Explore a soon-to-be-lost heritage estate, taste and brew specialty pourover coffee, speak with a human ‘book’, build a wooden toy house or learn to paint exquisite botanicals in a sub 20-degrees flower-filled conservatory. These are among the many and wide-ranging activities one can do during Giving Week 2017, happening from 28^th November to 5^th December.

Giving Week is an annual national movement encouraging everyone across Singapore, from corporates and non-profits to individuals, to come together, give back and make a difference. It is organised by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), a not-for-profit, independent organisation working to build a robust local ecosystem that makes the act of giving simple, fun and meaningful.

There’s a wide-ranging myriad of activities this year, available in the form of specialty events, fundraisers, donations and volunteer opportunities. Guaranteed to meet the needs and interests of all, take a peek at our non-exhaustive list of highlights, for one and all to give and receive.

For the roving foodie…

• Meal for Literacy

Halalfoodhunt is holding a “Coupon Amal” for donors to purchase dining vouchers from participating restaurants, to be used up till 28 February 2018. Profits from the sale will go to Literacy Initiative for Equity (LIFE SG), which provides tools and support for underprivileged children in Singapore to succeed

• Coffee with a Difference

Foreword Coffee empowers persons with special needs through training and employment. Their Coffee for Community appreciation workshop (2^nd December) allows participants to taste and learn to brew pourover coffee. (S$15/pax; bring a friend and pay S$12/pax.)

• Drink, Dine and Donate

Eatigo is donating S$2 for every reservation attended with the code “GIVING” from now till 30^th December 2017.

Locally-based restaurants under the Unlisted Collection, including Cheek by Jowl, Esquina and Majestic Bay Seafood will be donating S$1 for every beverage sold to the TODAY Enable Fund, providing financial aid for those with disabilities to help them reach their full potential through education and opportunity.

For the workout enthusiast…

• Parkour in the Park

Superfly Monkey Dragons is running an introductory Parkour workshop on 3^rd December for Giving Week 2017. Proceeds for the hour-long session (S$20, 3 to 4p.m.) will exercise your creativity, fitness and balance while raising funds for the Yellow Ribbon Project.

• Yoga For Good

As part of their ETL For Good project which supports new Cambodian artists and the Phum Ou Village School and Vocational Training Centre in Siem Reap, personal training and outdoor fitness specialists, Eat Train Love is holding ‘pay-as-you-wish’ yoga and sweat sessions on 29^th November.

• Bootcamp for Babes

PushPullGive helps support marginalized youths and pregnant teenagers in difficult situations. Forging for social impact through fitness, the classes are suitable for every level and all proceeds for their 2^nd December charity bootcamp (S$23) will go towards Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support.

For the shopping and lifestyle maven…

• Paint among Exotics

Join botanical watercolour artist Lucinda Law for food, art and conversation in inimitably beautiful settings. Within and Co. is holding an Art & Dine workshop and lunch and tea session on 2^nd and 3^rd December, at COMO Cuisine and Pollen restaurant, respectively. Learn to paint exquisite florals while supporting “Wave a Magic Wand” campaign, by the Home Nursing Foundation and UN Women, SG Committee.

• Sustainable Indulgence

As part of Giving Week 2017, Sonder Social, the conscious commerce subscription service offering crafts and produce from artisans all around Asia Pacific, is offering a specially curated box of 6 full-sized, premium lifestyle products. Use the promo code “WELCOME20” from now till 5^th December to receive the box at a special price of 20USD.

• Shoebox Shopping

Spread the joy of giving by contributing to Operation Shoebox by Society Staples. Simply put together a shoebox of items worth $20 for children with special needs, based on 3 themes, ‘Play’, ‘Learn’ and ‘Do’. Drop the boxes off at Pope Jai Thai at Scape and the Sports Hub Library from 28^th to 5^th December.

For the arts and culture dilettante…

• Roam Cultural Gems

Take a walking tour of Dakota Crescent and learn about the issues and concerns of its elderly residents, who are facing the struggles of relocation, change and aging. Or Walk the night in Geylang and learn to understand its ecosystem and community with sensitivity. Social enterprise group, The Thought Collective’s 2.5 hour walking trail through Jalan Besar neighbourhood explores the concept of trust and community in common space.

• Experience a Human Library

Step into the shoes of another on 3^rd December with Etch Empathy’s human library session. Designed to challenge stereotypes and prejudice through dialogue, establish a raw connection with a vulnerable individual in your community.

• Build, Knit and Paint

Non-profit Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) is holding various creative woodworking workshops for children and adults to learn to build shelves, ornaments and toys of their own.

Liberty Art Studio is holding ‘pay-as-you-will’ art-jamming sessions (29 Nov – 3^rd Dec, 4^th Dec), with 10% of the funds raids going to “Drawn by a Nurse” initiative, with all proceeds from its auction going to TOUCH Home Care.

And even the time-strapped high-flier…

• Donate via mobile using PayNow

Up till 21 December, United Overseas Bank’s “PayNow for a Cause” will match donations to SPD (formerly known as Society for the Physically Disabled), from customers using UOB PayNow, up to a total value of S$100,000. Donations will go towards supporting early intervention programmes for babies and children with special needs.

• Run in Spirit

Challenge yourself and run 10 km in any location, at any time and pace of your choice in support of the SPD Breaking Barriers Virtual Run. Held from 24 Nov to 10 Dec 2017, the event aims to raise S$50,000 to support and assist over 9,400 people with disabilities and 5,500 unique individuals through therapy, early intervention, education and employment support.

For longer-term and year-round volunteering opportunities that include rooftop gardening, help-hotline assistance and tutoring opportunities, visit giving.sg and join in the efforts to make Singapore a true #cityofgood.

Because, after all, to paraphrase Henry James the author and realist, “[t]rue happiness […] consists in getting out of one’s self; but the point is not only to get out—you must stay out; and to stay out you must have some absorbing errand.”