Finding joy through 'Malay Kampung'

Growing up in Geylang Bahru, Mdm Jamilah knows many seniors in her neighbourhood. As she is so familiar with the community there, the 67-year-old housewife chose to live with her husband Mr Sopii, 64, in Geylang Bahru as well. They have four children and three grandchildren who do not live with them. 

As a socially active person, Mdm Jamilah was excited when one of her neighbours invited her to join the morning exercise sessions organised by TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru. Her chatty and pleasant personality made it easy for her to make friends and try out activities that interest her.

Connecting with neighbours

“I have invited many friends to TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru. Whether they are Chinese, Malay or Indian, we get along well. When they see me, they will say hello. We will chat and encourage one another,” says Mdm Jamilah with a bright smile. 

Caption: Mdm Jamilah (right) with Mdm Sulemah at TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru

Caption: Mdm Jamilah (second from left) chatting with friends and TOUCH staff at the Geylang Bahru Market and Hawker Centre

From learning to play the Angklung, going for outings and picking up practical tips on healthy living, Mdm Jamilah is enjoying her golden years. Her life became even more fulfilling four years ago when her husband retired and began joining her in the activities at TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru. Together, they attended art sessions during the pandemic and had their art works displayed at the “Blossoms Exhibition” held at the centre. It held special meaning for Mr Sopii as it allowed him to reconnect with his childhood passion for the arts.

Caption: Mdm Jamilah and her husband Mr Sopii at the “Blossoms Exhibition” at TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru

More than ‘makan’ 

Not long after, the ‘Malay Kampung’ programme was launched in 2022 to better engage the Muslim community in Geylang Bahru.

“At first, I thought it was just a ‘makan’ session. To my pleasant surprise, there were different kinds of activities like karaoke, bingo and craft sessions. There were also specialists from the hospital who taught us how to stay healthy. With ‘Malay Kampung’, we have more opportunities to meet and socialise. We will also join other activities organised by the centre. This way, we can meet seniors from other races and learn new things together,” shares Mdm Jamilah.

“We are like one big kampung and we try to help out at the centre. For example, I am also volunteering as a translator so that Malay-speaking seniors can understand what is going on and they can join more activities.”

Caption: Mdm Jamilah (right) with centre staff Mr Richard Chia (second from right) and seniors at a Malay Kampung festive event

Caption: Mdm Jamilah (middle) bonding with her Chinese friends at the centre

Caption: Mdm Jamilah (first from right) exercising alongside residents

“We are inspired by the enthusiasm of our seniors as they reach out to their neighbours and make a meaningful impact in the community. The ‘Malay Kampung’ programme was set up for this reason – to strengthen peer-to-peer community of care which can help shape lifestyle choices. We also have plans to step up our collaboration with healthcare partners to empower our seniors to age healthily,” says Mr Alvin Ong, Centre Manager, TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru.

Mdm Jamilah is also an advocate for the ‘Caring Neighbours’ Programme by TOUCH. Launched in 2024, it aims to mobilise seniors for seniors, promote active ageing, and foster stronger social bonds in the neighbourhood.

Recently, Mdm Jamilah invited a Chinese neighbour to join the centre’s activities. It was an encouraging start with the senior becoming a regular at the centre. Mdm Jamilah also knocks on doors in Geylang Bahru, as well as in Wellington as part of TOUCH’s community outreach efforts. “I prefer to talk to people in person. I always tell other seniors to come join us. Anything that they need, they can tell the centre staff and they will help them,” adds Mdm Jamilah, who shares that even her friends who live elsewhere are keen to join the activities at TOUCHpoint@Geylang Bahru.

Caption: Showing kindness to neighbours through the Caring Neighbour Programme 

Caption: Mdm Jamilah (back row, first from right) with staff and seniors from TOUCHpoint@GeylangBahru at a community outreach session as part of the Caring NeighboursProgramme, a TOUCH initiative.

Getting to know people with special needs

Taking part in new experiences has also broadened Mdm Jamilah’s outlook in life. For example, she had an enriching encounter with some students with special needs from the Aptitude Buddy Club at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West through an intergenerational programme. Set up by TOUCH, the Club reaches outto aspiring peer support leaders and youths with special educational needs to build a more inclusive community. The students were visiting the centre to conduct activities and to interact with the seniors. 

Caption: A senior engaging in an interactive activity with a student volunteer from ITE College West.

“I am touched by the school’s efforts to expose their students to community service. It is also nice of TOUCH to engage them in such a meaningful way. The students and seniors were so happy. I hope to see them more often at the centre,” says Mdm Jamilah.

When asked how she would encourage her neighbours, she says, “There are many neighbours who are frail living in this area . If we can have more people to look out for them, it will help assure them that they are not alone,” adds Mdm Jamilah.

Seniors like Mdm Jamilah have shown that their golden years can be a time of discovery and renewed purpose, offering opportunities to pursue new passions and build meaningful connections.

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TOUCH runs five Active Ageing Centres (AACs) located in Ang Mo Kio, Geylang Bahru, Wellington and Yishun. AACs serve all seniors living within the neighbourhood, and act as a go-to-point to receive timely access to quality care. Our AACs are supported by TOUCH’s trans-disciplinary team of eldercare specialists, leveraging community resources to achieve long-term wellness to prevent and delay frailty, and to help seniors age well in the community.  

Story published in 2025.