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Syarafana Shafeeq

Syarafana, or Fana for short, joined The Straits Times in 2021. As a journalist on the social affairs team, she covers issues such as family violence, mental health and disability. She is particularly interested in topics concerning women and children, and hopes to shed light on the struggles of vulnerable groups. 

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Latest articles

130 persons with autism on wait list for day activity centre spots, up from 80 in 2024

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua said the Government is ramping up the capacity of Day Activity Centres here to meet demand.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua said the Government is ramping up the capacity of Day Activity Centres here to meet demand.

Quantedge Foundation aims to do more for social mobility through philanthropy, says CEO Xie Yao Quan

ssxyq31 ST20260128_202680000382 Ong Wee Jin / Syarafana / 

Interview with MP Xie Yao Quan, in his capacity as Quantedge Foundation's CEO.
ssxyq31 ST20260128_202680000382 Ong Wee Jin / Syarafana / 

Interview with MP Xie Yao Quan, in his capacity as Quantedge Foundation's CEO.

Upcoming Islamic college appoints steering committee, board of governors

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim speaking at the Singapore College of Islamic Studies' inaugural symposium on Jan 27.
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim speaking at the Singapore College of Islamic Studies' inaugural symposium on Jan 27.

Mendaki to expand initiatives in next 5 years to further boost success among Malay/Muslims

(From left) Mendaki chief executive Feroz Akber, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim and Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad, showing the group’s five-year work plan to strengthen educational support, expand outreach and deepen partnerships, on Jan 15.
(From left) Mendaki chief executive Feroz Akber, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim and Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad, showing the group’s five-year work plan to strengthen educational support, expand outreach and deepen partnerships, on Jan 15.

Vote for ST’s Singaporean of the Year 2025 from Jan 19 to 31

The nominees for ST’s Singaporean of the Year are (top row, from left) Ms Lydia Susiyanti Sukarbi, Mr Edmund Wee, Ms Peggy Yee, Mr Robert Sim; (bottom row, from left) Dr Chen Shiling, Mr Darryl Lee, Mr Ganesh Kumar, Mr Steven Goh.
The nominees for ST’s Singaporean of the Year are (top row, from left) Ms Lydia Susiyanti Sukarbi, Mr Edmund Wee, Ms Peggy Yee, Mr Robert Sim; (bottom row, from left) Dr Chen Shiling, Mr Darryl Lee, Mr Ganesh Kumar, Mr Steven Goh.

His drive to build better cities energised him to the end: Tributes pour in for Liu Thai Ker

0118TKH  Dr Liu Thai Ker’s profile photo taken during a Bloomberg Podcast Recording in 2022. (Image credit: MORROW Architects and Planners) 
0118TKH  Dr Liu Thai Ker’s profile photo taken during a Bloomberg Podcast Recording in 2022. (Image credit: MORROW Architects and Planners) 

60 pupils from River Valley Primary School down with suspected food poisoning

The pupils felt unwell after lunch break on Jan 14 and reported having symptoms of gastroenteritis on the following day.
The pupils felt unwell after lunch break on Jan 14 and reported having symptoms of gastroenteritis on the following day.

IPS study calls for earlier intervention, redesigned shelters to tackle long-term homelessness

ST20260107_202650300278 Kua Chee Siong/ sssleep09/ EMBARGOED TILL JAN 9, 2026.
Generic pix of the transitional shelter, Transit Point@Yio Chu Kang, on Jan 7, 2026.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) will be releasing the 2025 Report on the Street Count of Rough Sleepers and the Report on Ending Long-Term Homelessness, respectively.
The MSF report will highlight trends since the first street count of rough sleepers in 2022, whilst the IPS report will present findings on the multiple pathways into homelessness from their study conducted from 2021 to 2024.
Together, these reports provide insight into the current state and underlying causes of homelessness in Singapore.
ST20260107_202650300278 Kua Chee Siong/ sssleep09/ EMBARGOED TILL JAN 9, 2026.
Generic pix of the transitional shelter, Transit Point@Yio Chu Kang, on Jan 7, 2026.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) will be releasing the 2025 Report on the Street Count of Rough Sleepers and the Report on Ending Long-Term Homelessness, respectively.
The MSF report will highlight trends since the first street count of rough sleepers in 2022, whilst the IPS report will present findings on the multiple pathways into homelessness from their study conducted from 2021 to 2024.
Together, these reports provide insight into the current state and underlying causes of homelessness in Singapore.

Slightly fewer people recorded sleeping rough last year; new fund launched in S'pore to trial solutions

MSF announced a new $450,000 fund that would provide grants for organisations to trial solutions that address the underlying causes of rough sleeping.
MSF announced a new $450,000 fund that would provide grants for organisations to trial solutions that address the underlying causes of rough sleeping.

2026 outlook: What’s next for social sector and the top stories of 2025

The case of four-year-old Megan Khung’s death came under scrutiny in 2025, with MSF announcing measures to improve safeguards in the child protection system.
The case of four-year-old Megan Khung’s death came under scrutiny in 2025, with MSF announcing measures to improve safeguards in the child protection system.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.