Jenga, Red King and How Ming En Found Her Tribe

“I’m quite bubbly and talkative. I like hanging out and having friends,” Ming En shares with an easy smile.

Her first encounter with YGOS happened not at a centre, but in her primary school, shortly after PSLE. The team had organised a post-exam activity, introducing students to kin-ball and inviting them to visit the drop-in centre where, she was told, there were plenty of games.

That detail caught her attention. “I came here just for the games,” she laughs.

One of her earliest memories at the centre was playing Jenga with friends but what stayed with her was how quickly the space began to feel comfortable. Conversations flowed easily, and the atmosphere felt welcoming in a way that encouraged her to keep returning.

Over time, the visits became part of her routine. During her primary school years, Ming En would drop by almost every week. She spent time talking, playing, and getting to know both staff and peers. The friendliness of the people around her made it easy to settle in and build connections.

Among those connections, Gwen became someone she grew particularly close to. They often spent time playing games together and chatting about everyday things. One game that stood out was Red King, which quickly became a favourite.

“Gwen taught us how to play, and we played a lot of rounds,” Ming En recalls.

While many of her memories at the centre are filled with laughter, one moment left a deeper impression on her. She remembers coming to the centre one day without her best friend Gracie, feeling unsure and slightly out of place on her own.

Tia noticed, and she gently invited Ming En into a room for a conversation, spending time getting to know her and helping her feel at ease.

“I am thankful that this is a safe place and a fun place,” Ming En says.

As she progressed into secondary school, her schedule became more demanding, and she could no longer visit as frequently as before. Even so, the centre remains a familiar place she returns to when she can, particularly for events such as the free market (where items are shared freely at no cost) and other fun activities organised by the team.

These visits continue to provide opportunities to reconnect with friends and mentors who have journeyed with her over the years.

Reflecting on what life might have been like without YGOS, Ming En pauses before answering honestly.

“It would have been really boring,” she says. “After school, I would just eat McDonald’s.”

Instead, YGOS gave her something to look forward to each week, and a place where she felt she belonged.

For Ming En, what began as curiosity about games gradually became a place where friendships formed naturally, where someone would notice if she was having a difficult day, and where she could feel comfortable being herself.

And that has made all the difference in how she is growing up.