Emerging Stronger Survey

We found the COVID-19 crisis to be highly disruptive to many aspects of our lives, and we had to make significant and often painful adjustments. Many of us are worried about how the crisis will affect our cost of living and job security. But we have faced the pandemic with resilience, fortitude and solidarity. Despite the toll COVID-19 took on our livelihoods and relationships, 3 in 5 of us are optimistic about our future and are happy with our current standard of living. 4 in 5 of us feel that we have the support of our family and friends.

We have also managed to find bright spots as we learned to cope with COVID-19. We took the opportunity to develop new skills and healthy habits, and also learned to be more resilient, self-reliant and financially-savvy. We strengthened our social ties by spending more time with family and friends. We are now more aware of the need for personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, as well as self-care and mental wellness. We also realised the importance of caring for our community and the less fortunate.

We are committed to making Singapore a better place for all, whether in partnership with each other, or with the government. 4 in 5 of us feel a responsibility to help one another, and 7 in 10 of us feel that Singaporeans are prepared to work together to make Singapore a better place. 4 in 5 of us are open to partnering the government to bring about a better future, though we are less certain that the government would consider our views seriously, with 2 in 5 of us expressing such confidence. Nevertheless, 3 in 4 of us feel a strong sense of belonging toward Singapore and just under 3 in 4 are confident of our country’s future.

We have many ideas on how we can work with each other to make Singapore a better place. Almost half of us suggest caring more for the community , such as through giving and volunteering. We also suggest doing more to raise awareness of social causes and encourage the people around us to volunteer with us. About a quarter of us highlight the need for social responsibility, such as adhering to laws and safe distancing measures, and adopting environmentally-friendly practices. To be responsible and engaged citizens, we should also keep ourselves up to date on government initiatives and policies. A quarter of us suggest contributing more to community building by being more involved in community activities, being gracious and respectful to others, and deepening interactions with our neighbours. About a quarter of us also want to have more frequent and constructive conversations with the government.