On conjunction with the upcoming International Day for the Eradication of Poverty which falls on 17th October, charity organisation Beyond Social Services asked some young people from rental flat neighbourhoods to discuss their views on poverty and inequality in Singapore and the changes that they would like to see.
In a discussion about the median household income in Singapore, the youth were shocked to find that it was S$10, 152. They estimated a much lower S$2000-S$3000.
The young people shared their experienced with Beyond Social Services and the challenges that they face in trying to earn a living wage. It’s heart breaking to hear just how hard they and their parents have to work just to earn even a fraction of the median income.
The youth also spoke to the charity about the difficulties of living in the small spaces of a rental flat and the high-stress environment that comes with it.
“The hardest thing about living in a rental flat is how cramped it is. There are 5 to 7 of us squeezed into one room. That makes home a very stressful place. Tempers flare up more easily, and everyone is more on edge,” said one person.
The theme for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is ‘Coming together with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal respect for human rights and dignity’. In their sharing on Facebook, Beyond Social Services is trying to focus the national conversation on poverty and equality to not only the life stories but also the opinions of low-income families.
