DOERS

Reeling from a series of personal tragedies, Mr Ganesh Kumar created a refuge for himself and his community in his neighbourhood garden.

From using online payment platforms to booking appointments at hospitals, Ms Emily Yap has made it her mission to help the elderly with basic digital literacy.

How Ms June Eng brought her corporate sector experience to the Boys’ Town family and supported the development of its staff.

PPIS President Hazlina Abdul Halim on why uplifting women, children, and families in Singapore is more relevant today than ever.

“Uncle Charlie” has a personal mission to raise awareness about food waste in an industry he worked in for more than 40 years.

Human resource practitioner turned matchmaker for volunteers: Wee Wah Meng shares how she went from breaking rice bowls to rebuilding lives.

Madam K Manomani has devoted her life to caring for her son, who has cerebral palsy. She is grateful for how social worker Kohilavani Dhakshanamorthy, from the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), has supported her, becoming a friend and confidante.

Co-chairs of the NCSS-supported Youth Alliance, Ms Anita Low-Lim and Mr Cho Ming Xiu, talk about their heart for youth with mental health needs and share the progress of the alliance’s work to date.

Behind the scenes, Sister Bernadette Yap spent 36 years working with volunteers from 1983 to 2019, calling her term “a blessing.”

Cancer survivor Mrs Jane Koe continues to care for her husband, pushing through the pains of chemo. Yet the fighter stays positive, keeping in touch with a community that helps her catch a break when she needs it.

Singaporean teens have been helping in overseas crisis situations since they were in kindergarten. Over the past pandemic year, the siblings have directed their efforts homeward.

How freegan, Mr Daniel Tay adopted a more frugal lifestyle to reduce his carbon footprint and find fulfilment rescuing discarded food.

Since setting up home in Bedok Reservoir estate in 2005, Madam Sandy Goh has, without fuss or fanfare, organised community initiatives to help and engage residents. The Covid-19 pandemic has since motivated her to do more to support her community through the difficult times. Her hope is for the efforts to help build a strong ‘kampung’ culture and create a caring community.

When cancer strikes young children, the suffering is hard on both the child and family members. While medical treatment in Singapore is excellent for the child, little attention, however, is paid to the family’s emotional needs. To help fill the gap, Ms Lesli Berggren, who lost her son to complications that arose after beating cancer, launched charity LOVE, NILS in memory of him.

Friends Joyce Tong and Christabel Ng, both 17, spent their December school holidays last year volunteering and reaching out to three girls in the Chai Chee community, providing academic coaching as well as fun and games under KidzCare @ Kembangan-Chai Chee’s ‘Homework Club’ programme.

Ms Jewel Yi will be the first to point out that being kept in a room for months — even at a hotel — can be a prison. The occupational therapist believes there’s more to do to improve the lives of migrant workers in Singapore, and it starts with friendship.

The environment is often overlooked in the dialogue involving Covid-19. Waterways Watch Society reminds us of the importance of preserving and protecting our waters — even in a pandemic.

At the mental health front of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Ong Bee Yong has led her team from the Crisis Relief Alliance in serving the mental and emotional needs of healthcare workers and the migrant worker community.