Venessa Lee

Senior Correspondent

Venessa Lee is a senior correspondent at The Straits Times who writes features on parenting and social issues.

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Family steps away from Singapore’s education ‘arms race’

(From left) Mr Joash Liang and Ms Corrine Ang with their daughters Eleora and Elise. In pursuit of a slower, different lifestyle, they relocated first to Thailand, then to Malaysia in recent years.

Curved lines, cosy vibes: Designing safe spaces for youth mental health

The interior of grovve, a new youth wellness space at *Scape, which has a "no wrong door" design concept intended to help persons with diverse mental health needs.

Fostering teens: Former foster child can’t bear being separated from foster home

Mr Ahmad Ashrafiqri, 25, appreciates his foster parents' love and the rules he had to observe in their household growing up.

Fostering teens: Couple’s daughters became foster sisters to two girls

Mr Bob Chia, 52, sales director at an IT firm, with his wife, Ms Lee May Ling, 52, an admin manager, prefer to foster teens rather than babies and toddlers.

Fostering teens: Couples make an impact on them before adulthood and show them ‘how to do family’

Ms Halimaton Abdullah, 44, a teacher, and her husband, Mr Khairul Amin Zakaria, 44, a constituency director at the People's Association are currently fostering an 18-year-old girl.

Fostering teens: Dealing with academic stress and a teen romance

Mr Bhaskar Peri and Mrs Hema Peri are mindful of how they communicate with their foster teen.

7 ways that big families in Singapore can get big savings

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Mr Jonathan Poh, 42, Owner of Nature Therapy Studio, and his wife, Ms Selena Vera Hey, 41, Teacher, with their four daughters, Naomi Helen Poh Yi Qing, (second from right) 8, primary three pupil; Natalie Susan Poh Yi Ning, (third from right) 7, primary one pupil; Natasha Eunice Poh Yi Ling, (extreme right) 3, in nursery two; and Nadya Francine Poh Yi Ting, 1, at his shop in Kitchener Complex on Sept 6, 2025.

The govt's Large Families Scheme credits kick off in Sept. Interview with parents of large families, defined as having 3 or more kids, about their bargain-hunting, money-saving tips for large families

(ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

Teen social anxiety: Crochet, calming exercises and trusted adults can help

Young people interviewed by The Straits Times say they have experienced fears of being judged by other people and a lack of a sense of belonging in school.

Confectionery dream over, Flor Patisserie’s Heidi Tan focuses on food and cultural tours to Japan

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Ms Heidi Tan, 36, tour guide from Kitabi Travel, holding a tea cup, at home on Aug 8, 2025.
People pivoting to new careers in mid-life and older: Heidi Tan, owner of FLOR Patisserie which closed down recently due to high rental, who has pivoted to being a tour guide for Japan, where she hosts curated tours including tea tours.
(ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

Weekend Trip: 5 things worth eating in Penang

Check out the five food recommendations in Penang by the writer.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2025 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.