We Love Learning (WeLL) Centre’s Farewell Marks the End of an Era
For nearly 20 years, the We Love Learning (WeLL) Centre, located at Block 93 Henderson Road, has served as a crucial support hub for the residents of Henderson Heights. Initially founded in 2003 as a storytelling club for children living in rental flats, the space grew into a multifaceted center that offered various services, from tuition and a children’s library to food distributions and assistance with second-hand goods.
The WeLL Centre will soon vacate its current space, as the Housing and Development Board (HDB) prepares to relocate residents across Singapore, beginning in 2025. The centre, which operates in a 420 square meter space at the void deck, will find a new home at Block 129 Bukit Merah View, scheduled to open by May 2025.
Since its opening in 2005, the WeLL Centre has been an indispensable resource for the local community, providing free academic support, food rations, and even used electronics. Volunteers, many of whom have been with the centre since its early days, helped foster a sense of belonging and support among residents, many of whom faced personal challenges.
Ms. Diyana Abdullah, a resident who moved to the estate as a single mother in 2010, shared that the centre provided crucial support, including tutoring for her five children, some of whom had to be taken in after a family tragedy. Thanks to the free tutoring in subjects like maths and science, her eldest daughter was able to achieve good grades and pursue a diploma in health management at Republic Polytechnic.
The centre also provided essential items, such as school uniforms, bags, and shoes, donated by the community. Weekly vegetable distributions and the Super Mummies programme, which offered parenting advice, helped strengthen ties between families and residents.
As the area prepares for redevelopment, the WeLL Centre has become the focal point for residents to say their goodbyes, with HDB staff stationed on-site to assist with relocation matters. Many residents, like Ms. Murni Indrayani, will miss the centre’s offerings, especially the parenting support and affordable household items.
Mr. Soh Chee Keong, a longtime volunteer and honorary chairman of the Henderson-Dawson Citizens’ Consultative Committee, reflected on the success of the centre, saying that the academic support it provided helped generations of children rise above difficult circumstances. The centre’s impact is evident in the success stories of former students who went on to attend universities and polytechnics.
Though the WeLL Centre is leaving, its legacy in the Henderson Heights community will live on, thanks to the trust it built and the difference it made in so many lives over nearly two decades.
