
Mum of 6 who juggles 3 jobs starts free breakfast club for children in Ang Mo Kio , Singapore News
But what she has – compassion, generosity and grit – she gives freely.
Three times a week before the crack of dawn, she dishes out free breakfast to underprivileged children who live in her Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood.
Ms Lydia, a former school canteen stall vendor, started her Breakfast Buddy initiative in February as she had seen first-hand how some students went without recess so that their younger siblings had money to buy food to eat.
'How can we, as neighbours, step up for these kids? I feel I should help to fill this gap,' said Ms Lydia, who lives with her family in a two-room Housing Board rental flat.
'Breakfast Buddy is more than giving them breakfast. It's to let the children know there are resources for them, and I'm here to share my resources. If it's within my capability, I will give.
'I'm like an auntie, mother, teacher to them. And they share many things with me.'
Ms Lydia juggles two jobs and also runs a home-based bridal business, while her husband stays home to look after their six children, aged between one and 15.
She earns about $3,000 a month on average.
Her modest means did not stop her from pursuing her 'dream' of providing breakfast to children, although she was initially uncertain how long she could keep the initiative going.
She said: 'I have just enough with three jobs and government subsidies. Though I'm concerned about money myself, I went ahead as I thought: Just do it.'
Her children are on the Education Ministry's Financial Assistance Scheme, which helps lower-income families with basic schooling expenses.
In the first month, she forked out $300 to $400 out of her own pocket to buy breakfast items for the children. She also asked her friends and extended family members if they wanted to pitch in.
Through word of mouth, more donors came to donate in cash or kind, such as cereals. Most of the breakfast cost is now covered by donations, she said. More than just breakfast
Breakfast starts at 6.30am at the void deck of Block 228A Ang Mo Kio Street 23, where the children gather at tables to eat.
Ms Lydia and her partner for the initiative, Ms Halinah Yatim, prepare a variety of cereals, bread with various types of spread such as peanut butter and Nutella, and biscuits. Drinks include hot Milo, milk and juice.
About 15 children show up each time, she said.
They include Aina Adrianna Mohammad Fareez, 11, and her seven-year-old brother, who come three times a week. Their mother, a single mum, works in childcare.
Aina, the second eldest of five children, said of the free breakfast: 'It fills my stomach. We don't eat much at home, as my mum needs to rush to work (in the morning).
'And it has some of my favourite things such as Froot Loops (a type of cereal), Nutella and Milo.'
Ms Halinah, a 52-year-old divorcee, helps Ms Lydia as often as she can with the breakfast initiative, despite her own mobility problems – she has knee and nerve issues.
'It makes me happy when I see them eating together and going to school together. They also share with us what they are facing,' said Ms Halinah. Using a mobility scooter, it takes her 20 minutes from her two-room rental flat in Ang Mo Kio to reach the breakfast venue.
'We ask them what they want (to eat) to make them feel they have the privilege of choosing. That they can choose also brightens their day.'
She speaks from experience, recalling not being able to afford the food her children – aged 10 to 22 – wanted to eat when they were younger.
Three of her four children are now working, easing her financial burden.
When Breakfast Buddy first started, Ms Lydia and Ms Halinah served up dishes such as scrambled eggs and hot dog rolls, but were surprised to find that the children did not like such fare.
One child told Ms Lydia he always ate sausages at home and wanted something different.
So they asked the children what they really wanted. The answer: cereal, especially Froot Loops, and bread with Nutella.
One issue Ms Lydia faced was the lack of space, given the small size of her two-room flat, to store the food items.
So the Singapore Government Partnerships Office (SGPO), which was set up to strengthen the Government's partnerships and engagements with Singaporeans, linked her up recently with the People's Association (PA) to secure a storage space at the Teck Ghee Palm View Residents' Network.
The SGPO learnt about her efforts through Skillseed, a social enterprise Ms Lydia works at.
Skillseed is currently helping Ms Lydia to apply for a community grant to fund the breakfast items, with the SGPO and PA facilitating the process.
'Everyone in the community can be a change maker. We are completely inspired by Lydia's spirit of wanting to help others,' said an SGPO spokeswoman.
'Lydia's Breakfast Buddy initiative is a heartwarming citizen-led, ground-up effort that brings the neighbourhood together, anchored in the spirit of gotong-royong (communal help),' she said.
At Skillseed, Ms Lydia is a mentor guide, where she leads learning journeys in her neighbourhood and shares about her life, as well as the experiences and strengths of the rental flat community.
Ms Phua Huijia, founding director of Skillseed, said Ms Lydia is paid per trail as a community guide, and earns an hourly rate for mentoring new guides.
Ms Lydia also works on an ad hoc basis at social service agency Allkin Singapore, where she organises activities and programmes that bring people together.
Her giving nature started early, around the age of 10 or 11, when she would invite children she met while playing home for a meal.
The eldest of five, Ms Lydia recalled: 'If they looked haggard or looked like they were not well taken care of, I would ask them if they want to eat. And my mum never said no when I asked if we could feed another mouth.'
She describes her mother, a retired hawker, as her inspiration for compassion and generosity.
Ms Lydia said of her growing-up years: 'People say, 'oh you don't have enough, then you are poor'. But we don't feel poor. We had just enough, probably less than normal, but that doesn't make us less of a person. I feel that the word poor shouldn't be used to identify or label people. All of us are under-resourced, with time, money and love.'
This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNA
04-07-2025
- CNA
I visited the Milo factory in Jurong – here are 5 things you may not know about the iconic drink
Milo has long been a staple in Singaporean households – whether it's the memory of a warm cup in the morning before school, waiting in line for an ice cold cup from the milo van during sports day, or a casual order of "Milo peng" at the kopitiam. This year, it's celebrating 75 years of growing with Singapore, evolving with and feeding generations of Singaporeans. Initially launched in Singapore in 1950 as a nutritious beverage, Milo has expanded its reach from local significance to global influence. Today, the Nestle Jurong factory produces 15,000 tonnes of Milo for Singapore and other overseas markets. But beyond the distinctive green packaging and familiar malty flavour lies a world of science and careful development that most of us never see. I recently had a rare chance to step inside Nestle's Research and Development Centre to uncover the magic behind Singapore's favourite drink – and here are five surprising things I learnt: 1. BEFORE MILO POWDER, IT'S BAKED AS A BRITTLE In a laboratory, the Milo team took us through each phase of the making of milo powder. It starts with three simple ingredients: Cocoa powder, milk, as well as malt extract, a sticky, thick and sweet liquid with the texture of honey, obtained from barley. The ingredients are then combined with a certain ratio into a dark brown batter, which had hints of the Milo taste but not quite with its distinctive flavour yet. This batter is then spread thinly onto a baking sheet – which requires quite the arm strength due to the malt extract hardening – and then baked in the oven. The baked product – a yummy brittle that dissolves in your mouth upon consuming, this time, magically with all the signature flavour notes of the iconic drink. The brittle is then crushed and finely milled, which becomes the iconic powder. 2. DIFFERENT RECIPES FOR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES Yes, it is true – Milo sold in other countries are made to taste different than those sold in Singapore. The main difference? The ratio of the malted barley, milk and cocoa. This is to appeal to different tastes and preferences specific to the country. For instance, Joy Lee, senior brand manager at Milo Nestle Singapore said that in Australia, Australians tend to drink their Milo with milk instead of water. Thus, the powder manufactured there was adapted to cater to their consumption methods. Besides supplying locally, Joyce Lee, the application group manager of the Milo Nestle Jurong Factory explained that the local factory exports Singapore Milo to other countries. 'There are countries that request for Singapore's Milo to be sold so if you can see the label 'Made in Singapore' or the HCS (Healthier Choice Symbol) on the Milo product overseas, I can guarantee that it tastes the same (as the products in Singapore),' said Joy Lee. Singapore also produces a lot of other countries' Milo recipes for overseas markets. As for our Milo, it is a dedicated and customised recipe for Singaporeans. Variations of the drink have been made to appeal to local tastebuds. For instance, Milo Gao Siew Dai, which launched in 2017, is more cocoa-forward, has a more intense flavour with 50 per cent less added table sugar. Milo Gao Kosong, which launched in 2018, is the world's first Milo powder with no added table sugar. The recently launched Milo Van sachets also aim to bring a sense of nostalgia to Singaporeans. This product is also developed with a special technology that allows the powder to dissolve easily in cold water instead of the usual hot water. 3. SINGAPORE SUPPLIES MILO'S MALT WORLDWIDE But what exactly gives Milo its distinctively rich, chocolatey taste? As it turns out, there's one secret ingredient that sets it apart – the signature malt. This special malt is extracted from high-quality barley, which is heated using proprietary techniques to bring out its unique flavour. Interestingly, Singapore is the largest producer and home ground for the manufacturing of this special malt. It's then exported to factories around the world for use in their local versions. 4. THEY'VE GOT IN-HOUSE TASTERS To ensure every tin, packet and sachet is consistent in taste, each batch produced in Jurong is taste-tested and approved by trained Singaporean panellists who taste up to 20 samples daily. Many of them have also had a say in new innovations such as Milo Gao Siew Dai and Milo Gao Kosong to meet evolving tastes and preferences. Singaporeans may, for instance, start to appreciate a richer mouthfeel and less sweet profile. 'If there is any deviation being detected, it will not be released to the consumers,' Joyce Lee explained. 'We have stringent requirements and we train our panellists to make sure that they are sensitive enough to be able to pick up all deviations across the different Milos.' 5. BOOKING A MILO VAN ISN'T AS SIMPLE AS YOU THINK Want to book the coveted Milo Van for a special event you have coming up? You may need to tick a few boxes first. According to the Milo Singapore team, all vans are deployed on a sponsorship basis and are meant for public consumption. 'So if there are people not part of your event and they see the Milo Van, we would usually like it if they could have the Milo too,' said Joy Lee. She added that the vans are also usually for sporting or community events and part of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) that Milo Singapore does. Events must meet the appropriate crowd size as well since the Milo in each van fills up to 3,000 cups and has a three-hour time limit due to milk in the drink. Interested parties can email milovansponsorship [at] () for van sponsorship requests, which is subject to availability. Milo Van's Milo is also made fresh and cold directly from their Jurong factory.

Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Straits Times
‘Retrenched at 48, I was worried I couldn't support my kids and ailing father'
Holding on to memories, Madam Nurhani Zailani Shatifan reflects on her caregiving journey with her late father, whose kain pelikat (patterned sarong) she still keeps. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA BRANDED CONTENT 'Retrenched at 48, I was worried I couldn't support my kids and ailing father' Being part of the sandwiched generation, this business school executive is grateful for initiatives that have helped alleviate caregiving pressures and restart her career After working for three decades in the travel industry, Madam Nurhani Zailani Shatifan was suddenly retrenched. It was 2020, and the Covid-19 pandemic had hit the travel sector hard. 'I felt angry and asked 'why me?'', recalls the former meetings and events manager, who was 48 at the time. Shock soon gave way to anxiety. Three of her five children were still dependent on her – her youngest was preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examinations that year – and she was caring for her bedridden father. Her mother, who had also been bedridden, had passed away earlier that January. Like many in the sandwiched generation, Madam Nurhani was caught in the middle – supporting her elderly parents while raising her own children, all while dealing with a sudden job loss. Although her husband remained employed, she feared they would not be able to cope on a reduced household income. She had been the primary caregiver to her parents, especially in their final years. While her children – four boys and one girl, now aged between 17 and 31 – helped out where they could, and a reliable domestic helper eased some of the load, the emotional and logistical demands remained heavy. Bedridden after a major stroke in 2014, Madam Nurhani's father was lovingly cared for by the whole family – including her youngest children, who would play 'doctor' by his side. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NURHANI ZAILANI SHATIFAN 'My dad was always joking and laughing. But in 2014, after his third stroke took away his ability to speak, he became emotionally fragile,' she says. 'It broke my heart not to hear him laugh anymore but I knew I had to stay strong for him and everyone else.' To reduce expenses, Madam Nurhani and her husband sold their Housing Board executive apartment and moved into a four-room flat in Pasir Ris. She says: 'It was a significant lifestyle shift, downsizing from a spacious home to a smaller flat and to make room for our five grown-up children and my father. It wasn't an easy decision.' Support that made the load more bearable Thankfully, on the caregiving front, Madam Nurhani had already been receiving financial support through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). She was first introduced to these services in 2014, when a doctor advised her to speak with a social worker following her father's third stroke. The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) offers a monthly cash payout for caregiving expenses, while the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) helps seniors afford mobility devices as well as home healthcare items. From January 2026, further enhancements will be implemented progressively to both schemes. Eligible caregivers will receive up to $600 a month under HCG, and coverage of SMF will be expanded. Her mother, who suffered a stroke in 2016, moved in with her soon after. Through Home Medical and Home Nursing services, a doctor visited Madam Nurhani's parents every three months. 'Dad was the first to start receiving home care services in the same year as his stroke,' she explains. 'Since we'd already gone through the application process before, applying for mum was faster and more straightforward.' With her husband and children by her side, Madam Nurhani weathered the storm of retrenchment, grief and caregiving, emerging stronger as she embraced upskilling and a new career. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA Besides the doctor, a nurse also supported with overall home care. This included cleaning, changing her father's nasogastric (NGT) tube once a month, and assisting with his thrice-weekly baths. These home-based services became even more critical as her parents eventually found hospital visits by private ambulance increasingly difficult. Says Madam Nurhani: 'That support truly became a lifesaver.' With the Caregivers Training Grant, she had also enrolled her helper in accredited courses to improve care quality at home. 'She learnt to change my father's diapers without straining her back, and how to administer his milk through the NGT tube,' she explains. 'These made a big difference – not just in her ability to care for him effectively but also for my father's comfort.' Having these services in place gave Madam Nurhani the space – and peace of mind – to eventually rebuild her career. Reclaiming her career confidence Following her retrenchment, Madam Nurhani took proactive steps to upskill. She enrolled in a SkillsFuture-funded diploma in leadership and people management at SSTC Institute. Wanting to pivot industries, she also took up the Real Estate Salesperson course using her SkillsFuture credits. 'I believe that lifelong learning is very important for everyone to keep up with what's happening around the world, especially now with AI,' she says. 'So I always encourage everyone, including my husband, to take up courses.' When her father passed away in 2022, she felt ready to re-enter the workforce in earnest. Yet, despite 30 years of experience and new qualifications, her job applications went unanswered. 'I wondered what went wrong,' she recalls. Career coaching gave Madam Nurhani (far left) the confidence to start over; today, she's a senior coordinator at Insead Asia Campus, where she's had opportunities to travel to the business school's Europe campus in France for work. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NURHANI ZAILANI SHATIFAN The turning point came when she reached out to Workforce Singapore (WSG) and was referred to a career coach from Ingeus, a WSG-appointed provider. 'I wanted to understand why I couldn't even land a job interview and thought 'why not give this a try?'' Madam Nurhani recalls. Her career coach quickly spotted the gaps and helped her refine her job search strategy – starting with condensing her eight-page resume into a sharper, two-page version tailored to specific roles. 'She also guided me through interview preparation, emphasised the importance of preparing thoughtful questions and pointed me to workshops to rebuild my confidence after being out of work for two years,' adds Madam Nurhani. Among them was Mendaki's Women@Work programme, where she picked up practical tips on grooming, virtual interviews and workplace communication. Enhanced help for jobseekers How Workforce Singapore's (WSG) upgraded suite of schemes and tools can help you land your next job more easily In addition to WSG's career coaching services, individuals who lose their jobs unexpectedly can tap on the newly launched SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, which provides up to $6,000 over six months while they actively search for jobs and upskill. Jobseekers can also access personalised job and course recommendations via WSG's CareersFinder tool, available on the MyCareersFuture online job portal. The tool analyses the individual user's profile and helps them gain insight into potential career paths and the skills required. Within the year, her persistence paid off. Madam Nurhani was hired as a senior coordinator at Insead Asia Campus in Singapore, part of the business school's network spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In her new role, she leverages her prior work experience to manage events, lead student-driven fundraising campaigns and coordinate meetings across teams. Last year, she travelled to Insead's Europe campus in France to support its reunion events – marking a full-circle moment from once planning trips for others to now gaining international experience herself. In her role, Madam Nurhani also facilitates and coordinates events for Insead's Robin Hood Campaign, supporting the MBA students' fundraising efforts. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NURHANI ZAILANI SHATIFAN Having found her footing, Madam Nurhani is committed to helping others do the same. She mentors women looking to return to the workforce through the Women Supporting Women Mentorship Programme by NTUC U Women and Family – a programme that she has also benefitted from herself. 'There's always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how long it is,' she says. 'What keeps me going is knowing that I did something for myself – and showing my children that if you put your heart into something, there's nothing you can't do.' Find out the schedule of Together, for Better Roadshows to discover how Forward Singapore schemes and programmes can help support Singaporeans at every stage of life. In partnership with Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Straits Times
Forum: Consider balconies for smaller HDB flats to encourage gardening
Forum: Consider balconies for smaller HDB flats to encourage gardening There is growing demand for allotment garden plots in Singapore, with applicants having to ballot for one. In Singapore, it is difficult to grow herbs or vegetables at home, unless one has a balcony or lives in a landed home. Usually, only five-room or larger Housing Board flats come with balconies. I hope HDB will consider building balconies in smaller flats for people who want to grow plants at home. Doing so could also encourage flat owners to grow edible plants on their balconies, which would help advance the country's food sustainability goals. Goh Ee Ca More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.