How a student’s pen-pal project connected teenagers in Hougang
The TL;DR: After noticing teenagers from lower-income communities in Hougang struggling to make connections within their neighbourhood, Lasalle student Masha Nyanna Wee Junyadi created a pen-pal programme to help them build friendships and support systems.
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Masha Nyanna Wee Junyadi presenting her project at Jom Jalan-Jalan!, a community walk put together by Lasalle students to showcase their work in the neighbourhood.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JAS ONG
Leung Ka Yan
- LASALLE student Masha Nyanna Wee Junyadi created a penpal programme to help teenagers in Hougang from low-income families build friendships and support systems.
- Many teens struggled to connect socially due to few community activities and found face-to-face conversations intimidating.
- The penpal project used guided letter writing to encourage sharing and reflection, offering an alternative way for teens to communicate and feel less lonely.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – Whenever Masha Nyanna Wee Junyadi volunteered at community events, she was intrigued by a particular phenomenon: The adults would be locked in discussions while the children were engaged in games and craft activities.
However, the teenagers were “lingering” and “not really engaged” – too old to enjoy the children’s activities, but unable to relate to the adult conversations.
