Care, On Assignment
The Fabulous Fifties
In the early years, there was much work to be done in this fledgling democracy. One diminutive lady was at the centre of the much-needed social reform, ensuring that the welfare of the island’s women and children was thrust to the very top of the agenda – her name was Che Zahara binte Noor Mohamed.
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Growing a City
Singapore’s efforts to build a “city in a garden” have ensured that many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna can still be found in the green areas that punctuate the island nation’s concrete skyline.
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Wok of Fame
When the government created the city-state’s first hawker centre in 1971, resettling disparate food vendors into a single, well-managed facility, no one could have predicted the peculiarly Singaporean obsession that would ensue.
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Slitherin’ Singapore
Snakes are often perceived as deadly animals, cunning creatures to be feared and revered at the same time. But is this perception representative of all snakes? Why have snakes consistently been used as mythical symbols across many cultures in all the major civilisations? Research assistant Mary-Ruth Low opines that while venomous snakes should be respectfully avoided, there’s a whole world out there of colourful and delightful snakes on the sunny island of Singapore!
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The Chain Effect
His past is a mangled mess of prison time and drug relapse, but having wrested himself from the clutches of his old life, Chef Benny Se Teo has built an establishment where ex-offenders find refuge and more importantly, a second chance. Eighteen Chefs is now a wildly successful enterprise serving up hot, affordable meals.
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Religion Comes to Town
Chinese immigrants arriving in Singapore took brought with them diverse religions that today live on in ornate places of worship, cemented in Singapore’s cultural landscape.
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Hikayat Tanjong Pagar (Tales of Tanjong Pagar)
A story of the ingenuity of a child and what is today the Cape of Stakes, Tanjong Pagar. In its heyday, Tanjong Pagar was a booming port filled with vessels from all over the world. This deep-water harbour is one of the reasons for Singapore’s success as a trading hub in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the old railway station in the district has seen its last days as a bridge between Singapore and Malaysia.
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