Hari Raya holds a special meaning in the hearts of Malay/Muslim communities in Singapore. It is a time of rejoice, to celebrate amongst family and friends but at times, such occasions do not come easy to certain families. Meet two youth volunteer groups, IM Volunteers Network SG (IMVNSG) and Dunearn Youth, who during the month Ramadan went above and beyond by illuminating the lives of residents in different neighbourhoods in Singapore with acts of giving.
First up, we have IMVNSG and their Cahaya Syawal bazaar, that transformed a dreary void deck into a vibrant celebration for rental flat residents. And secondly, Dunearn Youth, a youth volunteer team who distributed Hari Raya Care Packs to families with special needs children.
These initiatives stand as a beautiful testament to the compassion and generosity of youths in Singapore, who are keen to make a difference through various acts of giving, making Hari Raya a time of joy and togetherness for everyone.
Read more to explore what the youths were up to for this coming Hari Raya!
Bringing Festivities to Ang Mo Kio with Cahaya Syawal
On April 6th, 2024, a vibrant transformation unfolded for rental blocks residents of Ang Mo Kio rental. IMVNSG partnered with Cheng San Community Club to bring the spirit of Hari Raya by organising a “mini Hari Raya Bazaar” right to where residents live.
Dubbed “Cahaya Syawal,” meaning “Light of Syawal,” the mini Hari Raya bazaar, was the brainchild and hard work of passionate young volunteers from IMVNSG who planned and curated the event.
They took over the usually dreary void decks of block 508 and 510 and turned the spaces into a bustling venue, filled with activities that ignited community spirit while celebrated what Hari Raya meant for the residents. Gracing the occasion as the Guest-of-Honour was Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, the Grassroots Adviser to Ang Mo Kio GRC (Cheng San GROs).
The team brought energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of camaraderie to the event, which included providing free haircuts, distributing essential Hari Raya items, and sponsoring meals. In keeping with the Raya Spirit, they even wore traditional Baju Kurung of similar shades, the youth volunteers made the event bustling with activities, offering residents a chance to enjoy themselves.
“We can make a difference in their lives in one way or another, whether it’s the essential care packages, free haircuts, or providing them with the bubur (congee). I hope to build better rapport with the residents in this effort to get closer to this celebration of unity.” Imran, the director of IMVNSG, shared his hopes for Cahaya Syawal.
A group of aspiring volunteer barbers offered free haircuts, gaining valuable on-the-job experience for themselves. Lutfi, who leads this volunteer team known as BlendsCulture shared how they managed to offer haircuts to over 25 individuals at the event. Feeling accomplished, he shared how “the barbers felt fulfilled being able to reach out and help the community,” especially during the last 10 days of this holy month of Ramadhan.
For Muslims, the last 10 days of Ramadan hold special significance, a time when acts of charity feel particularly rewarding as they culminate the month-long journey of self-discipline and compassion.
Kurayami No Tora, a biker group consisting of ex-offenders, youth-at-risk sponsored bubur lambuk – a staple during the month of Ramadhan for Malay families while another generous donor, Warung Hajjah Anis sponsored 350 packets of nasi sambal goreng for the residents to enjoy. Apart from the delicious spread, IMVNSG also prepared essential Hari Raya packages necessary for a Hari Raya preparation consisting of things like kueh (traditional Malay cakes), packets of biryani rice and boxes of dates to facilitate preparations for the festive occasion.
Cahaya Syawal was a great opportunity for various groups of youths under IMVNSG to put their talents to use while the event served as a valuable learning experience for the youth, allowing them to take away many lessons while giving back to the community.
Distributing Hari Raya Care Packages to Families with Special Needs
On March 31st, 2024, the founder of Dunearn Youth, Emily Yap, embarked on a mission to spread Hari Raya joy. Her journey took her to rental flats across the island, where she delivered essential groceries and festive goodies to underprivileged families of primary school children with special needs from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).
Emily recognised the challenges faced by lower-income families with rising food prices as one of them. At times, she shared that some families even grapple with food insecurity, a situation where they lack consistent access to enough nutritious food.
By providing festive care packs filled with treats and essential groceries, Dunearn Youth aims to relief some of the financial pressure that the families can potential while ensuring that everyone can celebrate Hari Raya fully.
Emily shared a heartwarming story that touched her deeply during one of her deliveries. A young girl with special needs, greeted Emily at the door and after Emily had handed her gift, she blew a sweet kiss to Emily and her volunteers right when they were leaving, a silent gesture that spoke volumes. “The warmth I felt seeing their happiness inspires me to continue this charity work,” Emily recalls.
She then further shared, that while delivering, it started to rain but that did not dampen their spirit at all. “But what really moved me was when one of them called the rain a blessing, much like our visit bringing care packs to them.” Emily thought back on the hope and gratitude shown by those they helped, confirming how compassion can truly change lives.
This was not Dunearn Youth’s first venture into engaging families with special needs. In 2023, they collaborated with MINDS to host a cinema outing for these families. Recognising the specific conditions in mind when bringing children with special needs to cinemas, Dunearn Youth worked closely with MINDS to plan a fuss-free screening by minimising potential interruptions, noise levels and more that would have affected the event experience.
This thoughtful effort provided a friendly and inclusive environment in which families could unwind and watch the film together— a rare opportunity for many. “They were incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Everyone was understanding and considerate, as it was a rare opportunity to sit and watch the entire film.” Emily recounts.
Share the joy this Hari Raya! Discover a cause that moves you and you too can volunteer and make a difference in your community. Click below to check out volunteering opportunities.
