Everyday Heroes : Abhishek

“I only feel I have done good when I have acted from the space of giving, loving, and connecting with people.”

Abhishek is an everyday hero and an active seeker of understanding the complexity of social issues that speak to him. Out of the vast social issues present in society, urban poverty and refugees are the ones that he feels most strongly about on a personal level. As such, he makes a conscious effort to understand the people involved through meaningful conversations. The words they share allow for connections to be formed as he learns about their experiences and emotional journeys.

“I get it what it feels like to leave your home, to have uncertainty of the future, to work hard to build oneself. I love and care for them because I believe in the potential for each and everyone to blossom. Why should anyone be disadvantaged in our society?”

Growing up, Abhishek often questions what entitled him to his way of life, especially since many in our society are still disadvantaged. He remembers witnessing a huge tractor tear down the small slum area a couple of streets away from his house back in India. Where does that then leave its inhabitants?

Working at ThinkPlace has given him opportunities to understand the needs and struggles of these various individuals. He has engaged in a variety of projects, one of which was named ‘Urban Poverty Walks’, where walks were conducted through the rental flats of Singapore. They had the sole purpose of connecting with residents, to hear their stories, and to genuinely get to know them on a deeper level than what meets the surface.

“It is about knocking on their doors, interacting and being vulnerable with them, and asking them what do they need?”

Another project includes ‘Sessions with Kids’, which holds the objective of providing children with a safe environment to practice vulnerability and to uncover their dreams and aspirations. These sessions include activities such as arts and craft as well as theatre sessions. He recalls an experience that led him to a realisation of how accessible it can be to impact the future of children. During one of his sessions, he met a child who had a desire to make herself a dress. With simple everyday tools such as cloth and scissors, she was able to pursue it. The access to such common tools and simple opportunities could very well spark creativity that paves the future for children.

“It gave me a sense that change, no matter how small, is change, and by doing these monthly sessions we can impact their lives.”

‘Refugee Experiential Walks’ , on the other hand, tackles a different issue altogether. It is a project that offers an immersive experience to its participants by putting them in the perspective of a refugee. The experience comprises of 3 scenarios: Singapore as it is currently, what it would be during a crisis and what it would be post-crisis.

“It is meant to ask the participants what they will do if this happens to them – will they leave Singapore to safer land or stay put?”

Through the walks, individuals can come to an understanding of the discomfort and sense of hopelessness refugees feel. On the flip side, it portrays refugees in an admirable light by showcasing the grit and love they possess. With their great desire to give their family the best that they can, they are indeed all heroes who act upon love. They deserve the recognition for the strength and willpower that they have as they fight hard to bring their loved ones to safer land.

“It is about taking a pause, figuring out who they are by trying and exposing themselves to issues, and slowly gaining momentum in terms of action towards the cause.”

Abhishek encourages youths to take the step in becoming a change-maker themselves. Patience is a virtue in the process of change-making. It is vital that youths give themselves sufficient time and space to connect with issues so that they can figure out a way to contribute to it. Take a pause, expose yourself to the societal issues, and change-making will naturally happen.

Watch the video below to see this inspiring story of Abhishek!

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Everyday Heroes is an online series that captures stories of youths creating impact and embracing possibilities to build a more positive community in Singapore. Most importantly, they help stand as positive reminders that doing good doesn’t have to look a certain way!

#EverydayHeroes #TheHiddenGood  #sgyouthcares #nycsg

Everyday Heroes : Dilah

So Dilah, what does doing good mean to you?

“It doesn’t take much to be a good person, honestly. No matter what, we should treat people like how you want to be treated.”

Dilah has been a volunteer at ‘Happy People Helping People’ for years now. Happy People Helping People is a community filled with volunteers who set aside the time to put a smile on a face, despite having their own set of commitments and responsibilities. When asked for the reason that keeps her consistent in her volunteering efforts, Dilah mentioned that it was because of each and every one of the uncles and aunties in the community. Having come from a background of struggles growing up, Dilah relates to how it must feel to be in a position of helplessness.

“I struggled through a huge portion of my life because my family was not well off. That said, I was young and able. Can you imagine having to go through that at old age? If we don’t do this for them, who will?”

A challenge that volunteers may face in the community is the initial trust barrier that is understandably there. There were even instances where help was rejected. However, over the years of getting to know the community, it is lovely to see the level of trust that has been built up. Many eventually opened up their hearts and accepted the genuine help and kindness that the volunteers provided.

Dilah’s experience at Happy People Helping People gave her feelings that no amount of money can buy. That is, the warmth from seeing the gratitude from the elderlies and knowing that she has done something to help them in their lives, one way or another.

 

“There may be 1001 excuses not to volunteer, but you only need 1 to start volunteering.”

According to Dilah, volunteering is the best decision that she has made, and she will never regret it. Her reason for her volunteering efforts is one so simple and heartfelt. She simply wishes to see the people happy.

The motto of Happy People Helping People is a meaningful one: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something”. It advocates the concept of how actions, no matter how small, can make a difference. Even though one person might not make a difference that significant, a community’s collective efforts can be powerful.

Two years ago, Dilah experienced the potential impact a community could have on the lives of those in need. When she heard about how a family lost their father in a tragic hit and run, she knew she had to do something to help. Although Dilah did not know the family personally, the very thought of a mother raising four children single-handedly was one that she could not stand. Through the fundraising platform, GIVE.asia, she successfully managed to raise $110k with many contributions made by those who wished to make a difference in the family’s life.

Some of us are guilty of using the excuse of life getting in the way. Many may even use their hectic schedules as a reason to put volunteering off because they feel like they do not have the capacity or resources to give. We need to remember that one person alone may not have the time and energy to do everything, but they can very well do something. When many individuals make a contribution, no matter how small, the results can be inspiring. That is the power of community. Together, individuals create the potential of changing someone’s life in ways that they never thought they could.

Together, we can make a difference.

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Everyday Heroes is an online series that captures stories of youths creating impact and embracing possibilities to build a more positive community in Singapore. Most importantly, they help stand as positive reminders that doing good doesn’t have to look a certain way!

 

#EverydayHeroes #TheHiddenGood  #sgyouthcares #nycsg

Everyday Heroes : Mark

So Mark, what drives you?

“Great ideas that inspire change”

Mark started off his career in advertising and subsequently entered the education sector, where he taught drama for about four years. He eventually landed himself in the line of social work and he is currently transitioning from a youth worker to a social worker at The Salvation Army Gracehaven.

A typical day in social work is a busy one. Often, Mark feels like he has a lack of control. Time management becomes a growing challenge as responsibilities and work start to snowball. However, within this feeling of powerlessness, Mark continues to adopt a positive mindset by doing the best that he can with the circumstances that he is given.

As a Youth Worker, Mark not only acts as a mentor but also as a role model for the children. He played the important role of catering to the youths’ basic and emotional needs, developing their social mannerism and conducting programmes for them. Youth workers strive to have unity with the children by doing everyday activities together with them. This includes football, table-tennis and even video games. These activities may be fun but they also come with the task of resolving conflicts and imparting lifeskill onto the youth as inevitable disagreements do occur.

His favourite memories about being a youth worker lie in the times when he played football with the youths. The sport facilitated a great platform for connecting and bonding. It was pure, exhilarating and it made Mark feel young again. Now, Mark walks a different path as a social worker to be. To be part of life-changing moments, that is what being a social worker in the family reunification role is all about. His job scope revolves around providing intensive intervention and support to reunify children with an identified caregiver.

 

“The aim is to strengthen family relationships by improving communication, understanding parents and children’s needs and increasing opportunities for positive interactions.”

The greatest difference in the transition between a youth worker to a social worker would be a increase in responsibilities. As a youth worker, Mark’s impact would be just on the lives of individuals. Moving forward as a social worker, Mark will now be leaving his mark on so much more. He will be working not only with individuals, but also with families, communities and other stakeholders.

He wishes to see the youths that he has worked with grow into kind hearts who care for those in need. When asked about how he would encourage other youths to be an everyday hero like himself, he preceded with a recollection.

 

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly, because if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

Mark recalls reading a Roald Dahl book which carries lessons that still remain edged in his mind. That is, a person with good thoughts can never be ugly. A kind gesture could be as simple as fighting off ugly thoughts by replacing them with gratitude and positivity.

That could very well be your first step towards becoming an everyday hero.

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Everyday Heroes is an online series that captures stories of youths creating impact and embracing possibilities to build a more positive community in Singapore. Most importantly, they help stand as positive reminders that doing good doesn’t have to look a certain way!

#EverydayHeroes #TheHiddenGood  #sgyouthcares #nycsg