RICE

There’s no doubt that local protections exist for good reasons. Locals deserve strong consideration. ⁠ ⁠ But Singapore also invests in young talent on the condition that they work here after graduating. When someone is ready to keep that promise but can’t find the room to, what does the bargain actually offer? ⁠ ⁠ In this RICE Community Voices story, Charlotte Low, 22, shares her perspecticve as the partner of an international student struggling to fulfil his MOE Tuition Grant bond amidst the Singapore job market. ⁠ Read more: https://bit.ly/4hr5iRM

What do families of individuals with special needs silently struggle with?  Ryan Stone, founder of Fort Achievers, opens up about the realities of behavioural therapy and the small wins that keep him going in a challenging field. 🎬WATCH: https://bit.ly/3T1cZGr

The Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) is betting Singaporeans will recycle more if there's cash on the table. With 10 cents riding on every container, the scheme has collected over 33 million bottles and cans since it kicked off in April. If 10 cents was all it took, that says something less flattering about why we weren't recycling in the first place. Read more: https://bit.ly/4xFietu

Behavioural therapist Ryan Stone doesn’t shy away from showcasing the hardest days on the job. The former SAF regular turned founder of Fort Achievers wants Singaporeans to see what families of individuals with special needs actually deal with behind closed doors. Past the viral clips of meltdowns and aggression, what does Ryan think it’ll take to build more empathy for the clients he aid? Read more: https://bit.ly/4y8k0nR

💭 Was there a time an agent went beyond just closing the deal for you? ⬇️ Tell us in the comments!

📊 Poll incoming…

Young, Dumb, and Apparently Too Concerned About Singapore’s Environmental Heritage By Andriel Cheong Singapore still lacks a proper framework for understanding nature beyond its instrumental value. What the environmental assessments don’t typically set out to measure are the sociocultural aspects tied to the environment. With Western Island, perhaps there’s still time to draw up better frameworks. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87588

How much is public service worth? With Parliament debating the framework for political salaries, Singaporeans deliberate over what it takes to attract top talent, prevent corruption, and reward immense responsibility: https://www.instagram.com/ricemedia.co/p/DdGk8NsGwyt/

When Becoming a Ninja Felt Easier Than Grieving My Divorce By Imran Johri “If there ever was a time I had stared into an abyss, that was it. With my Singaporean dream lying before me in a thousand shattered pieces, what did I truly want now? I want to be a ninja.” Imran Johri realises his obsession with martial arts, physical fitness, and a regrettable plunge into… Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87520

Who Is Jovan Tang, and Why Is a 16-Year-Old This Committed to Grassroots Work? By Cheyenne Koh It’s surreal watching Jovan Tang patrolling his Whampoa neighbourhood, checking on infrastructure and amenities residents have personally complained to him about. It’s like watching a teenager satirising what an MP would do, except that there isn’t a single iota of irony here. When Jovan’s genuine commitment to serve becomes fodder for internet trolls, what… Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87419

🗣 We're looking for profiles! 🗣 RICE is hoping to explore something families rarely talk about openly: what happens when one of their own is incarcerated. We're looking for people who: 👉 Have, or have had, a family member in prison — a child, sibling, parent, spouse, or someone further out — and are open to sharing how your family handled it Note: Your story can be kept strictly anonymous if preferred! If you or anyone you know is keen on contributing: 1. Comment below 2. DM us on IG (http://www.instagram.com/ricemedia.co) 3. Join our WhatsApp Community Chat and DM us personally (https://chat.whatsapp.com/BlwHzX7bZUp6BWKZH2LTfA?mode=gi_t)

When the Singaporean Dream Shrinks to an $8 Matcha By Sean Lim “Our little treats and trinkets don’t solve uncertainty. But they remind us that we can’t spend our lives preparing for what comes next.” In this RICE Community Voices piece, Sean Lim, 27, writes about finding a sense of agency in matcha when everything else feels uncertain and out of reach for Gen Zs. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87333

Maju means progress in Malay. And in the pursuit of progress, a forest carrying that name is set to be partially cleared for housing.  Thousands rallied at Hong Lim Park for SG Climate Rally’s Maju For The People, asking for a kind of progress that doesn't come at the cost of Singapore's disappearing green spaces. 🎬WATCH: https://bit.ly/45Yw6nr 🎬

Singapore Doesn’t Need Public Transport to Be an Alternative. It Needs It to Be the Default. By Ilyas Sholihyn Most of our core memories in Singapore have been shaped by transport infrastructure. The distance between where (and who) we were back then can be traced to the varied stops we make in the commute of our lives. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87261

Maju Rally: How the Heat Made the Case for Every Tree Left Standing By Cheyenne Koh Maybe, ironically, the truest symbol of maju—progress—for our country is doing nothing to our natural spaces. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87154

Social Workers Can’t Afford Pro Photography. So We Shoot for Them, For Free. By Rachel Goh “At events with their beneficiaries, social service workers end up snapping blurry photos on their own phones because there was never budget left over for a photographer with a proper camera. In a world that relies heavily on visual sheen, their work was going unseen.” In this RICE Community Voices piece, Project Obscura co-founder… Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=87037