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Jill Alphonso strikes a yoga pose in her living room

Shaping a Lifelong “Cancel Culture” Against Cancer

After opening up about her battle with breast cancer, writer and yoga teacher Ms Jill Alphonso shares about keeping cancer at bay.
Jill Alphonso Post Breast Surgery

Facing the Scars of Breast Cancer, and Finding Beauty in Them

In this third of our four-part series, breast cancer survivor Ms Jill Alphonso de-stigmatises the scars surgery left behind.
Jill Alphonso with her husband

Jill Alphonso Shoots Down Breast Cancer Misconceptions

Writer and yoga teacher Ms Jill Alphonso was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2022. In this second of our four-part series documenting her treatment, she uncovers the battle strategies behind her scars.
Ms Alphonso shares a tender moment with her husband Mr Justin Noreikis before she goes under the knife. As her primary caregiver post-surgery, the couple worked together with a therapist to ensure they would be prepared emotionally and mentally for what was to come.

When Breast Cancer Upturns Her Life, Jill Alphonso Fights Back

Writer and yoga teacher Ms Jill Alphonso documents her experience with breast cancer after being diagnosed in November 2022.
Ms Jane Goh is the primary caregiver to her 84-year-old father, a person with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who requires constant monitoring. Jendah (left), the family helper, cares for Mr Goh when Ms Goh is at work.

Never Going Solo: Seeking Help with Caregiving

Those who care for people living with Parkinson’s disease can now count on support from the Temasek Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Community Care Programme.
Mr Charlie Chia, known affectionately as “Uncle Charlie” to other volunteers of the Fridge Restock Community, is the eldest of the organisation’s food rescuers.

On a Mission to Rescue “Ugly” Foods

“Uncle Charlie” has a personal mission to raise awareness about food waste in an industry he worked in for more than 40 years.
Rescuers of produce handle the hard work of collecting fruit and vegetables from Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market.

Community Fridges: When Food Waste is Good Enough to Eat

Reducing food waste while feeding those who most need it is a group that hauls, sorts and distributes produce every week to community fridges islandwide. Uncover how Fridge Restock Community SG, as well as volunteers such as Sandy Goh and Daniel Tay are stopping food from going straight to your waste.
Youth from Cheng San Chapalang Club stand in front of the club at the Cheng San Community Club

A Youth-led Endeavour: Cheng San Chapalang Club

Singaporean youths rally to minimise waste and help those in need by spearheading the Cheng San Chapalang Club, a community gifting drive.
Children’s Cancer Foundation beneficiary, Calista Lee (right) with her mother, Eveline Tan. Since the onset of COVID-19, Evelyn had to take extra care of Calista. Worried about her already weakened immune system, they had minimised outdoor activities. Instead, she often teaches Calista how to cook and bake as an alternative way to bond with her.

Hope Floats with Children’s Cancer Foundation

No bald statements in 2020, but Children’s Cancer Foundation presses on as they transit into teleservice engagements.

Safeguarding Mental Health: The Hallmark of Ethical Leadership

Raising mental health awareness and the significance of ethical leadership at the launch of Temasek Foundation’s Momentum Tea webinar series.
Dr Tham Tuck Seng, 50, dons PPE before heading to a patient’s home, in July last year. Even after it was no longer required for doctors to wear PPE during house calls, Dr Tham continued to wear them to safeguard both the patient and himself.

First (Responder) Family Fights Covid-19

How a family of healthcare workers did their part at the front lines to help Singapore beat the challenges of Covid-19.

Beyond Borders: How Youths in Singapore Continue to Help Children Overseas

With travel restrictions in place, youths continue to challenge the limits of e-learning by volunteering abroad — digitally.
Project Grant a Wish

Granting a Fresh Start for 2021

Up to 367 children across Singapore set aside worn out bags and stationery for all-new supplies — made possible by volunteers who spent months intensely collecting items on wish lists, checking them twice, then wrapping these presents.
Nicholas Lim, 30, a beneficiary of the Singapore Haemophilia Society.

How a Former Manhunt Finalist Rises Above His Rare Blood Disorder

Nicholas Lim, 30, has an invisible disability — a genetic blood disorder known as haemophilia which results in him bruising and bleeding easily. But that isn’t stopping the swimming instructor and fitness buff from pursuing his fitness dreams.
Benjamin Tay, executive director, PM Haze

Funding the Future of our Environment

With the pandemic at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it seemed as though everyone forgot about the perils of the human impact on the environment. WAYD talks to two organisations that continue to advocate for these issues, despite the fall in funding for the year.
The Giving Collective food redistribution

Keeping Bellies Full One Bun at a Time

How a little neighbourhood bread distribution initiative in Singapore started mushrooming across the island.
MiRXES Covid-19 Fortitude Test Kits

Behind the Scenes: The Making of a Covid-19 Test Kit

How one Singapore-based biotech company came to produce one million Covid-19 tests a week.
Cycling Without Age allows seniors and persons with disabilities to enjoy a ride through the community without having to worry about any mobility challenges or getting tired. Volunteers provide a scenic trishaw ride through the city while seniors can relax and enjoy the view.

Virtual Reality Helps Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Explore Singapore

When Covid-19 hit, Cycling Without Age Singapore used virtual reality to provide a trishaw tour experience to seniors from the comfort of their own nursing homes.

Vignettes

How Classic Tunes Can Always Soothe the Soul

A “Weekend Warrior” session with VintageRadio.SG gets WAYD.sg publisher opening up about her 10 favourite songs and recounting life-affirming memories.
Male senior watches a Zoom session from his rental flat in Singapore.

Singing to Keep Dementia at Bay

Engaging seniors with depression and dementia through the reminiscence of music and singing.
Voices of Singapore Children's Choir led by composer-conductor Mr. Darius Lim

Songs from Our Hearts: In Support of Mental Health in Singapore

The Voices of Singapore Children’s Choir sing songs of hope and chasing dreams at social impact hub, Temasek Shophouse, to raise awareness for World Mental Health Day.
An SIA flight stewardess guides students from Northlight School on the basics of inflight service in a mockup cabin of an Airbus A380

‘Inside Singapore Airlines’ Takes Flight and Gives Back

While flying has not been an option for many, 400 beneficiaries from select charities had the chance to explore a very different SIA inflight experience.
Ms Fong Jiawen, 22, (left) straps a cuff on Ms Bernice Chai, 40, to take her blood pressure. These health screening booths were originally designed as mass screening swab booths and have been repurposed by CTS’s student organisers.

Pandemic-proof Health Screening Services for the Community

The future of health monitoring is here, as PhD students drive an initiative to make health screening services more accessible through telemedicine.
Vintage Radio SG

Music to Silence a Savage Year

Vintage Radio SG: the volunteer mission to reach and engage with Singapore’s elderly through music and nostalgia.
Blessed Grace Social Servicesa

When the Vulnerable Become Avid Community Volunteers

Pastor Billy Lee started Blessed Grace Social Services to help those struggling with personal issues find purpose. Its volunteers tend to the needs of seniors, working with the community’s vulnerable groups — which they too, were once part of.
DBS x MINDS tour the Marina Bay Sands

Outing by the Bay Provides Reprieve for MINDS Beneficiaries Stuck at...

Long-awaited sailing sessions postponed as a result of downpour, but MINDS beneficiaries and volunteers from DBS still connected over an outing by the Bay where they feasted on the lifestyle precinct’s sights and sounds.
Project Coconut provides seniors with smartphones

Coconut Smartphones a Lifeline for Seniors

How Hwa Chong Institution students, collectively known as “Project Coconut”, helped raise $30,000 to obtain smartphones for uncontactable elderly.
Esplanade on the Go Music Truck

Musicians Take Their Show on the Road in Esplanade’s First Music...

While Covid-19 may have kept the seniors from going to performances, it didn’t stop the performances from coming to them.
Migrant workers celebrate Deepavali 2020

Festival of Lights Dimmed Somewhat by Safe Distancing Measures

Despite the Covid-19 outbreak, migrant workers at the Terusan Recreation Centre held a joyous Deepavali celebration.
Seniors from Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre receive cards from Hey, You Got Mail!

Delivering Handwritten Happiness to Seniors

Inspired by the joy of receiving packages by mail or courier, a group of youth started creating heartfelt handwritten cards for seniors centres in Singapore.
Food Pantry 2.0 vending machines by The Food Bank Singapore

Tech and Data Maintain Privacy for Food Aid Beneficiaries

Automated food aid distribution via dry rations and cooked meals vending machines will help alleviate food insecurity and social stigmas.
Waiting lines at Temasek Shophouse are considerably shorter

Mask Crusaders Line Up for Them — Even When They Don’t...

It’s not Hello Kitty collectibles that are causing the lines this time, but limited edition black, peach and denim versions from the StayMasked campaign by Temasek Foundation.
Yu Hsin Ying, 5, (left), and Lirthika Karthigayan, 6, are Stay Safe Heroes at PCF Sparkletots Braddell Heights. Stay Safe Heroes were introduced to all PCF Sparkletots preschools in June.

How Children Learn to Stay One Metre Apart Through Games and...

Safe distancing is hard — especially for the very young. Here are some ways these childcare centres and kindergartens have had to get creative to remind children to practise good hygiene and keep a metre apart to avoid germs.

Love in the Time of Covid-19

After 37 years together, he finally proposed. “All of a sudden, he asked if we could get registered (for marriage),” says 84-year-old bride, Madam Chia Pee Kim. Find out how their wedding happened under the most unusual of circumstances.
Teachers at iC2 PrepHouse use Zoom to reach their young clients who are visually impaired. iC2’s mission is to help visually impaired young people develop confident living in a sighted community.

Visually Impaired Children Find it Harder to Adjust to Digital Learning

With guidance from teachers, they are able to adapt through activities like picture search, spot-the-difference, and stories to build on their visual efficiency skills.
Mr David Choo, 30, champions REACH Rock Steady, a year-long programme that uses music to build confidence for youths through practice and performance.

Performing Pop Music Offers Stress Relief and Confidence-Building for Youth

For troubled youth, REACH Rock Steady is a safe space to learn music at their own pace while allowing their self-esteem to blossom.
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