Healing Himalayas

Healing Himalayas was set up to tackle the growing problem of garbage on the once pristine trekking paths of the Himalayas. They organise cleaning drives with volunteers from the local community and trekkers from around the world and till date have collected more than 500,000kg of garbage.

APOPO

Launched in 1997, APOPO is a global non-profit organisation that researches, develops and implements detection rats technology for humanitarian purposes, such as clearing landmines and detecting tuberculosis. It has Belgian roots, with its operational headquarters in Tanzania, and projects in Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique and Ethiopia. For more than 20 years, APOPO’s scent detection rats have been sniffing out landmines, saving lives and returning land cleared of explosives back to communities for development to support their livelihoods.

Rohingya Women Development Network

The Rohingya Women Development Network (RWDN) is Malaysia’s first women-led group for Rohingya refugees. Started in 2016 by Sharifah Shakirah, a Rohingya refugee, RWDN runs programmes that aim to empower Rohingya women. These include English and Quran classes and livelihood skills training. By teaching women to harness their abilities, RWDN provides them with opportunities to lead, to stand up for their rights and to achieve financial independence in an otherwise patriarchal community.

Refugee Learning Center

Refugee Learning Center is an education centre set up by refugees, for refugees. Based in Puncak, Indonesia, the school is run by refugee volunteers, and offers basic education classes for children and youth, as well as skills classes for adults. From just 35 students at its inception, it has about 280 refugee students as of 2018.

Meet Uncle James

Soursop juice is Uncle James’s claim to fame, and you will know why after tasting it. The not-so-secret recipe was honed in the 80s when he ran a popular fruit stall at the former Taman Serasi Food Centre across from the Botanic Gardens. So sought after was the soursop juice, people would travel across the island for a taste of it, forming long queues and inspiring copycat versions.

Meet Mdm Seck

Sociable and outspoken, Mdm Seck can often be found at Block 52’s drop-off point hanging out with her neighbours after breakfast at the coffee shop. Issues with her legs means she is usually riding in an electric people mover, and uses a walking aid for shorter distances. She is particularly close to her sister, who she meets several times a month, either at home, or at her salon.