Denemek ALTIN - Özgür

What if we stopped viewing volunteering as something 'extra'?

The Straits Times

|

August 23, 2025

A society that values collective well-being recognises that our individual lives are stronger when we all look out for one another.

- Neeta Lachmandas

Before I joined the board of a local charity, I believed I had a fairly good understanding of the social landscape in Singapore. Like many others, I was aware that inequality exists, and that not everyone has the same access to opportunities. We don't see the kind of visible poverty that confronts those in other global cities: No tent-ridden streets, beggars on the pavement, or people openly dealing drugs.

But over the past year, my eyes have been opened in ways I didn't expect. Through my work with the charity, I've come face to face with stories that don't make the news: Families struggling quietly. The elderly suffering loneliness with no one to speak to for days on end. Desperate parents who are too ashamed to ask for help, and young people silently drowning in mental health challenges.

They aren't holding up signs or sleeping on the footpath. Their pain is behind closed doors - invisible, but no less real.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally carried a strong message about the Singapore Spirit - standing and thriving together in a "we first" society where each one does their part for the collective well-being.

The Straits Times'den DAHA FAZLA HİKAYE

The Straits Times

US govt shutdown reaches 36 days, longest on record

Economic pain deepens as stalemate over healthcare and spending continues

time to read

4 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

Schools * Consider implementing a 'right to disconnect' for teachers

I refer to the article “Long hours, huge stress and VIPs (very involved parents). So what keeps a teacher in S’pore going?”, Oct 22.

time to read

1 min

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Zohran Mamdani's New York win challenges both Trump and Democrats

The first city of finance has a committed socialist at the helm of city affairs.

time to read

6 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Phishing for trouble: Physical bank token is no silver bullet

The latest effort to counter phishing could rattle less tech-savvy customers. It also needs a digital ecosystem to work.

time to read

6 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

Kenneth Tiong apologises to Chee Hong Tat on ‘stupid question’ comment in House

Workers’ Party MP Kenneth Tiong apologised to National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat on Nov 5 for calling his question “stupid” in Parliament.

time to read

2 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

Global financial stability risks elevated despite resilience: MAS

Singapore companies, households and banks have the financial strength to weather shocks to incomes and financing costs, but they have to remain vigilant given the highly uncertain global environment.

time to read

2 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Research push to create high-quality seeds and ease costs plaguing vertical farms

To find a solution for the high production costs plaguing vertical farms in Singapore, a research initiative led by the National University of Singapore (NUS) is going back to the basics of plant science to create high-quality seeds.

time to read

4 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

Normal to lose after big gifts to Bayern: Enrique

Luis Enrique said his team handed Bayern Munich “big gifts” in their 2-1 Champions League defeat on Nov 4, but insisted he was not looking for excuses despite mounting injuries within the defending champions’ squad.

time to read

2 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

The real fix for working mothers isnt flexible work

From consulting to retail, jobs that demand endless availability punish those who can’t or wont give every waking hour to work. Boundaries could change that.

time to read

5 mins

November 06, 2025

The Straits Times

KPop Demon Hunters' Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami to perform at Macy's Thanksgiving parade

The singers behind Huntrix, the fictional K-pop girl group comprising Rumi, Mira and Zoey from Netflix’s hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters, are among the celebrities who will grace the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

time to read

1 mins

November 06, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size