When COVID-19 struck, many seniors in Singapore found themselves shut off from the friends and routines they relied on to keep physically and mentally sharp. Being more vulnerable to the virus, all seniors have been advised against leaving their homes, as part of Singapore’s “‘circuit breaker” measures to slow the virus’ spread. To address this, an online community called SilverGood was formed, where volunteers host weekly activity sessions — from music to cooking — designed to enrich the lives of elderly. In doing so, they have also created an inclusive and supportive community for everyone.

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Find out more:

Read the full story: www.ourbetterworld.org/series/humankind/story/silvergood-activities-elderly

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Director & Editor: Anshul Tiwari

Producer & Writer: Chris Annadorai

Executive Producer: Sharon Pereira

These seniors are learning to use technology to make art, thanks to ArtistDuo (Karen and Joanne)! Watch this story to see how seniors at SASCO Khatib Singapore use zoom to make collages of their childhood memories.

Directed and Edited by: Anshul Tiwari

Cinematography by: Boban James, Anshul Tiwari, Lin Lei Lei Tun

The project was commissioned by ArtistDuo on behalf of the National Arts Council, National Heritage Board, SG Culture Anywhere, and SASCO Singapore.

No stranger to loneliness and alienation, Sazzad Hossain’s personal struggles with life as a migrant inspired him to start Social Development Initiative (SDI) Academy, to help the migrant workers whose struggles mirrored his. SDI is a social enterprise aiming to tackle language, physical and professional barriers through access to affordable education, vocational skills and activities for social inclusion.

From learning to start a business venture, to acquiring language skills for career advancement, SDI’s work transforms lives of low-wage migrant workers — among them Alom Mia, who lost his livelihood after sustaining an injury in Singapore, but has found an enterprising way forward thanks to SDI.

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Find out more: https://www.sdi-academy.org/

Read the full story: https://www.ourbetterworld.org/story/...

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Director, Camera & Editor: Anshul Tiwari

Writer: Anita Zee

Executive Producer: Chris Annadorai

Nusrat knows what a creepy touch means. She has known it for a very very long time, ever since she was molested by a man five times her age, when she was 12 years old.

This event, horrific as it is, shaped her life, brought it to a point where she came on the verge of a breakdown, before someone pulled her out of the dark waters and said, “Now you must never let that happen to any child.“

Nusrat started a mission to arm children against sexual predators in India. Over the past 20 years, she has saved more than 50,000 children in her native state of Maharashtra alone.

10 year old, Hnu Mana is writing a story in English, one she'll have to narrate before a packed auditorium, facing a microphone and people intent on every word she speaks.
This is her story.

"Somewhere in a village in Myanmar lies a leader that is going to change this world. It is my job to find that person and bring him up in this world." Linus, a Singaporean teacher lives by this Mantra.
This is his story too.

Joseph teaches English to children in orphanages. He has found his calling in helping the poor, the needy, the community and to raise the youth to stand on their own feet in this world.
This is his story too.

Lilis (name changed) was promised a better life, a job and a place to live. But she was being sucked into sex trade.

When she found out, she was already on a boat with no return ticket, nor her passport.

She was asked to serve men. Despite her repeated protest, they continued to pressure her, until one day, she escaped miraculously helped by a taxi driver, an old lady and a police officer.

For every Lilis’ that escape the sex trade, there are countless others who are trapped.

Tucked in its own corner, Ghatsilla is home to the one of the largest tribal population in India. It is also home to a series of schools started by a handful of determined individuals who were committed to educating a generation of tribal children who had never heard the word "school".

One man from Singapore, Alvin Yong, chanced upon this town 7 years ago, during his "journey through the soul of India". Inspired by the schools and its unique teaching methods, Alvin tapped into his own education and created a solution to solve the problem of electricity shortage in the area.

Seven years later, Alvin goes back to Ghatsilla to reconnect with old friends and to find out just how far his solution went to change the tribal schools.

Dr Suwas Darvekar is a charitable man, his peers and neighbours say. But just how far does he go in his charity, trumps their imagination. For the last 20 years, he has been going to the tribal villages for his charity work, every Saturday and Sunday. This, along side his family commitments, his dental clinic and his passion for cross country biking.

He’s well known for his professional ethic as a doctor, fixing thousands of patients through his low cost clinic, serving them free at times if they still can’t “afford him“.

His dream: “One day I can stop my medical practice in Mumbai, come to these tribal villages and serve people full time.”

“Every time I come to these villages, I get that surge of pride that these are the village that God created in the best way possible.”

This idea brought Amala, a Singaporean woman with roots in India, back to Kerala. But she knew this beauty must live on, must survive, for the generations to come after her.

Thus began, Save A Gram - a unique enterprise that is trying to save the villages in India by preserving its village life.

This Cambodian soccer prodigy turned down big leagues to help his country folk learn football.

The story of Dennis Rosario - a street musician in Singapore.
For more details and production notes, please go to: anshulfilms.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/88/

Festivals and Awards:
- Best documentary in short documentary section - IAFOR Film Asia, Japan
- Selected for screening at Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF)