Month: January 2022

How to rest, reset and rejuvenate in the new year

Post author By Dennis
Post date January 21, 2022
No Comments on How to rest, reset and rejuvenate in the new year

To invigorate both body and soul, take things down a notch and practise some mindfulness

TEXT: MELODY TAN
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

If the post-holiday return to work still feels like a drag, it might be time to take stock and practise some mindfulness by paying attention to and acknowledging your physical and mental needs.

Whether you crave a retreat into a cosy ManCave (albeit one that’s not necessarily limited to men) or want to sweat it out with a good sparring session, allow yourself the time and space you need to relax and reset. You’ll find yourself calmer, more productive and ready to tackle whatever the year brings.

THE ZEN OF TEA (AND COFFEE)

More Singaporeans than ever are enjoying their caffeine in the form of brewed or specialty gourmet coffees and teas. Instead of sitting down with the same old instant cuppa or supermarket tea bag, why not switch up your morning ritual by brewing loose-leaf tea or investing in a coffee-maker. The latter range from affordable one-cup French presses to precisely-engineered Italian espresso machines with curves like a Bugatti, and similarly eye-popping prices.

It doesn’t matter if you prefer Japanese matcha, Chinese oolong or South Asian-style chai – both green and black tea leaves contain powerful antioxidants that are beneficial to our health. Coffee has an even longer list of benefits, from preventing Parkinson’s disease to having an antidepressant effect. Brewing your own drink from scratch allows you to control the flavour, temperature and sweetness levels to perfection — and might just be the form of creative self-care you need to kickstart a happier, more productive morning routine.

If you’d rather be pampered, let someone else make you a cup of good old fashioned kopi or teh instead, while you sit back and relax at the newly-opened Heavenly Wang Cafe at the HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok Clubhouse.

SLOW DOWN, WORK OUT

A good stretch can relax you like nothing else. HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok offers a selection of yoga courses to ease your way into a healthier mindset.

Hatha Yoga classes run every Wednesday from 8pm to 9.30pm, for a 10-session term. The total fees are S$110 for Ordinary, Associate and Family members, S$120 for Social and Affiliate members, and S$130 for guests.

If you prefer weekend stretches, Hatha Yoga is also available every Saturday between 11am and 12pm. There are eight sessions in total, with fees costing S$95 for Ordinary, Associate and Family members, S$104.50 for Social and Affiliate members, and S$114 for guests.

To take it really slow, turn to Yin Yang Yoga, which combines passively held poses that work on the connective tissues and joints along with the more traditional, stamina and strength-oriented form of yoga. Classes are held every Saturday from 10am to 11am, and the same fees as above apply. Click here to sign up for courses, or email courses@hometeamns.sg to learn more.

New to the yoga scene? HomeTeamNS Khatib will be having a free trial yoga class for members on 28 January 2022 from 7pm to 8pm, at Level 2, Ballroom Foyer! Non-members can also join in the fun at only S$5.

JAM SESSION

Music soothes the savage beast – and in humans, studies have shown that music might be able to soothe cortisol response. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone, as levels of it rise whenever our bodies are stressed. In addition, music can trigger the release of dopamine and oxytocin, chemicals that result in improved mood and sense of well-being.

Whether you’re putting together the perfect Spotify playlist for your work commute or dusting off your old guitar on Saturday night, music is a great way to stimulate your creativity and relax. Best of all, it can be a solo activity – think singing in the shower – or a fun way to connect with friends and family, such as jamming together in a studio.

DANCE YOUR HEART OUT

If you want to get your heart pumping, a full-body workout like Zumba will do the trick. The intense blend of dance moves with aerobic activity set to the thumping beat of Latin-influenced music, will certainly work up a happy sweat.

HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok plays host to Zumba classes every Monday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and every Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm. There are eight sessions in total. Ordinary, Associate and Family members pay S$90, while Social and Affiliate members pay S$100. Guests’ fees are S$110. Interested in signing up to sweat it out? Click here, or email courses@hometeamns.sg for more information.

FIGHTING FIT

Live out your Bruce Lee fantasies by getting off the couch and signing up for judo and karate classes at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier. Apart from the fitness benefits, you’ll perhaps even discover a lifelong passion for martial arts. Learn more here by checking out the classes under the Courses tab.

Until 31 January, receive S$20 food and beverage vouchers when you sign up. Limited slots are available, so don’t hesitate.

If your new year’s resolution is to pick up Karate as a new hobby, join HomeTeamNS Khatib and their free trial class for HomeTeamNS members! Held on 27 January 2022 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, at Level 2, Ballroom Foyer, be sure to fight your way into the new year. Non-members can also join the trial class at only S$5.

EXPLORE SINGAPORE’S HIDDEN CORNERS

The hamster-wheel of work, home (and for many of us, work-from-home), malls and errands can get dull, especially when you seem to be visiting the same old places on autopilot. Why not open up Google Maps and look for a part of Singapore you haven’t been to? After all, seeing new places (even if they’re in the same country) stimulates your brain and diminishes boredom.

Take in charming black-and-white houses in peaceful Wessex Estate (and stop for a drink at the well-loved Western food institution, Colbar), or admire the dark, Gothic architecture of creative hub The Mill, incongruously set in an industrial estate. If you want to get out in nature, the Japanese Cemetery Park in Hougang is a serene and poignant memorial to Singapore’s early Japanese community, or you can split the cost of a yacht charter with friends to explore the Southern Islands of Singapore.

Wherever you go, make sure you have good walking shoes, an open mind and a sense of adventure.

WORK FROM MANCAVE

If the distractions and noise of work-from-home are eating into your productivity, what about working from a ManCave?

From now until 31 March, the ManCaves at HomeTeamNS Khatib offers an opportunity to work in a refreshing new setting during weekdays. And if you need a break, the ManCaves features game consoles, high-quality audio systems and even a private BBQ patio.

Frontline Digital newsletter subscribers enjoy 50-per-cent off a ManCave booking, which includes the exclusive use of a ManCave for 4 hours during peak periods (weekends) and complimentary WiFi usage among other benefits.

Club Buzz

The learning never stops

A participant at the SkillFest programme, which aims to impart essential life skills among junior HomeTeamNS members.

From cohesion programmes with NSmen and SkillFest with junior HomeTeamNS members, learn from our Business Development team how these activities promote bonding, learning, and teambuilding among the young and young at heart.

TEXT: MELODY TAN
PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS

Cohesion activities are a time for teams to come together, learn and grow – whether in a classroom, on a field or even out in a paintball arena. But have you ever wondered what goes into the planning and execution of these programmes?

We speak to Nur’Atiqah Aidah, an Executive Cohesion Accounts Specialist, and Syahmi Azmi, a Business Development and Marketing Executive. Both are part of the HomeTeamNS Business Development Team and they share a passion for ensuring that HomeTeamNS’ cohesion programmes and team-building activities are always fun, memorable and fulfilling.

LEARNING AND GROWING WITH NEW SKILLS

Ms Nur’Atiqah oversees all cohesion and non-cohesion programmes across the different HomeTeamNS clubhouses, while her colleague Mr Syahmi Azmi is responsible for SkillFest, the HomeTeamNS Signature School Holidays Programme for junior members aged six to 12 years old.

Says Ms Nur’Atiqah: “HomeTeamNS believes strongly that our forte is in our service. We believe that cohesion programmes and team-building activities provide a different environment for the participants to explore their capabilities and test their strength as a team. These activities challenge their willpower and mental strength, and can provide insights into how they are able to work and cope as a team.”

She adds that the Cohesion Team is very experienced at handling group sizes of anywhere between 50 to 200 people, with 600 participants being the highest number she has worked with, pre-pandemic. (For that, the entire HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok clubhouse had to be put into service, so that all 600 guests could participate in activities at the same time.) In addition, HomeTeamNS prides itself on being a one-stop centre for all programming-related activities and any other requirements that organisations might have, such as transportation, food and beverage catering, and even customised door gifts.

When it comes to the little ones, Mr Syahmi says that SkillFest, a popular programme, is designed to introduce and develop lifelong skills in children, such as athletics, social and emotional learning, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). As part of SkillFest, the children get to explore HomeTeamNS’ self-run facilities such as the Adventure HQ, Clip ‘n Climb and T-Play, and do fun and exciting experiments, crafts and sports.

Not to be outdone, the grown-ups can enjoy an eclectic mix of cohesion activities at HomeTeamNS ranging from indoor ones like art jamming and mixology to unusual sports, like water soccer and tchoukball. According to Ms Nur’Atiqah, all activities are developed based on the type of skills that they would like to develop and the different capabilities and ages of participants, as well as feedback from previous participants like NSmen.

“Before COVID, our NSmen would come back to us yearly based on their reservist period,” she explains. “So as a team, we always try to come up with something different and interesting to entice them.”

The activities for children are just as carefully planned. Mr Syahmi shares that programmes like SkillFest are based on important social, learning and physical skills that are meant to help grow character. “The skills developed can then be incorporated into their daily and school life,” he added.

According to Ms Nur’Atiqah, the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging period for the Business Development Team as 95 per cent of their cohesion and non-cohesion programmes were on-site. In true HomeTeamNS spirit, the team rallied and quickly adapted, picking up new digital skills, acquiring new software and even honing their soft skills in order to deliver the reformatted programming online, via their laptops. Mr Syahmi adds that when on-site programmes were allowed again, the team then had to come up with additional COVID-19 safety initiatives on top of the existing government-recommended measures, to assure parents that their children could participate safely.

MEMORIES AND BONDING, FOR A LIFETIME

The Singapore Police Force’s Central Division (A Div) has engaged HomeTeamNS to run team-building and cohesion programmes for their PNSmen on multiple occasions. According to their feedback, not only were the customised activities very well-received by participants, the PNSmen also came away having built a strong camaraderie with each other – a successfully met objective.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that participants meet their objectives, safely and with maximum fun,” says Ms Nur’Atiqah. “These objectives can vary from simple ones like building bridges within a new department, to understanding how a department can function better across different management levels.”

Participants can also gain once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like when HomeTeamNS collaborated with the 3^rdDiv Singapore Civil Defence Force Division HQ to conduct a hands-on fire safety lesson. “Participants experienced using a fire extinguisher to put out an actual flame,” recounts Mr Syahmi. “HomeTeamNS also has a new Paintball Arena, and paintball has been incorporated into SkillFest. We devised a target shoot challenge, where participants experience shooting both static and moving targets under the close supervision of a specialist.”

Another recently-added activity is Pedal Go Kart, available at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok. “Go Karting has always been a popular request by our clients and NSmen,” says Ms Nur’Atiqah. “So we have created a racing route over at our Adventure Centre. Instead of pedalling it alone, participants have a relay system. Once they finish the route, they have to head over and hand the Go Kart to a team member to finish the given number of rounds.”

These fun-filled activities are not just a good time for all – they are opportunities for participants to go beyond their comfort zones to challenge themselves, make new friends and develop themselves further than they thought possible. As one happy parent wrote in his feedback after a rock climbing activity in SkillFest September 2021: “My son was able to climb to heights that he had never ventured to previously. This really amazes us as our children are able to realise their own potential, which they have never explored before.”

Check out HomeTeamNS’ wide range of customisable cohesion programmes and activities here, and visit the HomeTeamNS website and Facebook for the latest updates.

Club Buzz

A season to be jolly

Members and guests joining in the festivities at the Christmas carnival at the HomeTeamNS Khatib clubhouse.

HomeTeamNS members had a ho-ho-holly jolly time at the clubhouses during the December holidays, as they immersed themselves in festive activities like lucky draws, crafts, and contributing care packages to the needy.

TEXT: ADLINA ADAM
PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS

FIFA 22 TOURNAMENT AT PLAYPEN BUKIT BATOK

PlayPen hosted its first and largest FIFA 22 Christmas Tournament on 18 December 2021 from 10am to 4pm. Some 24 participants pitted their skills against each other for bragging rights to be the best e-footballer. The tournament consisted of three stages – Group Stage, Knockout Round, and Grand Final, and was open to all age groups.

With entry fees starting at S$35, the tournament included guaranteed FIFA 22 match play sessions and a S$10 meal voucher to Éla, a Halal Greek Restaurant at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok. Participants also stood a chance to win a Nintendo Switch OLED console in a virtual lucky draw.

HomeTeamNS would like to congratulate George, Sabri, and Ignatius – the FIFA 22 Christmas Tournament’s top-three finishers. The top three won an Xbox Series S (worth S$459), a S$100 Premier Football Voucher and a S$50 Premier Football Voucher respectively.

“This is a great initiative by HomeTeamNS! Kudos to the PlayPen team for organising this tournament. I hope there will be more similar tournaments in the future!”, shared HomeTeamNS member Sabri Daud, who finished second.

PlayPen plans to accommodate more members in future tournaments. Stay tuned for information on upcoming events on Laser Quest’s Facebook Page or our website.

CHRISTMAS WINTERLAND AT HOMETEAMNS BUKIT BATOK

From a Winterland Snowy Experience to Winter Craft sessions, 325 HomeTeamNS members and their loved ones had an enjoyable time at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok during the December holidays.

Winterland Snowy Experience

Who said you can’t experience snow in sunny Singapore? HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok found a workaround to our tropical climate by setting up a cosy air-conditioned tent by the swimming pool that offered a magical experience. Families had a blast playing in the “winter” wonderland, courtesy of the cool air and artificial snow foam.

“We love how interactive the Christmas activities are, especially the Snowy Experience!” shared HomeTeamNS member, Jerome Ng.

Winter Craft

Back by popular demand, Winter Craft sessions made a return this Christmas season at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok on 26 December 2021. With well-loved options such as Sand Art and Slime Making, the craft sessions were open to all.

Missed out on these exciting activities? Catch up with HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok for a Feng Shui Talk during the upcoming Chinese New Year period. Look out for the event details on the HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok Facebook Page or on the HomeTeamNS website.

CAUSE IT’S CHRISTMAS AT HOMETEAMNS KHATIB

It’s the season of sharing! HomeTeamNS Khatib rallied members and guests to contribute Care Packs and Play Passes to two beneficiaries – Tak Takut Kids Club by 3 Pumpkins, a community space for children, and the Sunshine Welfare Action Mission (SWAMI) Home, a voluntary welfare organisation that provides integrated nursing home care services to the elderly.

The care packages consisted of daily essentials such as toiletries and groceries, while the Play Passes admitted the children for play time at Adventure HQ and T-Play. A total of 123 contributions were made by HomeTeamNS members and guests, which brought smiles to the beneficiaries.

Members and guests who contributed gifts were treated to a Christmas carnival organised by HomeTeamNS Khatib on 11 and 12 December 2021. Some 180 members and guests played Minute-To-Win-It games, jumped around at the Bouncy Castle and received a Merry Bag inclusive of a gelato voucher from Jewel Cafe.

A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS AT HOMETEAMNS-JOM BALESTIER

Craft and Lunch with Santa

In collaboration with SmartArtz Studio and Indulge Teppanyaki and Grill House, 20 members and 10 guests of HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier created their own Gingerbread House Craft as a pair and had a hearty Western meal with Santa Claus on 19 December 2021.

Help Santa Lose Weight

After all that Christmas feasting, Santa is sure to have gained a pound or two. HomeTeamNS members were tasked to help Santa lose weight, either by eating a healthy meal at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier eateries – Jom Makan Seafood or Indulge Teppanyaki & Grill House, or by completing simple workouts – 20 Jumping Jacks or 30 Squats!

Members were spoiled for choice for healthy meal options, including Seafood White Bee Hoon and Stir-fry Garlic Kang Kong from Jom Makan Seafood, and any dishes containing Chicken Breast or Salmon Fillet from Indulge Teppanyaki & Grill House.

Christmas Craft-A-Land and Gift DIY

At the Christmas Craft-A-Land event on 18 and 19 December 2021, 177 HomeTeamNS members and 156 guests participated in various fun station games and activities including Candy Cane Hook, a Christmas Quiz and Walk, Find & Snap.

Candy Cane Hook participants were tasked to transfer Candy Canes from one bucket to another; while for Walk, Find & Snap, contestants combed the clubhouse to find Christmas-related items and take photos for a chance to win prizes.

Eight lucky winners walked away with prizes worth S$550 across the two-day event, with one grand prize and three consolation prizes given out each day.

Missed out on the fun? Don’t fret! Keep fit with HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier and receive S$20 food and beverage vouchers when you sign up for Judo and Karate classes, from 1 to 31 January 2022.

SPIN & WIN AT FITNESS WORKZ

In the spirit of giving, members who signed up for the six-month or 12-month memberships at any of Fitness Workz gyms between 20 to 31 December 2021 got to spin the wheel and walk away with prizes. A total of 69 members signed up for the gym memberships and received free gifts such as an Under Armour backpack, smoothie blender, ab wheel roller and suspension trainer.

“I thank the trainers for presenting me with this gift. It is not all the time you get to win something. The suspension trainer allows me to add something different to my current workout!” shared Muhamad Sallehan Bin Zainuddin.

Wish to work out as a group? Look out for the promotions for group classes on the HomeTeamNS Fitness Workz Facebook Page.

SANTA’S LUCKY DIP AT T-PLAY BUKIT BATOK

Between 11 and 25 December 2021, T-Play members who booked a slot at T-Play Bukit Batok were entered in Santa’s Lucky Dip. Three lucky winners won a 2D1N Villa Staycation at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok, a Junior Bicycle Set (inclusive of a bicycle, helmet, and elbow and knee pads) or a two-hour Console Game Time at PlayPen and three Laser Quest Missions (for two people each) at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok.

The winners were announced through an interactive Facebook Live session on 26 December 2021 on T-Play’s Facebook page. T-Play Bukit Batok also encouraged online viewers to be among the first five to like, share and comment on the post to stand a chance to win T-Play Art Packs.

Missed out on all the fun? Stay tuned for more clubhouse activities and events coming up next month! Check out the HomeTeamNS Official Facebook Page or website for the latest updates.

Tags HomeTeamNS, Christmas, Events, Family, Activities

Lifestyle

New year, new state of mind

Post author By Dennis
Post date January 14, 2022
No Comments on New year, new state of mind

To be your best self in 2022, make it a point to refresh, recharge and embark on new challenges

TEXT: MELODY TAN
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Multi-tasking is a skill that many of us have honed to a fine art – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when working from home became a norm. Singaporeans are used to wearing several hats, often all at the same time: Hardworking employee, caring spouse, loving parent, filial son or daughter. On weekends or after working hours, we often turn into houseproud cleaners, private-hire drivers, accomplished chefs or food da pao maestros for our families. There’s no denying that despite our best intentions, we sometimes take on too much and are exhausted instead of being rejuvenated by our personal commitments.

As such, it is important to set aside quality time for yourself to prevent burnout – after all, work is a known source of stress in Singapore. The pandemic has also changed our perceptions of work-life balance. In a 2021 survey by Oracle, more than half of the respondents reported feeling a loss of control over their futures and personal lives. Over 90 per cent of respondents also said that the meaning of success had changed for them.

Taking time off to focus on your own needs can not only reduce stress, but restore your inner equilibrium and even improve creativity – making you not just a better professional, but also a better partner, parent and person. Here are some tips on how to incorporate ‘me-time’ into your daily routine this new year.

INHALE, EXHALE

Yoga sessions don’t have to involve signing up for classes or heading out to a studio. You can buy a mat and do short yoga exercises from YouTube in the comfort of your own bedroom or living room, during your lunch break or before you head out to the office.

Yoga’s benefits are not just physical. Learning to breathe, which is one of yoga’s most important aspects, can help you to relax mentally and even sleep better. Some practitioners have reported feeling more energetic and alert, as well as having improved moods. Just holding a pose for five to 15 minutes can help to clear your mind and give you a much-needed time-out during a busy day.

For something that can be done anywhere and doesn’t require a mat, turn to meditation. When you’re waiting for the train, standing in line to buy dinner or getting ready for work, you can try taking deep, slow, intentional breaths to clear your mind.

In addition to reducing stress, meditation can help to control anxiety, enhance self-awareness and increase one’s attention span. You can use apps like Headspace to learn how to meditate or get tips on exercises aimed at improving sleep, creativity or focus.

WRITE IT OUT

With so much going on in our lives, just getting through the day can be a challenge. Journalling can help sort out your thoughts, feelings and priorities, helping you to understand yourself and others better while at the same time, organising the never-ending flow of ideas, people and events in your head.

Whether you choose to write in a fancy leather-bound notebook, on scrap paper or on the Notes app of your phone, studies have found that journalling can lead to a host of benefits, including improved sleep, better self-esteem, greater intelligence, a stronger immune system — and even faster wound healing! While you are unlikely to turn into Wolverine from the X-Men, taking a few minutes at bedtime to write about your day is a great way to unwind, relax and over time, create a record of your own self-development.

LET IT GO – LITERALLY

Living in an untidy environment is known to be stressful for people. It’s hard to find the things you need, and you don’t have enough space for all the things you have. In comparison, decluttering your home can resolve tension, reduce anxiety and even boost your confidence.

With Chinese New Year coming up, many households in Singapore are going through an annual spring cleaning. But you don’t need a special occasion to declutter.

If the task seems intimidating, home organisation guru Marie Kondo recommends going by category, not location, to make it easier. Instead of tackling one room at a time, choose a category of item – for example, clothes – and spending a few hours during the weekend discarding items that no longer spark joy.

If you can’t bear the thought of throwing them into the garbage, you can consider selling good-quality items on online marketplaces like Carousell, or donate them to good causes such as Books Beyond Borders, Junk To Clear and the other organisations listed here. You might make your item’s recipient very happy while also creating a more comfortable, spacious home for yourself.

CONNECT WITH YOUR CIRCLE

The benefits of friendship are manifold. Besides preventing loneliness and reducing stress, friends give us a sense of belonging, make us feel more confident and resilient, and even improve our physical health – studies have shown that older adults with fulfilling social lives are likely to live longer.

Still, keeping up with friends or extended family members can be tough when everyone is so busy. Some may also live overseas or have work schedules that make meeting up difficult.

Even if it’s just a breezy text message or a quick phone call, reaching out to them can help to reaffirm your closeness and strengthen your bond. If you want to meet in real life but have conflicting schedules, try suggesting an early morning run or a weekend late-night supper. You could also combine family time with friends, by meeting at a HomeTeamNS clubhouse for a quick coffee catch-up while the kids get to know one another over board and console games at PlayPen or play time at T-Play, the Transportation and Peranakan-themed indoor playgrounds.

After all, catching up with an old friend gives you the opportunity to connect with someone who accepts your flaws and quirks without question, knows how to make you laugh, is comfortable enough to be completely honest with you, and has seen you grow into the person that you are today.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

From rock-climbing to cross-stitching to public speaking, there are plenty of things you haven’t tried yet. Why not make 2022 the year you take up a new challenge?

Doing something new and different can open exciting doors, such as discovering a lifelong hobby or embarking on a career transformation. It’s also been known to sharpen your thinking skills, keep you from getting stale and boring (or being bored) and help you grow as a person.

To conquer your fear of the unknown, start small. For example, if you want to learn how to cook, choose a simple recipe to follow that doesn’t require a lot of kitchen equipment or complicated techniques. If you prefer to be guided, check out the huge variety of courses and activities on offer at your nearest HomeTeamNS clubhouse – there’s something for everyone, and you can sign up with friends or family as well.

From time to time, it’s good to hang up your multiple hats and concentrate on your own fulfilment and growth – for the benefit of your loved ones, as well as yourself. As we enter 2022, make this the year that you choose to focus on you.

Lifestyle

Looking ahead to a new year and a new waterfront clubhouse

Post author By Dennis
Post date January 7, 2022
No Comments on Looking ahead to a new year and a new waterfront clubhouse

Assoc Prof Faishal says that his appointment to HomeTeamNS has allowed him to witness the resilience and strength of the organisation's staff and volunteers first-hand.

After a year as HomeTeamNS President, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim shares his insights and what he’s looking forward to in 2022.

TEXT: MELODY TAN
PHOTOS: MEDIACORP

Taking on a new position – whether you’re starting a new job or heading an entire organisation – is often a challenge. For Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, assuming the presidency of HomeTeamNS in 2020 was made more challenging as it took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assoc Prof Faishal, who is Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, said that his appointment in HomeTeamNS so far has been rewarding, and offered him valuable insights. “I was able to witness the resilience and strength of our HomeTeamNS staff and volunteers first-hand, as they overcame obstacles and adapted to the ever-changing landscape to continue engaging our Home Team NSmen,” he recounts.

He shared how HomeTeamNS had adapted existing programmes for the safety and well-being of members by going online, while still maintaining a sense of camaraderie.

For example, HomeTeamNS was one of the first event organisers to introduce the Virtual Fitness Training (VFT) for Home Team NSmen and bring the physical REAL® Run onto a virtual platform. During the circuit breaker period, with the closure of gyms, the HomeTeamNS crew at Fitness Workz took their strength and conditioning classes online. They also used social media to share useful content about fitness and exercise for members to incorporate into at-home training programmes.

“I strongly believe that it’s the journey we take together that matters,” said Assoc Prof Faishal. “I am heartened to see our members, volunteers and staff working together to tackle the challenges and becoming more united as a result.”

A CLUBHOUSE THAT’S ALSO A WATERFRONT HAVEN

Looking ahead to 2022, one highlight for HomeTeamNS is the opening of its Bedok Reservoir Clubhouse. The only reservoir-fronting clubhouse in Singapore, Bedok Reservoir Clubhouse boasts an array of new concepts for members and their families.

Some exciting facilities include an indoor water adventure that will house Singapore’s first two-storey indoor water playground with a high-element water obstacle course. The clubhouse will also have ManCaves (a hangout space that includes amenities like complimentary WiFi, a built-in kitchenette with a fridge and karaoke system) with reservoir views and an infinity swimming pool!

“Close to one-third of our members reside in the east,” Assoc Prof Faishal said. “With the opening of Bedok Clubhouse, they will finally have a clubhouse nearer to them which they can enjoy. We at HomeTeamNS can get to know them better, too – and we certainly look forward to that.”

Assoc Prof Faishal added that the Bedok Reservoir Clubhouse will allow the association to enhance its cohesion programmes for Home Team NSmen with new activities. Home Team NSmen can look forward to a wider variety of water activities, such as dragon boating when the new clubhouse is ready.

To make full use of the facilities, members can book the clubhouse’s Waterfront Villas for a staycation with their families. Situated on a forested hill overlooking a tranquil waterfront, these villas will be perfect for a temporary escape from the urban bustle.

“On top of bringing our NSmen together for NS-related events and activities in the Bedok Clubhouse, we hope that they will also build new memories with their loved ones and their fellow NSmen in this new clubhouse. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, celebrations – the list goes on,” said Assoc Prof Faishal. He also hinted at more clubhouse features to be announced. “We’ll reveal them at a later time – stay tuned!”

HOPES FOR THE NEW YEAR

In a reality reshaped by COVID-19, Assoc Prof Faishal acknowledged that the one thing he misses the most is face-to-face interactions with HomeTeamNS members.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I enjoyed seeing our members bond over various activities with their friends and family at our clubhouses,” he said, adding that he enjoys having dinner with his family at the numerous eateries across the four HomeTeamNS clubhouses. “I hope that the COVID-19 situation will improve so that we can have more opportunities to interact in person and enjoy more physical activities together.”

For now, Assoc Prof Faishal treasures any chance to meet up with volunteers and staff in person. “I enjoy the interaction and learning, and yes – we do have fun producing videos, exploring the new clubhouses and getting to know members better.”

As part of his mission as HomeTeamNS President, he hopes to continue building on the organisation’s values of recognising and celebrating the contributions of Home Team NSmen on a larger scale. He plans to achieve a deeper understanding of NSmen’s and members’ evolving needs and coming up with useful programmes and initiatives.

“Members can look forward to us stepping up our digitalisation efforts,” he added. “These include the new mobile app launch, implementation of an A.I. (artificial intelligence) chatbot online and self-help kiosks in clubhouses. With the new clubhouses and the continuous upgrading of our current clubhouses, we will also bring in more new members and continue building an active membership base.”

Besides expanding the HomeTeamNS family, one of Assoc Prof Faishal’s resolutions for 2022 is “to continue to recognise the efforts and contributions of not just our NSmen, but also their families. My hopes are that members and NSmen will be proud of being part of our big Home Team family, that the shared spaces we have built will be well-used and cherished, and that HomeTeamNS will be the club of choice for our NSmen.”

For the latest updates on HomeTeamNS news and events, visit our website or official Facebook page.

Tags HomeTeamNS, Bedok, Clubhouse

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