I dont usually post comments in YT but this episode really resonated with me. I've stayed in a 2 room HDB rental flat for close to 30 years from my kindergarden days until my mid 30s. So I thought I would like to share some perspectives and personal experience. Apologies in advance if my experience is a bit too long. From my kindergarden days to my primary school days, I thought living in a 2 room HDB rental flat was a norm so I didnt' really had any issues. When it came to secondary school, I realised most of my peers are living in 3 to 5 rooms flats, with them getting their own room. I was envious of people having their own room as I sleep in the living room with the parents taking the bedroom. I would say self-esteem is one of the biggest issues(even till today, I don't tell anyone I used to stay in a 2 room HDB rental flat). I was very worried friends would ask to visit my house and I always have to find reasons to turn them down. I will always shut off whenever they talk about families or their house as my parents also divorced when I was in secondary 1. My dad then stayed with me and things actually went downhill from there as my mum used to be the one paying the rental fee and utilities bill. Didn't do well in my studies before I went into ITE, served my 2 years in national service and then went to polytechnic for 3 years. I still remembered HDB calling me on a few occasions when I was in poly, reminding me that since my mum has taken her name out from the rental flat, my dad and I are not supposed to be staying in the flat anymore. I was quite stressed whenever I received those calls, but somehow gotten used to it. When I graduated from poly(mid 20s) I managed to find a job which paid me 1.7k as my starting salary. After a few years and changing company, I was earning around low 2K per month and I thought maybe it's time I should try applying for a flat with my dad since it is always better to have your own place. HDB rejected my application, stating that I have close to 10K in rental arrears so my HDB loan application was rejected. I then arranged for a repayment plan with them and subsequently cleared it. At the same time, I've also completed my part time degree as I see that it is the only way I could ever afford a flat(since my dad has never worked in his life before, he has no CPF or savings on his own). I applied and successfully balloted for a 4 rooms BTO flat in a non mature estate when I was around 30 years old and has moved in since 2020. My own personal thoughts? I've always felt to this day then whatever you do, you will always lag behind as compared to peers who has a better situation than you. Now you may say rental flat doesn't play a part, but it actually links to a lot of things. For example, your parents will never have a place of their own if they are not going to stay with you. So you have to stay with them, but this would affect your relationships and potential marriages as well as not many women would want to stay with their in-laws. Then there's the issue of privacy, esp when you are a teenager growing up and actually yearns for some personal space but does not have much. Do I feel bitter towards my parents? Yes, i don't deny that when I was growing up, but over the past few years, I understand this could also be due to influence from their previous generation whereby they do not really focused much on financial security. In my 38 years of life, I've never ever know anyone with my circle that stays in a 2 room rental flat before so yes I would agree self-esteem and anxiety will be one of the key issues affecting these children. I'm still suffering from low self esteem till this date. I still remembered and feel very embarrased and anxious till this date whenever I remembered an incident when my ex colleagues sent me home after I gotten drunk from a company event. My only consolation was there I dont have any siblings to to fight for the limited space that I have. My advice to children facing this situation? 1. Get as high an education as possible, even if it meant working to put yourself through school (My fees in ITE was covered by bursary, my fees in poly was covered by my mum's CPF and I paid for my degree while working part-time) 2. It is OK to feel low-self esteem at this point of your life, but do not let this situation dictate how your future will be. More often than not, you will definitely lag behind your peers not matter how well you do, but try and enjoy the few positives things that you can find from your life. I think I broke down once during poly in front of a friend without telling them the reason why. The stress accumulated over the years, from a broken family, financial issues to a place that does not belong to you and threats of eviction is constantly there. 3. Get a grasp of your family's financial situation as early as possible so you know when and how you can get a place of your own(assuming your family is going to stay with you as well) Would love to share more but I think my post is kinda long already. I pray that fewer children will experience what these kids and I've gone through, esp those from broken families and parents that are not working.
Appreciate your sharing. Was in very similar situation as you but I truly believe education is an important lever and associating yourself with the right company (mentors, friends) with great resilence - kids in these environment will still do well and lead fulfilling lives
Grateful is the high emotion one should have. When ur grateful ur wildly selfish desire will disolve..those with landed property even has more.stressful life but yet some are not grateful and wants more
Indeed. This program tried to make 'rental apartments' the problem, but in fact they are part of the solution. The alternative is slum living! And those flats look nice and well kept. Wardina is lonely. If she could have a friend over, she'd have fun at home! I had friends over. We'd play card games, monopoly, etc. Time flies!
I grew up as part of a 6 member family (parents plus 4 kids of similar ages) in a rented room, with communal hall, kitchen, old styled toilet and bathroom in the back of the three storey house. No car and no electronics. Everything was a luxury. Didn't go to Uni as I didn't want to burden my parents with the cost of education and went out to work to save for my trip to the UK for training.Left home at 22. So I understand the the problems though the time wasn't the same. Simply knew my parents were borrowing to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Eternally grateful to them. RIP mum and dad.
RIP to your parents ❤ I went through a similar situation when I was young, but as a child in the UK. I pray you are doing well now, you sound so brave and your comment really touched me. Wishing you peace and love 💕
Wong Hai Feng is so adorable and happy. It may be a small space but it sure reflects the love his parents have for him and brought him up well to have self respect. May he grow up to be a successful individual cherishing his parental love.
Yes, living in small rental flats do present some problems but I believe the bigger issue is living in poverty. You can adapt to living in small spaces but if you don’t have enough money to buy food or if you have to babysit your siblings, you can’t adapt to that. I think it’s very misleading to focus on small rental flats and not focus on the bigger factor which is poverty.
it’s probably because the effects of poverty are well documented. we know poverty has an adverse affect on development and well being, but appropriately sized living quarters can be seen by someone as a “luxury” even if you feel suffocated with no personal space.
Totally agree. At least they have a nice apartment! The other option is abject poverty in the slums. Compare it to that reality and this is a fantastic place! This program is looking for problems. Not seeing the big solution it offers!
I grew up in a single parent household and in a private rental flat. I am grateful for the support we had from our extended family and from various organisations to help with my studies, our household expenses and bills. It was a huge relief to my mum when my sister and I were awarded education bursaries and I even had the opportunity to study abroad. I am rooting for all 3 kids to flourish despite life’s circumstances. It does not matter where you come from but how you perform. Education is the ticket out of poverty and breaking the cycle.
True! The other kid’s worries are more to academic. She only think of her family financial situation. This age she can work part time and enjoy her teenage years but in the end become a caregiver to her brother.
Actually also really happy for Munah for her “career pivot”. For those who have watched her grow from her previous TH-cam appearances to now on CNA, happy for and proud of you, Munah! Go from strength to strength from here 💪🏼💪🏼
Living in a cramped flat is a symptom of many other issues, not just the size of the apartment they stay in. These children are stressed because they are parentified, made responsible for household responsibilities beyond their years and are constantly stressed about money and all the implications of not having any (school fees, utilities, food, roof over head). A child should not have to be forced to care for their siblings full time, a child should not have to worry about the parents having money, should not have to go work to supplement the household income, or save to buy a house, etc. To lump it all up and say its the stress of cramped living conditions is oversimplification of a multitude of other issues. Why was that one child away from mom for that period of time? Where is the father? What “issues” did the mom have?
I couldn’t agree with you more. There’s an untold origin story as to how the families have come to be in their current situations…now that’s a great place to start. This just didn’t happen to the families overnight. Nevertheless, I’m hopeful for a better outcome for everyone.
I grew up without helper, nor do I have overprotective parents who try to solve most of life problems for me. Yes I'm part of the group of people you pity and all you see in this groups are disadvantages, but that's not the full picture. It might be surprising to you but I've pick up lots of useful skills form those disadvantages that you've listed. Those household responsibility are a good training ground for lots of useful skills. I mean nobody likes to do those household chores, there's an incentive for people who have to deal with it to reduce it. From a young age when I'm making any decisions, I look beyond right now and try to peered into the future to see what are the potential mess that I might have to deal. I.e. When I'm buying something, I'm thinking about foreseeable maintenance issues too, this is an additional factor I look into while many don't. All the finnical issues that you've raised, yes a kid shouldn't be worrying about them; but at the same time this is the one of the best ways for them to learn how about priorities and money management skills. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say those sufferings are blessings. I'm trying show you the other side of the coin on how those disadvantages can be turn around into strengths if you've the right mindset. Ultimately do people want to whine and rot in their problems or develop problem solving skills are entirely up to them. As a third party we should guide them and let them work on their problem solving skills and not simply solve it for them. If you just solve it for them, they will forever be that pitifully person who can never stand up on their own two feet. Sadly that's the type of child may in our society are raising.
@@hianhoolim7786 hian, well said! Like a famous soccer player and trainer once said: "Every disadvantage comes with its advantage." This mindset is crucial in seeing developmental chances and possibilities. And I for one don't think it too much, when a teenager has to take care of such a small house! It's easily done in half an hour a day. If Wardina had a friend, she wouldn't be so lonely. I had friends over. Their place is big enough to play nice card and board games.
Probably he won't. To him that's normal. How it's supposed to be. He'll be rebelling against her in his teenage years too. All she does will be taken for granted, unless he is specifically told how lucky he was and how much he has to thank her for.
@@gardenjoy5223there will come a time when they will all understand the struggles of life and the blessings he had for having a sister who nurtured him.
Very insightful. I grew up in the southern Philippines in a 2 bedroom semi concrete house with very basic toilet and no shower. Although we have clean water, we need to fetch that from the common faucet within our compound and store water in a big container for our daily use. We had separate container for water that we use for drinking and cooking. We had deep well for bathing, laundry, cleaning and watering the plants. It wasnt a big house but our rooms, my sisters, were separate from my parents when we became teenagers. We didnt have separate study space it was just either outside the house on the patio during the weekends and in the living room or kitchen table during weekdays. I didnt complain growing up because that seemed normal and fine in the neighborhood. Having separate rooms as kids were a luxury where I came from. I could not say we were better off than the cases depicted in this docu but what was clear and common was we didnt have the ideal livable space for studying and leisure, we have very limited financial means and still we have roof over our heads. I didnt have it easy mostly because of financial disadvantages and I can say I also struggled with self esteem, confidence and opportunity. But looking back, now a physician and living overseas who can travel to other countries 1 to 2x a year with my husband, who also grew up the same way, I hope these kids have the courage to turn their difficulties into a resilience that would take them far away from their rental flats. They will be held back like I did by these difficulties but with a combination of luck, hard work, prayers, smarts and hope, I wish they make it.
I felt it wasn't really right to make the parents respond to the test results in front of the camera. It was humiliating for them, when they were already struggling to make ends meet. One can always just narrate what their response was. Felt sorry for them.
The issues these children face remind me of my wife and the difficulties she had growing up...but in Austria. It's odd to me that this is such a universal problem with zero consistent fixes for it. Truly rooting for all of these kiddos.
Breaking out of this cycle is very hard but not impossible. I hope they continue to work hard with the support of all those around them. Speaking as somebody who lived in the same type of 2-room rental flat, but managed to graduate from a local u debt-free. There will be many sacrifices to be made, but the journey was worth it. Shall not bore everyone with long stories, but willing to share small tips if anyone is interested.
Living in environment like yours has its own advantage. The advantage of lesser distraction so that the only thing u can do is study. Kids in more affluent family tend to be distracted with many things their parents shower on them. Thou externally they have more resources but internally they are not as gritty as those living in smaller home with almost no distraction. Ultimately i would say parents play a very big part in shaping kids lives. Personally i have been and seen through experiences of both sides thats why i can tell u what i said can be true mostly.
As someone who has spent some time in my childhood living in a small space, I appreciate this video. However, there is a major confounding variable here - and that is the poor financial situation of the family. If living space is the parameter being studied, this should have also looked at kids from higher-income families who also live in a small space. Otherwise, I think it's great that there is a program that gives a bigger space to kids though. I hope it continues and supports more children in the future.
Thanks CNA insider for this episode. Your stories on how us local struggles never fail to engage in the littlest of ways. My heart goes out to Wardina and her mom, I’m sure her mom is trying her best to put food on the table for her kids but at the same time Wardina needs to be a teen and not let her youth be taken away. It’s a hard situation. Hoping all the best for the family.
Thanks for the insight and please don’t judge them… the plight of 17 year old made me tear , she had to take on mum role at young age. Wish community charity could help out with the toddler and her education
CNA should interview this sociologist in NTU Prof Teo You Yenn. She wrote this amazing book called “this is what inequality looks like” that had many meaningful and thoughtful observations about people living in rental flats and their situations.
Her name is Teo You Yenn and she's at NTU. Not sure if CNA would interview her as her book plus another project she did a few years ago (Minimum Income Standard - measuring how much a family has to be earning to have a basic standard of life in SG) ruffled some feathers.
Always keep in mind the perspective. There will always be people, who have more IQ, money and thus more space. Compared to them everyone would feel poor. But the REAL comparison here is how others on their income live, when governmental renting apartments were not. They'd be living in SLUMS instead! These rental flats look nice and well kept. They are not big, but not very small either. Hundreds of millions of people can only dream of such a place! Sociologists ought to not compare apples to pears, but apples to apples. Time to be grateful.
When you have a psychologist next to you eyeballing what you circle as your answers, the results will not be accurate as they could be made under pressure. I don't understand why she can't let them have some personal and private space to fill up that questionnaire.
I wish I was in Singapore, I would offer to help Wardina with her dyslexia and learning techniques which is something alongside mental health support she needs bless her
I'm really glad CNA shone some light on this issue. It quite accurately captures how flawed the concept of meritocracy in is -- the rich gets richer, the poor gets poorer. It also shows how heavily it impacts and hampers students' learning ability when they have the potential to succeed to begin with. It is honestly quite harrowing to think about because people are Singapore's greatest resources, yet not much is put in to help them (not to say that nothing has been done, but rather that more can be put in to help). To these kids and families, keep fighting and staying strong! Do your best, that is good enough!
Compared to most other countries in the world, the poorer people in Singapore receive a lot of help! Time for gratitude! And if you think meritocracy is flawed, try not-meritocracy and you'll be appalled. It's the most fair system! You work hard, you have more. You are lazy, you have less. Most meritocracies have extended programs for those lagging behind, based on disabilities and illnesses. Seems some seem 'happier' if they have a chance to whine! How about being grateful these people are not in the slums!!!
Of the 3 people, Wardina is the most pitiful, she is already working to help support the family by sending parcels. Not easy for her. I pray that Wardina and the family can be more open to each other. To wardina, dont give up. God bless u and ur family. (M'sian here, March 28,23)
I grew up in a 13 sqm single room with my parents and sister and had a not-bad childhood. Yes, I dreamed of a bigger home and private space, but it was not a huge issue. I didn't need ten rooms to enjoy reading or daydreaming. After we moved to Canada, I rented a laneway house built upon a garage. Almost all the classes of my older son lived in 5-6 bedroom houses with prices higher than 5M. However, he did not struggle with this because there were too many important things in his life. Living in a small space lets us know how big the outside world and the future should be. And every time we moved into a bigger place, it was a joyful life experience.
Thanks CNA for yet another insightful and impactful video. The undue stress faced by these kids and the lack of resources are definitely putting them at a huge disadvantage as compared to the more well-to-do peers. Hope that there are more support out there for the kids so as to alleviate their parents’ financial burden too.
Meritocracy means those who benefit despite going through the "poverty" level in SG feels like they earned it. I've walked in the shoes of these children living in rental flats. I'm reminded that many times, I'm just lucky rather than my efforts of academic studies paid off. I am glad we have social workers and community to help low income households. I believe these to be glimmer of hope. That's important. I've been helped by some of these people and I consider myself blessed and lucky.
Success is purely based on luck. You can have 1000% preparation, heck even 10'000'000%. But if the "opportunity" does not come / all your efforts are brushed off like an ant, then you still "fail", when it is not YOUR failure. Well, you can have no preparation, but you are selected ("lucky") to be famous/celebrity. There was a study/simulation done that proved the ones who succeed are usually slightly-better-than-average Joe who are REALLY lucky (like 1 bad events but over tens of good events) compared to the unlucky ones (high education but hit with a ton of bad events with 1 good events). The corporate world tricks you to believe so long as you put in the effort you get rewarded (sounds like meritocracy?), but in fact the real thing is almost exactly the opposite.
@@chengshengwaywell said!!!! I've been telling my friends too that luck is really underrated in the path to success. Ppl underplay luck so much and credit almost everything to their own hard work. Only ppl who have worked super hard and not be given opportunities or have bad luck meeting bad ppl and circumstances will uds the importance of good luck.
I was on the verge of tearing watching this documentary esp when the test results portion. Living in Malaysia with lots of space and raising 3 well adjusted kids, I empathise with the families especially the kids. I have lived in Singapore, in 3 HDB estates for many years, and I can especially appreciate their challenges.
Still in the early parts of the video but gotta say 8 year old Hai Feng is pretty well spoken for an 8 year old! He gave confident answers. As many others have commented, no child should be made responsible to parent their siblings. A child should be able to experience being a child at the age of 13.. My heart goes out to Wardina and of course the other children in less privileged upbringing
I used to lived in rental flat till my late teen then moved to 3rm. There is no shame in that. Watching this doc, these kids are lucky, they have tv, computer, sofa, nice study table & chair. Even hp per kid. And they are all well feed. I have none of these back then. What are they complaining when they have a roof over their head. I work during my teens, do all the cleaning, cooking, handwash clothes. Still I turn out fine.
Aside from this video, I see that there are some ppl who also shared their own inspirational stories. I think that’s a really good sign so that others who stumbled upon this video is able to see that they are not alone. I also noticed that hai Feng is really a brilliant child, who is at such at a tender age and yet understand the situation he’s in. He seems cheerful too.
Coming from a similar situation when young I empathise with the kids. Equal Dreams seems like a good solution. I was lucky I have foster parents, spouse and friends who got me out of the negative mentality during adulthood. Going through financial stress without help is very stressful for kids as they have no avenue of being heard, hope the authorities will look into this and expand the Equal Dreams program
I really Feel for Wardina as someone who had also learning Disability and came from a messy childhood i can really understand her . I hope if she ever reads this comment to always say positive affirmations to herself . You don't have to have a high expensive job to be happy but keep applying yourself because no matter what you lack you will always be good a something else . !!
This video has really taught me to be grateful, and not to always think so highly of myself. being born from well-to-do parents didnt make me realize that i should be grateful for all the things i have not not be spoiled. Thank u to this video
As someone that lives in rental flat, i do not have study table so i always go to library to study instead. Im fine with the small space but it gets a little frustrating that i do not have my own personal space especially when i need to attend online class, online presentation and online group meeting with my group mates. Its definitely not easy but i try to do what i can to manage this challenges and nothing is stoping me from studying.
All the best to Vivian and all the other kids. When her father said goodbye to her, made me shed a tear or two. Can’t imagine leaving my young daughter for extended period… 😢😢
I feel small place definitely affect a lot, I used to live in a small flat with three family members where I got no individual room living in living room, I have no motivation to everything but lying flat all day. It’s mainly caused by the shame from poverty, I won’t let my friend into my house as well, and feel constantly insecurity. Also, there is a lot of time where I feel there is ghost or invaders in the house, and scared myself not wanting to go to the bathroom, kitchen.
this documentary is insightful and shows stories we do not usually hear about. From this content, by pointing out the kids’ weaknesses and potential mental health issues, does it really help them by publishing it online? Are there support provided for them to prevent depression/dyslexia etc? I would be more stressed watching myself on youtube and knowing that the entire world knows about me.. Not sure if there’s a 2nd part to this documentary
I love to watch documentaries on channels like these because I learn so much about other countries. The world has become smaller, more integrated and I think it is important to know about other countries. Thank you for publishing this documentary.
11:40 I feel like doing that multiple choice test with many personal questions with a stranger observing just centimeters from you might skew their answers? I don't know much about the test, but surely doing it in private might produce more accurate results.
Kids do not feel that you are lesser than others, you are still young, you can get out of poverty, study hard, and do not mix with the wrong company. I used to live in a rental flat with 3 siblings and a single mother, but we all did well later in our lives.
Singapore is now one of the richest country in the world and if this is poverty by S’pore standard, it is nothing depraved compared to even countries like Japan, South Korea, Western Europe, US. As much as I feel sorry for these S’pore kids from low income families, I also feel some sense of relief that they don’t have to suffer a much worse living condition (not fit for humans) endured by poor kids dependent on state welfare in western countries mentioned above. However I do feel mostly bad about parents and kids having to share a bedroom and sure enough the living space is too tight, other than that the quality of social housing looks reasonably respectable, modern and cheerful. Also I’m so surprised how cheap the social housing rent is at S$126 a month, my hats off to Spore govt for achieving this.
My family of 9 used to live in a one-room rental flat for $20/month and yet we were always in arrears of the rent. I always had to sheepishly go the the HDB "office" in one of the units in Tiong Bahru flats to pay rents on those that were owed months back.
@@brandon_denwould say both but it's highly important that the children have this strong belief as that would be the push factor to break out of this cycle.
If what we are seeing from this video is the extreme poverty in Singapore, then I am heartened. The kids have a shelter, they have access to education, they do not have to beg on the streets. In every society, there will be a benchmark for extreme poverty. The benchmark in Singapore is very high if you compare it with other countries around the world. I mean, it is an endless cycle, there is always the that side of the spectrum that is below the "average" of that society/country and they will be deemed low income/poverty, it is inevitable but Singapore's benchmark is pretty high and that is heartening. Who knows, maybe in 50-100 years, the benchmark for poverty might be those families who can't afford a car.
yeah they say this is poor. but this kind of house, which i see is quite tidy although many things. they should make documentary about poor in Indonesia, where all the family live in 1 room and go to public toilet.
Yes, you reason with insight. Wish more people in this comment section would. So far I'm number 143 to agree with you. Which means there's hope. One has to compare this living in rental flats with the alternative open to them otherwise: slums! This wins 10 out of 10 times! Such governments, who truly help the poorer in society, are a huge blessing. They have a secure roof over their head. The apartment building looks nice. The apartment isn't extremely small either. They can go to school, prepare meals, relax, wash themselves, wash clothes, etc.
I am currently in my mid-late 20s and I moved to a rental flat when I was in primary school because my mother, being a single-parent, could not sustain our life living in a 3 room flat anymore. I remembered the first state of the house back then - it was those type of cement flooring and we had a squatting toilet. there were also openings at the top of the house for ventilation because it can get pretty warm in the flat and the government does not allow us to install air-con. after about a year or so, thankfully, they did an upgrade and we had a seated toilet bowl. Anyhow, I did not see all these as a thing to be self-conscious about when I was in secondary school and polytechnic. BUT ... Things started to change when I went to university - where I get to meet people of different background and most of them came from high socio-economic status households with good family. They are also pretty good people and it was then my self-esteem started plummeted - I realised that there are people who are rich, smart and are also kind. It was as if they are the ones who are not tainted by the world, they are like a blank piece of paper, smooth with no rough edges. my self-esteem got lower and lower and it negatively affected my mental health back then (it was really bad). Anyhow, one day I decided that I will use my weakness as strengths. It definitely trained my resilience, and also empathy and having a heart for the people who are at a disadvantage in our current societal standards. Now I am a working adult in the healthcare sector though living in the rental flat with my mother. I would say some days the self-pity feelings and thoughts would come, and during those moments I have learnt to honour my emotions and learnt to look forward each time. This documentaries definitely pulled on my heartstrings and I am so so proud to see how all three of them are growing so well - in terms of their character and their attitude towards their situations. I do feel that sometimes the media has the tendency of portraying people living in the rental flat like people who are objects of pity that have to overcome tragic conditions - in the end it just sort of reinforce to the general public that coming of such background is "pitiful", "has it harder". Hoping that in the future, media / documentaries can show balanced side of things. Growing up from rental flat and the experience does not necessarily have to be framed in a melancholic manner. Hopefully stories could be framed in a more empowering and uplifting manner as well - which would definitely be better for the participants in the video and the viewer. Long story short, by showing that children/adults living there can or are thriving just like the rest of the society would probably also help to inspire people of similar situations.
Hai Feng is so articulate and he knows his family situation very well. He has a bright future ahead of him and hopefully, will enable him to live in a bigger space in the future.
I grew up in a 2-room rental flat for 17 years and counting. The issue lies in the low-income family, it’s not completely about rental flats affecting the ability and performance of children. To be honest, I’ve always had better grades compared to my contemporaries. My parents placed a high importance on my education and was willing to spend on tuition. However, not all families have the capacities to prioritise their children’s education when they are struggling to put food on the table. Children of low income families that place a low importance on academic excellence tend to struggle the most. Although Vivian studied in a relatively more crowded home than the others, it is clear to see that she has the best potential to flourish academically. Personally, It boils down to family. We often undermine the impact of family on a child’s development, which can greatly determine the mindset and build the foundation of their capabilities. The problems that come with living in a rental flat is mostly a byproduct of a low-income family, that doesn’t have the money and resources to support their children’s growth.
We clearly see that boy is full of life very talkative and happy .... I can no see any relation or wrong effects due to little spaces to live in ... Therefore the most important is ...who you are living with ...
The young boy Hai Feng is an extremely bright boy. Someone missed this fact because he is hyperactive. More focus should be placed on him. He has all the attributes of those in Tech who developed new products.
I hope more help can be extended to these families, as one of the world’s richest countries, so much more can be done for them. My message to these families and children - keep going, we all have your back!
Families, be grateful to them, poor or rich. We made mistakes, especially those older generations, which didnt get the better education. But it's up to you if you want to continue this legacy. To the future descendent, work hard, study hard. Hopefully, land in a government section that can really help you, or a reputable private company that pays well.
Study hard and work hard does not work when there’s discrimination in the workforce . Especially for the minorities ! Different feet different shoes . LOL !!
i lived in a flat for 2 or 3 years when i was a kid, well i was about 12 so i didn't so i understand the meaning of leaving a bigger house for a smaller one. This affected me alot because i had to walk to school by myself, but i liked it there because everything was close together so it made it easier for me to access stuff
The narrative of "rental flats" is not the issue, its income levels which cause this. SG needs to revamp minimum wage structure, it's way too low for such a developed and expensive city. The income gap continues to grow and more needs to be done. All children deserve an opportunity for a bright future.
As someone who grew up and currently living in a rental flat.. I relate to this video alot and i appreciate the focus on children specifically because we’re affected the most in situations we have no control over.
Until I was 7 years old, I lived in a one bedroom flat with my parents. My bedroom was the living room, and so if we had company, I slept in my parents room if i got tired. My parents owned the flat. We moved into a house after that. I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment when my child was born. But we moved to a giant house once he was 9 months old because we didn't want to raise him in an apartment. My husband was born in the suburbs and always lived in a home. Our outlooks are very different. I firmly believe living in a flat, whether it's owned or not, is bad for kids' development.
As someone who grew up in the slums in Manila, their living conditions are enviable. What a luxury. They should feel blessed they have a government who is able to offer up some assistance to take care of them.
My mum, brother, sister, and myself lived in a bedsit in the 50s, while our dad was in the Royal navy in the far east, so not sure why anyone would thing this video is even needed. People all over the world live in just one room.
The whole idea of =Dreams seems amazing! Hopefully there will be more centers like =Dreams so that more kids from low-income families can receive help!
Was Wardina's mother even taking this situation serious/ Her daughter is 17 and if she doesn't act now, her daughter could struggle more in the future. I don't understand people you have a child especially more than one and just let them suffer and glide through life, the mother should be ashamed of herself. Is the father passed away or did he leave? That poor girl... my heart truly breaks for her
Can we get CNA to do a few episodes of the rich families in Singapore and how their kids are doing? I applaud the focus on the less privileged in SG but I also am interested in how the upper or highest class of Singapore society actually live their lives.
In many cases, quite common for local Chinese families to bestow a property to their progeny, gift them the latest gadgets, commute by personal car, holiday jobs are optional, go on opulent vacations, lavish birthday bashes, cafés/restaurants are the norm for each meal and a domestic helper to pick up after them. Generally, a pretty awesome life. Would be nice to live that kind of life since life is short. One could only dream~
2 rooms is ok , I used to live in a rented HDB with a half room ( no door) and half living room , and a open kitchen. Me and my baby sis sleep on the floor of the living room and my parent on the bed , those day although were poor , but it was the most happiest day , we shared food among neighbors, and our door is always open during day time , we no worry being rob because the whole building is the same people with low income with nothing valuable, life need to learn in a hard way so we will know how to treasure and strive for a better future
As a child of an impoverished family living in a small rental room where 4 of us slept and we had to share living and kitchen with other tenants, me and my brother grew up without much of a childhood and looking back, perhaps dysfunctional due to the financial stress and anxiety we faced. I walked out of poverty thanks to education and got through to university. Life became much better since and I have my own home now but there is always the insecurity and my past does haunt me at times impacting my self-esteem and emotional state.
Interesting watch. I'm American and grew up crammed into three bedroom trailers (which sounds like a lot but the bedrooms were basically closets) with my parents and 9 siblings. I could relate to so much of this even though it's halfway around the world. It takes such a toll on your whole existence. I'm 40 and I'm still trying to work out how to live a normal life and sometimes I don't do so well. I hope the best for these kids.
It's great to know that facilities like =Dreams exist. They should grow up carefree and not be facing the constant quarrels and struggles their parents are facing.
@@Iworkwithnitwits Except that =Dreams is FOC for children from low income families.I think that they won’t have to worry too much about their family’s financial situation while staying at =Dreams and they actually have the time to concentrate on their academics~
The flat is not the problem, the cluttered chaos is. I watched a documentary of a couple with 3 kids living in a small New York City apartment. Everything was clutterfree, organized and looked lovely and the kids appeared chilled and happy. Of course they also did not have adult responsibilities.
In Mumbai I lived in 100 sq feet room and used public toilet . However it taught me to fight and make better life for ourselves and always better than being out on the footpath. In India earlier there was no govt assistance that time. Now, current gov has done some provision in past 5-6 yrs
i grew up without a bedroom, always sleeping in living room, now i'm interiror designer, i feel lucky the situation turns into my passion of my job instead of child hood trauma
no matter how hard life is, in singapore we are still able to have a roof above our heads no matter the size. in others parts of the world like in the US u might be living on the streets and under the bridge.
I don’t think it has anything to do with living in rental flats , those who live in own houses can also have family issues which can effect kids mental and emotional health. It is important for both parents and children to share their thoughts, situations and emotions. If you understand and love each other and stop comparing with others life ,most of the problems can be solved.
In Hong Kong, 460sqf can divide into a compact 3 bedroom 1 living room 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom moderate flat.I do not see why Singaporean do not have the Interior knowledge.
Children nowadays are blessed, at least they still have a flat to live in. They don’t have to live on the streets like other countries. I lived in a rental flat without bedroom at all with dad, mum and 5 siblings (8 ppl in total) in 1970s, we slept, eat and did homework from school in the only Living Room (coz no bedroom). We moved to a 3 room flat in 1978. But we sisters also had to share a bedroom (luckily no brothers). We don’t feel stressed nor anxious. I don’t see why children living in 2 room flat considered to be anxious or stressed, like I mentioned earlier they are living in a flat, not on the Streets…..
Discouraging programme. Leaves a stigma rather than inspire these kids to see beyond their current circumstances and dream big. Interviews with overcomers would have been helpful.
Yeah, Hong Kong flats are worse. Packed like sardine cans. But that is no excuse for the government to be complacent and let it's citizens live in such small quarters.
Thanks for doing this espiode of Talking Point @CNA. Like these kids, I grew up in 2 room rental flat when I was in my teens for a few years. The environment is certainly not helpful for kids' growing years - loan sharks from neighbours come knocking on your door in the middle of night, frequent police patrols and having to look behind you everyday when you walk up to the flat using dark and quiet staircases (those days there are no survellience cameras). Attest to the fact that a conducive study space is important for kids living in rental flat. Besides =Dreams, there should be more common study or workspaces near rental flats. I am thankful that with education, right mentors and a strong mindset, we can overcome the challenges. Good perhaps for CNA to think about doing a series of what would help rental flat kids succeed in life and giving these kids a glimpse of what good and great looks like. Exposure to good grades and what good grades means are important for them to envision their own good future. I know i envision alot alot when I was living in rental flat - what I want to be, where I want to stay, what I want to do
They should do the study on children living in other living accommodation as well for a more accurate assessment. There's no comparison that can be made here and therefore no conclusion. I myself lived in a small flat and had to take care of my younger brother since I was 12, so I'm genuinely interested to know what are the differences between me and other children.
to Wardina & mummy, if you ever come across this comment, I'd just like to say that you are doing great no matter how difficult life is. mummy, I am very sure that Wardina & her brother are very thankful to have a roof over their heads AND each other's company (also the cute kitties!). never underestimate how much of a blessing your children are. with every hardship, comes ease (94:5). I pray that your family will be blessed with happines and calmness, and may He protect you always. you can do this 🥰👍🏻
Many people of 90smight have grown up same way with more responsibilities. But let's not compare. The pressure and exclusion in the society is more that might lead to different symptoms like depression anxiety etc.
rental flat in Indonesia (big cities) also around $130 a month. but the food and transportation cost are way lower. and the weather are way nicer if you live in Bandung.
I dont usually post comments in YT but this episode really resonated with me. I've stayed in a 2 room HDB rental flat for close to 30 years from my kindergarden days until my mid 30s. So I thought I would like to share some perspectives and personal experience. Apologies in advance if my experience is a bit too long.
From my kindergarden days to my primary school days, I thought living in a 2 room HDB rental flat was a norm so I didnt' really had any issues. When it came to secondary school, I realised most of my peers are living in 3 to 5 rooms flats, with them getting their own room. I was envious of people having their own room as I sleep in the living room with the parents taking the bedroom. I would say self-esteem is one of the biggest issues(even till today, I don't tell anyone I used to stay in a 2 room HDB rental flat). I was very worried friends would ask to visit my house and I always have to find reasons to turn them down. I will always shut off whenever they talk about families or their house as my parents also divorced when I was in secondary 1. My dad then stayed with me and things actually went downhill from there as my mum used to be the one paying the rental fee and utilities bill. Didn't do well in my studies before I went into ITE, served my 2 years in national service and then went to polytechnic for 3 years.
I still remembered HDB calling me on a few occasions when I was in poly, reminding me that since my mum has taken her name out from the rental flat, my dad and I are not supposed to be staying in the flat anymore. I was quite stressed whenever I received those calls, but somehow gotten used to it. When I graduated from poly(mid 20s) I managed to find a job which paid me 1.7k as my starting salary. After a few years and changing company, I was earning around low 2K per month and I thought maybe it's time I should try applying for a flat with my dad since it is always better to have your own place. HDB rejected my application, stating that I have close to 10K in rental arrears so my HDB loan application was rejected. I then arranged for a repayment plan with them and subsequently cleared it. At the same time, I've also completed my part time degree as I see that it is the only way I could ever afford a flat(since my dad has never worked in his life before, he has no CPF or savings on his own). I applied and successfully balloted for a 4 rooms BTO flat in a non mature estate when I was around 30 years old and has moved in since 2020.
My own personal thoughts? I've always felt to this day then whatever you do, you will always lag behind as compared to peers who has a better situation than you. Now you may say rental flat doesn't play a part, but it actually links to a lot of things. For example, your parents will never have a place of their own if they are not going to stay with you. So you have to stay with them, but this would affect your relationships and potential marriages as well as not many women would want to stay with their in-laws. Then there's the issue of privacy, esp when you are a teenager growing up and actually yearns for some personal space but does not have much.
Do I feel bitter towards my parents? Yes, i don't deny that when I was growing up, but over the past few years, I understand this could also be due to influence from their previous generation whereby they do not really focused much on financial security.
In my 38 years of life, I've never ever know anyone with my circle that stays in a 2 room rental flat before so yes I would agree self-esteem and anxiety will be one of the key issues affecting these children. I'm still suffering from low self esteem till this date. I still remembered and feel very embarrased and anxious till this date whenever I remembered an incident when my ex colleagues sent me home after I gotten drunk from a company event. My only consolation was there I dont have any siblings to to fight for the limited space that I have.
My advice to children facing this situation? 1. Get as high an education as possible, even if it meant working to put yourself through school (My fees in ITE was covered by bursary, my fees in poly was covered by my mum's CPF and I paid for my degree while working part-time)
2. It is OK to feel low-self esteem at this point of your life, but do not let this situation dictate how your future will be. More often than not, you will definitely lag behind your peers not matter how well you do, but try and enjoy the few positives things that you can find from your life. I think I broke down once during poly in front of a friend without telling them the reason why. The stress accumulated over the years, from a broken family, financial issues to a place that does not belong to you and threats of eviction is constantly there.
3. Get a grasp of your family's financial situation as early as possible so you know when and how you can get a place of your own(assuming your family is going to stay with you as well)
Would love to share more but I think my post is kinda long already. I pray that fewer children will experience what these kids and I've gone through, esp those from broken families and parents that are not working.
appreciate the sharing, very not easy journey
Appreciate your sharing. Was in very similar situation as you but I truly believe education is an important lever and associating yourself with the right company (mentors, friends) with great resilence - kids in these environment will still do well and lead fulfilling lives
am touched by your sharing. Wishing u well
Thanks for sharing, wish you well.
Thanks for sharing, very eye opening to read your experiences and the implications of having to grow up in a 2 room rental flat
Wardina last words were " At least we have a rental flat others are worst"that speaks of real gratefullness.She look the saddest.
Grateful is the high emotion one should have. When ur grateful ur wildly selfish desire will disolve..those with landed property even has more.stressful life but yet some are not grateful and wants more
Such a good girl. I think she will gain a better life with her hard work and kindness.
Something is wrong with our government system.
Indeed. This program tried to make 'rental apartments' the problem, but in fact they are part of the solution. The alternative is slum living! And those flats look nice and well kept.
Wardina is lonely. If she could have a friend over, she'd have fun at home! I had friends over. We'd play card games, monopoly, etc. Time flies!
I grew up as part of a 6 member family (parents plus 4 kids of similar ages) in a rented room, with communal hall, kitchen, old styled toilet and bathroom in the back of the three storey house. No car and no electronics. Everything was a luxury. Didn't go to Uni as I didn't want to burden my parents with the cost of education and went out to work to save for my trip to the UK for training.Left home at 22. So I understand the the problems though the time wasn't the same. Simply knew my parents were borrowing to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Eternally grateful to them. RIP mum and dad.
Yea this is how a mature person should talk. Grateful that they had a home. Compare to other insensitive and immature comments this is the best.
Hope you had a better roof over yours now.
RIP to your parents ❤ I went through a similar situation when I was young, but as a child in the UK. I pray you are doing well now, you sound so brave and your comment really touched me. Wishing you peace and love 💕
@@andymill1953 better than fuckers like you who talk out of your privileged ass. just keep ur mouth shut
RIP to your amazing parents.
Wong Hai Feng is so adorable and happy. It may be a small space but it sure reflects the love his parents have for him and brought him up well to have self respect. May he grow up to be a successful individual cherishing his parental love.
Hai feng is my classmate
Hes so articulate and definitely smashed preconceived notions of what children from low income families are like
Yes, living in small rental flats do present some problems but I believe the bigger issue is living in poverty. You can adapt to living in small spaces but if you don’t have enough money to buy food or if you have to babysit your siblings, you can’t adapt to that. I think it’s very misleading to focus on small rental flats and not focus on the bigger factor which is poverty.
Indeed.
it’s probably because the effects of poverty are well documented. we know poverty has an adverse affect on development and well being, but appropriately sized living quarters can be seen by someone as a “luxury” even if you feel suffocated with no personal space.
Living in a small space is a stressful if ur living with non close family members like aunties or uncles or in laws.
@@viralloger267Not to mention pervert relatives sleeping next to you.
Totally agree. At least they have a nice apartment! The other option is abject poverty in the slums. Compare it to that reality and this is a fantastic place! This program is looking for problems. Not seeing the big solution it offers!
I grew up in a single parent household and in a private rental flat. I am grateful for the support we had from our extended family and from various organisations to help with my studies, our household expenses and bills. It was a huge relief to my mum when my sister and I were awarded education bursaries and I even had the opportunity to study abroad. I am rooting for all 3 kids to flourish despite life’s circumstances. It does not matter where you come from but how you perform. Education is the ticket out of poverty and breaking the cycle.
I feel so bad for Wardina… She is being robbed of her childhood…. Having to be a substitute mother for her younger brother and all.
True! The other kid’s worries are more to academic. She only think of her family financial situation. This age she can work part time and enjoy her teenage years but in the end become a caregiver to her brother.
and what is worse is that her mother claims not to know that this is wrong....
@@cazpk6840 act blur
Me too! My heart broke for her. I relate so much to her as well 😢
Well, it’s a reality tho
Actually also really happy for Munah for her “career pivot”. For those who have watched her grow from her previous TH-cam appearances to now on CNA, happy for and proud of you, Munah! Go from strength to strength from here 💪🏼💪🏼
Yup I remembered her from her dare vidoes to now doing CNA. Impressive
i miss her trashy videos
She is perfect for it too
Agreed! She is surprisingly a really good host!
This is exactly what I wanted to comment also.
Living in a cramped flat is a symptom of many other issues, not just the size of the apartment they stay in. These children are stressed because they are parentified, made responsible for household responsibilities beyond their years and are constantly stressed about money and all the implications of not having any (school fees, utilities, food, roof over head). A child should not have to be forced to care for their siblings full time, a child should not have to worry about the parents having money, should not have to go work to supplement the household income, or save to buy a house, etc. To lump it all up and say its the stress of cramped living conditions is oversimplification of a multitude of other issues. Why was that one child away from mom for that period of time? Where is the father? What “issues” did the mom have?
I couldn’t agree with you more. There’s an untold origin story as to how the families have come to be in their current situations…now that’s a great place to start. This just didn’t happen to the families overnight. Nevertheless, I’m hopeful for a better outcome for everyone.
👏👏👏👏👏 yes!
I grew up without helper, nor do I have overprotective parents who try to solve most of life problems for me. Yes I'm part of the group of people you pity and all you see in this groups are disadvantages, but that's not the full picture. It might be surprising to you but I've pick up lots of useful skills form those disadvantages that you've listed. Those household responsibility are a good training ground for lots of useful skills. I mean nobody likes to do those household chores, there's an incentive for people who have to deal with it to reduce it. From a young age when I'm making any decisions, I look beyond right now and try to peered into the future to see what are the potential mess that I might have to deal. I.e. When I'm buying something, I'm thinking about foreseeable maintenance issues too, this is an additional factor I look into while many don't. All the finnical issues that you've raised, yes a kid shouldn't be worrying about them; but at the same time this is the one of the best ways for them to learn how about priorities and money management skills.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say those sufferings are blessings. I'm trying show you the other side of the coin on how those disadvantages can be turn around into strengths if you've the right mindset. Ultimately do people want to whine and rot in their problems or develop problem solving skills are entirely up to them. As a third party we should guide them and let them work on their problem solving skills and not simply solve it for them. If you just solve it for them, they will forever be that pitifully person who can never stand up on their own two feet. Sadly that's the type of child may in our society are raising.
@@hianhoolim7786 yes exactly thank you for saying this.
@@hianhoolim7786 hian, well said! Like a famous soccer player and trainer once said: "Every disadvantage comes with its advantage." This mindset is crucial in seeing developmental chances and possibilities.
And I for one don't think it too much, when a teenager has to take care of such a small house! It's easily done in half an hour a day. If Wardina had a friend, she wouldn't be so lonely. I had friends over. Their place is big enough to play nice card and board games.
My worst experience living in a small flat was having to hear my parents’ quarreling!
Most people are kind of LOUD when quarreling. You for sure would hear them in any house twice as big as well.
Just hope that Wardina's brother grows up to appreciate his sister and the sacrifice she made to be his second mother at such a young age.
I am sure he will.😊
Probably he won't. To him that's normal. How it's supposed to be. He'll be rebelling against her in his teenage years too.
All she does will be taken for granted, unless he is specifically told how lucky he was and how much he has to thank her for.
@@gardenjoy5223there will come a time when they will all understand the struggles of life and the blessings he had for having a sister who nurtured him.
Very insightful. I grew up in the southern Philippines in a 2 bedroom semi concrete house with very basic toilet and no shower. Although we have clean water, we need to fetch that from the common faucet within our compound and store water in a big container for our daily use. We had separate container for water that we use for drinking and cooking. We had deep well for bathing, laundry, cleaning and watering the plants. It wasnt a big house but our rooms, my sisters, were separate from my parents when we became teenagers. We didnt have separate study space it was just either outside the house on the patio during the weekends and in the living room or kitchen table during weekdays. I didnt complain growing up because that seemed normal and fine in the neighborhood. Having separate rooms as kids were a luxury where I came from. I could not say we were better off than the cases depicted in this docu but what was clear and common was we didnt have the ideal livable space for studying and leisure, we have very limited financial means and still we have roof over our heads. I didnt have it easy mostly because of financial disadvantages and I can say I also struggled with self esteem, confidence and opportunity. But looking back, now a physician and living overseas who can travel to other countries 1 to 2x a year with my husband, who also grew up the same way, I hope these kids have the courage to turn their difficulties into a resilience that would take them far away from their rental flats. They will be held back like I did by these difficulties but with a combination of luck, hard work, prayers, smarts and hope, I wish they make it.
Well said, esp your last line!
I felt it wasn't really right to make the parents respond to the test results in front of the camera. It was humiliating for them, when they were already struggling to make ends meet. One can always just narrate what their response was. Felt sorry for them.
Agree, and it would be better for the psychologist to unpack the test results with them.
And I felt it wasn't right for the children! The whole world now knows about their private problems. That's a big stigma!
The issues these children face remind me of my wife and the difficulties she had growing up...but in Austria. It's odd to me that this is such a universal problem with zero consistent fixes for it.
Truly rooting for all of these kiddos.
Breaking out of this cycle is very hard but not impossible. I hope they continue to work hard with the support of all those around them. Speaking as somebody who lived in the same type of 2-room rental flat, but managed to graduate from a local u debt-free. There will be many sacrifices to be made, but the journey was worth it. Shall not bore everyone with long stories, but willing to share small tips if anyone is interested.
I agreed.
Living in environment like yours has its own advantage. The advantage of lesser distraction so that the only thing u can do is study.
Kids in more affluent family tend to be distracted with many things their parents shower on them. Thou externally they have more resources but internally they are not as gritty as those living in smaller home with almost no distraction. Ultimately i would say parents play a very big part in shaping kids lives. Personally i have been and seen through experiences of both sides thats why i can tell u what i said can be true mostly.
True tenacity!
As someone who has spent some time in my childhood living in a small space, I appreciate this video. However, there is a major confounding variable here - and that is the poor financial situation of the family. If living space is the parameter being studied, this should have also looked at kids from higher-income families who also live in a small space. Otherwise, I think it's great that there is a program that gives a bigger space to kids though. I hope it continues and supports more children in the future.
Thanks CNA insider for this episode. Your stories on how us local struggles never fail to engage in the littlest of ways. My heart goes out to Wardina and her mom, I’m sure her mom is trying her best to put food on the table for her kids but at the same time Wardina needs to be a teen and not let her youth be taken away. It’s a hard situation. Hoping all the best for the family.
Thanks for the insight and please don’t judge them… the plight of 17 year old made me tear , she had to take on mum role at young age. Wish community charity could help out with the toddler and her education
CNA should interview this sociologist in NTU Prof Teo You Yenn. She wrote this amazing book called “this is what inequality looks like” that had many meaningful and thoughtful observations about people living in rental flats and their situations.
Her name is Teo You Yenn and she's at NTU. Not sure if CNA would interview her as her book plus another project she did a few years ago (Minimum Income Standard - measuring how much a family has to be earning to have a basic standard of life in SG) ruffled some feathers.
Thank you sharing. Will def get the book.
Always keep in mind the perspective. There will always be people, who have more IQ, money and thus more space. Compared to them everyone would feel poor. But the REAL comparison here is how others on their income live, when governmental renting apartments were not. They'd be living in SLUMS instead! These rental flats look nice and well kept. They are not big, but not very small either. Hundreds of millions of people can only dream of such a place! Sociologists ought to not compare apples to pears, but apples to apples. Time to be grateful.
I have this book
When you have a psychologist next to you eyeballing what you circle as your answers, the results will not be accurate as they could be made under pressure. I don't understand why she can't let them have some personal and private space to fill up that questionnaire.
I wish I was in Singapore, I would offer to help Wardina with her dyslexia and learning techniques which is something alongside mental health support she needs bless her
I'm really glad CNA shone some light on this issue. It quite accurately captures how flawed the concept of meritocracy in is -- the rich gets richer, the poor gets poorer. It also shows how heavily it impacts and hampers students' learning ability when they have the potential to succeed to begin with. It is honestly quite harrowing to think about because people are Singapore's greatest resources, yet not much is put in to help them (not to say that nothing has been done, but rather that more can be put in to help).
To these kids and families, keep fighting and staying strong! Do your best, that is good enough!
Compared to most other countries in the world, the poorer people in Singapore receive a lot of help! Time for gratitude!
And if you think meritocracy is flawed, try not-meritocracy and you'll be appalled. It's the most fair system! You work hard, you have more. You are lazy, you have less. Most meritocracies have extended programs for those lagging behind, based on disabilities and illnesses.
Seems some seem 'happier' if they have a chance to whine! How about being grateful these people are not in the slums!!!
Of the 3 people, Wardina is the most pitiful, she is already working to help support the family by sending parcels. Not easy for her. I pray that Wardina and the family can be more open to each other. To wardina, dont give up. God bless u and ur family. (M'sian here, March 28,23)
Thank you so much Mr Daniel at least u understand
AAMIIN 🤲🏼
I grew up in a 13 sqm single room with my parents and sister and had a not-bad childhood. Yes, I dreamed of a bigger home and private space, but it was not a huge issue. I didn't need ten rooms to enjoy reading or daydreaming.
After we moved to Canada, I rented a laneway house built upon a garage. Almost all the classes of my older son lived in 5-6 bedroom houses with prices higher than 5M. However, he did not struggle with this because there were too many important things in his life.
Living in a small space lets us know how big the outside world and the future should be. And every time we moved into a bigger place, it was a joyful life experience.
Stella, that's a much better mindset! Hurray for you :)
Thanks CNA for yet another insightful and impactful video. The undue stress faced by these kids and the lack of resources are definitely putting them at a huge disadvantage as compared to the more well-to-do peers.
Hope that there are more support out there for the kids so as to alleviate their parents’ financial burden too.
Meritocracy means those who benefit despite going through the "poverty" level in SG feels like they earned it. I've walked in the shoes of these children living in rental flats. I'm reminded that many times, I'm just lucky rather than my efforts of academic studies paid off.
I am glad we have social workers and community to help low income households. I believe these to be glimmer of hope. That's important. I've been helped by some of these people and I consider myself blessed and lucky.
Success is purely based on luck. You can have 1000% preparation, heck even 10'000'000%. But if the "opportunity" does not come / all your efforts are brushed off like an ant, then you still "fail", when it is not YOUR failure. Well, you can have no preparation, but you are selected ("lucky") to be famous/celebrity. There was a study/simulation done that proved the ones who succeed are usually slightly-better-than-average Joe who are REALLY lucky (like 1 bad events but over tens of good events) compared to the unlucky ones (high education but hit with a ton of bad events with 1 good events). The corporate world tricks you to believe so long as you put in the effort you get rewarded (sounds like meritocracy?), but in fact the real thing is almost exactly the opposite.
@@chengshengwaywell said!!!! I've been telling my friends too that luck is really underrated in the path to success. Ppl underplay luck so much and credit almost everything to their own hard work. Only ppl who have worked super hard and not be given opportunities or have bad luck meeting bad ppl and circumstances will uds the importance of good luck.
I was on the verge of tearing watching this documentary esp when the test results portion. Living in Malaysia with lots of space and raising 3 well adjusted kids, I empathise with the families especially the kids. I have lived in Singapore, in 3 HDB estates for many years, and I can especially appreciate their challenges.
hai feng sounds like a really smart kid
He sound like young amos yee
I wish all the best for these kids. They are so brave to share their experieces in this document. Big hug from Finland.
Still in the early parts of the video but gotta say 8 year old Hai Feng is pretty well spoken for an 8 year old! He gave confident answers.
As many others have commented, no child should be made responsible to parent their siblings. A child should be able to experience being a child at the age of 13.. My heart goes out to Wardina and of course the other children in less privileged upbringing
I used to lived in rental flat till my late teen then moved to 3rm. There is no shame in that. Watching this doc, these kids are lucky, they have tv, computer, sofa, nice study table & chair. Even hp per kid. And they are all well feed. I have none of these back then. What are they complaining when they have a roof over their head. I work during my teens, do all the cleaning, cooking, handwash clothes. Still I turn out fine.
Aside from this video, I see that there are some ppl who also shared their own inspirational stories. I think that’s a really good sign so that others who stumbled upon this video is able to see that they are not alone.
I also noticed that hai Feng is really a brilliant child, who is at such at a tender age and yet understand the situation he’s in. He seems cheerful too.
Coming from a similar situation when young I empathise with the kids. Equal Dreams seems like a good solution. I was lucky I have foster parents, spouse and friends who got me out of the negative mentality during adulthood. Going through financial stress without help is very stressful for kids as they have no avenue of being heard, hope the authorities will look into this and expand the Equal Dreams program
I really Feel for Wardina as someone who had also learning Disability and came from a messy childhood i can really understand her . I hope if she ever reads this comment to always say positive affirmations to herself . You don't have to have a high expensive job to be happy but keep applying yourself because no matter what you lack you will always be good a something else . !!
This video has really taught me to be grateful, and not to always think so highly of myself. being born from well-to-do parents didnt make me realize that i should be grateful for all the things i have not not be spoiled. Thank u to this video
As someone that lives in rental flat, i do not have study table so i always go to library to study instead. Im fine with the small space but it gets a little frustrating that i do not have my own personal space especially when i need to attend online class, online presentation and online group meeting with my group mates. Its definitely not easy but i try to do what i can to manage this challenges and nothing is stoping me from studying.
All the best to Vivian and all the other kids. When her father said goodbye to her, made me shed a tear or two. Can’t imagine leaving my young daughter for extended period… 😢😢
i think is good to for the daughter
and since they cant provide a better environment for the daughter to live, this is a better option
😢I feel really bad for Wardina. Rooting for her to overcome her dyslexia.
Bro you cant «overcome» a learning disability lol
I feel small place definitely affect a lot, I used to live in a small flat with three family members where I got no individual room living in living room, I have no motivation to everything but lying flat all day. It’s mainly caused by the shame from poverty, I won’t let my friend into my house as well, and feel constantly insecurity. Also, there is a lot of time where I feel there is ghost or invaders in the house, and scared myself not wanting to go to the bathroom, kitchen.
Are you still in the same position?
this documentary is insightful and shows stories we do not usually hear about. From this content, by pointing out the kids’ weaknesses and potential mental health issues, does it really help them by publishing it online? Are there support provided for them to prevent depression/dyslexia etc? I would be more stressed watching myself on youtube and knowing that the entire world knows about me.. Not sure if there’s a 2nd part to this documentary
I love to watch documentaries on channels like these because I learn so much about other countries. The world has become smaller, more integrated and I think it is important to know about other countries. Thank you for publishing this documentary.
respect to these kids .teaches me alot not to take things i have for granted .🙏🙏🙏
11:40 I feel like doing that multiple choice test with many personal questions with a stranger observing just centimeters from you might skew their answers? I don't know much about the test, but surely doing it in private might produce more accurate results.
i agree, as well as being filmed for some of it and knowing the result will be made public
Kids do not feel that you are lesser than others, you are still young, you can get out of poverty, study hard, and do not mix with the wrong company. I used to live in a rental flat with 3 siblings and a single mother, but we all did well later in our lives.
Singapore is now one of the richest country in the world and if this is poverty by S’pore standard, it is nothing depraved compared to even countries like Japan, South Korea, Western Europe, US. As much as I feel sorry for these S’pore kids from low income families, I also feel some sense of relief that they don’t have to suffer a much worse living condition (not fit for humans) endured by poor kids dependent on state welfare in western countries mentioned above. However I do feel mostly bad about parents and kids having to share a bedroom and sure enough the living space is too tight, other than that the quality of social housing looks reasonably respectable, modern and cheerful. Also I’m so surprised how cheap the social housing rent is at S$126 a month, my hats off to Spore govt for achieving this.
My family of 9 used to live in a one-room rental flat for $20/month and yet we were always in arrears of the rent. I always had to sheepishly go the the HDB "office" in one of the units in Tiong Bahru flats to pay rents on those that were owed months back.
Remember: you can do more, be more than you think you are able to. Believe in yourself and move forward step by step, slowly, you’ll get there.
@En Hui Lim Both. Is there a difference who he’s referring to?
@@brandon_denwould say both but it's highly important that the children have this strong belief as that would be the push factor to break out of this cycle.
If what we are seeing from this video is the extreme poverty in Singapore, then I am heartened. The kids have a shelter, they have access to education, they do not have to beg on the streets. In every society, there will be a benchmark for extreme poverty. The benchmark in Singapore is very high if you compare it with other countries around the world. I mean, it is an endless cycle, there is always the that side of the spectrum that is below the "average" of that society/country and they will be deemed low income/poverty, it is inevitable but Singapore's benchmark is pretty high and that is heartening. Who knows, maybe in 50-100 years, the benchmark for poverty might be those families who can't afford a car.
Godbless to your Great parents!
yeah they say this is poor. but this kind of house, which i see is quite tidy although many things. they should make documentary about poor in Indonesia, where all the family live in 1 room and go to public toilet.
Yes, you reason with insight. Wish more people in this comment section would. So far I'm number 143 to agree with you. Which means there's hope. One has to compare this living in rental flats with the alternative open to them otherwise: slums! This wins 10 out of 10 times!
Such governments, who truly help the poorer in society, are a huge blessing. They have a secure roof over their head. The apartment building looks nice. The apartment isn't extremely small either. They can go to school, prepare meals, relax, wash themselves, wash clothes, etc.
I agree, these rental flats and the facilities they get is a dream for many of the poor people in my country
I am currently in my mid-late 20s and I moved to a rental flat when I was in primary school because my mother, being a single-parent, could not sustain our life living in a 3 room flat anymore.
I remembered the first state of the house back then - it was those type of cement flooring and we had a squatting toilet. there were also openings at the top of the house for ventilation because it can get pretty warm in the flat and the government does not allow us to install air-con. after about a year or so, thankfully, they did an upgrade and we had a seated toilet bowl. Anyhow, I did not see all these as a thing to be self-conscious about when I was in secondary school and polytechnic.
BUT ... Things started to change when I went to university - where I get to meet people of different background and most of them came from high socio-economic status households with good family. They are also pretty good people and it was then my self-esteem started plummeted - I realised that there are people who are rich, smart and are also kind. It was as if they are the ones who are not tainted by the world, they are like a blank piece of paper, smooth with no rough edges.
my self-esteem got lower and lower and it negatively affected my mental health back then (it was really bad).
Anyhow, one day I decided that I will use my weakness as strengths. It definitely trained my resilience, and also empathy and having a heart for the people who are at a disadvantage in our current societal standards.
Now I am a working adult in the healthcare sector though living in the rental flat with my mother. I would say some days the self-pity feelings and thoughts would come, and during those moments I have learnt to honour my emotions and learnt to look forward each time.
This documentaries definitely pulled on my heartstrings and I am so so proud to see how all three of them are growing so well - in terms of their character and their attitude towards their situations.
I do feel that sometimes the media has the tendency of portraying people living in the rental flat like people who are objects of pity that have to overcome tragic conditions - in the end it just sort of reinforce to the general public that coming of such background is "pitiful", "has it harder".
Hoping that in the future, media / documentaries can show balanced side of things. Growing up from rental flat and the experience does not necessarily have to be framed in a melancholic manner. Hopefully stories could be framed in a more empowering and uplifting manner as well - which would definitely be better for the participants in the video and the viewer.
Long story short, by showing that children/adults living there can or are thriving just like the rest of the society would probably also help to inspire people of similar situations.
Hai Feng is so articulate and he knows his family situation very well. He has a bright future ahead of him and hopefully, will enable him to live in a bigger space in the future.
I grew up in a 2-room rental flat for 17 years and counting. The issue lies in the low-income family, it’s not completely about rental flats affecting the ability and performance of children. To be honest, I’ve always had better grades compared to my contemporaries. My parents placed a high importance on my education and was willing to spend on tuition. However, not all families have the capacities to prioritise their children’s education when they are struggling to put food on the table. Children of low income families that place a low importance on academic excellence tend to struggle the most. Although Vivian studied in a relatively more crowded home than the others, it is clear to see that she has the best potential to flourish academically.
Personally, It boils down to family. We often undermine the impact of family on a child’s development, which can greatly determine the mindset and build the foundation of their capabilities. The problems that come with living in a rental flat is mostly a byproduct of a low-income family, that doesn’t have the money and resources to support their children’s growth.
100% agree! When kids have to worry about not eating or having to care for younger siblings, that will have a much bigger impact.
We clearly see that boy is full of life very talkative and happy .... I can no see any relation or wrong effects due to little spaces to live in ... Therefore the most important is ...who you are living with ...
The young boy Hai Feng is an extremely bright boy. Someone missed this fact because he is hyperactive. More focus should be placed on him. He has all the attributes of those in Tech who developed new products.
Living in a small rented flat with 3 occupants already. Is there a need to keep another 4 cats? Set your priorities right first
more disease and need to put in more time and effort to maintain the house,
I hope more help can be extended to these families, as one of the world’s richest countries, so much more can be done for them.
My message to these families and children - keep going, we all have your back!
Families, be grateful to them, poor or rich. We made mistakes, especially those older generations, which didnt get the better education. But it's up to you if you want to continue this legacy.
To the future descendent, work hard, study hard. Hopefully, land in a government section that can really help you, or a reputable private company that pays well.
Agree. The government must try to help them more
Study hard and work hard does not work when there’s discrimination in the workforce . Especially for the minorities ! Different feet different shoes . LOL !!
i hope this show will keep on continuing, so that more people know about it, change starts from young, hopes are there for kids
So sweet of Munah to offer help with the cats and the chores 😭😭🙏🏻🙏🏻
i lived in a flat for 2 or 3 years when i was a kid, well i was about 12 so i didn't so i understand the meaning of leaving a bigger house for a smaller one. This affected me alot because i had to walk to school by myself, but i liked it there because everything was close together so it made it easier for me to access stuff
The narrative of "rental flats" is not the issue, its income levels which cause this. SG needs to revamp minimum wage structure, it's way too low for such a developed and expensive city. The income gap continues to grow and more needs to be done. All children deserve an opportunity for a bright future.
Agree
Education is the only assurance for low income kids to have better lives than their parents.
As someone who grew up and currently living in a rental flat.. I relate to this video alot and i appreciate the focus on children specifically because we’re affected the most in situations we have no control over.
Hai Feng speaks like Young Sheldon! He’s so cute
Until I was 7 years old, I lived in a one bedroom flat with my parents. My bedroom was the living room, and so if we had company, I slept in my parents room if i got tired. My parents owned the flat. We moved into a house after that.
I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment when my child was born. But we moved to a giant house once he was 9 months old because we didn't want to raise him in an apartment. My husband was born in the suburbs and always lived in a home. Our outlooks are very different. I firmly believe living in a flat, whether it's owned or not, is bad for kids' development.
As someone who grew up in the slums in Manila, their living conditions are enviable. What a luxury. They should feel blessed they have a government who is able to offer up some assistance to take care of them.
Exactly!!
Agree, it’s better than homeless
Why wasn't shan and Vivian interviewed? Would love their perspective on small spaces.
My mum, brother, sister, and myself lived in a bedsit in the 50s, while our dad was in the Royal navy in the far east, so not sure why anyone would thing this video is even needed. People all over the world live in just one room.
The whole idea of =Dreams seems amazing! Hopefully there will be more centers like =Dreams so that more kids from low-income families can receive help!
Was Wardina's mother even taking this situation serious/ Her daughter is 17 and if she doesn't act now, her daughter could struggle more in the future. I don't understand people you have a child especially more than one and just let them suffer and glide through life, the mother should be ashamed of herself. Is the father passed away or did he leave? That poor girl... my heart truly breaks for her
Hi, for yr information of course i am taking it very seriously.
Can we get CNA to do a few episodes of the rich families in Singapore and how their kids are doing? I applaud the focus on the less privileged in SG but I also am interested in how the upper or highest class of Singapore society actually live their lives.
In many cases, quite common for local Chinese families to bestow a property to their progeny, gift them the latest gadgets, commute by personal car, holiday jobs are optional, go on opulent vacations, lavish birthday bashes, cafés/restaurants are the norm for each meal and a domestic helper to pick up after them. Generally, a pretty awesome life. Would be nice to live that kind of life since life is short.
One could only dream~
2 rooms is ok , I used to live in a rented HDB with a half room ( no door) and half living room , and a open kitchen. Me and my baby sis sleep on the floor of the living room and my parent on the bed , those day although were poor , but it was the most happiest day , we shared food among neighbors, and our door is always open during day time , we no worry being rob because the whole building is the same people with low income with nothing valuable, life need to learn in a hard way so we will know how to treasure and strive for a better future
As a child of an impoverished family living in a small rental room where 4 of us slept and we had to share living and kitchen with other tenants, me and my brother grew up without much of a childhood and looking back, perhaps dysfunctional due to the financial stress and anxiety we faced. I walked out of poverty thanks to education and got through to university. Life became much better since and I have my own home now but there is always the insecurity and my past does haunt me at times impacting my self-esteem and emotional state.
Interesting watch. I'm American and grew up crammed into three bedroom trailers (which sounds like a lot but the bedrooms were basically closets) with my parents and 9 siblings. I could relate to so much of this even though it's halfway around the world. It takes such a toll on your whole existence. I'm 40 and I'm still trying to work out how to live a normal life and sometimes I don't do so well. I hope the best for these kids.
birth rate are declining everywhere but rental and property price is never declining why
i hope these kids will achieve success in the future, live comfortably with their family one day.
Not everyone is privileged and once grown up, never forget our roots. Be humbled and always be kind to others
Such conditions quite often has a long term impact. I can relate to the children and their thoughts bring back some memories.
Good to have relatives.
Helping at home is super normal and teaches you to be responsible for your space. It’s not a bad thing!
It's great to know that facilities like =Dreams exist. They should grow up carefree and not be facing the constant quarrels and struggles their parents are facing.
It is no different than boarding school where other people raise their children.
@@Iworkwithnitwits Except that =Dreams is FOC for children from low income families.I think that they won’t have to worry too much about their family’s financial situation while staying at =Dreams and they actually have the time to concentrate on their academics~
Great documentary from CNA insider. Hope to see more of these covering social issues.
The flat is not the problem, the cluttered chaos is. I watched a documentary of a couple with 3 kids living in a small New York City apartment. Everything was clutterfree, organized and looked lovely and the kids appeared chilled and happy. Of course they also did not have adult responsibilities.
maybe they should have adult responsibilities cant be a kid 4ever
That's the first thing that I noticed, the neater appartment looks totaly okay, it's often a problem of mismanagement rather than a size problem
Good to know they are getting the help they needed.
In Mumbai I lived in 100 sq feet room and used public toilet . However it taught me to fight and make better life for ourselves and always better than being out on the footpath. In India earlier there was no govt assistance that time. Now, current gov has done some provision in past 5-6 yrs
i grew up without a bedroom, always sleeping in living room, now i'm interiror designer, i feel lucky the situation turns into my passion of my job instead of child hood trauma
Prayers ❤to all the kids esp wardina, she’s everyone dream child, so mature beyond her age. Her mum shld b so grateful 😢
Yes i am grateful to have her and thanks for yr comment
no matter how hard life is, in singapore we are still able to have a roof above our heads no matter the size. in others parts of the world like in the US u might be living on the streets and under the bridge.
Tbh is not the rental apartment or lack of space it’s the parents not looking out for the children’s emotional health or mental health..
I don’t think it has anything to do with living in rental flats , those who live in own houses can also have family issues which can effect kids mental and emotional health. It is important for both parents and children to share their thoughts, situations and emotions. If you understand and love each other and stop comparing with others life ,most of the problems can be solved.
Agree 💯
That's Wonderful...Thanks CNA for the Documentary
In Hong Kong, 460sqf can divide into a compact 3 bedroom 1 living room 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom moderate flat.I do not see why Singaporean do not have the Interior knowledge.
Children nowadays are blessed, at least they still have a flat to live in. They don’t have to live on the streets like other countries.
I lived in a rental flat without bedroom at all with dad, mum and 5 siblings (8 ppl in total) in 1970s, we slept, eat and did homework from school in the only Living Room (coz no bedroom).
We moved to a 3 room flat in 1978. But we sisters also had to share a bedroom (luckily no brothers). We don’t feel stressed nor anxious. I don’t see why children living in 2 room flat considered to be anxious or stressed, like I mentioned earlier they are living in a flat, not on the Streets…..
Discouraging programme. Leaves a stigma rather than inspire these kids to see beyond their current circumstances and dream big. Interviews with overcomers would have been helpful.
Same problem in Hong Kong. Sickening! You have to be a monster to bring kids into this kind of horrid reality.
Yeah, Hong Kong flats are worse. Packed like sardine cans. But that is no excuse for the government to be complacent and let it's citizens live in such small quarters.
Yikes. Children who are old enough to give a tour of their home should not be sleeping in the same bed as their parents.
Thanks for doing this espiode of Talking Point @CNA. Like these kids, I grew up in 2 room rental flat when I was in my teens for a few years. The environment is certainly not helpful for kids' growing years - loan sharks from neighbours come knocking on your door in the middle of night, frequent police patrols and having to look behind you everyday when you walk up to the flat using dark and quiet staircases (those days there are no survellience cameras).
Attest to the fact that a conducive study space is important for kids living in rental flat. Besides =Dreams, there should be more common study or workspaces near rental flats.
I am thankful that with education, right mentors and a strong mindset, we can overcome the challenges.
Good perhaps for CNA to think about doing a series of what would help rental flat kids succeed in life and giving these kids a glimpse of what good and great looks like. Exposure to good grades and what good grades means are important for them to envision their own good future. I know i envision alot alot when I was living in rental flat - what I want to be, where I want to stay, what I want to do
They should do the study on children living in other living accommodation as well for a more accurate assessment. There's no comparison that can be made here and therefore no conclusion.
I myself lived in a small flat and had to take care of my younger brother since I was 12, so I'm genuinely interested to know what are the differences between me and other children.
These kids will grow up to be tough and great. Be positive, have courage.
to Wardina & mummy, if you ever come across this comment, I'd just like to say that you are doing great no matter how difficult life is. mummy, I am very sure that Wardina & her brother are very thankful to have a roof over their heads AND each other's company (also the cute kitties!). never underestimate how much of a blessing your children are. with every hardship, comes ease (94:5). I pray that your family will be blessed with happines and calmness, and may He protect you always. you can do this 🥰👍🏻
Wardina... my heart goes out to you...
Many people of 90smight have grown up same way with more responsibilities. But let's not compare. The pressure and exclusion in the society is more that might lead to different symptoms like depression anxiety etc.
rental flat in Indonesia (big cities) also around $130 a month.
but the food and transportation cost are way lower.
and the weather are way nicer if you live in Bandung.
The entire house smaller than my bedroom. That must be hard for the kids living in a cramped house for many years.