When we were first told that we were headed to the Willing Hearts (WH) soup kitchen, where close to 100 volunteers expected were already there before 7am preparing food for the needy, I could not help but feel a little skeptical. Why would so many Singaporeans, known for their pragmatism and borderline coldness, be willing to sacrifice precious hours of sleep for no pay or any other forms of reimbursement? However, when we stepped into the food pantry, I was astounded by large groups of people inside, scrambling in assembly lines and all playing their part in ensuring that food would get to the needy by lunchtime. These volunteers, numbering an estimated 120 that day, more than usual, were predominantly either from OCBC & CJC or middle-aged volunteers overseeing the large-scale operations. The students were charged with cooking rice, peeling and slicing ingredients, while the OCBC Community Group members were scooping, portioning and packaging the food. Raw and cooked food sta
This blog offers Mohan Dutta's reflections on the theoretical framework of the culture-centered approach, examining the interplays among Structure, Culture, and Agency in shaping marginalisation and the ways in which communities at the margins challenge structures. Writings on the blog are continually being revised to reflect the organic analysis of structure and agency.