well-being. Last Friday, I was supporting a corporate volunteer group to distribute care packs comprising necessities for the new school year to children in a neighbourhood where we work. This group engaged youth from

Read more >

AWB 2449 – When LIFE Happens

Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” We at Beyond, wholeheartedly believe this. So we’ve made it one of our missions to bring education to life for the kids in the neighbourhoods we serve. So, it is no coincidence that we call one of our education programme, LIFE! or Learning is Fun and Exciting! LIFE is a child-centric initiative that’s designed to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Activities are tailored to children’s individual strengths, interests, and learning styles. At every turn, we nurture them to become independent, self-motivated learners. We

Read more >