But the kids at the school don’t label me. They’re only 14, 15 and 16-years old, but not as judgemental as the adults. Instead of pushing me away, they welcomed me into their circles. It’s an experience I cannot find anywhere else, and I’m very happy to be here.
Don’t volunteer for the sake of volunteering; volunteer with commitment and heart. Just know that the universe works in funny ways. The more you give, the more you will get. Stick to this belief and volunteer work won’t be a hassle.
Kurt Ganapathy follows different groups of volunteers as they carry out selfless acts of kindness to bring you these lovely images that commemorate Singapore turning 53. Happy National Day!
I think all the people who agreed to be part of the video intrinsically understood what being part of a family is, whatever that means to different people. Each of these profiles also have love for our country in some form or another, and I feel like we managed to capture that in each frame.
I think being genuine is the most important thing in my line of work. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. If the way you express yourself makes the ex-offender feel comfortable, he or she will find it easier to trust you.
I compared diabetes to hell for my design project. I was inspired by religion and used Haw Par Villa as my point of reference. To me, how diabetes affects a person’s health is very similar to the way in which the theme park portrays the different levels of hell.
Everyone makes mistakes, don’t they? But that’s all in the past. These ex-convicts have paid for their mistakes and are on the road to recovery, so why can’t they be treated fairly?
You’re the only one who can determine if you’re going in the ring to fight, and I like that feeling of being in control of your own destiny.
If you’re concerned about labels or stigma when working with children of ex-offenders, get to know the person first before passing any judgement. If I could play a part to help stop intergenerational offending, I would try my best to do so.
Life is quite short, and I want to enjoy living it – that’s my mantra. I’ve seen so many people who don’t enjoy what they do. Why spend your life being unhappy with something? Manage your life and do something that you like.
In the name of the Beautiful Game, resident photographer Kurt Ganapathy spent 17 days travelling across seven cities in Russia to bring you this set of stunning images.
When an ex-offender changes for the better, we’re helping his family. When he gets a job, he will also contribute to the workforce and economic success of the country. So it’s not just a job; we need to believe what we’re doing actually makes a difference.
I experienced molestation when I was in secondary school. I was on the bus and the guy seated next to me lifted my skirt. I didn’t know what to do; I just alighted and cried about it…
I think people with records don’t like to be persuaded or told what to do. Many of them are very proud and sensitive by nature. I know this because I’m like that too. The truth of the matter is, they just need someone whom they can trust and talk to…
Facing a question mark on his mortality, he showed how being present is sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone. That was ultimately the legacy he left behind in this world…
I wouldn’t look for fights, but if someone wanted to fight, I would. Why? Well, I grew up in a broken family and I just had a lot of anger management issues back then…
Resident photographer Kurt Ganapathy explores the Ramadhan bazaar in Singapore’s iconic Geylang district and captures the food, lights, crowd and overall good vibes.
Time to raise some money! On EP 3 of our YouTube series “Upcoming”, we talk with Kenny Leck about selling bricks and finding a forever home for his beloved bookstore.
My favourite pastime was to visit art galleries. It’s funny now that I think about it, but I used to be so envious of the girls behind the counter. I wanted to be a gallery girl too…
My wrestling character is called Party Starter. He wears white tights and obnoxious gold knee pads. He’s a babyface, which is what you call the good guys in wrestling…