What are the narratives we tell about ourselves, our communities and the issues we care about?
What can we do to shift these narratives so that we can make change happen?
Creating Narratives for Change Festival is a gathering of individuals who want to change the way stories are being told about their groups, communities or sectors.
We want to convene different civic conversations with different groups of citizens about the things that matter to us that need to change.
In a series of workshops, conversations and experiential activities, we explore what each of us can do to shift these narratives so that we can make happen the changes we want to see in the different spaces we are a part of.
We encourage you to get involved in the sessions that are most meaningful for you.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING
Festival Overview
16 SEPTEMBER 2023, SATURDAY
@ COMMON GROUND CIVIC CENTRE,
21 BEDOK NORTH STREET 1, SINGAPORE 469659
9:30AM — 11:00AM
The “Unpanel”:
I want to change something that’s not working. Where do I start?
In this opening Unpanel, we’ll talk about the intrapersonal journey each of our speakers has been on (and continue to be) as they shift from citizens who have spotted gaps and opportunities in the communities they are a part of, to citizens who are doing something about it.
This Unpanel is a self-moderated, participant-driven conversation where both speakers and participants can choose to shift where and how the conversation moves based on what’s working and not working for you. You have the power to put your voice in the room to share your observations; ask questions; move conversations; and make offers and requests to one another.
Chuen-yin Ng
CO-FOUNDER,
BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
Hong Khai Seng
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR,
STUDIO DOJO
Lye Yen Kai
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR,
PIVOTAL LEARNING
Shiao-yin Kuik
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
COMMON GROUND
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
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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.
Chuen-Yin has a Master of Education degree in Drama Education. She is a trained AMI Assistant 6-12 from the Maria Montessori Institute in London, UK. She is also a trained coach.
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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.
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Yen Kai has more than 15 years of training and facilitating experience with educators. His passion is with the development of youth building on his firm belief to “Pass it on”. He also believes in creating Learners-First learning environment, aspiring to enable more educators and practitioners to focus on learners rather than being content or activity driven.
Yen Kai is a rare breed as he is trained and skilled in both Hard and Soft Skills, both Teaching and Facilitation. He is a strong advocate for professionalising the field of Adventure Education Practitioners in Singapore as well as moving Facilitation into classroom for teachers.
He is known to be a dynamic and yet grounded trainer, humorous yet insightful facilitator, engaging and yet thought-provoking teacher.
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Shiao-Yin works as a cultural change strategist. She is a Gestalt-based systems & organisational development consultant, process designer, trainer, facilitator, coach and public communicator. Over the last 20 years, she has worked with people and their organisations to develop a more empathetic, empowering approach to working on the changes they long to see.
As an Executive Director of Common Ground Civic Centre, she develops the self-awareness and strategic skills people need to support wholeness in the groups, communities and organisations they belong to.
Shiao-Yin was also a two-time Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore (2014-2018). She also advises boards and committees on talent development, cultural strategy, behavioural shift and identity formation.
11:30AM — 3:30PM
Breakout Sessions:
Citizen Conversations
We asked our ecosystem of socially-oriented organisations from Common Ground Civic Centre to join us in putting the causes and issues that they care about on the table to be talked about. Through conversations, experiential workshops and sharings, we unpack what's working and not working so that we can make the changes we want to see in our groups, communities and society.
Curate your own festival experience by participating in sessions that are meaningful for you. In these sessions, meet with other citizens who share the same interest for a cause and bring with them a diversity of lenses, skillsets, resources and lived experiences that can take these conversations to a new direction.
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS A
11:30AM — 1:30PM
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MAPPING BEDOK:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND WHAT CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN BEDOK COULD LOOK LIKE?CONVENED BY: KONTINENTALIST
TIME: 11:30AM — 12:30PM
SESSION TYPE: INTERACTIVE DATA VIZ ACTIVITY -
This session aims to explore the future of civic engagement in the Bedok Town neighborhood, extending beyond the confines of the Common Ground Civic Centre.
Through interactive data visualization activities and community engagement, the session aims to map out the assets and sites of interest within the community, and inspire co-creation of meaningful spaces for civic engagement.
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Anyone who works &/or lives in the Bedok Town neighbourhood with an interest in engaging with the community!
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Kontinentalist is a data-driven storytelling studio with a vision to bring Asia to the forefront of global conversations. We tell stories on Asia’s key topics by visualising data, working with partners and clients to bridge the gap between research and the public.
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OUR COMMON TREE:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND THE VALUE THAT ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATORS CAN BRING TO A COMMUNITY?CONVENED BY: ARTABLY
TIME: 11:30PM — 12:30PM
SESSION TYPE: CONVERSATION + EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITY -
In this session, discover the story of “Our Common Tree”, as told by resident illustrator, Artably. Created in collaboration with each partner, the different characters from the Common Ground Civic Centre multiverse come together to reflect the challenges, lessons, wins and learnings of the civic centre’s community building efforts thus far.
From there, Artably explores the “Tree of Life” of the creative to open a conversation around each of our origins, journeys and ambitions so that fellow artists and illustrators can connect creatively and meaningfully together.
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Artists, illustrators and anyone who loves to draw!
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Artably is a social enterprise which aims to build a more inclusive creative community through art & design. We design & collaborate with our differently-abled artists to showcase their talents, share their narratives & support them in developing their financial independence.
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EMBRACING TRANSITIONS:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND CHANGE?CONVENED BY: SINGAPORE WORKS
TIME: 11:30AM — 1:00PM
SESSION TYPE: LECTURE + CONVERSATION -
Change is an inevitable part of our everyday life - from growing up to our adult life, entering each and every different chapter of our life. What’s our perception of change? How do we relate to change? How can we navigate and embrace the changes that we face?
In this session, gain insights on your relationship with change and learn frameworks that will offer you different perspectives on change.
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Anyone who is in transition, be it in their personal or professional lives.
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Singapore Works is part of a leading experiential training and consulting group in Asia. Founded in Singapore in 1998, Singapore Works, together with other counterparts in Asia, has worked in partnership with over 300 leading organisations and over 100,000 people to address personal growth and self-awareness, organisational commitment, leadership, teamwork and effectiveness.
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WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR IMPOSTER SYNDROME:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND IMPOSTER SYNDROME TO SHOW THE WIDER SYSTEMIC CAUSES BEYOND THE SELF?CONVENED BY: STUDIO DOJO
TIME: 11:30AM — 1:30PM
SESSION TYPE: EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITY -
Studio Dojo conducted a study last year to better understand the experiences of Imposter Syndrome - the internal sense of feeling like a fraud. A simple search on the internet will point to articles that lay the responsibility on the individual. However, our study showed many other factors beyond the self that contributed to Imposter Syndrome.
Come explore the various influences through a 2-hour experiential and reflective exercise.
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Anyone who has imposter syndrome!
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Studio Dojo helps designers, teams and companies grow and develop. We do that through training, coaching and advising, as well as supporting the community. Our approach draws from the intersection of four disciplines: Futures Thinking, Design Thinking, Organisational Development and Leadership Development.
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SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND RESILIENCE IN SCHOOLS?CONVENED BY: WHISPERING HOPE
TIME: 11:30AM — 1:00PM
SESSION TYPE: CONVERSATION -
Mental health is just starting to get the attention it deserves in our schools. Increasingly, we are recognizing the impact of mental health on academic performance, student and staff morale, classroom and team dynamics, and school spirit.
If Resilience is the desired outcome, what is the process? How do we get there? While the goal is clear, the pathway to Resilience often isn't.
There are no short cuts to Resilience. Resilience is only possible with healthy Readiness, Response and Recovery. A school on the pathway to Resilience is one that:
Recognises the various factors and triggers for grief
Adopts a proactive mindset and stance toward Readiness; and
Has a plan of action for post-incident Response, Recovery and Resilience in the aftermath of unexpected issues and incidents that threaten to disrupt and derail well-being.
Because one person’s mental health affects others, and because one incident can have a cascading effect on so many others, this is too important a matter to be left to chance. Schools must adopt a holistic and proactive approach, comprising both preventative care as well as aftermath care.
Mental health in schools is all about building a healthy ecosystem of support, so that students and educators have all the support they need to thrive and to build Resilience out from the inevitable losses and setbacks in life.
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This is a closed door discussion for:
school leaders;
educators;
school counsellors; and
school representatives
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Whispering Hope is the only consultancy in Singapore specialising in the internationally-recognised Grief Recovery Method®. Backed by more than 20 years of proven track record, our team is experienced in bouncing back from life’s losses, and is formally certified by the Grief Recovery Institute. Whispering Hope offers Private Counseling, Executive Coaching, Employee Workshops & Lunchtime Talks (curated topics), and Corporate Consultancy on Mental Wellness & Emotional Resilience.
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS B
1:30PM — 3:30PM
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THE ROLE OF CHILDREN:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND CHILDREN AS DECISION-MAKERS?CONVENED BY: PLAYEUM
TIME: 1:30PM — 3:30PM
SESSION TYPE: PLAY WORKSHOPThere are two concurrent runs for this session —
(a) Play Workshop for Adults who are parents of OR work with children ages 5-10
(b) Play Workshop for Children ages 5-10
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Children have lots of ideas! Why don’t we listen? How can we listen?
In decision-making, children tend to be overlooked or underestimated. Having agency is the power to influence important matters in our lives and is an important component of well-being. How can we encourage children to express their creativity and enable them to play an active role in our homes and communities?
This session invites both children and adults to participate in playful workshops and discussions on when, how, and why we should involve children in decision-making.
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Children and parents of children who are interested in taking a more active role in their homes and communities.
Adults who want to think more about how to engage children meaningfully (educators, social sector workers, other caregivers)
Parents who are unsure of how to involve children in decision-making.
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Playeum is an independent registered charity with a strong social mission: to champion children of all backgrounds and abilities to be active citizens, through play and the arts. Through outreach & community service, Playeum creates experiences for children that build the development of transformative 21st-century life skills and their potential to contribute in their homes, neighbourhoods, schools and society at large. Playeum also works alongside their adults; parents and educators, in empowering them to be creative facilitators of their child's growth.
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DIVERSITY BY DEFAULT:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND HOW WE CAN TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY?CONVENED BY: BEING BRIDGES
TIME: 1:30PM — 3:30PM
SESSION TYPE: CONVERSATION -
In this session, experience a community-building tool, Diversity by Default, designed to create meaningful conversations leveraging human diversity.
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Anyone keen to have conversations about diversity.
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Being Bridges is a newly formed social enterprise birthed from a real and ever-present need for developing cohesion out of diversity. Our specialties span various backgrounds of research and practice essential to faith and secular community-building.
Being Bridges has facilitated dialogues, trained communities from various sectors of society, and consulted on a range of projects with a lens towards diversity. Now as their newly combined work and expertise begins to grow, they hope to explore and cater more of such offerings to the specific needs of local communities, workplaces, and members of the public.
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DEVELOPING THE VILLAGE OF CARE:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND THE ROLE OF ADULTS IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN?CONVENED BY: BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE + YU NENG PRIMARY SCHOOL
TIME: 2:00PM — 3:30PM
SESSION TYPE: WORKSHOP + CONVERSATION -
It takes a village to raise a child.
How do we see ourselves as part of this village? How can we be more aware of our own worldview as we frame this village of care?
In this session, learn the tools and frameworks that will help you better understand the perspectives of a child and better communicate with them so that you can support the development of their wholeness.
This session is in collaboration with Yu Neng Primary School (YNPS). YNPS started as a village school in 1934, conducting lessons in Mandarin and dialects to 20 students. Over the years, YNPS has grown from strength to strength, together with the Bedok community.
Today YNPS works toward being a vibrant, connected community that aspires, learns and leads. They believe that innovation, creativity and learning flourish in a positive and safe environment, and educators are change agents making this possible.
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Educators
Parents
Adults who work with children
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Brave Feats Student Care is an after-school student care centre which places emphasis on students' well being and building social-emotional skills, while providing a balanced holistic education for all-round development of the children. Brave Feats hopes to reshape the learning and caring system of after-school care in Singapore.
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THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE (TIME):
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND POVERTY IN SINGAPORE?CONVENED BY: DAUGHTERS OF TOMORROW
TIME: 1:30PM — 3:30PM
SESSION TYPE: EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITY -
'This Is My Experience’ workshop was developed to raise awareness about poverty in Singapore.
It allows participants to put themselves in the role of someone from the low-income community, to find out first-hand the challenges, stresses, and choices these families must make on a day-to-day basis.
Please note: This workshop requires all participants to be punctual and present for the entire duration for an optimal experience.
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Anyone who is keen to understand about the poverty landscape in Singapore and undergo empathy building.
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Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT) is an IPC charity empowering underprivileged women into sustained employment, thus enabling their families towards social mobility. DOT complements existing training and workforce-related agencies by connecting volunteers and community resources to enable each woman on an individual level.
DOT's beneficiaries are women aged 20 to 60 from low-income families (surviving on S$200 to less than S$650 per capita per month), most of whom reside in government-subsidised rental flats. Many face multiple internal and external stressors that affect their job prospects and their ability to break out of poverty. Since its incorporation in August 2014, DOT has positively impacted more than 1000 women through their skills-training, job-bridging and support programmes.
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NICE TO MEAT YOU:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND PLANT-BASED FOOD?CONVENED BY: GREEN NUDGE
TIME: 1:30PM — 3:30PM
SESSION TYPE: DELICIOUS WALKING TRAIL -
Are you seeking food for thought in shifting your diet to having more meat-free meals? Or are you hungry for more information about plant-based food?
Join us for a walk around the Bedok neighbourhood as we share a little more about plant-based food, as well as where to find some plant-based food in Bedok!
This is a rain-or-shine event.
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Meat-eaters
Individuals interested in making a shift in their diets and lifestyles
People hungry for plant-based food related information (and actual food)
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GREEN NUDGE is a green social enterprise which supports businesses and communities to create a positive environmental impact through activities, outreach, and consulting services. In doing so, we hope to create a normative shift in the way we create and deal with waste so as to achieve a low carbon zero waste Singapore.
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STORYTELLING FOR CHANGE:
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND HOW WE FRAME THE WORK THAT WE DO?CONVENED BY: MYLES & MORE
TIME: 2:30PM — 3:30PM
SESSION TYPE: WORKSHOP -
In this session we will go through the “Hero's Journey" as a storytelling compass to create greater connection with our audience. We will also explore visual storytelling techniques to embolden our message while remaining authentic to our brand. Together, let's craft powerful stories that shape a better world.
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Marketers, storytellers or anyone who wants to learn new and different ways to tell stories about your work.
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Myles & More's purpose is to help every client impact the audiences that matter the most to them. Over the last 10 years, we’ve produced hundreds of compelling stories for all kinds of clients: Thought Leaders who want to build up a better brand; Entrepreneurs who want to push out a better product; Organisations who want to advocate for a better world.
But what we’re really after in our storytelling is creating connection. We take every client through their customers' “hero’s journey” to ensure we communicate the right elements that create buy-in from their audience. From there, we produce a customised documentary style film that will not only get applause, but encourage the audience to take action; whether by volunteering to the organisation, donating to the cause or sharing the message to others. At the end of the day, we want to tell honest and impactful stories that will change the world for the better.
4:00PM — 5:30PM
The “Unconference”:
What’s not working in ( ) right now? What can we do about it?
In the closing “Unconference”, we put the power back in your hands and invite you to fill your own blanks on the causes or communities that matter to you.
We'll explore the gaps and the opportunities, along with the practical and actionable things each of us can start doing more of so that we can begin creating whole communities together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! The Festival is designed for attendees to be part of the conversations that are most meaningful for you. You can choose the sessions you'd like to attend in the registration form.
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Your participation in Creating Narratives for Change Festival puts on the table the issues, causes and communities that you care about so that we can work on what's not working together.
This Festival is a Pay-As-You-Wish event to remove any financial barriers that might get in the way of your involvement. We encourage you to join us at a price that is comfortable for you.
Your contributions will help Common Ground Civic Centre:
Support its community research and development efforts
Contribute to utilities in times of inflation
Provide light refreshments during the day, partially catered by the beneficiaries of Her Rise Above
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Lunch will not be provided at this event and you will need to arrange for your own meals. However, light refreshments will be available throughout the day. There are also many food options available nearby that cater to a variety of diets.
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As each session has a limited capacity, you will unfortunately be unable to change your session after you've completed your registration.
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Not at all. Citizen, in this case, loosely refers to anyone who is currently living in Singapore and has a vested interest in working on what’s not working together.
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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.