“My siblings and I enjoyed ourselves at the party! The activities were fun, and we got to interact with other people…” – Darren, Meals-On-Wheels Young Beneficiary
YWCA Fort Canning’s Peace Room was no ordinary space last December as it was decorated with balloons in the form of spaceships, planets and a galaxy of stars, all set for the Year End Party. The event brought together both young and old beneficiaries from our community service programmes as they gathered for a day of fun in an astronomical wonderland. The room buzzed with excitement as the guests snapped some photos with the astronaut mascot and eagerly waited for the event to begin.
Happy kids posing with the astronaut mascot
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A Sense of Community
The event brought together a diverse group – children and elderly beneficiaries from our various community service programmes. Activities ranged from brain teasers to crafting delicious miniature cakes in a workshop conducted by Butter Studio. There was something for everyone and it was an opportunity for both the young and old beneficiaries to connect and share memories.
Children participating in a Freeze game
A volunteer from Ralph Lauren teaching the children how to pipe their cakes
A Happy Child Posing with His Finished Cake!
Learning how to pipe their cakes at the Butter Studio workshop
Our Ralph Lauren volunteers exemplified community spirit, as they actively served lunch to our guests, engaged them in the activities and created a culture where helping each other out became the norm. “My siblings and I enjoyed ourselves at the party! The activities were fun, and we got to interact with other people,” shared Darren, a young beneficiary.
Recognising Achievements and Milestones
The event was a blast, filled with laughter and games, but the showstopper was the heartwarming moment when the children were celebrated for their accomplishments throughout the year. They were given awards presented by our board member, Ms Lynette Piong, and our committee member, Mrs Jennifer Ng.
Ms Lynette Piong, our Board Member, presenting a bursary award.
Mrs Jennifer Ng, our Committee Member, presenting an award.
The awards were not the focal point – at least. It was recognising the children’s unique qualities and capabilities and empowering them to reach their full potential. That was the highlight of the event.
Making a Difference
The most precious gift of the day was the radiant smiles on the faces that our volunteers put on the faces of our beneficiaries. Every child left the party with a schoolbag and some presents sponsored by Ralph Lauren. “Hooray! A new school bag for Primary 1 in 2024!”, exclaimed Andrew (not his real name). The joy on the faces of the children was truly heartwarming and it was clear that they had a wonderful time.
Happy children with their new gifts!
Our Meals on Wheels Elderly Members Posing with an Astronaut Mascot
The event was a great success thanks to the efforts of our volunteers and community service programme staff who worked tirelessly to make it happen.
Ms Anne Chew, our Community Service Programmes Senior Manager, giving a token of appreciation to a Ralph Lauren representative.
A big Thank You to Ralph Lauren, Butter Studio and all our other volunteers who contributed to the success of this event. Your efforts are truly appreciated.
You can make a difference too! Contact us now to learn about volunteering opportunities and be part of our #ServingHope movement.
Uncle Tan Tee Kia, 87 years old, graces each day with a blend of resilience and optimism. He finds solace in the ebb and flow of passing moments, acutely aware that tomorrow is never guaranteed. Even in the shadow of a terminal illness, Uncle Tan remains an embodiment of strength, encouraging fellow cancer warriors not to yield to despair but to confront their adversities with courage.
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- Navigating Challenges
- Beyond Nourishment
- Bringing Hope To Seniors
- #ServingHope, One Senior At A Time
Navigating Challenges
After being diagnosed with brain cancer, Uncle Tan’s life took a turn. With his daily mobility compromised, leaving his home became an arduous feat. He confides, “Ever since I was diagnosed with brain cancer, I find going out a chore as I’m unable to walk long distances due to my weak legs and the bouts of dizziness I experience after walking for quite some time.”
Fuelled by these challenges, Uncle Tan sought support from a social service agency in Redhill, where he was introduced to the YWCA’s Meals-on-Wheels programme. The programme serves as a lifeline to seniors like Uncle Tan, bringing daily meals and convenience to their doorsteps.
Beyond Nourishment
YWCA’s Meals-on-Wheels deliveries goes beyond providing nutritious meals to homebound individuals. It also got Uncle Tan acquainted to a network of compassionate volunteers who extend their care and support for him.
Uncle Tan fondly recalls, “The individuals who deliver the meals to us are truly kind and compassionate,” he added, “They go the extra mile to keep our spirits lifted and often check in on our well-being before moving on to their next delivery.” These interactions became bright spots in his days.
Bringing Hope To Seniors
Uncle Tan’s connection with YWCA continues after mealtime. He is regularly invited to participate in events organised by our Meals-on-Wheels programme. These gatherings serve as avenues to uplift the spirits and keep seniors like him engaged. Beyond mere social interactions, these events foster a sense of community, providing these seniors a platform to forge new friendships and connections.
Uncle Tan’s heart brims with gratitude to the volunteers and donors who have touched his life. He recognises the determination and compassion required to serve individuals like him. Even though he genuinely desires to give back like them, he humbly admits that he has his limitations. “As much as I’d like to help others, I do not have the physical strength due to my health,” he confides.
YWCA’s Meals-on-Wheels programme is more than just sustenance, it provides hope, optimism, and a sense of belonging to those who might feel isolated by their circumstances.
#ServingHope, One Senior At A Time
#ServingHope is a reminder that we have the power to make a difference with compassion. Every contribution, whether big or small, goes a long way in positively impacting someone’s life. We invite you to join us in this movement today.
Find out how at our #ServingHope campaign page here.
In the quiet corner of Telok Blangah Crescent resides Uncle Chee, an 89-year-old man facing his share of trials in life. With the recent passing of his beloved wife, he finds himself navigating challenges alongside his 50-year-old daughter, who has Down’s Syndrome. As a man in his twilight years, Uncle Chee carries the weight of worry, fearing for his daughter’s future when he is no longer around.
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Empowerment Through Sustenance
For Uncle Chee and his family, life is no walk in the park. His daughter, in her 50s, cannot work due to her condition, which requires constant care and support. The burden falls upon Uncle Chee, who also struggles with a leg ailment that hampers his mobility. Ever since his wife’s passing, his sister-in-law occasionally drops by to extend a helping hand to the family, but the family’s situation remains uncertain.
In the face of an unpredictable future, the YWCA Meals-on-Wheels programme became a beacon of hope to the family. It all started when Ms Fang, a social worker who understood their needs and struggles, introduced them to the programme. Since then, YWCA’s Meals-on-Wheels programme has been a lifeline for Uncle Chee and his daughter, offering warm, nutritious meals delivered right to their doorstep.
Every meal contains a good balance of nutrients, consisting of rice, vegetables, protein and a serving of fresh fruit. Uncle Chee even ingeniously uses the fresh apples we deliver alongside his meals to whip up a heartwarming and nutritious soup with just a few additional ingredients found in the kitchen.
More Than Just A Meal
The significance of these meals goes beyond mere sustenance. The convenience of having meals delivered to Uncle Chee’s doorstep is a godsend due to his mobility limitations. The meals not only fill their stomachs but also their hearts with hope and gratitude.
This brings forth the essence of YWCA’s Meals on Wheels programme – serving hope, one meal at a time. It sustains the physical needs of beneficiaries like Uncle Chee and his daughter and nourishes their spirits with a sense of belonging and care. The programme symbolises a lifeline that connects communities, bridging gaps of loneliness and vulnerability.
Bringing Hope To More Families
Uncle Chee and his daughter are a living testament to the impact of YWCA’s Meals-on-Wheels programme. Each meal is a ray of hope in the lives of needy families like Uncle Chee’s.
Every contribution, no matter how small, goes a long way to providing families like Uncle Chee’s with the support and care they need. Your generosity will allow us to continue operating this service amidst rising food costs and expand our outreach to even more families in need.
Let’s create a world where no one is left behind, where every heart finds solace, and every stomach finds nourishment.
Join us in #ServingHope, One Meal At A Time.
The air was filled with anticipation and excitement as our special guests, our Meals-on-Wheels elderly beneficiaries, stepped into Sophia Cooke Ballroom at YWCA Fort Canning to celebrate the Chinese New Year. For the first time since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, our beneficiaries were able to participate in a large-scale festive event that was specially curated for them. The luncheon allowed them to socialize, meet new friends and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Our guests taking photos with the decorations outside Sophia Cooke Ballroom
The ballroom and walkway were transformed into a vibrant and festive space with traditional Chinese New Year decorations that adorned the walls, ceilings, and elegant tables with festive centerpieces. The ambience brought smiles to the faces of our beneficiaries as everyone soaked in the festive atmosphere.
As our beneficiaries settled into their seats, volunteers and YWCA staff continued mingling among them to ensure that everyone felt included. The warm and friendly atmosphere was palpable as people of all ages and backgrounds shared stories and laughter. From welcoming our beneficiaries at the entrance of YWCA Fort Canning to ushering them into the ballroom, our volunteers ensured that our guests had everything they needed to enjoy the day.
One of our guests, Mdm Boh, said, “It has been two years since the COVID-19 restrictions, and I can feel that some of the elderlies are suffering from loneliness because they rarely step out of the house. This event helps them to socialise more, and everyone feels excited.”
A Temasek Polytechnic volunteer ushering our guest to Sophia Cooke Ballroom.
Our guests were treated to various activities and games, but one of the main highlights was the Bingo game, which brought a lot of excitement and fun. The crowd waited in anticipation as the emcees called out each number on stage, hoping to mark off the numbers on their Bingo cards.
Our guests waiting in anticipation for their numbers to be called out
As the game progressed, the excitement in the room grew. Finally, as the last number was called, a handful of guests shouted in triumph, with their eyes gleaming with joy as they came forward to collect their Fairprice vouchers, kindly sponsored by Ms. Selene & Ms. Shirley. It was indeed a heartwarming moment.
Gleaming with joy as he came forward to collect his prize
However, the true value of this game was more than just about the prizes. It was the connections that were forged among our guests and volunteers sitting at the same table that made it special. The game opened the opportunity for our guests to interact with each other. This is especially precious for elderlies who have had to endure long periods of isolation due to the pandemic.
Another event highlight was the six-course banquet lunch, which was specially prepared along with Yusheng. Our guests were given individual plates and chopsticks as they poured each ingredient representing different blessings and good wishes for the new year onto the large plate of Yu Sheng. The Yu Sheng toss was a hit with the guests and volunteers as it created a feeling of unity and camaraderie. A big thanks to YWCA Fort Canning’s Chef and Kitchen crew for cooking that very special CNY feast for our guests.
Guests and volunteers coming together to toss the Yu Sheng
Toward the end of the event, we invited past years’ finalists of the Golden Age Talent Time show to perform for our guests. The talented performers serenaded our guests with some festive songs and popular oldies like “Country Road” and “永远无怨的是我的双眼”.
Finalists of the Golden Age Talent Time show serenaded our guests with festive songs and popular oldies
Our guests clapping along to their favourite songs
A sense of nostalgia filled the air as our guests clapped and danced to familiar songs. The performance brought much liveliness to the event! Thank You to the finalists of the Golden Age Talent Time show for the wonderful performance and for spending the afternoon with us.
Happy faces of our volunteers
It was a day of fun for our guests and a day to remember for many as they left the ballroom with big smiles on their faces and red packets in their hands, feeling not only joyful and uplifted from the day’s festivities but also grateful for the kindness from our sponsors and volunteers. The event was a testament to YWCA’s commitment to fostering close community and social connections and a reminder that small acts of kindness can make a difference in people’s lives.
When asked what the best part of the event was, our guests, Mdm Nurul said, “I liked the event so much!” and Mdm Siti added, “The prizes were good, and everything was so great! I was excited about the event. The games and performances were good, and I hope YWCA can organise this every year.”
New friendships forged between our beneficiaries and volunteers
Our guest celebrating her birthday at our MOWE Luncheon! Happy Birthday!
The volunteers who helped support the event felt that it was a meaningful day as they could put a smile on the faces of the elderly. Adelina, our volunteer, said, “The best part was to see the elderly so happy, getting to socialize and mingle, to meet new friends, and to spark some joy during this Chinese New Year. It was fun to see the elderlies from different communities come together to celebrate the new year.
“I think this is a wonderful and meaningful event, and I would like to thank YWCA for giving our Temasek Polytechnic students the opportunity to volunteer and good exposure. Thank you so much for organising the event and having us here to support the event,” said Andrew, a volunteer and lecturer from Temasek Polytechnic.
The Meals-on-Wheels luncheon was a resounding success with strong support from our kind Benefactors and their generous donation. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our beneficiaries at the Meals-on-Wheels Chinese New Year luncheon. We hope that everyone who attended was blessed by the it. We also feel blessed to have been able to serve. Let us continue to serve others with love and kindness.
By Love, Serve One Another
The faces behind the scenes.
Click here to watch the reel of our event.
How You Can Help
Interested in supporting our Meals-on-Wheels beneficiaries and making a difference in their lives? There are various ways to get involved, including volunteering your time, making a donation, or even just spreading the word.
If you wish to contribute as a corporate sponsor, contact Anne Chew at csp@ywca.org.sg today.
From Zoom sessions with our beneficiaries to the unprecedented success of the YWCA Charity Carnival, here’s a look back at our year in 2022!
Thank you very much to all of our Volunteers, Corporate Partners and Guests for making a difference to our Beneficiaries with your support!
When Sophia Cooke, a British missionary, founded the Young Women’s Christian Association of Singapore (YWCA) in 1875, she created a ripple which continues to grow and touch the lives of women in Singapore today. Sharing the vision of the original namesake movement from England, the Association’s mission was to advance the development of women in mind, body, and spirit.
As Singapore became more industrialised and women became more educated, more women began entering the workforce. The YWCA saw that much of a woman’s needs revolve around their families, and in particular, their children. The Association then pioneered the first-of-its-kind childcare services in the country to help working mothers integrate back into the workforce.
Therein began a new era of outreach for the YWCA. The ripple continued.
YWCA believes that all children, regardless of their financial standing and backgrounds should have the opportunity and resources to realise their full potential.
Creating access to quality childcare and early childhood education
YWCA pioneered the childcare concept with a humble mission- to help alleviate women’s caregiving responsibilities and provided them with peace of mind at work, while their children received an education. Since 1960, YWCA’s childcare centres have not only focused on providing affordable and reliable service for mothers, but they have gone the extra mile to ensure that the education children receive at the centres are effective and of good standard.
Today, these childcare centres, which have been rebranded to YWCA Preschool, still stays true to its original purpose. As an appointed Partner-Operator by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), YWCA Preschool has improved access to funding, thus enabling it to keep school fees to the minimum so that most families in Singapore will be able to afford them.
Despite the minimal school fees, YWCA Preschool ensures that its teacher-to-student ratio is kept low so that there could be high quality interactions between teachers and students. A low ratio not only allows teachers more time to focus on each student but also reduces a pressing issue in the teaching profession today- burnout.
I firmly believe that children thrive in a caring environment. This is why I always watch the tone of voice I use with them. I also make special effort to nurture their self-esteem by creating opportunities for them to try new things and discover their strengths so that they may gain confidence in their potential.
– Senior Teacher Mrs Sive, YWCA Preschool @ Bedok
In addition, YWCA Preschool’s proprietary curriculum, StoryJoy™, is regularly refreshed to ensure that children receive a quality education that is holistic, relevant, and effective. StoryJoy™ provides an integrated learning approach using storybooks to make lessons lively, engaging, and relatable. Using the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework as a guide, the curriculum focuses on 6 learning areas; Language and Literacy, Social and Emotional Development, Motor Skills Development, Discovery of the World, Numeracy, and Aesthetics and Creative Expression.
YWCA Preschool today
Enhancing inclusion and educational support for children
In 2004, YWCA saw that children with mild learning difficulties could benefit from a mainstream education if they had access to professional care and support in the learning environment. Thus, an early intervention department, the Educational Support Unit (ESU), then the first of its kind, was established to address the need for such services.
ESU has since evolved into today’s Inclusive Preschool Programme (IPP). In this programme, children are provided 1-to-1 intervention sessions and in-class support by a qualified team of transdisciplinary Learning Support Educators to ensure that they assimilate well into the natural learning environment. The educators also use effective and proven methods from psychology and therapy to provide early intervention to a wide range of learning difficulties.
Integrating children with mild learning difficulties into the mainstream learning environment not only helps them achieve their full potential but will also help them feel more accepted in their communities. Meanwhile, children who are not in the programme learn to be accepting of differences and diversity, and benefit from the virtues of compassion and inclusion.
Addressing physiological needs
YWCA believes that no one, especially children, should have to go to bed hungry.
In 2006, YWCA launched the Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) programme for children from low-income families to provide them with free nutritious dinners from Monday to Friday. These meals ensure that children have the nutrients they need for healthy growth in their formative years and their families do not have to worry about putting food on the table for them. Today, Meals-on-Wheels for Children has continued to serve more than 120 children a year.
Meals-on-Wheels for Children
Additionally, YWCA is one of the few social service agencies in Singapore that provide special items like children’s milk powder and diapers to low-income families through our Sustenance for Families programme. This programme helps alleviate financial burdens by providing families with basic sustenance and care needs.
Diapers and milk powder for disadvantaged children
Empowering disadvantaged children with holistic after school care programmes
YWCA believes that all children, regardless of their financial standing and backgrounds should have the opportunity and resources to realise their full potential.
Through our Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) outreach, YWCA found that many of our MOW beneficiaries were latch-key children who were left unattended at home as their parents worked to make ends meet. During these important formative years, they often did not have the supervision nor the access to resources that could make a difference to their growth and long-term success.
Thus, in 2016, YWCA set up the Kids’ Weekday Care (KWC) programme to address the need for a holistic after school care programme. Running every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the thrice weekly programme covers two-way transport from school, halal lunch and a structured care schedule at a highly subsidised rate.
Beyond an after school care service, the KWC also provides socioemotional, moral, and academic support to beneficiary children by creating a rewarding and conducive environment to develop their character, discover their self-worth and unique potential, and strive for excellence. It gives them access to activities that include tutoring, mentorship, enrichment, workshops, outings and group work. It also allows mentors the opportunity to identify and address bullying issues and serves as a safe space for children to share, find social support, and have someone to intervene.
Through this programme, YWCA has provided outreach to more than 120 children over the last 5 years, with faithful support from our volunteers and corporate partners.
Kids’ Weekday Care Children
Supporting children and youths through life-giving workshops
Since 2012, YWCA’s Workz-on-Wheels (WoW) has been working closely with our community partners and institutions to provide outreach to disadvantaged children and at-risk youths from age 5 to 19 by equipping them with essential life skills to manage their own cognitive and socio-emotional needs for life adjustments.
With support from our volunteers and corporate partners, WoW workshops are carefully tailored to fit each group’s needs. Topics include Anger Management, Stress Management, and Emotional Health, Resiliency, among others. Each session is fun and engaging and provides a safe space for open sharing.
To ensure the effectiveness of the programme, each session of WoW encompasses a feedback system to enable facilitators to update our partners about each participant’s progress. The open communication channels have also been proven helpful in identifying alarming issues such as abuse and self-harm and creates the opportunity for early intervention.
Our Workz-on-Wheels participants
Salihah Amirudeen, Vice-chairman of Tiong Bahru Youth Network, one of YWCA’s close community partners, shared his thoughts on a recent programme run,” The trainer was approachable and understanding and was able to handle a group of 25 children in calmness. We have received numerous positive feedbacks from the 25 children stating that they like the workshop and they find it useful to their day-to-day situations. Most of them shared that they are able to handle stressful situations in life after the workshop.”
To date, the WoW programme has impacted over 1000 children and youths.
Join us in supporting our causes
The success of our programmes is highly dependent on the faithful support and contributions from our volunteers and donors. To find out how you can join us in these meaningful and rewarding causes, click here for individual volunteer opportunities, or here to donate.
To enquire about corporate partnerships, get in touch with us at ywcavolunteer@ywca.org.sg.
YWCA’s biggest annual children’s event – our Kids Christmas Party, was recently held on 02 December 2017. Over 50 child beneficiaries of our Meals-On-Wheels (Children), Kids’ Weekday Care and Sustenance programmes had a fun-filled and memorable time with the exciting line-up of activities planned for them.
To celebrate their achievements and growth in 2017, as well as to empower our children for the upcoming new year, we chose the theme, “Superheroes” for this year’s party. Programmes for the day included a mass wristband craft-making session, quiz and comic card segment which our children greatly enjoyed. Everyone participated in the activities with much eagerness and energy. Other fringe activities such as the photo and body paint booth were also available on-site.
YWCA’s President, Ms. Mavis Tsoi graced the event and gave out the YWCA Bursary Awards (Distinction & Merit) and Kids’ Weekday Care Awards to respective award recipients during the bursary awards presentation. We are proud of and would like to congratulate all the children for a job well done!
To spice up our traditional giveaway of Christmas wishlist gifts during the Kids Christmas Party, a special “Villain vs Captain America” appearance was arranged. With the help of “Captain America”, the children enthusiastically defeated the villain and received their Christmas presents just before the party ended.
A big thank you to everyone who has joined us for the party and special thanks to all our generous sponsors and donors who have made the event possible for our beneficiaries. We hope to see you again next year!
For more photos of the event and updates on YWCA’s upcoming activities, head on over to our Facebook page!