Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
Dear friends,
A month ago, I was with a locksmith at about 10 pm fixing the locks of the gate and main door of a flat. While the gate could still be secured with a padlock, the wooden door behind it could not be locked from the outside. The locksmith was very skillful, and both the gate and the door could be secured from the outside when he left. This was a small gesture to reduce the anxiety of a mother who feared that her home would be damaged when no one was home. The bigger fear though was the safety of her family should they forget to latch the door from the inside when they are home.
This mother has chalked up debts with both an illegal and a legal money lender and she has been receiving threats from the former. Apart from providing concrete practical help and supporting sound decision making, we have no expertise or resources in helping people to clear their debts. As such, we are very grateful to be working together with Adullam Life Counselling, a non-profit agency that acts as an intermediary between the debtors and their legal creditors by negotiating a possible repayment plan. They also provide advice and crucial support to those who are troubled by illegal moneylenders.
Under Adullam’s guidance, this mother has agreed to begin clearing her debt with the licensed money lender. She hopes that in due course, the creditor will be willing to negotiate ending the debt when her monthly interest covers the principal sum borrowed.
This week, we also referred a young man to Adullam. He owes moneylenders and banks, and he has been avoiding his creditors the past 2 years. However, he approached us for help saying he wanted to get married and to start life afresh. He has now signed an agreement to start paying the moneylenders but the negotiation to reduce his debt can only start after 6 months, when he has demonstrated a commitment to pay.
Perhaps, it would cross our mind that those in debt have been reckless managing their money. However, if we are unable to suspend this thought, it would be difficult to appreciate the circumstances or the plight these people are experiencing. The mother whom we helped, borrowed to pay off her car rental as she wanted to keep her job as a private-hire car driver. Business was bad and she reckoned that she needed to work harder. Unfortunately, this led to a fatigue-induced accident that piled up her financial difficulties.
As for the young man, he initially borrowed money to help his grandma with household bills. He soon found himself in the vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans. He estimated that it will take 8 years to clear all his debts and is worried he would not be able to do so. Nonetheless, he is determined and agreed to meet and learn from another young man who had been in similar circumstances.
When we have less in the first place, there is a strain on our decision-making abilities and poor choices may be the only ones we can see in front of us.
Wishing you good health and peace of mind.
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
In the final post of our reflections series, Grace from our donor relations team shares how her role during the pandemic in ensuring the smooth distribution of food resources is more than just logistical—It is also about ensuring that community members feel involved and empowered in the process.
"When the pandemic first hit, we saw a generous outpour of support and kindness. Many people came forward to ask how they could help. Besides financial assistance, many offered food support due to the basic recognition that we all need to eat every day. My task was to ensure the efficient receipt and distribution of all the food resources and support we received, which were split into three categories: cooked meals, food rations gift pack, and supermarket vouchers. The food distribution process is not simply logistical, but about using gifts in a meaningful way.
During the circuit breaker period, the families in our communities were cooped up at home like everyone else. Children who initially had meals in school with the pocket money they had received under the financial assistance scheme now needed to have their meals at home. Adults who previously ate outside when working, also needed to eat at home. Things were made harder by the prices of food going up due to all the panic buying. Before Covid-19, whenever donors came forward to ask if they could support in terms of food rations, the average amount I would ask for was about S$50 per pack. But because of Covid-19, we increased our ask to about S$80-$100 worth of items in one pack to account for the surge in prices and the addition of cleaning agents which were pricey at the time, such as hand wash, body wash, floor detergents.
There were a lot of restrictions and additional administrative processes due to the safety regulations at the time. With internal processes in place, we were grateful to earn the confidence of National Council of Social Services (NCSS), who gave us the 'Whitelist’ status. We were the only non-food agency to receive this status, which gave us approval to distribute essential items during the circuit breaker and Phase 1. It eased the logistical process for us so we were really thankful.
Many people came forward to supply cooked meals, and this seemed like a good idea in the beginning since families could start eating immediately upon receiving the bento sets. But imagine eating the same kind of food over a two-to-three-month period, we would all get tired after a while. So I learnt that food gift packs are much welcomed by the families where they can put together a meal with the ingredients provided and they get to have some agency in the process. However, the gift packs can be very heavy and time-consuming to distribute and they require more manpower and planning. So, we decided to ask for supermarket vouchers too, since that would also enable families to buy fresh food, baby milk and diapers, which are not typically included in a food ration pack. Plus, supermarket vouchers gives them some spending power, which can be more empowering.
We endeavour to give a sense of ownership to the community. We believe the families have the right to request, reject or accept gifts. Also, with them telling us what they need, it helps reduce wastage and makes fulfilment of their wishes more meaningful. We actively involve the community in the decision-making process. For example, we will get the community to tell us what items the families would like in a gift pack based on a certain budget provided by the sponsors.
As another example, a local primary school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) wanted to gift children and youths with stationery packs. The community mothers had a chat with the chairman of the PTA over zoom, and together, they spent some time creating three lists of stationery packs worth $20 each, for lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school kids. It was very heartening to see the mothers actively deciding on what goes into the pack.
My greatest takeaway in this work is about maintaining the dignity of the receiver. Just because our families are on the receiving end, it doesn’t mean that things need to be decided for them. In understanding this, my role is to communicate this principle to donors — that our families can choose and have a voice in deciding what to receive, for like us, they are people too.”
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
Sufiyyah is a resident and volunteer from Jalan Kukoh who worked as a community enabler for Beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares with us about her experience in the Table Food Project, and the importance of community support.
“I was a dedicated ground staff for Singapore Airlines for 15 years. Before I resigned and I was looking into many other kinds of jobs, and when I tell employers about my job experience, they are eager to take me in. Employers know that ground staff go through a lot of courses and we are independent workers, so I know I had a lot of potential, but then the COVID-19 situation just shut me out without a second chance. Then everybody in my family lost their jobs. My husband had been working as an international mover for the last 15 years, and my children were working in F&B at the time.
So all of us were staying home during the Circuit Breaker period. As you can imagine, it was very cramped for seven of us in a two-room flat. Two of my boys had to do home-based learning (HBL) and it was chaotic since we also had a baby in the house, and teenagers who wanted to do their own thing like listen or play music. It was the first time my kids were doing HBL and they were constantly asking “How to do this topic? How to do this?” And I had to coach them. I was really at a loss. It had been five years since I had been at work and I had to use a laptop again. It was difficult, but I had to get used to it because HBL was an everyday reality. Suddenly, I had to juggle myself as a mum, a housewife, and a teacher to my kids.
At the same time, I still had to put food on the table for my children and that is where Beyond was very helpful. I was part of the Table Food Project where we gave free cooked food to community members twice a day from March to September last year. We did quite a lot during COVID-19 and it helped my family, at least I can feed my children two meals a day. Being part of the project made me feel good because not only was I helping my family, I was also helping my community. It gave me a chance to be part of the community by doing something important for them, whether it was to give them food, vouchers or groceries.
When the community members see me giving back, they also help me. When the see the van coming up, everybody chips in to unload things from the lorry, even though we don’t know each other! These are the moments that really count for me. It is a great experience, not only for myself but for everybody here in Jalan Kukoh. The bonding is there. whenever this one particular aunty sees me, she would ask “girl today got food? What makan are we having?”. It really kept the community together and now we know who to turn to, where to get help if anybody needs it.
It’s very promising to everybody knowing that at least we won’t have to stress about our meals. There was an aunty who shared with me that before receiving these meals, she would have to use $10 to feed everybody in her family, but now she can save that $10 to pay for other things such as her bills or to top up her card. I can really relate to what happens to her, and anybody here actually. My family is a low-income family, but we did not really feel the pinch before this because we always manage to pay our bills on time. Suddenly with everyone without a job, we accumulated so many debts and arrears. COVID-19 brought so many of these issues and problems to light.
I think moving forward, we really need to be there for each other, look out for each other. It might be okay right now, but if a second wave comes, at least if we know there’s someone or a neighbour we can rely on—It will help a lot.”
Donate to Beyond’s ‘A Spring to Rebuild’ Campaign to help us continue to the work of working with communities in a post-COVID-19 world: bit.ly/springtorebuild
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
My name is Shahriza, I am a mother of two kids and 10 cats. I have known Beyond since early 2015 when my kids started participating in their outdoor programmes and art classes. A Beyond volunteer asked me one day if I’m keen to join Family Circles and I agreed since I had some spare time and wanted to meet new friends. To be honest, I also have social anxiety, and I wanted a safe space to slowly build up my confidence and heal myself. I was quite nervous the first time I had to introduce myself, but I managed to do it. I found out that there are so many families that are different from mine, I learned more about what their daily life is like and what problems they face.
My experience with Family Circles has been great and we feel like a family already. There was even a member who helped me apply for Medifund for my hospital bills. Every zoom had its memorable moments. To me the most memorable was when all of them gave me motivation to be strong after knowing about my illness. They were very supportive, and they even give me resources to help me with healing. I talked to them about the passing of my sister, how I was depressed and even self-harmed. They really gave me words that returned my will even though at the time we were still strangers to each other. They really lifted me up and made me realise my late sister wouldn’t want me to suffer. One of the members said “It’s okay for you to grieve. You can continue to grieve, but at the same time life has to move on.” So not only do I get support from my family members, but I get support from the Beyond team and Family Circles too. Now I realise that no matter what I do, I can’t bring my sister back, but I can continue to fight for her and her children.
I give motivation to them too. We help each other. I was so happy to find out one of them was pregnant, we were all excited for her when she shared the news. I also shared with them about THK Family Service Centre as a resource if they need a social worker with whom you can share your problems, as I had a very positive experience with my social worker from the organisation.
Family Circles brings so many benefits. It’d be so good if every neighbourhood in Singapore had Family Circles. We can join forces, help each other, get to know each other, think of how to help other families. Sometimes instead of focusing on the topics, we can’t help but chit-chat. 2 hours just doesn’t seem enough. I told them during a zoom meeting, “We all have so much to say, imagine if we meet live! Confirm happening!” Then we came up with the idea of potluck and I hope we can do that soon
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“SPINreally values us as single parents and constantly reminds us that we need totake care of ourselves also.”
I am a single parent to two sons, and theguardian of my young nephew. Due to strained familial relations, I had to takeon both roles as a mother and father without the support of my family, and Iconstantly faced challenges.
After discovering HCSA SPIN on Facebook,I wanted to know more about the types of services and help offered to singleparents. I immediately reached out to enquire about membership and was quicklyattended to by Jeanne, HCSA SPIN’s social worker. I have been an active memberand attendee of various events and workshops since joining HCSA SPIN. In a way,these programmes help me de-stress since volunteers assist in taking care ofthe boys while I learn.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement fromthe HCSA SPIN team – particularly my befriender Rasi and Jeanne – for helpingme to stay strong and positive for my children. SPIN really values us singleparents and constantly reminds us that we must take care of ourselves as well.
- Suhaini Bte. Md Ali, Member of HCSA Dayspring SPIN (Single ParentsINformed, INvolved, INcluded)
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“WheneverI felt upset, the mentors were always available to talk to me and listen to me,even when we treated them harshly. They were there to reassure me that theflashbacks are in the past and I am now in a safe place.”
When I was 18 years old, I was referredto HCSA DRTC by a child protection officer as it was unsafe for me to stay in aturbulent home situation. I was relieved for the change in environment as I wasdue to take my ‘O’ Level examinations that year.
During my time at HCSA DRTC, I learnt howto articulate my feelings in a more positive manner instead of acting out andmaking impulsive decisions. I have also actively put the grounding techniques Iwas taught into practice, which has enabled me to reduce the instances ofdissociating, and gradually overcome my trauma.
I appreciate how encouraging the mentorswere throughout my entire journey at HCSA DRTC as they always kept me groundedwhen I had my periods of dissociating. Under their care and guidance, Ieventually graduated from HCSA DRTC after a year and a half in the programme.
- Kat*, Alumna of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC)
*Nameshave been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Highpointgave me the morale boost I needed. 90% of the hard work of recovery is up to usas an individual, but I had a safe space and support to make my own choices.”
My teenage years were a turbulent mix ofsmoking and rebellion, which eventually led me down the path of substance abuseand drug trafficking. After being in and out of prison for more than a decade,my turning point came after my last release. As I was determined to turn mylife around once and for all, I decided to come to HCSA Highpoint in 2019 afterunsuccessful attempts at securing my own housing.
HCSA Highpoint’s community-style livingand strong support were pivotal in my recovery journey. I looked forward toactivities like bowling and weekly house meetings where we could share our experienceswithout fear of judgment. I would rush back from work to attend these sessionsbecause they helped ensure my free time was properly used and that I had thenecessary social support to help me reintegrate back into society.
HCSA Highpoint also assisted me with myhousing application so I could focus on my job and continue supporting mymother, who currently lives in Malaysia. At present, I have been “clean” forseven years (and counting) and will never go back to my previous ways.
My mum is happy for me now because I am doing fine. Asmy age is catching up, I only want to stay “clean”, have a roof over my head, asteady job, return home and have quiet nights. My dreams may not be big, butbecause of Highpoint, I have stability in my life now. I am grateful for that.
- Ramesh S/O Ramachandran, Alumnus of HCSA Highpoint Halfway House
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
“Ourattitude and mentality are what really counts. Age is not a barrier. If youreally want to progress and improve, just do it and do your best.”
My long-standing passion for food andcooking started with a Home Economics class in secondary school. My first forayinto the culinary world began when I started as a dishwasher. After a chanceencounter with one of the chefs working at the same restaurant, I was hired asa commis cook, thus kickstarting my culinary journey.
However, I soon discovered that my lackof qualifications made it difficult for me to apply for more senior positions,and I was constantly rejected. At the suggestion of the restaurant I wasworking at, I recognised the need to upskill and decided to enrol in HCSAAcademy’s WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts) course.
The course at HCSA Academy helped build astrong foundation in culinary techniques, equipped me with safety as well ashousekeeping knowledge. I enjoyed meeting like-minded fellow students andappreciated the trainers for their tireless guidance.
Following my graduation from the course, I am now ajunior sous chef and working towards my goal of being a head chef. My dream isto one day open my own modest café where I can create my own fusion dishes.
- Ravin Shankar, Graduate of HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Complete social isolation, loss of income and discrimination - it was this dangerous trifecta that re-triggered Mr Sani’s depression and caused a deep downward spiral for him during Singapore’s ‘circuit breaker’ period last year.
After his parents passed away, Mr Saini lost all contact with his siblings. He had been living on his own in his one-room rental flat since 2016. Before the pandemic hit, working at the ports for cargo vessels kept Mr Saini in healthier shape and helped to better manage his mental health.
But when the pandemic stopped vessels from coming in, Mr Saini was soon let go from his job. His employment prospects, mental health and living conditions took a turn for the worse, all at the same time.
“My depression came back during Covid when I couldn’t find a proper job because of my size. I couldn’t go out and I couldn’t work,” said Mr Saini.
Security jobs were in high demand at the height of the pandemic. Even though Mr Saini seized the opportunity to apply for a license to work in security, he felt discouraged by the discrimination he experienced.
“I applied for security jobs… but some places don’t want to hire me because of my body size. Imagine when you go to work for 1 or 2 hours and suddenly the management asks you to go back. What do you do? I cannot make noise, I cannot fight,” recounted Mr Saini.
Stuck at home all day, Mr Saini’s weight started ballooning from 130kg in pre-covid times to 240kg during ‘circuit breaker’. Gout in his legs flared up, affecting his ability to walk.
“Because of my leg, I cannot move around. Previously when I stayed in Bedok, the rubbish chute was inside the house but now it’s outside (at the lift lobby). I cannot go out so I just started throwing things inside,” he admitted.
The mess of food packets grew, leaving Mr Saini a small empty corner of the floor to sleep on. Cockroaches roaming at night made it difficult to sleep & his health deteriorated so much that he was constantly in and out of the hospital.
With the help of his medical social worker from the hospital, Mr Saini was referred to Project HomeWorks to finally end his downward spiral.
It was a particularly intense session for our 5 volunteers, who battled hoards of cockroaches under the mounds of food packaging. Five hours and a few cans of Baygon spray later, half the entire living space had been completely cleared and transformed.
After years of sleeping on the floor, Mr Saini finally got his wish: a proper mattress and reinforced bed frame that was sponsored by the Central CDC.
Deeply motivated by the complete transformation of his house, Mr Saini said he never wants the state of his house to ever go back to the mess it used to be in.
“When you help me clean my house, at least I can go back to square one. In the new year, I hope I can get a new job, a better life and carry on my normal life with work. That’s all I need,” he said.
Mr Saini was one of the homeowners who received an Agape Blanket under our Sew Much Love initiative. Knowing the many hands that went into making the blanket he received, Mr Saini said he was thankful for all the love and support he could feel from this simple gift.
Sew Much Love is a new, all-year-long initiative by Habitat Singapore to co-create Agape Blankets with our supporters. We invite you to contribute a design a quilt patch that will be used to complete more Agape Blankets as a gesture of care for seniors and vulnerable individuals like Mr Saini to fight against this pandemic-driven social isolation.
All you need are tools readily available at home or on your phone. You'll be bringing warmth, comfort and hope through this practical and heartfelt gift. Click on the image to get started!
- Mr Saini, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
“Back when I was still the boss, I was always downstairs cooking, drinking and smoking with friends. To suddenly go from that to being stuck at home, it was difficult for me. And the house condition slowly became worse,” said 63-year-old Uncle Ong.
Vulnerability is a slippery slope and the home environment almost always reflects the physical and emotional turmoil the homeowner is facing. In Uncle Ong's case, the tipping point was losing his independence and capability to primarily provide for his wife and children who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.
In his prime, Uncle Ong was a successful, self-made man who supported his family of 5 by starting his own noodle stall 33 years ago. He was independent from his own family at a young age and jobs were hard to come by when he first got married in the 1980s.
“It was very hard back then. I didn't have a stable job until I decided to start my own business in 1988,” he shared.
In his business heydays, Uncle Ong’s noodle stall had earned a reputation and his earnings could comfortably provide for the family. After 2 decades of entrepreneurial success, Uncle Ong was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and he underwent a major operation to resect his large intestines.
“After that my whole life changed. My business was my life but I couldn’t work anymore. Walking is so painful,” shared Uncle Ong. 11 years later, he still feels the pain where 2 stoma bags are attached to his abdomen and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
“I had to hand my business over to my younger brother, who gives me about $500-600 every month. For my family’s sake, sometimes I still go down to work for about 2-3 hours. I’d try to earn an extra $60-$80, which is better than nothing,” said Uncle Ong.
Uncle Ong’s business was also his family’s lifeline. Even until today, Uncle Ong continues to be the main caregiver of 3 family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities - his wife, younger son & more recently his grand-daughter.
Uncle Ong’s eldest son had skipped university to start working after his National Service and picked up the monthly bills like utilities and the $180 medical cost for Uncle Ong’s stoma bags. The pressure to support his family eventually led to him getting into trouble with the law.
“When people are sick, their temper is bad. It’s painful to walk, I couldn’t eat without someone helping me. I was always in a bad mood. My son was a good boy but I think I gave him too much stress. I could only afford to buy the food to feed the 4 of us at home. He must have found other ways to earn extra money,” said Uncle Ong.
As the only able-bodied person in the house left, Uncle Ong’s health condition made it impossible for him to manage the state of his house. It was only after his eldest son's recent release from prison that things started to look up again for them.
Thankfully, Uncle Ong's eldest son was recently released from prison this February and had taken on the task of decluttering & cleaning up of the family home. At the same time, Uncle Ong’s social worker from their nearby Family Service Centre kickstarted the referral process for their home to be rehabilitated by Project HomeWorks.
Earlier this month, youth volunteers from the NTU Welfare Services Club partnered us to clean and repaint the bedroom walls, while Habitat Singapore provided brand new bed frames and mattresses for the family.
With help of our volunteers, it only took half a day to turn the family's bedrooms into a brighter, more comfortable space.
Every home improvement gives families a better chance for a stronger future. We hope this Project HomeWorks session will Uncle Ong's family a second chance at a safe and healthy home for years to come
- Mr Ong, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
In many of the hoarding cases that Habitat for Humanity Singapore comes across, the accumulation of things in the house is usually triggered by emotional or psychological episodes of a person’s life and the items almost always have emotional attachments.
For Mdm Lai, the items she had accumulated in her house started after her husband passed away over 30 years ago. Widowed in her 40s, Mdm Lai found herself living alone in their 3-room flat in Toa Payoh while her daughter and the rest of her family were back in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
“When my husband died, then I started working as a cleaner, because I didn’t have much of an education. Since I started working, I didn’t really stop,” Mdm Lai shared.
“After I finish work, I wouldn’t go home immediately. I’d go out to eat and walk around. I’ll just see things that I would buy (like) clothes, bags, towels.”
Gesturing to show how she crawled on top of everything to get around the house, Mdm Lai said the saving grace of having a cluttered house was the items would break her fall whenever she lost her balance.
As her eyesight and arthritis worsened with age, the state of her house also spiralled out of control.
“There were just too many things & I didn’t have the ability to clear it all alone. I would go to work, come home and just leave whatever I bought.
When Project HomeWorks volunteers arrived at her house for the first time in January, they recalled piles of items covering the entire floor of the house.
“It was a struggle just to enter the house. The door couldn’t fully open,” said volunteer Mr Chan. Another fellow volunteer Eric described the pile to be about 60cm high and discovered bugs he had never seen before in his life.
“All these years I’ve stayed here, (my neighbours) didn’t know I had so many things in my house,” Mdm Lai shared. The state of her house went undetected as she made sure never to leave her windows or door open.
It was only after her arthritis became severe enough that she had to stop working 3 months ago and she confided to a neighbour who linked her up with a social worker from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC).
After years of keeping to herself, it took a lot of coaxing over several sessions by Habitat Singapore staff to build enough trust for Mdm Lai to grow comfortable with the decluttering process.
During the 6th session with Mdm Lai, Habitat Singapore invited the very first group of volunteers back to come back & witness the slow transformation of the house.
In January when they first started, our volunteer Eric shared that their strategy was to clear enough to make a pathway from the door to the bedroom and kitchen at the back. Today, Mdm Lai has not only reclaimed space in her home but also her happiness.
“I think today we’ve achieved a milestone. She now has a reading or relax room where she can go down memory lane (with her photo albums),” Eric added.
“I think the most delightful thing is to see her become more cheerful from our first session. Initially she was reluctant to let us in but (now) she’s very happy to be able to move around and enjoy her space,” added Mr Chan.
Sitting in her newly created reading room, surrounded by photo albums & framed pictures of her wedding day, Mdm Lai said: I’ve also dreamt of my house being this clean. The biggest change has been you coming to help. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
- Mdm Lai, Beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
This December will be my eleventh year in Singapore. I moved here from Jakarta with my family when I was 14 because my father had to be relocated for work. Ever since then, I attended school in Singapore before starting my current job here.
It did feel weird at first. I found it hard adjusting to a new way of life, but it was also interesting to learn about the culture in a different country, like how people worked and studied. I got used to it after a while and – surprisingly – adapted quite well in school.
Being active in sports definitely made it easier to make new friends. I was in the badminton club in primary one back in Jakarta. I’ve always liked watching soccer, too, so when I came to Singapore, I took it up as a CCA and competed in the school team.
When I went to Republic Polytechnic, I took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching because I thought I’d have a career in sports. That was the direction I was set on; but, because I’m not Singaporean, it was very difficult for me to get a job.
I’d go for job interviews and get offered a position, but whenever I applied for an Employment Pass (EP), my application got rejected. I don’t know why. Singapore never offers an explanation as to why they reject your EP application.
I was unemployed for two years, but luckily, a friend who is based in Jakarta but worked for Habitat for Humanity Singapore recommended me a job. It was an area of work that I wasn’t used to, but I took it as an opportunity to learn and try something new.
I waited for four months before my EP was approved, but I finally got it! Today, I’m a Programme Executive at Habitat Singapore. I’m in-charge of Project HomeWorks, a local initiative that helps rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable elderly and low-income families.
Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.
My first Project HomeWorks session involved a three-room rental flat at Chai Chee. That house was owned by two brothers who were already in their old age. It was in a really bad state; you could smell the stench from the house the moment you stepped out of the lift.
The house was infested with bed bugs. Because the brothers were not in a good place financially, they couldn’t afford proper beds. They slept on the floor where they got bitten badly by bed bugs. We did five rounds of fumigation before all the bed bugs were killed.
I felt very relieved after that session was over. Facing such harsh conditions in your old age can be really hard on you, but they didn’t have to worry about bed bugs anymore and could finally sleep peacefully at night. They could also finally enjoy their retirement.
It’s always been a joy for me to help people. I think it’s influence from my parents. Back in Jakarta, they served the church. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a preacher. They always took time to visit and help church members, especially those who were sick.
I’m very inspired by them. Which is why when I reflect upon the two years where I couldn’t get a job in sports, I thought that maybe God simply wanted me to serve, not just my people, but everyone in society, and Habitat Singapore lets me do that.
No, the people I’ve helped through Project HomeWorks never really say anything once a session is over. Some of them were abandoned by their kids and have lived alone in poorly maintained rental flats for so long, they don’t know how to react to such acts of kindness.
But you can tell they are happy once we’ve cleaned up their houses just by looking at the expression on their faces. They don’t even have to say anything much; just a simple thank you and seeing them smile is enough to push me to do the work that I do.
- Andrew Setiawan, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
I guess I’m a successful product of the Community Involvement Project (CIP) system put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (laughs). Somehow, those 24-hour community service requirements in school sowed a seed somewhere that sprouted in me.
CIP gave me various opportunities to volunteer. In secondary school, I was part of physio sessions at a rehab centre for elderly. In junior college, I volunteered at Ling Kwang Home where I performed some magic for the old folks.
When I went to university, most of my co-curricular activities (CCA) were related to community somehow. I volunteered with the Salvation Army and delivered food to the elderly living in Chin Swee Road. I was only 22 then.
Through these experiences, I was certain that I wanted to make the world a better place when I grew up, especially for the elderly. My grandmother raised me since I was young and after she passed on, I wanted to see old people live their remaining lives in dignity.
Today, I work at Habitat for Humanity, a housing charity that helps clean up the homes of the vulnerable in society – including the elderly – through an initiative called Project HomeWorks. My job is to coordinate any youth involvement with the organisation.
One of my responsibilities is to look after our long-term youth volunteers from campus chapters. These chapters basically function like mini Habitat for Humanity offices but are run by students, so these kids are responsible for their own house-cleaning operations.
I mentor appointed student leaders so that they can better guide their respective chapters and ultimately grow as individuals. It’s important to do this because while my passion lies in aiding old people, it’s important to rally the young ones to help achieve this goal.
It’s really just part of our mission! Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity’s objective is to not just build homes but also bring people from all walks of life together to build communities and hope.
It is such a beautiful picture when people of different races, religions, age groups and professions are united by the common desire to see dignity restored for another. It just so happens that in Habitat Singapore, youths comprise half of our volunteers.
Of course there are challenges to mentoring youths. Firstly, they're kids! So like most parents, there's only so much handholding I can do – limited by the fact that I only have two hands and my own baby girl to take care of after office hours.
Secondly, there must be a fine balance between holding their hands and actually giving them space to make mistakes, learn and grow. I reflect on experiences with them hoping that they’d come out as adults better equipped to deal with the challenges of the world.
What have I learned through guiding these youths? For someone who is pretty impatient, I’m surprisingly able to stretch myself and use every opportunity as platforms for learning and growth. Don’t tell my daughter this; but, she gets less leeway than them. (laughs)
I also learned that they’re not too different from adults. The challenges they face are often the same challenges that we as working professionals face, just that they have the benefit of making mistakes with much lower stakes.
One of my most memorable batches of youth volunteers was from Hwa Chong Institution. I had the privilege of working closely with very brilliant boys to start a campus chapter. It was almost like running a start-up – I got a very solid team in place together.
Alas, as the chapter was launched, two of the key leaders had to drop out. They were running for student council, and it was a requirement that they only have one CCA. The team was extremely disappointed and demoralised by their decision to leave.
I still recall sitting all of them down at a Kopitiam in Chinatown after one of their Project HomeWorks sessions, talking things out and making sure the team was able to come to terms with what happened. Honest feelings, tears and handshakes were all exchanged.
Mentoring a team of people isn’t always just about looking at the forest or big picture. It often means diving deep into looking after each of these trees and spending time with them. Only then can you have a mere glimpse into the best ways to let them bear fruit.
It’s an added bonus being able to see the transformation in some of them as a result of the time spent volunteering with us too. I still keep in touch with some of them and catch up when I happen to have meetings at their current colleges.
Many of them look back at their time as campus chapter leaders as experiences that have shaped their objectives in life. Most of them have also entered courses of study that can directly serve communities.
Looking back upon my journey at Habitat Singapore thus far, I can say that I find joy in getting to work with so many inspirational youths. It is truly humbling to merely be the grease needed to get their engines going.
And seeing all the work that various youths have done and are currently doing out there, I can safely say that youths are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the leaders of today.
- Victor Goh, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think I’ve always had that mindset because of my handicap. I wear an artificial arm because my right arm ends below my elbow. I was born that way. Some people notice it on their own; some people barely notice it.
I spent many years trying to camouflage it. It’s one of those things that made me wrestle with my faith for a very long time. Why God? Of all the people out there, why me? All my friends are fine, so why me?
When I was younger, I remember strangers always coming up to me on the streets and asking why my arm is like this. It was a bit too much attention for a kid I guess, so my parents would make me wear long-sleeve dresses. That was their way of shielding me.
I think the turning point for me was when I started leaning more into my faith. I was looking for a church to belong to. When I found my current one, I started attending religious classes and slowly learned about God.
I learn that God is caring and that God loves me. And if God loves me, God wouldn’t have just created me recklessly. I was created with a clear purpose in mind. That revelation really switched my life view around.
When I started exploring my faith, I was also kind of at the crossroads. I had been working in the conventions line for 10 years and was finishing my part-time university degree at PSB Academy. Where should I go next? Did I really want to stay in the corporate world?
I enjoyed my job but I saw how everything was really about dollars and cents. I spent my whole life working and the work ends up putting more money in the pockets of people on top who already have money, not the people who have been working so hard for the organisation.
In 2011, I took time off from work to become a full-time student, and went to Perth to finish off the final semester of my university studies. When I was there, I prayed and prayed. One day, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t like God was talking to me in a booming voice or anything like that, but it was a moment of absolute clarity.
I looked back upon my life and realised that it had been so good. I had a good education; good family; good parents; supportive boyfriend-now-husband. The direction moving forward was clear – just give back. Give back to society, give back to the community.
As soon as I came back to Singapore, I made a hit list of NGOs that I could maybe try volunteering with first. That’s how I found out about Habitat for Humanity and their programme Project HomeWorks. Project HomeWorks is a local home clean-up that Habitat Singapore does for vulnerable Singaporeans. Some of them don’t have the financial resources to do a proper clean-up when their houses are in a really bad shape. That’s where Project HomeWorks comes in.
My first few volunteering experiences with Habitat Singapore were quite confronting. It was my first time stepping into one-room rental flat areas; first time having so much direct contact with vulnerable persons living on the margins of society; first time cleaning houses that weren’t mine.
I remember being shocked at a house that hadn’t been cleaned for 20 years. Just the window grill alone took me three hours to clean and get the dust off.
I volunteered for a year, and when there were still no openings to work there full-time, I wrote in to Teck Meng, Habitat Singapore’s National Director. I asked if there were any opportunities to serve. Fast-forward to today, I’m now the Programme Manager for Project HomeWorks.
I’ve been with the organisation for seven years, so of course there have been challenges. I think one case that really affected me in my earlier years involved a conflict with a homeowner. I got into a tussle with an uncle over his housemate’s mattress.
I wasn’t aware that the housemate had given this mattress to him so I didn’t understand why he was so possessive over it. It was infested with bedbugs and I wanted to throw it away and replace it with the new one that we had bought him, but the uncle accused me of being a liar and cheat.
When I went back home that day, I was very upset. I felt like I was trying to help this uncle but he behaved in such a harsh and discouraging manner. I started thinking about how I gave up my stable job to work here and ended up facing all kinds of things.
But in the same way I was able to find peace with my arm, it was God’s love for me that made me follow through with this job. I’ve learnt even bad experiences are worthwhile because it allows me to experience God’s comfort and strength when He walks me through the valleys of life. It helps me to think and reflect deeper on my faith.
Trials and challenges force you to grow. Look at all the kindest people in the world. It’s not as though their lives ran smoothly. They probably went through bad experiences that moulded them into who they are; things that were just very difficult.
My ability to cope is also a result of my upbringing. My parents brought me up to be pretty independent. Anything an average person can do, I can do even better. You’d think it’s over-proving or over-compensating, but I believe it’s self-deception that stems from insecurity.
In the past, I didn’t want to be seen as needing help. I held onto my pride really tightly. Whenever someone offered to help, it would leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. But now, the physical work has finally started to take a toll on my left hand.
I use my left hand for everything. There’s a wear and tear issue that’s making it harder to work with heavier equipment. But now, I’ve allowed myself to be more vulnerable.
Instead of putting up a strong front and insisting to continue doing all the heavier works to appear normal, I’ve come to embrace the fact that it’s ok to admit that I need help. So I have wonderful colleagues and volunteers who check on me and assist me when they feel I need help at work.
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? The world always teaches us to be strong, but when you embrace your weaknesses and shortcomings, you get to witness the beauty of human kindness.
I guess I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day I would be more at peace and wander around without the artificial arm and not care about anyone staring. Perhaps one day I can fully embrace the person whom God made me instead of hiding it from the world.
- Sim Chunhui, Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Singapore
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Story For A Story (HYGM:SFAS) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to collect stories from the public about their experiences with the elderly, and share it with others to inspire everyone to take the first step in interacting with the elderly. We all would have interacted with an elderly at some point in our lives, and it is our purpose to share these experiences - from heart-warming ones to tear-jerking moments that would make even a grown man cry.
We also aspire for HYGM:SFAS to serve as a guide that people can refer to for ways to kindle a relationship with the elderly, such as through a common interest or even sharing a meal together. That was the inspiration for the name of this project - contribute your story, and in return, you can read stories from others. HYGM wants to be more than a card-making initiative, we want to provide more avenues for individuals to be personally involved in ameliorating social isolation among the elderly.We hope that these stories would encourage them to step out and start the ball rolling in engaging with the elderly in their local community.
We also realised that the younger generation may have trouble interacting with their grandparents. A myriad of factors underlie this issue, but the primary ones being generation gap and language barrier. We are increasingly connected to the internet, but not to the elderly. Their limited knowledge on this field restricts them from bonding over this common topic and is further exacerbated by the fact that they may only be able to converse in a dialect. Therefore we strive for HYGM:SFAS to develop into a learning guide for individuals to fall back to.
The most challenging part of HYGM:SFAS isn’t trying to find the best places to share the stories, nor thinking of how to design or create themes. It is the actual gathering of stories. It’s easy for people to read existing stories and articles, but it's a whole other ball game when it comes to asking people to share their own. Some have no idea what to share or where to start, while others may not be comfortable in opening up. Either way, we always try to look for new ways to encourage people to share their stories. We have partnered with a local bookstore to create themes with guiding questions so that people don’t feel as lost.
It is this challenge that actually motivates me to continue. It forces me to think of different ways to garner participation and try to comprehend the psychology behind why people want to share their stories. It was only after the passing of mygrand parents that I realised the magnitude of my interactions with them. Their experience and wisdom gained throughout their years is invaluable and is applicable in our lives. It’s always the little things in life that bring us joy, and as cliche as it may sound, we should share this positive outlook with the rest of the world, one story at a time.
- Max Chua Wei Jie, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, You GotMail!: Story For A Story
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Hey, You Got Mail: Scrapbook Edition (HYGM:SE) is a side project of Hey, You GotMail (HYGM) that aims to promote and foster stronger, long-term interactions with the elderly. Scrapbook Edition focuses on face-to-face interactions with the elderly, where a volunteer and an elderly will share a scrapbook and complete activities such as personalising the scrapbook and penning down memories. The scrapbook is completed over 4 hourly face-to-face sessions.
I was inspired to start this initiative because when I wrote messages on the HYGM cards, I felt like I was writing to nobody. There was no face to the name and the messages I wrote down didn’t feel personal. HYGM:SE allows us to actually sit down with the elderly and interact with them on a more personal level.
After being in the HYGM team for several months, HYGM feels like family to me.From meeting up during some weekends, to Zoom meetings, I have definitely formed a sense of attachment to them. Beyond the team, interacting with the elderly makes me feel as though I'm their grandchild, and every scrapbooking session feels like home.
One big challenge that we faced throughout this project was trying to deal with the uncertainty of the elderly and volunteer pairings. There were several instances where the elderly did not want to engage during the session and it was definitely hard on the volunteers at first. However, after a few sessions, the elderly would get more comfortable and the awkwardness fades away. After all, they love to talk about their experiences, and the volunteers listening to their stories is perfect for them.
Despite the challenges, there are definitely some memorable encounters, like when volunteers willingly meet their attached elderly beyond the 4 allocated sessions. I remember a volunteer messaging me that she would be coming down to the nursing home to celebrate her attached elderly’s birthday. This tells me that the interactions have been so well-formed that they want to come down on their own accord. Small things like these reminds me that our initiative is working, people are forming these long-term connections and it is not a one-off thing.
HYGM definitely changed my outlook on how I interact with my own grandparents - I have formed even closer connections with them. Seeing how important conversations and face-to-face interactions are to the elderly, it is important that we practise it with our own grandparents too.
I feel that people can help our initiative by spreading the word of HYGM. By purchasing a card to send to nursing homes or a loved one, HYGM will match that purchase to send a card to nursing homes as well! For those who have a strong passion for causes like these, don’t be afraid to step up! You can start by finding individuals who share the same passion as you and form a group where all of you can work on it together! Teamwork makes the dream work and us, the HYGM team has definitely made our dreams work.
- Siti Sofea Binte Selamet, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail! & Head of Hey, YouGot Mail!: Scrapbook Edition
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Like many others, I spent my Circuit Breaker catching up on dramas and making dalgona coffee. As a busy student, Circuit Breaker provided me with the much needed time I otherwise wouldn't have. When I am engrossed in a show, every minute of being unable to watch it feels miserable. I was constantly distracted during my Home-Based Learning, anticipating the next break so I could watch my drama.
In March 2021, I decided to volunteer with Hey, You Got Mail! During one of the distributions, I got to witness what two hours of volunteering could do.
Along with the planning committee, we arrived at the venue early to pack cartons of food items and masks. Enthusiastic residents came up to us and asked when it would be their turn to collect their share. When we visited them, they would smile from eye to eye. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own grandma.
At Uncle Chan’s house, he asked for help to increase the volume of his television.Despite several attempts, the television remained silent. I returned Uncle Chan his remote. It felt strange watching a silent advertisement from the fat, bulky television.Even my grandma has upgraded to a smart television that had entertainingCantonese dramas. I couldn't imagine being trapped in a dimly lit room and a spoilt television during Circuit Breaker.
A few units down, I saw an elderly lady conversing with her friends through a corded phone. When she saw us, she hastily placed the call on hold to walk towards us.Even through her heavy breathing, we could hear her joy from her voice when she received our handwritten cards.
I have gained so much more from these 2 hours than the 16 hours spent on each drama series. It's only when we step out of our comfort zone and give up a few hours of our drama time do we realise there's so much more that can be done to help those around us. Let's not forget about those in isolation. Sending good vibes, one card at a time!
- Lim Jia Xuan, Evelyn, Volunteer at Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM) is a non-profit ground-up project centred around spreading good vibes to the elderly in Singapore in a fight against social isolation. During the circuit breaker season in 2020, my group of friends and I wanted to use our time at home to do good for the community, and the rest is history. Being a part of this project has been a great experience that has taught me a lot of things.
Looking back, the project would never have reached where it is now without the people who believed in us. When we sent out the first batch of cold emails to nursing homes, we were hesitant on whether we would receive any replies. Rejections were expected, given how new the project was at the time. Despite that, we had the privilege to meet many caring staff members.
These emails developed into deeper partnerships that allowed us to reach the elderly seniors in our partners’ care. Through the combination of people who believed in us -staff from our partner nursing homes and senior activity centres, oscar@sg, our volunteers and supporters - this project managed to happen, because someone decided to give us a chance. A personal takeaway is to always give others a chance where possible, you never know when your “yes” could pave the way to something new for someone else.
I remember an incident when I was having a rather heated discussion with Triston, another co-founder. We were talking about reviewing the process of our door-to-door distributions. The original concept was to create opportunities, via the distribution, for our volunteers to reach out to elderly seniors in their homes. That day, we were arguing about the focus of our distributions. A major challenge we face is deciding on whether we should be looking at breadth (reaching out to as many seniors as possible) or depth (revisiting the same group of seniors over and over for longer term sustainability). So far, our distributions have been extremely breadth focused and we have not revisited any area that we have been to. Shifting the focus from breadth to depth would shake up HYGM’s model of operation and cause a lot of internal restructuring. This would entail a lot of changes.
It is in situations like these where growing into circumstances is crucial. It is often unpleasant to abandon the status quo, especially when it appears to be enough. But familiarity sometimes breeds complacency and the latter is something we try to avoid.Throughout the past year, HYGM has internally restructured, broken down and restructured again. I’ve learnt that while breaking things down and demolishing past progress may feel counterproductive, it is not necessarily so. Only from the rubble can we see the mistakes in our foundations and correct them. The rebuilding process can be the growth that keeps up with the times.
Throughout the course of the project, I’ve been floored by the abilities of the peopleI’ve come into contact with. I’ve seen the talent and drive in my fellow co-founders, the heart for others in our volunteers, and the wisdom in our partners. Being in the company of such people only drives one to do better. In March 2021, we had a distribution at Kampong Glam with the assistance of PEACE-Connect SAC. We liaised with the personnel in charge, Victor, who had travelled halfway acrossSingapore on his off day to help make the distribution happen. I was inspired by his dedication to the community, watching on as he kindly conducted briefings for the volunteers at the distribution. He told us, "Volunteering starts from the heart. We should come forward with the right perspective with our prejudices left behind. This is the way we should go forth."
HYGM has brought me on a rollercoaster of experiences and learning opportunities.Having the privilege to come across so many dedicated individuals has inspired me to become a better version of myself. I agree with Victor’s words and to keep our hearts open and be inspired by the people around us. I hope this speaks to you and if you ever feel a stirring in your heart to do something for others, I hope you act on that feeling and do it. A moment’s impulse last year brought an entire project together. So, who can tell what the future can bring?
- Yep Joanne, Co-founder of Hey, You Got Mail!
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
During Circuit Breaker in 2020, Mark Richmond of Team SG gave us the opportunity to help out in Engineering Good’s (EG) Computers Against COVID(CAC) initiative while our sports training was suspended. I decided to step up to help out and started off as a deliveryman to collect computers from donors to deliver back to be fixed at EG.
As a coach and educator myself, I impart knowledge and values to young athletes. My heart went out to children who lacked laptops during Home Based Learning(HBL) and it made me want to do something about it.
I then started assisting the volunteers at EG with refurbishing laptops. I pulled many all-nighters to finish refurbishing the number of computers I set out to refurbish. I remember receiving a Direct Message on Instagram from a child with disabilities thanking me for the laptop he received to do HBL. That one message warmed my heart.
I marvel at how small steps can lead to such a big change, and I am excited to see how CAC will continue to bless even more children in need.
- Lucas, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
It has been five years since I embarked on my Engineering Good (EG) journey. I started volunteering as a means to escape my monotonous day job of building web parts, but it has unlocked a new passion. I am actually the lead of the EG SalvageGarden, which started out as a pop-up maker space.
Salvage Garden is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia - we focus on developingAssistive Technology (AT) that will be helpful for the people with disabilities. Our AT is customisable and suited to the needs that arise from our beneficiaries. For example, making a wheelchair leg rest fit the size of the person in need, or screen reading for blind people. Our technology is helping many who need it.
What I love about working in EG, particularly Salvage Garden, is that we have created a safe space to ask questions and talk about disabilities. I am so excited to see what more we can do in our society, especially when working with the community of people with disabilities.
- Saad, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
What started out as utilising my laptop repairing skills for just a 2-hour commitment turned into an ongoing lifestyle up until this day. I work with the volunteers in Engineering Good (EG) on the Computers Against COVID initiative to repair laptops for children in need in Singapore.
As someone who grew up working with computers due to my father’s work, I tinkered with computer-related products since young. Finding like-minded friends with whom I could banter with and do what I love gave me a sense of comfort whenever I volunteered.
I feel like I have grown with EG as I have seen EG through every single office change - from Jalan Besar, to Sprout Hub, to Little India.
I look forward to spending more time with my EG family in the next few years.
- May Ann, Engeering Good
