September 2025 Newsletter
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Join us for a captivating night of through-provoking tales that delve deep into love, loss, resilience and the search for meaning.
Featured Stories:
- A compelling story of a man who reads the stars to avoid unfortunate events. How would he live a day when he knew it was not going to be a lucky day?
- A solo, risky adventure turned into a transformative experience that not only strengthened muscles but also healed the heart and shifted the outlook on life.
- An original story about a man who sought solace at the end of a long hard day.
- When a relationship goes sour, how far can one go to abandon his/her partner? A story of love, loss and betrayal.
- A samurai’s confidence was shattered when his sword broke. Follow his journey in which he embraced the value of imperfection and eventually regained his strength, confidence and honour.
- A story that carries the timeless message that love doesn’t seek flawlessness, but truth and tenderness within the flawed.
Recommended for Adults only
The magic spreads beyond the shores of Singapore — from 1–5 September, 4:00–4:50pm (SGT), we’re offering 5 days of free online storytelling that anyone around the world can enjoy.
Students in classrooms are especially welcome to join us live
The 11th Storytelling Festival 2025 – Shine Bright Like a Diamond!
We’re so thankful for the strong support and excited for what’s ahead!
What do our storytellers have up their sleeves this year? ??
Catch sneak peeks from the voices behind 398.2 Storytelling Festival here
Come and join us at the Storytelling Festival happening now!!!
Celebrate the close of the 398.2 Storytelling Festival with Mosaic Art Jamming at subsidised rate of $30 pax!
Join the WhatsApp group for more details closer to the date: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IG8dOcaHDGU5KHS4SS4fYH?mode=ac_t
Events in Singapore & Around the World
Last month we had a wonderful collection of stories about trees and many asked that we continue with the theme again this month. There are so many stories to enjoy, so step into a forest of story where we will hear Tree Stories from every culture and corner of life — folktales and myths where trees speak and grant wishes; legends that mark battles, births and bargains beneath their branches; the magic trees that change a life in a single night; and intimate, true stories of people whose lives are shaped by a single tree.
If you would like to tell a prepared story in 5-6 minutes, email Christine Carlton at storyaus@gmail.com to be put on the list to tell a short story about a Tree or a Woodland of Trees. The stories are told, not read.
This is a free online event organised by the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) Come as a listener or teller. All welcome.
- Wednesday, 17 September 2025
- 5.20 – 7.00 pm Singapore time
Register on Humanitix to receive the Zoom link to attend the session
Monday, September 1 2025, 11:00 pm SGT
Monday, September 22, 2025, 7:00 am SGT
Live on ZoomFree! (Donations Welcome)
Click here to find out more and to register for the zoom link.
Wednesday, September 10, 7.30 am SGT
FSGW sponsors storytelling at The Grapevine Online, an electronic stage for professional storytellers. The Grapevine is home to the best in modern storytelling, which means all kinds of storytelling: truth, fiction, heroes, villains, myths, and legends, in solemn, humorous, and other styles. All the varieties of story that people have told each other for thousands of years; told really, really, well by people who are at the top of their craft.
Hosted by: Tim Livengood, and Renée Brachfeld.
Strong Like Bamboo II will be presented virtually on September 10th. Tickets are on sale by donation. Pay what you want!* All proceeds go to the production of this event and help further Eth-Noh-Tec’s mission to bring East and West together to build a community where all are safe and welcome.
We all have stories to tell. Join us to hear six stories of resilience in the face of racism. Join us in discussion after the show to share your own. Leave inspired.
Together we are strong like bamboo.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. If you cannot afford to make a small donation but wish to join the event, please reach out to us at contact@ethnotec.org, and Eth-no-tec would be happy to create a ticket for you.
Wednesday, September 10, 8:00?am Singapore time
Learn how to shape a memory into a story and become an inspiration for others!
Mindy Neo from SAS is doing a workshop for the Storytelling in Education Global Conference in October this year.
Click here to find out about the sessions in the conference & to buy tickets.
Our Teachers-Our Educators! Our Leaders! Our Shapers!
“Guru Govind Dono Khade, Kaake Laagoo Paaon
Balihari Guru Aapne, Govind Diyo Bataaye”
– SANT KABIR –
The above is a Hindi couplet that reads, “If my teacher and the Creator are standing in front of me, whom should I bow to first?”
Kabir says he would bow to his teacher first because it was the teacher who educated and familiarized him with the Divine.
If I delve into the recesses of my memory, I find innumerable personal anecdotes of teachers who went out of their way to guide, nurture and shape me. I am sure it is the case with most of us.
A retired teacher who travelled to his son’s city every year for Dussehra holidays would try to gather all the kids in the area and teach them Urdu. The kids dodged him; who would want to learn a new language during school holidays? Well, he persevered, even asking the children to write him two letters per year, and he corrected those letters and sent back. Years later, my husband is grateful for his knowledge of the language and ability to enjoy the works of famous Urdu writers like Ismat Chughtai, Sadat Hasan Manto. That teacher instilled in him a love and beauty of the Urdu language.
Exams were on, and my principal, Mrs. Pankajam, happened to be the invigilator that morning.
I rushed through my paper and when I had only the final two questions to answer, I realized I had a lot of time left over. I answered the final two questions in cursive, a complete change from my regular handwriting.
I handed in my paper and returned to my desk to pack up and leave. Mrs. Pankajam flipped through the answer sheet and then summoned me. She asked me if that was my writing and I said, “Yes.” She then said to me, “I am here and know that you haven’t cheated. Never change your handwriting midway through the paper. The one who corrects will have immense doubts, did someone else write that for you? Was another student’s paper switched inadvertently? The teacher correcting your paper will not have time for inquiry and will omit looking into that answer and give you no marks for it.” It was a lesson on how an innocent act can snowball out of proportion.
This same principal had requested my mother to leave my older sister with her so that she could look after her during our trip out of the city for a family wedding. It was a crucial year, and exams were round the corner. It was community living at its best!
My first lesson in social etiquette was imparted by my Hindi teacher. Most of my teachers’ firm yet loving guidance has served me well in navigating life.
Can one ever erase or overlook the influence of a good teacher?
I could share endless stories about each teacher who has shaped me, however let me pause here and share stories of some remarkable achievements of teachers from around the globe.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
An ode to teachers and the incredible work they do every day. Prize of $1 million
Peter Tabichi worked as a Mathematics and Physics teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pawani Village in Kenya, a public school in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley. He gave away 80% of his monthly salary to help the poor.
In 2019, Peter won the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize. The prize was $1 million. He was selected from a pool of over 10,000 applicants from 179 countries. Most of the students in the school come from disadvantaged families, and nearly a third of them are orphans or have only one parent.
Peter believes that everyone has the potential to change the world. He said in an interview, “We were created for a reason and to be happy. We can work towards happiness, but all of us need to do our part so that the world becomes a better place. We need to promote peace through what we do. Whatever we do, the focus should be to promote peace.”
He teaches through everyday simple concepts and objects found around, taking photographs on his phone and projecting them with his laptop for students to learn. With limited resources, poor internet connections, crowded classrooms and few books, he must be creative in his teaching.
Besides teaching, he is also a patron of the peace club; at the peace club they do tree planting, debating, sports, and community upliftment. The main purpose of the club is for children to achieve something as a group and not just as individuals. The school has children from different tribes and requires gentle handling as otherwise the children tend to stay in small groups, which often leads to conflicts and discord.
Peter’s unwavering belief in the talent, intelligence, and curiosity of Africa’s young people has paid off and his students have been successful in national and international competitions, with one even receiving an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.
Peter is committed to bringing about change, one child at a time. Each child is a blank page waiting to be written on and he hopes there will be a revolution and collective consciousness will prevail.
Tube Teacher
Go to Mallapuram, a small village in Kerala, India, and everyone there will tell you about a Tube Teacher!
Abdul Malik, a Mathematics teacher from Kerala in India has been swimming across Kadalundi river for over 20 years to teach Mathematics in a school in Mallappuram which is across the river.
He chose to swim as the distance by river is 1 kilometer whereas by road it is 7 kilometers, and the traffic conditions make the timing of his journey unpredictable.
He swims with the help of a rubber tyre which keeps him buoyant and helps him hold a plastic bag without getting its contents wet. He carries his books, a change of clothes, and lunch in the plastic bag.
Besides teaching Mathematics, he also teaches swimming. He organizes regular clean-up drives with his students. They collect plastic waste and debris thereby fostering a sense of responsibility and respect for nature and Mother Earth’s abundant resources.
Abdul has been affectionately nicknamed “Tube Teacher” by his students. Abdul, like many teachers, does not just impart knowledge. He shapes character, ignites curiosity, and keeps dreams alive.
Teaching indeed is an art that comes from the heart.
“Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.” – Colleen Wilcox
References
- In Singapore, Teachers’ Day is celebrated on the first Friday in September and in 2025 it is on 5th September
- 5th October is World Teachers Day
- Various internet sources