Meet your friends next door: How the Dragon Angel Rescuers transformed Toa Payoh East Zone 6 into a sustainable hub

(From left to right) Shiju Abraham, Jessie Joanne, and Peggy Leong are three Dragon Angel Rescuers dedicated to spreading the joy of sustainability.

Toa Payoh is famous for its iconic dragon playground. But nestled in this bustling neighbourhood and ignited by a passion for sustainability is an extraordinary group of residents: the Dragon Angel Rescuers.

Named after their neighbourhood’s famous dragon playground, the Dragon Angel Rescuers are a group of ever-growing volunteers that serve to champion sustainability initiatives within Toa Payoh East Zone 6. Among them are Peggy Leong, Shiju Abraham, and Jessie Joanne—familiar faces who actively lead and participate in these impactful initiatives.

Bonded by their shared mission to reduce waste, this remarkable community has turned their passion for recycling into a thriving way of life, creating a neighbourhood that’s both eco-conscious and tightly knit.

Recycling takes root

Eight years ago, the residents of Toa Payoh East Zone 6 came together for a monthly recycling programme in partnership with the National Environment Agency (NEA). What began as a standard community initiative soon sparked a collective awakening. As the residents learnt more about sustainability, they began to see the potential impact of their efforts.

The community’s interest in sustainability sprouted with various visits to landfills and recycling plants.

"Reducing waste is everyone's responsibility," Peggy, a resident and committee member of the Toa Payoh East Zone 6 Residents’ Network, said. "(Our interest) grew once the notion of reducing waste became a national dialogue."

It wasn’t long before the community expanded their recycling efforts. Inspired by eye-opening visits to Semakau Landfill and an e-waste recycling plant, they began collecting and recycling e-waste, or even swapping unwanted electronics for vegetables and other foodstuff!

Over time, the community’s recycling efforts expanded to include upcycling projects, veggie rescues, plant swaps, and more.

The birth of the Dragon Chiller

Among the community’s many sustainability initiatives, one stands out for its creativity and impact: the Dragon Chiller.

The Dragon Chiller serves as a hub for rescued food and a meeting point for the community.

“This effort has fostered many strong community bonds and allowed the residents to connect with one another, regardless of their demographic and ethnic backgrounds,” Jessie said. “Children often join in the distributions, which has been especially inspiring.”

From food to friendship: The bakery rescues

Three years ago, the Dragon Angel Rescuers expanded their mission to reduce food waste in local food stores and bakeries. “The bakery rescue effort involves collecting, sorting, and repacking unsold edibles from local bakeries and eateries,” explained Peggy, who leads the bakery rescue effort.

The food rescues also serve to bring the community together.

These food items are distributed at the community’s Dragon Pasar, a weekly “market” held outside the Residents’ Network office. Here, residents are invited to pick up any food and ingredients they are interested in, free-of-charge.

The initiative quickly became a highlight of the community. “Every Sunday at our Dragon Pasar, there is a queue well before our opening times,” Peggy shared. For residents who couldn’t attend, like seniors with mobility challenges, volunteers would deliver the baked goods right to their doorstep. “Many residents show gratitude for the initiative,” Peggy said. "Many stories of friendship have been borne through this initiative. In fact, many of the initial recipients (of the food) are now actively volunteering themselves.”

A community like no other

There’s something different about a community that makes a difference together. The shared passions and strong bonds within Toa Payoh East Zone 6 aren’t just powerful, they’re palpable. As a relatively new resident, having moved in seven years ago, it was something that Shiju noticed immediately.

Shiju’s active participation in the Dragon Angel Rescuers has brought him even closer into the tight-knit community in Toa Payoh East Zone 6.

“When I first arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by how organised and welcoming the neighbourhood was,” Shiju shared. The vibrant sense of community and the collective commitment to sustainability was something that he had not experienced before. “Regular activities like recycling and food rescues make the community feel very welcoming. This made it easy for new residents like me to feel included,” he reflected.

Coined after the iconic Toa Payoh Dragon Playground, the Dragon Angel Rescuers are inspired to keep their community’s spirit of sustainability burning bright.

Naturally, Shiju soon found himself immersed in the efforts, starting with the food rescue programme and eventually helping to organise distribution events. Today, he actively volunteers as a Block Ambassador. Together with the rest of the Dragon Angel Rescuers, he proves that sustainability is more than just a goal — it’s a way to build community, nurture friendships, and create a legacy for future generations.

In the shadow of Toa Payoh’s iconic dragon playground, the Dragon Angel Rescuers have forged something just as enduring: a community united, strengthened and uplifted.

Have an idea to create impactful social change, and keen to partner the government to bring it to life? We want to hear from you at https://www.sgpo.gov.sg!