ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025

Connecting Narratives for Change Festival is an annual community festival for anyone interested in change-making in Singapore. Each year, we gather at Common Ground Civic Centre to work on the things that matter to us that need to change.

At the festival, we collaborate with socially-oriented organisations from different industries and sectors who are the Resident and Community Partners at Common Ground Civic Centre. Through experiential activities, we will each respond to these social concerns with our own unique perspectives, skillsets and expertise.

FESTIVAL DETAILS

  • Date: 23 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct (Sat)

  • Time: 9am – 6pm

  • Location: Common Ground Civic Centre, 21 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 469659

A learning festival

You’ll learn new ways of thinking, feeling and doing more for specific social concerns that matter to Singapore.

A collaborative container

You’ll meet people who share similar social concerns - but come from different parts of the community.

An experimental sandbox

You’ll get to work together throughout the day so that we can mobilise each other to start working on these concerns.

Our Programme Partners

  • Artably

  • Brave Feats Student Care

  • Daughters of Tomorrow

  • Green Nudge

  • InSchool

  • Kontinentalist

  • Lepak Conversations

  • Myles & More

  • Studio Dojo

  • The Black Sampan

  • Werable

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

What’s happening at Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025?

This year, we want to explore: How can we live the Good Life?

All of us are part of a home, a workplace and a community of some kind. These are the 3 key components of our lives here in Singapore. At Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025, we want to help each other work towards a personal, professional and civic life that we can all enjoy.

Join us for three Saturdays in August, September and October to explore how we can live the Good Life by building healthier homes, creating kinder workplaces and gathering as whole communities.

How can we live the Good Life?

THEME 1: 23 AUGUST 2025 (SAT)

By building healthier homes

How can we connect better with one another at home?

THEME 2: 20 SEPTEMBER 2025 (SAT)

By creating kinder workplaces

How can we support and care for each other so that we can thrive at work?

THEME 3: 18 OCTOBER 2025 (SAT)

By gathering as whole communities

What can we learn from each other and what can we do when we gather together?

23 AUGUST 2025, SAT | THEME 1
20 SEPTEMBER 2025, SAT | THEME 2
18 OCTOBER 2025, SAT | THEME 3

@ COMMON GROUND CIVIC CENTRE
21 BEDOK NORTH STREET 1, SINGAPORE 469659

THEME 1: 23 AUGUST 2025

How can we build healthier homes?

WITH
BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
COMMON GROUND
LEPAK CONVERSATIONS
WERABLE

THEME 2: 20 SEPTEMBER 2025

How can we create kinder workplaces?

WITH
COMMON GROUND
KONTINENTALIST
MYLES & MORE

THEME 3: 18 AUGUST 2025

How can we gather as whole communities?

WITH
ARTABLY
BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
DAUGHTERS OF TOMORROW
GREEN NUDGE
INSCHOOL
STUDIO DOJO
THE BLACK SAMPAN

Ticketing Information

Tickets for the festival are sold by theme, i.e. Healthier Homes (23 Aug), Kinder Workplaces (20 Sep) or Whole Communities (18 Oct). Your ticket will grant you access to the full-day of interactive sessions for the theme of your choice.

Ticket sales for each theme will commence on:

  • Theme 1: 3 July 2025

  • Theme 2: TBA

  • Theme 3: TBA

The proceeds from ticket sales will help us:

  • Pay our programme partners an honorarium for their time, effort and skillsets

  • Invite individuals from groups or communities who may otherwise not be able to attend due to financial barriers

  • Provide lunch and light refreshments, partially catered by local businesses in Bedok Central

  • Contribute to utilities and venue rental

Category

Price

Early Bird 1-day Pass (save 20%)

This ticket grants you access to the programmes for the Theme of your choice.

  • Theme 1:

  • Theme 2:

  • Theme 3:

Early Bird All-access Festival Pass (save 20%)

This ticket grants you access to the programmes for all three themes of the festival.

  • Theme 1:

  • Theme 2:

  • Theme 3:

Standard 1-day Pass

This ticket grants you access to the full-day of sessions for the theme of your choice.

Standard All-access Festival Pass

This ticket grants you access to the full-day of sessions for the theme of your choice.

Group Bundles (save 20%)

Purchase 4 or more 1-day Passes or All-access Festival Passes at a discounted rate.

$

$

$

$

$

ACCESSIBILITY

We believe in the accessibility of the festival. If cost is a concern, please reach out to us at programme@ourcommonground.com.sg and we’ll work with you to find a solution.

Refund policy

Refunds are not available for this event. However, you may choose to transfer your ticket to someone else.

Get to know our programme partners

  • Aminur Rasyid

    FOUNDER & ARTIST | ARTABLY

    A self-taught illustrator and artist who is passionate about using his craft to make a difference. He loved drawing cartoons since childhood and his journey lead him to discovering the power of storytelling as he aspires to communicate meaningful messages and inspire others in significant ways. This session is important to him as he hopes to bring the same joyful experience to others through the workshop.

    THEME 3
    How can we gather as whole communities?

    SESSION

  • Brandon Myles

    FOUNDER | MYLES & MORE

    From film production to creative visual teaching and education, Brandon Myles is all about making messages hit home. With over 25 years in the game, he’s worked with big names like Microsoft, UMW Toyota, Lexus, Standard Chartered, DBS, and OCBC. Brandon’s specialty? Crafting content that doesn’t just connect – it educates and makes a real impact.

    THEME 2
    How can we create kinder workplaces?

    SESSION

  • Chuen-yin Ng

    CO-FOUNDER | BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE

    Chuen-Yin started her career in education as a Mathematics and Music teacher in secondary school. She is an experienced educator who has held positions as Vice-Principal, Principal and Cluster Superintendent. She was most recently the Principal of Nanyang Girls' High School up till Dec 2022.

    She has since left the Ministry of Education and co-founded Brave Feats Student Care to pursue her ideals of education; offering a positive space to empower children. She believes that every child deserves to be joyful and confident.

    THEME 1
    How can we build healthier homes?

    SESSION

    THEME 3
    How can we gather as whole communities?

    SESSION

  • Claudia Poh

    FOUNDER | WERABLE

    Claudia is the founder of Werable, a design studio at the forefront of inclusive fashion. A Parsons School of Design graduate, her venture into adaptive fashion began when she crafted a coat for a friend with ALS. From hands-free dressing systems to innovative designs that can be worn single-handedly by stroke survivors, Claudia is designer with a deep focus on social innovation.

    THEME 1
    How can we build healthier homes?

    SESSION

  • Heng Li Seng

    FOUNDER | GREEN NUDGE

    Li Seng is the founder of Green Nudge, a social enterprise that supports businesses and communities to achieve positive environmental impact through activities such as coastal cleanups, workshops, outreach talks and sustainability consulting.

    Li Seng’s experience in the public, community and social enterprise sector since 2013 has reinforced his belief that effective public policies need to be supported by ground-up actions and engagement. In order to create long-lasting change, Li Seng seeks to create change organically and collectively.

    Playing an interfacing role within the tri-sector, Li Seng is able to provide sectoral knowledge through a system thinking lens to make informed decisions and strategies. On both a personal and professional front, he is happy to discuss disposables, sustainability of events, public education, and is familiar with corporate social responsibility and community / youth engagement.

    THEME 3
    How can we gather as whole communities?

    SESSION

  • Hong Khai Seng

    FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | STUDIO DOJO

    Khai Seng started out in the design field in 2004. Before starting Studio Dojo, he was formerly Head of Singapore for Foolproof, an experience design agency. Throughout his career, he has designed large-scale digital systems and facilitated training programmes for C-suite executives and professionals to drive design-oriented organisational changes.

    He believes great design is only part of the equation. It is also key to bring sustained impact and cultural changes in how people live and work. Thus, being a certified New Ventures West Integral coach was a turning point – it introduced him to effective ways to help designers be better leaders.

    THEME 3
    How can we gather as whole communities?

    SESSION

Our commitment of care at the festival

Our collaborators for the festival are 11 socially-oriented organisations who care deeply about different values, causes and communities of people.

Based on their inputs on what matters to them, here are some things we would like to commit to at the festival so that this can be a joyful, safe and empowering space for more of us.

There’s so much for us to learn! But for now, we welcome you and all our guests to share the following commitments with us.

We want to welcome
more of us at the civic centre

We have amenities and facilities at the civic centre that you may use so that your time at the civic centre is a comfortable, safe and conducive one.

  • Separate microwaves and refrigerators for Halal and non-Halal food

  • Privacy rooms for prayer, nursing, calls/meetings or quiet time

  • Wheelchair-friendly facilities, such as ramps, lifts and accessible toilets

INCLUSIVITY

Pay-it-Forward if you can!

We want to ensure that members of different communities are able to access the festival.

As such, a proportion of the earnings from ticket sales will go towards complimentary tickets to individuals from groups or communities who may otherwise not be able to attend due to financial barriers.

If you would also like to contribute, you may purchase an additional ticket via the Pay-it-Forward ticket category. This contribution will help us give others the same meaningful experience that you’ll have at the festival!

Community

We are going GREEN-ER

With the help of Green Boss, Heng Li Seng and Green Nudge, we are greenifying the Festival! The intention this year is not to eliminate, but to reduce and minimise.

That could look like reducing individually wrapped snacks, printing responsibly, reusing items such as lanyards, etc.

You are also strongly encouraged to Bring-Your-Own reusable cups, cutlery and containers for your coffee, lunch and snacks!

SUSTAINABILITY

Photography at the festival

To help us capture the festivities, there will be event photography during the festival.

If you would not like your photos taken, you may approach Front-of-House to receive a coloured lanyard that will indicate your preferences to our photographers, festival team and fellow participants.

Privacy

Taking care of yourself and each other

As you get into conversations with fellow participants, you’ll get to hear stories, insights and perspectives that may resonate with you.

Do be mindful not to share identifiers or personal information without consent.

We ask that we respect everyone’s privacy and to check in with each other on what’s OK and not OK to be shared beyond the festival.

WELL-BEING

How can we live the Good Life?

Let’s explore at Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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  • We're sorry you're no longer able to join us!

    Unfortunately, your ticket is non-refundable. However, if you would like to transfer your ticket to someone else, you may write in to community@ourcommonground.com.sg.

  • With support from our Resident Partner, Green Nudge, we are finding small, practical and feasible ways to go green. The goal is to minimise, not eliminate and we'll need your help to do so!

  • If you have any additional questions not listed here, get in touch with us at community@ourcommonground.com.sg.

  • Weekend 1 is designed as a full-day experience to scaffold the change-making process. To facilitate a cohesive experience, participants are strongly encouraged to attend all 3 sessions of your chosen theme. However, you are still more than welcomed to join where you can!

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