As the older child with a brother who is in Primary 2, secondary school student Ayumi Tan does not have an older sibling to guide and advise her.
The Secondary 1 student at West Spring Secondary School rarely has the chance to chat with her parents, who work long hours.
When she cannot turn to anyone at home for support, Ayumi confides in youth mentor Bong Kai Ning, 30, whom she met at New Life Youth Hub @ Fajar in Bukit Panjang.
The hub is operated by social service agency New Life Community Services (NLCS).
Thirteen-year-old Ayumi was one of nine NLCS beneficiaries who met President Halimah Yacob during her community visit to the hub on 7 Sep.
Agencies such as NLCS have been grappling with an influx of cases and are adapting to the changing needs of their beneficiaries amid the COVID-19 situation.
A funding recipient of the President’s Challenge this year, NLCS assists its beneficiaries through various services, including financial assistance scheme Project Love.
Before the pandemic, the agency received about five cases a month. The number of cases doubled during the circuit breaker, owing to people facing income loss.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Ayumi remains optimistic about the future. A sports enthusiast, she aspires to be a physical education teacher and a mentor.
She said: “What we have here is a safe and comfortable space where we can make friends and speak freely. I will keep coming here as long as I can. This is my second home.”
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Source: The Straits Times, 8 September 2020