– Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, author and motivational speaker
There are many issues that the community is facing. And only when we take the effort to find out more and keep ourselves up-to-date, can we be part of the solution and change can happen, to truly build a community that cares.
Fresh graduate became family’s sole provider
Polytechnic graduate Dian Afiqah Salaihuddin had planned to get a full-time job so she could save up for university. The COVID-19 pandemic not only dashed her hopes of a full-time job, she also could not extend her internship. Then her mother lost her job in March and...
SMEs adapt to meet changing demands resulting from COVID-19
Although many small enterprises (SMEs) are struggling, some are seizing opportunities as new demands emerge due to the coronavirus pandemic. These associations and firms say they are adapting to meet rapidly changing needs such as the surge in demand for logistics...
Thanking town council cleaners with kindness packs
To thank town council cleaners for keeping the community clean amid the COVID-19 outbreak, two groups banded together to distribute appreciation packs ahead of Hari Raya Puasa. Interfaith organisation Roses of Peace and youth ground-up initiative IM Collective came up...
Nando’s serves up 300 free meals daily for those in need
In an initiative that began two weeks ago, Nando's has given out more than 1,500 free meals to those in need as of last Friday. The South African restaurant chain's Singapore outlets gave out up to 300 free meals daily until 1 June. No verification is required. The...
Dishing out free meals, mental health support to F&B workers
Some food and beverage (F&B) outlets have stepped up to provide free meals for workers in the industry. The initiative is part of the Together In Spirits campaign launched on 11 May by seven spirits firms, including Bacardi and Moet-Hennessy Diageo, through the...
Daily CO2 emissions plunge during lockdowns
Pandemic lockdowns slashed daily global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 17%, researchers said on 19 May, in an assessment of how the crisis affected the global economy. By April this year, CO2 emissions had plunged to 2006 levels, they said, adding that the...
NUS students volunteer as translators for foreign workers
It started when Associate Professor Leong Ching, dean of students at the National University of Singapore (NUS), learnt of a doctor's request for Bengali and Tamil translation. The university checked with its student body and now has a team of 40 to 50 volunteers to...
Sikh community dishes up 12000 free meals a week
The days are long but rewarding for members of the Sikh community assisting those made vulnerable by the COVID-19 outbreak. Starting at 6am each day, volunteers start preparing meals in the kitchens of two gurdwaras (temples). They cut two bags of onions and cook 70kg...
Lecturer helps deliver meals to residents breaking fast
After a day of virtual meetings, research and syllabus planning, university lecturer Judy Sng is not ready to kick up her feet - instead, she has been heading to her local community club (CC) every day to give out meals to Muslims breaking fast. She is one of about 10...
Embracing the spirit of giving during Ramadan
For Mr Mohammad Yusoff Juma'at, the spirit of giving during the holy month of Ramadan extends beyond the Malay/Muslim community. Since 30 April, the civil servant, his wife and two close friends - service engineer Megat Hikal Salim and accountant Nurul Jannah...
Feeding cities of the future
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting supply chains across the world, but in Singapore, dinner plates are full thanks to strategic moves by the Government to diversify food sources and build up local agricultural capabilities. Here, where 90% of food is imported, the...
Firms donate fresh veggies and shoes to healthcare staff
Healthcare frontline workers have been receiving donations of face masks, cooked food and other care packages in acknowledgement of their efforts. On 14 May, a group of them received an unexpected gift: locally grown fresh vegetables. Social enterprise City Sprouts...
Bridging migrant worker communication gap in COVID-19
For the past two weeks, Dr Somrita Ganchoudhuri has been conducting short livestreams on Facebook in Bengali dialects to keep the Bangladeshi migrant worker community up to date on the latest developments. The 33-year-old research consultant began doing this because...
Millionaire couple donate 1,000 meals to the needy
Inspired by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s recent Twitter message thanking those who donated meals during Ramadan, millionaire venture capitalist Ozi Amanat and his wife Asema Ahmed have donated 1,000 meals to migrant workers in quarantine through the charity Free...
Sweet treats to bring cheer to young charity beneficiaries
Packs of sweet treats are on their way to 900 beneficiaries of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) to boost their spirits during the circuit breaker period. The packs contain products from soya bean-based food and beverage retailer Mr Bean, including...
Nearly 250 students to get laptops with learning resources
Nearly 250 students in Singapore will receive new laptops for learning in an initiative rolled out by the United Overseas Bank (UOB) and its partners. A COVID-19 relief effort, UOB My Digital Space is a regional programme that aims to support students' digital...
Food waste combine to find new life as food packaging
Prawn shells, orange peels and apple cores get tossed into the bin every day without a second thought. But scientists here have found a way to turn them into chitin, a biopolymer that can be made into food-grade packaging, using an organic process. The biodegradable...
Music players for seniors living alone to enjoy
Dr Skye Yeo, 46, who is close to her 77-year-old mother, wondered how other seniors, some might be living alone, were coping with being cooped up at home during the circuit breaker period. She wanted a way to brighten up their days and came up with the idea for...
Cities see bluer skies during movement restrictions
Movement restrictions have led to blue skies in some parts of Southeast Asia, creating a respite from air pollution. The World Health Organisation says the region’s hazardous air causes about 800,000 deaths a year, and the brighter skies underscore how dependent the...
NEA’s $1.76m fund to help minimise food wastage
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has committed $1.76 million to a new fund for alleviating food wastage problems. The agency yesterday announced the Food Waste Fund, which will cover the cost of implementing food waste treatment solutions for businesses. The fund...
