Going Hungry In Singapore, A Cheap Food Paradise | Special Report Part 1/2 (with MSF clarifications)

[@markvincentcaminoy9985]

I used to eat rice with salt for my breakfast and then casually go to school. There was a time when I had to eat rice with just boiled cassava leaves for breakfast before a regional public speaking contest. I won that competition, before going home my coach treated me to some fried chicken. It was one of the best meals of my life. Through hard work, I'm in a better place now. I can give my sisters what they want. I can cook whatever I want. I'm still poor, but I'm working hard. EDIT: It's been two years. I am overwhelmed with your kind words. Life had been a rollercoaster ride since I left this comment. I lost my job in 2021. However, through determination coupled with prayer, I am now a teacher in UAE. I'm sending my sisters to college now, while my brother has finally become a licensed agriculturist. I still visit this comment sometimes to remind me of how I was able to move forward little by little. Thanks again, everyone.

[@nainai4889]

i would love to send u and ur sisters some treats from my home country NZ

[@bruhbro1181]

vincent question for u why u have a device if u r poor?

[@abd12459]

@@bruhbro1181 there's a lot of affordable mobile phone brands 🙄

[@bruhbro1181]

@@abd12459 ok thank u

[@markvincentcaminoy9985]

@@bruhbro1181 please read the first 3 words. :)

[@robbiereeve7916]

The story of the little girl saying "how did you know I was very hungry" is heartbreaking. No child should ever be hungry in this day and age.

[@Ccckkkkkkkkk]

Exactly

[@aligmal5031]

World hunger can be solved if the ppl in power want to but they don't

[@earnold1896]

@@aligmal5031 and greedy movie stars and real estate developers and fake pastors with millions and well the list goes on.

[@absoleet]

Especially in a country as wealthy as Singapore.

[@averageuser2027]

@@aligmal5031 Always someone else’s fault. There are organizations like food from the heart, who collect food to give to deserving families. Maybe you could be proactive and donate instead of being pessimistic and waiting for other people to do it.

[@clara-xm4jo]

absolutely can’t imagine the panic these families felt when everyone started hoarding on instant noodles and canned food... praying that things will get better for them soon

[@amirulhaeqal2133]

yea imagine eating instant noodles for 90+ days non stop, that thought is dreadful :v

[@amirulhaeqal2133]

how are you doing by the way?

[@seurn7801]

People like this will die of hunger in home quarantine instead of the virus itself.. it's sad.. a lot of selfish people hoarding food and necessities, I can't imagine how they're coping with the quarantine. I hope they get help as they don't seem to have enough financial income. I hope for their safety.

[@amirulhaeqal2133]

@@seurn7801 yes hopefully things get better for em

[@wanrazul]

Is the gov doing anything for these folks?

[@natashamerline]

Aahhh yess.. I remember those days. I'm in Malaysia but it was only last year that I had to, 1) ask my mom for RM1 so that I can withdraw RM10 from the bank (I had RM9 in it and my mom had financial issues as well and I didn't want ask her for anymore.) 2) gather all the 5 cents & 10 cents to buy a RM3.5 bread. Ate plain bread for a few days. 3) wait for the closing time of a bread store (because my friend works there), brought home whatever's left, had that as food for the next 4 days. Rinse and repeat. Had no money to buy rice, so can't cook rice. And that was last year. Now, despite Covid-19, I still have a job to go to and every month, I'll make sure there's always budget for food. RM300 a month, RM10 a day and I also make it a point to have a piggy bank to store all of my spare change. Entertainment comes later. I'm definitely working on myself and saving more, for a better future. I made a promise to myself that I'll never starve again. All the best to everyone who's facing hunger problems.

[@leeluv96]

Do you have a balcony? If so, start a small garden.

[@rdromzirazali351]

how can i help?

[@thefamilycat86]

Hope your perseverance has paid off. 🙏🏻

[@bizneat3610]

Watching this, I just noticed that I grew up hungry. My mum will cook one canned food and 2 eggs to be shared for 5 person. As teenager I have to fry flour batter mixed with sugar because I was still hungry after the meal. I did not realized the poverty until I grew up. All I knew was people kept commenting how skinny I was.

[@jacoflint5654]

Very true. I never realised I have been eating one canned of beans everyday. My mother had to watch us eat while she starved. (Edit: the can beans is shared between me and my younger sister)

[@Tokyoung53]

I'm a hawker. Sometimes there's food leftovers from my stall. Where can I send them to. Please help!

[@vythai7136]

You have a warm heart!

[@CNAInsider]

Thanks for offering! You can try a couple of the food charities listed here, or asking your neighbourhood Resident's Committee or family service centre: Food From The Heart: www.foodfromtheheart.sg Food Bank Singapore: www.giving.sg/the-food-bank-singapore-ltd Free Food For All: freefood.org.sg Willing Hearts: www.willinghearts.org.sg National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre: www.giving.sg/sgunited TOUCH Community Services: To volunteer for Meals-On-Wheels delivery, call 68046565

[@Tokyoung53]

Thank you very much. May God Almighty bless us all.

[@xhngoh1655]

Thank you very much for helping those in need!

[@lucaslow7590]

@@Tokyoung53 where is your hawker stall, would want to patronize haha

[@burmeseempire5241]

It’s truly heartbreaking to see them having to go through such a hardship. Deeply appreciate the help that volunteer groups are providing for the less fortunate.

[@dannyngeow7973]

Sky 86 so warm reading your text message

[@12347873]

Everyone are born with a stomach to feed so is called hardship in life n had to work.A angel or soul don't need to worry this.So don't give birth, please used condom in future!It the fault of Adam n Eve for eating forbidden fruit.

[@Pro-dd4dv]

@@12347873 well said. Its about time people understand that

[@vantastroganoff4370]

Why have 3 kids

[@terryofford4977]

The government allow such 'Social Groups' to 'assist', it saves and solves the problem of having to think about a long term plan which may change the current status Quo and with a PM who is paid more than that of the USA President, perhaps a start there would be a good idea.

[@MrHei913]

I can still remember when i was a child, i used to eat instant noodle for every meal every day because my single mum was broke. Food insecurity is real ...

[@victoriay5678]

Bad for hair but at that time I suppose you have no choice.

[@Pengulin]

@@victoriay5678 Yea for me it was fishball rice because my fam had alot of medical bills to pay. Hope you doing better now. It will get better.

[@vantastroganoff4370]

Why your mom have 4 kids.now we call it.food.insecurity.is that we call OVERBREEDING

[@margaretm6065]

and where was your dad?

[@jan-margaret6970]

😢

[@CNAInsider]

UPDATE: Clarifications from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), which reached out to some of the profiles with their permission: - (5:10-34) Income is not the sole criteria for ComCare assistance. Applicants' needs are assessed holistically, such as food, financial debts, healthcare, employment, family-relationship issues, and housing needs. In Sam's case, he approached the SSO in 2015 over rental assistance and declined to apply for financial assistance. - (9:35-10:40) Azhar has to apply to extend his ComCare assistance every 3 months, because the period of assistance is aligned with the three-month duration of his medical certificates. He had last applied in late August 2019, and submitted his doctor's memo (certifying him unfit for work) on Sept 25. His application was approved a week later, on Oct 3. - (9:45-52) Most applications for assistance are processed in 2-4 weeks, once necessary documents are submitted. Almost all are processed within 6 weeks.

[@littlelilacbunny]

The threshold is too high, it’s heartbreaking to see how so many families don’t qualify for aid and end up starving😭😭😭😭

[@littlelilacbunny]

It’s inhumane how ComCare operates - PLS REFORM THE POLICIES 😭😭😭

[@XevLexa]

One of the hallmark of a great society is how well they help the poor...hope the government pay extra attention to these vulnerable group of people...bless those volunteers who help out in any way they can...😘

[@CrakenFlux]

How many poor can you help, especially when they reproduce with abandon? Do they need instruction from the gov?

[@gavasiarobinssson5108]

I hope their family will help. Where are nieces and cousins?

[@saintultra2737]

@@CrakenFlux with contraceptives and education. Both are studied methods of assisting a family in achieving upwards mobility.

[@duallove6909]

Unfortunately, poor and hungry ppl are in every country. No matter how rich the country is.

[@3ckstermus]

yes. the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer. sad truth where the rich dont help the poor. they think they die and their money buried with them.

[@xboys10p]

@@3ckstermus don't blame the rich, blame yourself. What rich ppl can do is to provide a job for them so the poor can continue their live better.

[@rollerbutter5211]

imo, being poor is defined by the state of the community itself, i could easily say that these poor people in singapore have it far more better than the ones in a poorer country just as the reporter said early in the videos. some because their poor choices in life, some were because of the lack of chances they can get. sometimes you cant blame them completely.. and maybe its better to stop blaming each other. help if you can, seek help if you need one.

[@fooaloysius7179]

How many poor and hungry people are there in rich Denmark? Care to provide us some statistics?

[@james.a.h.]

Unfortunately the lack of education and or financial literacy leads to this. Plus in certain religions they teach more children = more luck/prosperity.

[@deathdragonslayer1]

God bless Fion...She has a good heart. Hope that little girl's situation improves and she grows up to fulfill her dreams

[@dewickmeeewe613]

I actually know her irl

[@dannyngeow7973]

deathdragonslayer1 , thank you

[@mohdfaizal6773]

Reality actually hurts, meanwhile in the istana. Dear ministers having a royal Buffet

[@firestyt3440]

DEWICK MEEEWE sane my family knows her

[@cy3970]

@@dewickmeeewe613 anyth we could do to help? like money wise

[@foodie1300]

Good job CNA on this insight into the lives of the less well off in Singapore. Many are not aware of their living situations and thr real hunger they face. Very heart warming and inspiring to see Fion and others helping those in need. My heart goes out to the children. I hope the schools in S'pore can show this clip to our kids. In this day n age where its all about me myself and I, this generation has to be more exposed to others in need and how each of us can play a part to help them. Thanks

[@dannyngeow7973]

foodie1300 thank you

[@amandaolives1227]

This reminds me of 2008, when at 14 years old I’m waking up everyday at 3AM to make fire from coal to cook rice for me and my 9yr old brother. We only have shrimp paste to give a little bit of taste to our bland rice. Then we both go to school at 6am. Life is hard for us then living with just the two of us without parents. But even with this, we both graduated from college, got honors and got jobs. Now atleast we are in a better place and can eat whatever we want. And for those hard experiences I’m really thankful because I can appreciate the blessings that we have right now.

[@irjectjade]

thats great!

[@chuchuctulhu4560]

This is heartbreaking, and I am really glad there are strong social institutions over there in SG to help them. I have experienced this myself when I was a kid, and I know too well the worry and sadness on my parents’ faces when food is running out.

[@YMWong-cb6ke]

Most of the people in Singapore are poor because they make themselves poor by multiplying themselves senselessly and recklessly. If they think before they act, today they would be better of than what would have been. don't blame others, blame yourself.

[@chuchuctulhu4560]

@@YMWong-cb6ke that’s a very callous comment. Poverty and hunger will not be alleviated with just “not multiplying”. It is a systemic issue that involves a lot of variables that you cannot just pin down on one’s personal choice or circumstance. Besides, you are implying that poor people does not have any choice on personal and intimate decisions like having kids or building a family - no one gets to be a tyrant over another person just because one is wealthier or more powerful. Learn to be empathetic and just like what you said, don’t blame others for their plight. Donate some food to charity - that will go a long way to helping needy families.

[@YMWong-cb6ke]

I partly agree with you. That is why I say most people and not all people. To me, a few % of people are poor because of unfortunate circumstances, but a high % of the poor people are poor because of their poor decisions. Why would you bring others to suffer with you if you know you cannot afford to feed them? The poor children have no choice. @@chuchuctulhu4560

[@marcie557]

⁠@@chuchuctulhu4560well said

[@CraftyHelen]

It's good to know that Singaporeans have assistance when it's needed. This is a necessity in our society to provide for people and families in need.

[@uchibauki2515]

I’m surprised 😮 I thought Singaporean are successful and rich people!

[@jasonwoo4370]

@@uchibauki2515 how ignorant can you be to think everyone is the same, thats like saying all asians are from china haahahha

[@ilove2929]

That commcare needs to up their game tho

[@zxgoh6940]

@@uchibauki2515 ummmm no

[@RonLarhz]

Still many fall theu the cracks. Like the income thing max 1.8-1.9k but ur income 2k then confirm reject. Bodoh sia.

[@noobest254]

Gotta respect Shanger . I hope he does well in life with his diploma .

[@Bilalschannel09]

NööBęśt his a great son

[@shangerpannerchelvam2386]

Thank you :D

[@noobest254]

SHANGER PANNERCHELVAM :)

[@PbTheOneWhoSikhs]

@@shangerpannerchelvam2386 Good Luck Brother!!!! From California US

[@nomz1362]

@@shangerpannerchelvam2386 All the best dude! you are a great son and a good man. You eating like a KING now HAHA be cautious tho eating that much may not be healthy long term other than that you're great man i wish you well

[@ilove2929]

U wont see them hungry and homeless people in a plain sight in singapore doesnt mean they dont exist

[@kobadaa.952]

ilove2929 where they put them?

[@mindyjones333]

When we lived there, we never saw a homeless person in public. They would hide in the day because they weren’t allowed to bring attention to themselves. You could usually find them in the neighborhood hawker centers at night. So sad. Really made me sad.

[@kobadaa.952]

Mindy Jones my sg mates tell me about this all the time but I’ve never spotted them in all my time in SG

[@mindyjones333]

Kobada A. Isn’t that sad? I would always “buy” tissue packets from some that would sit on the side of walking paths and in the MRT hallways. The locals told me that it was their way of “saving face” by being able to “sell” you a product for a hopeful decent amount. I’d buy their little packets for S$20 and run away before they tried to give me my change.

[@wayfaringstranger5808]

Hidden poverty. You see lots of tents along our coastlines. They are not campers, they are our homeless.

[@aleksi1151]

I've always wanted to volunteer but I didn't know what exactly I wanted to volunteer for. I think this video nearly made me shed tears, but also opened my mind to different things. If things become better next year from the covid situation, I hope I can do my best to chip in and help society to the best of my abilities as a teenager.

[@Eagle-gl7bq]

Salute to those kind-hearted helpers. God blessed these people.

[@BB-qk5zz]

Heartbreaking and at the same time, heart warming to see that Singaporeans and organizations is helping out to those in need. Giving them hope to have a better tomorrow.

[@dr.maryamabid9371]

Visited singapore 3 times in last 2 years. Its such a beautiful place with beautiful people . I have a habit of communicating with people on streets and with taxi drivers, one of my taxi drivers told me that singapore seems very wealthy state to us foriegners but there are alot of people who face financial problems . May God bless everyone there . I have an immense emotional attachment with singapore as i have learned alot from them in medicine 💜 love from Pakistan 💗

[@chajang7292]

I'm a pakistani born and raised in canada. It is nice here, but I'd love to visit Singapore, because it's like Asia's central city. I'd like to learn the dialect and lifestyle

[@vantastroganoff4370]

Go...we Canada dont mind..my mom she feed me

[@boozhixuan6666]

And yet there are many people I know from my JC and Secondary school whose parents are wealthy business owners and yet still forge their income levels to qualify for FAS to get free handouts because they are that greedy and selfish.

[@thedarkside3178]

That's Sad to hear .

[@matreen427]

TheDark side why not report them, if you know? This is clearly taking up resources meant for those in real need.

[@boozhixuan6666]

Lucille Forestlamb it’s not so simple as just reporting it... Where will I report it to? To a teacher? Legally they’re correct... because if your a self employed business owner you can assign yourself a pay of $0 :/

[@boozhixuan6666]

Darren sorry I can’t do that but I’m pretty sure there are some people who also know people who fake FAS. They’re usually pretty flashy, with hype beast clothes, air pods and iPhone 11 pros and yet when the school collects for overseas trips etc which can cost thousands, they pull out the FAS forms and don’t pay a single cent. I remember this because I genuinely couldn’t afford to go for the China overseas trip my school and yet this guy who goes to Europe like every year got to go for free because he was “FAS”

[@jewellui]

Boo Zhixuan if they are paying themselves $0 they are actually doing nothing wrong because the money stays in the business but since they own the business they will have significant net worth which means they would not be eligible for any help.

[@binmarcy]

12:01- Serene only cooks one meal for herself in a day. Within that meal consisting of potato wedges she'll have only 2-3 pieces and offering the rest to her children. As a son it brings tears to my eyes what mothers go through everyday to keep children healthy and happy.

[@aaronchuah2070]

In Singapore, the rich is getting richer, and the poor ones is getting poorer. The gap is just getting bigger....

[@teslabullsingapore8656]

Matthew effect applies in every country.

[@francescapowell1538]

The same story all over the world unfortunately.

[@user-og9nl5mt1b]

Same in india

[@aaronchuah2070]

@john diamond unfortunately, equality will soon be eliminated. There is no equal in society as people wanted more money and power. It is the time where social class are being divided

[@averil9819]

It's even happening in the UK, more and more food banks and even baby banks for people to get free nappies. Its horrible to see so many people suffering in this day and age :(

[@littlejourney3178]

It makes me teary eyed when I see those grandpa and grandma que for food packs...shame on me that I waste food and complain not realizing there's people that have harder situation than me

[@Junweilow]

Thank you CNA for showing this part of singapore that really needs help and attention from the public!!

[@mohdfaizal6773]

Now then want to show. Whaa liew VoHiYo

[@Junweilow]

@@mohdfaizal6773 Never too late. Better than not showing at all. Poverty happens in every countries

[@mohdfaizal6773]

@@Junweilow that's why star trek universe is the best. Utopian, money is if no value in the end. And food comes magically out of the microwave device

[@fsxlfcfandom2362]

I never thought the food wastage in Singapore could be that much... until I began working for 2 months in a restaurant after my o levels

[@BryanBrilliance]

Right? So much food gets wasted, and not just in F&B settings or at supermarkets. In the army camp I was in, the people chose not to eat the meals indented because "they suck". The NS boys would throw their meals away and order food delivery instead, with their modest allowance... It baffles me.

[@porkcutlet3920]

Wait until you get enlisted in Tekong, then you'll realize how much food is wasted.

[@porkcutlet3920]

@@BryanBrilliance You can request your admin not to indent meals for you.

[@jessiejames7492]

yeah me too.i worked for a fast food joint and was so surprised how much they threw away. we cant brign home as anytime someone dont like you will say you stole. so better not. but it broke my heart to see the wastage

[@teslabullsingapore8656]

@05:06 when that little girl said "不知道，午餐没有“ made me cry and really wanted to give her a hug and do something for her.

[@losdoma]

It is really painful to watch families go through hard times n I salute these welfare organisers n volunteers for their relentless effort in having compassion n helpin out the needy thank you so much 😊

[@wannabetreelandv6721]

Now I have a life goal, to feed hungry people around the world.

[@ssatriyaa]

I don't know how you will do it, but I want to do it too.

[@mohdfaizal6773]

Send bread n CraCkers to the Olde folks

[@Aliff_Klg]

@@mohdfaizal6773 better rice :)

[@MochizuEats]

That is very good of you. a kind hearted person ❤️❤️❤️

[@ronb7062]

i am famished. And you don't have any food in your fridge. :( go outside and bring me some treatz

[@lindapindabelinda3570]

The real story behind the food insecurity seems to be uncontrolled predatory lending.

[@SSBMA1994]

Hence why I don't trust or use credit cards and I vow to never lend money from banks or loan sharks. 😭

[@DasboardTVDE]

yup this also happend in my country, good things i know from my religion not to borrow money with interest or lend money with interest so i always stay away from debt

[@jiokl7g9t6]

Ban predatory lending!

[@edster8416]

If banks were effiecent loan sharks wouldn't exist. Plus no one force u to borrow from them in the first place. It's tempting cauze how easy they can give u cash on hands in a matter of hours instead of banks that takes months to approve.

[@kawaiipotatoes7888]

you mean banks?

[@farihamohamedhilmy4700]

It’s nice to see that there are volunteerism groups that are willing to help the poor turning their life around ❤️

[@balthasar3]

I like how that lady does community outreach.. Most social programs should try incorporate a version of it. There's all these resources, but people who are struggling are too tired or don't have the time to find out about these programs and have trouble filling out forms.

[@monishaparvin7521]

I wanted to become a doctor and for some reason I lost my dream and I was in depression from last 2 months.. I felt like hopeless and empty, like I have nothing to offer and worthless... I am getting extreme anxiety attacks nowadays.. This video really shows me there's a lot to be grateful for, and there's still a lot that I can offer to help people around us. I am really grateful for this video

[@nourah5033]

I hope you’re doing well now. Sometimes we don’t know how capable we are until we challenge ourselves and do our best. That’s all any of us can really do, is do our best.

[@sarahchan5604]

Everyone has different talent, anyone can contribute to the society by different means ,not only the doctors, in fact I met a lot of doctors in my life, they have to work really hard and long hours and yet still be polite, making right decision and acted in a timely manner, it is a job that requires not only good academic result in school but also excellent health to endure the long working hours in deprivation of food and sleep, yet still keeping sound judgement and great interpersonal skill with a warm heart at the same time, I am not a doctor but I have to admit that I never want to be one since I had seen it all during my career working in the hospitals in different countries

[@joshualee5599]

After watching this, I believe Singapore is one of the very few Asian countries who deserves to call itself a developed, first-world nation. It's not about the size of your GDP or how strong your military is, it's about how you take care of your people. Greetings from Canada! 🍁

[@mihaiapostol7864]

Great comment!! Reminds of this quote from Primo Levi, Auschwitz survivor: "A country is considered the more civilised the more the wisdom and efficiency of its laws hinder a weak man from becoming too weak and a powerful one too powerful."

[@crosscy9387]

The common theme seems to be that "licensed moneylenders" for these families in need. The high interests (10% per month from my research) prevents them from repaying their debts, resulting in continued payments every month. This is why they can't live much more comfortably. IMO there are way too many of these licensed moneylenders in SG and they are not a good sign since it means there is high demand for borrowing from people who cannot meet bank loan requirements. People should not borrow from these licensed money lenders if they cannot pay back within one month at all. It is the modern death trap.

[@muji4832]

Other than not spraying red paint or graffiti at your door, these "License" Money lenders are no different from Loan Sharks. And such licenses are issued by who ???

[@fooaloysius7179]

Cant blame them for borrowing from these licensed moneylenders. Singapore is one of the poorest countries in the world. Close to half of Singaporeans earn less than a minimum wage earner in Australia. The level of poverty in Singapore is shocking. One wonders how Singaporeans put up with such a abysmal standard of living.

[@afendiujud4684]

Correct it a modern death traps

[@lNFINlTEx]

@@fooaloysius7179 Where/how did you get those numbers? Like, just honestly curious.

[@fooaloysius7179]

@@lNFINlTEx The GST voucher annual income cut-off of $28,000, which covers the bottom 40% of Singaporeans. For comparison, the minimum monthly wage in Australia is AUD 2936.20.

[@nexttounknown5361]

When I see this video. it always reminds me where my life began I never started off rich, until we have an abundance of food we don’t care about leftovers. When we start off poor and build off to be better than the day before and everyday better than than the previous day we would not care about the past or realize where we all came from from birth.

[@RayMak]

There is no way to get hungry in Singapore.... So I thought, I was wrong

[@DemonicNightmares]

sadly,even though singapore is a first world country,there are disparities between the poor and the very rich,and the difference between the groups are quite large, and the people who are suffering are more than what people think.

[@ritapuspitasari371]

Gap between the poor and a rich one is huge

[@ritapuspitasari371]

Now we should destroy the rich . Coz them the poor get more poor

[@ritapuspitasari371]

@Dying Starz are you sure a whealthy one dont suck the blood of the poor one. ? Do you think you dont know that ?

[@ritapuspitasari371]

@Dying Starz i did work hard and become something . I never give up on my dream . Do you forget about there above us ? Who created the universe ? Nothing become something without his permission.

[@farhanatoerien3437]

I love that all the little kids were also volunteering and helping to care and clean up with and for others - SO SO IMPORTANT TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN THIS. LoVed this report - thank you 🙏🏾

[@JoeTao]

I legit feel like the most spoiled kid ever after watching that, actually cried.

[@ronb7062]

congrats. you have just become mature. not it is time to step up the game.

[@leeluv96]

Well dont ever watch the movie "The Good Earth" or read the book. They cooked and ate soil to fill their bellies.

[@serversC13nc3]

@@leeluv96 In Africa and some other country, poorest people eat bricks, they say they just imagine eating cookies to fill their bellies.

[@njarasoarumpf8464]

I feel the same

[@cassandraloke3247]

A few years ago in my secondary school CCA i went on a cca volunteer work together with Keeping Hope Alive,and met Fion there who helped guide us,teach us what to do and explained the housing and lifestyle situation of the blocks we checked out.Most of which are elderly living where we were at and those that had grandchildren said they never or rarely came to visit even.We saw many of them didnt have much to eat and saw that most of the food are those that are donated (crackers,milo,instant noodles etc.).We helped clear out and clean their houses etc. and saw they were all really grateful for our actions.I felt really bad for their situation really and truely hope things get better for everyone who are in a similar situation :(

[@ronb7062]

"Those who experienced poverty tends to eat much when they can afford it." That's me. My weight is 60% heavier than what I used to be when I was still in college. Life is sad when we have no money. Although its true that having too much money won't make you happy, but sharing some of it to other whose in need can make us happy.

[@seurn7801]

Food is like a luxury, I get you. When I am full and eat well, it becomes a coping mechanism of the trauma we experienced when we starved ourselves in the past. Eating too much equals to us living a good life. I know how you feel but we must honestly start to change. I am trying my best to be healthy now and eat as little and enough as I can. I hope for your successful journey of healthy diet. We must do this for our betterment and for our future kids' as well :)

[@ronb7062]

@@seurn7801 thanks for your kind words. okay, let's do it. ^^

[@ronb7062]

@LLT Collection I am trying to understand the relativeness of your comment and my comment. When you said not likely, which part of my comment are you referring to?

[@ronb7062]

@LLT Collection Geez, relax. I was just asking. what's wrong with asking?

[@raien6092]

I was abused in orphanage when I was a child. They would starve me if I was misbehave. Now I have nasty anxiety attack if I'm not eating for more than 1 hour.

[@azia5051]

Woow just amazing to see other people help! God bless all of them for the years to come!

[@PP-vf1kx]

Lizzy Chien-Hua ...blessing them will not fill their belly

[@Itzymidzy674]

I was one of the volunteers that helped Katie and I was only 11 years old that time. Now as a 15 year old, seeing the harsh conditions of how that bright, gentle young girl lived in broke my heart and made me realise how fortunate I was. I will never forget that experience.

[@iganarendra]

When he said "nothing inside my fridge" while in 10:16 , this mate really don't know how does it feel to have literally nothing to eat. I am really grateful now I've ever had that situation and taught me lesson.

[@springgreenfroggie7781]

Every year I participate in the local food drives and give presentations on food insecurity in America. In many developed areas it remains rampant. To see food insecurity like this in other countries too is even worse too see because there are more people that have a daily struggle to get the nutrition they need that are not even talked about. Remember that you can donate to your local pantries year round and not just during the holidays.

[@Kbara]

As someone who has experienced food insecurity from 5 years old to 14 years old, I can firmly say that the impact has definitely had a lasting impact on my relationship with food. I remember one time I was so hungry in 4th grade during lunch I ate a graham cracker I dropped on the dirty cafeteria floor. I was so hungry that it didn't really matter if the food hit the floor or not. The first time I was able to eat whatever I wanted was in high school when my father finally found employment. I overate to the point of almost throwing up, because overweight, hoarded and became very aggressive with what I considered my food, because I spent nearly a decade unsure of where my next meal would come from. Although I have access to more and better food now, I still struggle with the aftereffects of my experiences, such as gastrointestinal problems, depression/anxiety, unhealthy coping mechanisms, self-harm, pre-diabetes, bouts of dizziness, food aggression, and hypothyroidism.

[@sarahchan5604]

I felt so sorry for you, would pray for you, remember this truth: Jesus loves you before you were born, He loves you every second, and eternally, if you have any heartache , health problem or any problem, pray to Him: He listens and is ready to help you. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on Him ( Jesus) because He cares for you,. God bless you

[@citizenearth71]

This broke my heart. Especially when children are trapped in the situation. They are all good people hit by bad luck.

[@kawardt6784]

I know. Why would you give birth to a child when you dont have financial stability.

[@RaZeyLWindBladE]

Like what it was said, reduced cognitive bandwidth. Hard to think properly when you are hungry.

[@pinkapple6530]

And lack of financial literacy

[@Matheus-fq5gd]

bad luck for the children, because the parents are just idiots

[@jannahmac5371]

I never thought about how vulnerable young children are in situations like this. Anybody who offers food, they will take it. It would take so much focus for them to not fall for that

[@johndoerubytosa]

one thing that I really adore about SG as a foreigner working here is how many of the organizations there are to help their own citizens. kudos to all of those helping hands & i'm very happy to see this

[@squidtheward5865]

I live in Singapore, everytime I go to the market, I see a lot of homeless people...it really hurts to see them like this

[@harrytan6483]

Its true.I have work in Geylang Serai Market and have seen a few still sleeping nearby.

[@nat0106951]

when I visited singapore. there is an old lady and gave her 2 sgd..she is so happy. without realizing that I gave a bit more. coz I am filipino and 2 sgd is 80 pesos in our currency 😅

[@Mariah-mt8fg]

Reminded me of my family. We tasted poverty for years.My brother had to drink tap water for recess & my mom fed us rice with ketchup. I was the lucky one to get the food i wanted (or maybe clueless kid) Moving forward 20+ years now, we are ever grateful. Kids, study smart behave well and push forward. Do good for yourself and your family.

[@chongwei2945]

There's so much more the government can do instead of saying there are schemes available to help. Get involve more and know your residents and not just appearing when elections are near.

[@dying7121]

Government gives free education and free childcare after school. The father is probably gambling and ignoring his child thus leading to that situation.

[@yukieellura9561]

HAHAHHA yah.... they always appear with all these cock when elections are coming

[@hxshxt3530]

Neo Linro yes, every Low income family is suffering because of gambling. Where’d you get your facts from?

[@yukieellura9561]

Hxshxt I was about to ask the same....

[@dying7121]

@@hxshxt3530 If a family with zero income with the help of government can support their children to school and live in a basic manner, a father whos working is struggling to even feed his girl? Obviously, instead of seeking help from MPs, he went to moneylenders for an easy out. Buying junk food instead of proper food for his girl. Be glad that Singapore has free education, if not that girl would have been dead.

[@realash]

Glad to know there are so many organizations that are there to help the needy. Much love to the volunteers.

[@elizabethdouglas3902]

I can relate to this story I am also a single parent with three small kids, with no family and friends to help me I get sad and scare. I recently, lose my car, job, and relationship and fell hard into sadness. But now going back to school open my heart up and we will be fine. thank you for your story. God bless

[@latricemariemorris5230]

Praying for you Queen God will see you through much love to you and your children ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@elizabethdouglas3902]

Thank you my sister in Christ.

[@themerriestjoy2416]

I remember when i was in high school, my classmate asked why im eating fried egg only for whole school hour (8hrs) they dont know my parent struggles..

[@noezyks6652]

Im from a third world country.Everyone who works in Singapore is considered rich here.Didnt know it had another side

[@ronb7062]

i was kind of shocked that rich countries had these people. US, Japan, or South Korea, have these situations. These poor people were just to unfortunate to live a hard life. But they are better off comparing to some African countries where people literally starve to death.

[@somtochiohakah8860]

@@ronb7062 you had to compare to Africa didn't you?

[@ronb7062]

@@somtochiohakah8860 Central and Eastern Africa. Western and Southern Africa are richer parts of the continent.

[@ohitaevans4012]

Ron B yea sometimes if they eat it will be little even if it’s bad they will still eat

[@ronb7062]

@Jacqueles Twali yes. cases like that from richer countries are far fewer than poor or developing countries. as i said, poor people exists even in rich countries.

[@cancel.lgbtq.6892]

I work in casino. It upset me every time when I see food goes to waste after convention , meeting , party etc. Millions of people go hungry and have nothing to eat and yet they throw away good food like it was nothing. Life isn't fair , help less fortunate when you can.

[@luisaduram5327]

And I work in a international big chain of supermarkests....you dont imagine what I see everydays....loads of proper food goes to waste...just for nothing. My heart is broken when I think on this people that is starving outside. 😔

[@cancel.lgbtq.6892]

@@luisaduram5327 Oh I know , I used to work for Safeway before and they throw away all kind of food that just happened to be expired yesterday instead of donate them to shelter.

[@vicdor1031]

This is capitalism in its worst form. Some are extremely rich while some got nothing to eat.

[@cs-mi8ur]

@@cancel.lgbtq.6892 something to do with food safety related lawsuits where throwing away is much cheaper and safer for business than donating.

[@Matheus-fq5gd]

@@vicdor1031 its not elon musk's fault that some poor people cant keep it in their pants

[@guanyinbaby]

God bless all the good samaritans. The world needs more people of this. Thanks for putting up the vid and show the world that poverty and assistance are needed. Very educational content! My prayers goes to all of you ❤️❤️❤️❤️💜💜🙏🏼

[@JustinRichards]

Very distressing. This is my ABSOLUTE favourite channel on KZbin.

[@Weiming161998]

"Yes, even here, there are people who go hungry" *proceeds to walk away from table full of untouched freshly cooked food*

[@jakesoh6322]

Frankly speaking, i see that all the time. I get sad when i see people over buy and just leave it on the table.

[@keelysyahbuddin7650]

I was just about to write the same comment. Not exactly the best set up for that shot

[@balthasar3]

I'm sure the cast and crew eat it. For most of these shows, food does not go to waste.

[@vantastroganoff4370]

There money t Can do.what they wish Maybe food substandard I see waste.in Vancouver Shaughnessy I even see my new NEIGHBOR miss #HUAWEI shopping with SECURITY at my favorite waste place .loblaws on ARBUTUS. So much waste at the back

[@joanneng9145]

It's to show the contrast of people who can afford to eat and those who can't

[@samymorty4112]

its really amazing how theres so many policies to help these people but all im seeing are these people suffering, while the people who dont need it benefit from all of it

[@umminadhirahharun7911]

That's because sometimes getting the help is not as easy as it is made out to be or presented in this short video clip. The reality is there may be people who need help but are denied of it

[@ggcaesar]

Alot of those in need fall through the gaps in policies

[@samymorty4112]

@@umminadhirahharun7911 yea, thats why i made this comment, i seen so many people under FAS, but are travelling to europe every year and so on

[@lxwv1983]

In this video, I see the difference between poverty in Singapore and poverty in my own country. In my perspective, it seems that poor Singaporeans generally have a better condition compare to the poor of my country although the concept of poverty is still universal.

[@peacefulhuman8518]

Great appreciation and respect for volunteer groups, social and welfare organizations for helping the needy people ❤️👍🙏

[@bhuvanamani9151]

Respect the organization and much love to all workers involved. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@anoynmanonymous8304]

And top executives are throwing away hotel quality food during meetings...

[@hanshallo4468]

true...

[@Prince-ug9vf]

I'm so very happy and proud to those people who help the families.😻

[@bee8042]

it's sad that singapore has one of the highest cost of living in the world yet ppl's average income is still less than some other people's minimum wage in other nations

[@RonTan-i7r]

? peoples average income in $67000 a year in singapore

[@wildflowers27]

I'm a social worker from France, watching this 4 years old documentary about SG. I'm surprised and relieved to see many organizations around people in need.

[@esthergo7682]

Thank you for featuring this topic. This is a very sensitive issue that everyone is not willing to tackle. Looking forward to more interesting stories from you. Thank you

[@kexinjiang3437]

Is it really cheaper to eat instant noodles, canned food and chips compared to cooking a proper meal? Rice and simple vegetables should not be much more expensive than processed foods.

[@enriquecabrera2137]

Its because theyre morons

[@balthasar3]

@@enriquecabrera2137 Anyone who would make offhanded comment like this is an imbecile. So...

[@balthasar3]

It's also about time.. Making healthy food tasty takes more time. (all the foods you mentions that bad for you are pretty much instant made food). If you come from a long day of work, last thing you want to do is spend more time cooking for a family of six. It's also harder to find proper vegetables depending on the area when instant ramen can be found anywhere at the same quality. Taste is also a factor. Have you tried feed some kids healthy food not deliciously made? I really hated vegetables until much later in life.

[@enriquecabrera2137]

@@balthasar3 whatever you say. Are you one of those imbeciles?

[@balthasar3]

@@enriquecabrera2137 nope, sorry. I don't have em-bred parents.

[@perdirotan4136]

SG is so advance...lightyears ahead compare to my country...my jaw dropped first time visiting SG...still there re ppl go hungry there...what a shame.::thank you for reporting this... and respect for those volunteers

[@candeeapple2349]

“不知道，没有午餐。” my heart broke.

[@raexjl3008]

真的很伤心😔

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

Other than meals, rent, or school, is there more that the poor are insecure about? (Genuinely curious)

[@pekoV]

@@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776 ,you can find out yourself, by volunteering! Im planning to volunteer this june holidays since im eligible

[@unsteriorey]

​@@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776things like electricity, water supply, transportation to go to work/school, healthcare

[@reichan8363]

Wow. I always thought that it's impossible to be in this situation when you live in Singapore. I guess no country really is perfect. I also experienced barely being able to eat anything when we had the pandemic lock down in my country, and after those few months of relying on chips as my meal, my health also declined. It really pains me to see a child having to go through that. But I'm really glad that there are people helping them now.

[@HelloHarmoniWorks]

probably the worst poverty because of the cost of living

[@taneunice5529]

It's very common back in younger days where help are not easily available. Welfare help should educate planning and responsibilities for their families and improve their quality of life.

[@luisaduram5327]

Money...all we need is money to face our life decently. Capitalist greed and exploitation is a nightmare to all the folks in this whole inhuman world. 😔

[@brooklynsanchez4759]

I really enjoyed watching your documentaries a lot since 12 in the afternoon...its very inspiring and awesome videos...more power to your channel😉😎🤓

[@leakcywong9012]

when i was young alot of time i was drinking water to cope with hunger i remember there is a time i drank water for 2 days cuz we cant afford any food. singapore is really a tough country to live in when u are not as wealthy as others

[@yoruichixx6951]

and dont forget the classic "going to sleep because ur hungry"

[@aliefr2984]

@薄玉埼 they lived in public housing so gardening only avaible above middle high income which defeat the purpose itself

[@QuBeeni]

@薄玉埼 well in some places there are fridges that you put food in for the poor

[@bluehorizon4495]

How is Singapore a tough place to live in when there are jobs available

[@Yorukarashi]

This is pretty informational. As a singaporean who has never faced financial concerns and growing up in an environment where nobody around me worry about their next meals, I have never seen this side to Singapore. Interesting.

[@chin6789]

In some cases, it is about how to manage finance and priorities. I knew a Singapore family with 1 daughter and every now and then the father disgruntles about Singapore government and its policy saying live is tough in Singapore; while in the other hand, all the 3 of them use quite new iPhones, always drink canned beverages instead of taking plain water, etc... nothing wrong with that, its just about priorities and the consequences how we spend our money.

[@clynt7452]

Keep it up guys, great work on shedding light on poverty. Sometimes we are too fast to judge i think. I have a homeless patient with a lot of comorbidities including diabetes, one day he came to pick his medicines and also took some chocolates we have to offer. I thought the chocolates should be the very last thing he should taken but then I thought he probably haven't had chocolates for a long while... I 😞😞😞

[@merlynxavier8635]

This is so true I'm a college student and I face this kind of issue. 😣

[@安尼-o8q]

.

[@Aliff_Klg]

Part time. Do part time cateting.

[@jitladatongsuntea6001]

@@安尼-o8q in flats? later you get complain of mosquito breeding

[@安尼-o8q]

@@jitladatongsuntea6001 you are right , but there's a lot of way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding .And also several plants can be edible and naturally repel the mosquitoes .😊

[@KnotsOfWonders]

@@jitladatongsuntea6001 Then kena fine.

[@geraldine2458]

Instead of donating to local food banks or charity organisations, local influencers and celebrities are donating to third world countries instead. I get that they need it more than the lower income families in Singapore however, shouldn’t we place priority on helping our fellow singaporeans instead of others?

[@linnychern]

Is it “easier” to donate to third world countries. But in Singapore, they need to spend time understanding what families need. Like medical/mental problems, time, nutrition gaps etc

[@NewmaticKe]

Hungry or starving, choose.

[@DemonicNightmares]

@@linnychern not necessarily, the same things that are happening in singapore are also happening in other countries too, but for the fame and being well known,the sad truth is that people would rather donate to other countries rather than our own

[@terryofford4977]

Looking at the queues of thousands of Indonesian and Filipino girls,hanging around Orchard Road in Singapore, many are little more than slaves, working for some of the greediest, even slave driving, over rich and lazy females of Singapore, The Tai Tai's, lazy rich wives treat those servant girls very badly, holding them as prisoners virtually ,any visit to Geylang Serai you will witness long queues of such girls waiting to be interviewed There's an 'Office' at the junction of Joo Chiat Road and Geylang Road where long queues of girls await an interview for what amounts to slavery, generally they are worked 29 to 30 days a month and get one Sunday off, where they drift down to Orchard road from where they are able to convey portions of their pay via DC to there homes in Indonesia, or Philippines. So sad to see them, year after year,nothing has changed.

[@lovelyn3822]

I'm now more grateful to the food that is served in our table, may God bless these people❤️

[@lirenzeng592]

There is also a huge wastage problem in Singapore. Look at how much food are being wasted in restaurants every day. Look at all the furniture and clothes that people dump every day. These are useful resources that are not properly utilized.

[@JJ-gy9he]

The family with 4 teen and 1 8 y/o, i feel she and her children should be more understanding on what are the most important items that are needed for living. Seeing an Iphone XS on the table, which cost n hefty amount, i feel that such money shld be spent on necessity which they are lacking like healthier foods. im not saying that one shld be deprived from having a mobile phone, but what i realised is, as a volunteer myself, i see some families that struggle with basic necessities yet they can be using the new edition of smartphones which often puzzles me.

[@delmkg7866]

well the iphone xs could be bought at like a cheaper price, given that newer iphones are coming in..

[@anyohoww]

@@delmkg7866 Not sure when this video was filmed, but I did a quick search on Carousell & as of today, the cheapest 2nd hand IP XS I could find costs $700+.. My Xiaomi has very decent specs cost $300 brand new..

[@JJ-gy9he]

@@delmkg7866 not just this family, I've seen others. I'm still surviving well with a iPhone 6. when I do house visiting for lower income families, their children most of the times have iPhone Xs or even newer Samsung galaxy.. not saying that having newer phones is wrong, but I genuinely hope that parents do not feel pressured into giving in their children's request to get the latest phone when they alr have problem bringing food to the table

[@soyful7244]

What you say is understandable. But as the video says most of these families face decision fatigue from worrying about food, leading them to tend to make less rational decisions on other aspects. 1. It could have been a gift 2. Might have been second hand 3. Placate the children and letting have something to focus their attention on, rather than placing greater emotional stress on the parents. Maybe 1 iPad can be shared with a family of 5, if you divide the cost then it would seem more worth it 4. Maybe it’s part of a phone plan 5. Perhaps a relatively updated phone is required to perform tasks such as using apps to earn side money from delivery etc 6. The parents don’t want the children to know that they are living in poverty/ to not be bullied in school. They want their children to have the best memories growing up There are so many different factors that could tie into why families have these “expensive” items.

[@yuyucontent]

@@soyful7244 there's actually a phone plan (idk what it's called) that you can get a free phone every 1 or 2 years

[@ilove2929]

The single mother of 5 makes me so very sad, strong woman

[@somethingfishy6175]

Coming from malaysia, seeing Singapore and cheap in the same sentence shocked me. Compare to us, a bowl of rice in singapore is 3 times more expensive than here! I cant imagine going hungry there.

[@yuyucontent]

You have to understand that not all people in rich countries are well-off.

[@terryofford4977]

@@yuyucontent GREED is the reason for that usually, Lee Kuan Yew did a brilliant job of easing the lives of Singaporeans ,having gotten rid of the Colonial Government, evidently his off spring have other ideas. So sad.

[@kyle3513]

Singapore and malaysia doesn't have the same minimum wage

[@whimsicaldrifter]

What an eye opener! I have only thought of Singapore as a very rich nation!

[@mikareef5927]

The egg kicap and ikan bilis is the luxury of food when you eat them be it rich or poor. We all been through hard times in our life but knowledge of survival and to cook something out of nothing in the kitchen to feed the children is a blessing.. my aunt have taught me alot whom I was a child to cook rice and a day meal for just $5

[@RogueLawyer666]

Whilst I don’t think I can survive with $5 for a day, it’s possible to get $5 a meal from coffee shops if you’re not looking for a fanciful meal. A bowl of rice or noodles within $5 each meal is possible and I survived on it for so many years until I started working and had an income.

[@nivenlimyu]

Tbh so many Singaporean’s don’t know abt this side of Singapore tbh

[@fooaloysius7179]

After decades of brainwashing.

[@Julianimator]

Why would you assumed that too many Singaporeans don't know about this side of Singapore?

[@fooaloysius7179]

@@Julianimator Because extensive efforts have been made by government organisations to brainwash Singaporeans that they are fortunate to be living in "the richest country in the world".

[@Julianimator]

@@fooaloysius7179 May I have the source? I've been living in Tampines and Geylang areas and have seen the poorest living condition first hand. It's horrendous and very obvious that there are many in need of help. To those family with kids, childcare is expensive too even with subsidies. Companies only hired certain people and it's tough for people with health / mental issues getting employed in the first place. I believe with the media nowadays, Singaporeans are more well informed of such situation.

[@nivenlimyu]

Julian Kok hmmm I don’t think so I only know of the seriousness of these situations through watching these vids cos I assumed that the government always do to their best effort to help every citizen and no citizen is living in very bad condition but yes as I said TBH so I was just being honest and having an opinion as I’m sure many of my peers or younger than me are aware that this vid even exist

[@weijieai2251]

Not just food. Electrical and gas bills, transportation cost, goverment tax, even simple leisures like cigarettes are extremely costly. Although Singapore is growing economically, it's really stressful to us.

[@jjsamuelgunn1136]

Hello. Cannot eat still want to smoke

[@user-qp2cw3po4h]

@@jjsamuelgunn1136 😅😅😅

[@Snowbourne33]

This is a poignant well-researched piece on poverty in Singapore. Keep up the good work, CNA!

[@doliveirajapan]

Its great to see an united society where who can help does want and does help. congratulations to those who has touched hearts and does help others. God's bless.

[@jedih.1209]

@0:14 she ordered foods, she stood up and say "yes! there are people who go hungry" and then walk away. While food still on the table.

[@adriaulia7277]

This is so heartwarming, thx God for the good and caring people out there

[@TRFDVB45CS]

Ironically, having instant noodles is actually an indulgence for me as it is considered unhealthy.

[@luisaduram5327]

...and carcinogenic.😔

[@luisaduram5327]

I' ve read about noodles..loads of carcinogenic chemicals.

[@timmyjones1921]

First I heard about hunger in Singapore, Shocking Eye Opening.

[@greetings920]

Thank god for good people and organization with heart helping to help those who absolutely are in need.

[@putriadini-v3k]

I'm crying watching this 😢 It's hard to survive as a Singaporean in your own country. I'm Indonesian, a teacher in Jakarta. When I visit your country, I hate to say your government just show us the tourist only the prosperous parts of the country only.

[@Refresh636]

So from his almost $1500 usd paycheck (conveted) they can't buy some loaf of bread and some cheap deli meat? Or even a jar of peanut butter with a loaf of bread?