Events
THEME: AS PART OF THE SINGAPOREAN COMMUNITY, INMATES AND
EX-OFFENDERS TO “GIVE BACK” DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
Into our sixth campaign, the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) have achieved a high level of awareness in Singapore and 2008 was an encouraging year for us as we saw many community partners coming forward to join us in our cause. Predicting a difficult year ahead, the Yellow Ribbon Project 2009 will focus on how inmates/ex-offenders can play an active role to “give back” to society.
Past Yellow Ribbon Project 2009 Activities
Wear-A-Yellow-Ribbon Activity
Duration: Month of September
Street Donation Day: 28 August 2009
The simple act of wearing the Yellow Ribbon is an active display of the community’s support for offering second chances and acceptance for ex-offenders. Each Yellow Ribbon is handmade by an inmate and it symbolises his/her hope for forgiveness and acceptance.
On the 28th of August 2009, the Wear A Yellow Ribbon Street Donation Day saw a total of 1,500 volunteers from all walks of life and ages coming forward to sell Yellow Ribbon Packs and raise funds for the Yellow Ribbon Fund!
We are also heartened that ex-offenders from halfway houses too volunteered their effort to participate in the Wear A Yellow Ribbon Street Donation Day. One of the ex-offender participant found this activity a meaningful way for him to do his part for the community.
For our volunteers that participated, we thank you for you support and we are appreciative that you have made that difference in giving second chances and making our society a more inclusive and forgiving one.
Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2009 (Sunday, 6 Sep 09)
(Launch Event for the YRP Week 09)
Date: Sunday, 6 Sep 09
Time: 7.30am
Start Point: SAF Field, Farnborough Road (at Changi Village)
End Point: Changi Prison Complex
Guest-of-Honour: Mr Teo Chee Hean
(Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence)
About 6,000 runners came forward on Sunday, 6th September to participate in the first ever Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2009. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean launched the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2009 in an simple but yet meaningful act of unlocking the second prison at the start arch.
Themed Beyond The Run, our run aptly describes the struggles of an ex-offender as he/she strives to reintegrate back into the community. It is essentially not how fast you finish the run, but how well you run this race, and by running this race well, we are encouraging inmates and ex-offenders to keep their faith so that one day, they can finally be successfully reintegrated back to society, with their families, friends and with gainful employment.
Blessed with great weather, the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Prison Run featured an unique and refreshing route unlike most runs! Highlighting several key historical sites like the Johore Battery, Old Changi Prison Wall and Changi Chapel and Museum, this route allowed runners the rare opportunity to appreciate the scenery and learn more about these historical sites.
Back at the Carnival site, community partners and sponsors prepared a galore of foodies at the specially to thank all runners for their $5 donation (from their registration fee) to the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
The highlight of the rehabilitation fair was a mock-up prison cell, which allowed everyone an insight on the regime inmates undergo and what is life like in prisons. There were also exhibition panels from our Aftercare partners like Singapore Prison Service, SCORE, SACA and ISCOS to provide runners an overview on how each agency play their part in trying to help inmates and ex-offenders reintegrate back to society successfully and also how runners as a volunteers can do their part to help them reintegrate back to society.
On this encouraging note, the organizing committee hopes that more community partners and the staffs will come forward to lend their support to this iconic run that we hope to see you next year!
Visit the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2009 Microsite for the latest updates here!
Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition “Vision of Hope”
Date: 9 to 20 Sep 09
Time: 10am to 7pm Monday to Sunday and 10am to 9pm on Friday
Venue: Singapore Art Museum (SAM), 8Q
Guest-of-Honour: RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew
(Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts)
Building on the success of our previous exhibitions, this year marks the third year that the Yellow Ribbon Project is organising a Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition. Held for the first time at the Singapore Art Museum, it was indeed an honour for art works done by inmates and ex-offenders to share the same space as worthy pieces from reknowned artists.
The Guest-of-Honour, RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, summed it up succinctly in his speech when he said that art allowed inmates to express their carefully guarded feelings and the purpose of imprisonment was not just to lock inmates up and forget about them but to make them whole again; a gift that society could give to ex-offenders.
Revolving around the theme “Vision of Hope”, this exhibition illustrates inmates and ex-offender’s inspiring vision of hope for the future.
Putting forth messages and thoughts of inmates and ex-offenders to the community through visual arts, the exhibition provides a deeper understanding on the rehabilitation of inmates through themes such as opportunities, resilience, and new beginning that is applicable to one and all.
Co-organising this event with SAM has brought prison art to another whole new level and to be showcased at a higher platform. It is hoped that more community partners would come forward to help in the reintegration of ex-offenders and their families in the next year.
Click here to view the Journey of Arts Video!
Adopt the art pieces at the microsite here.
Yellow Ribbon Tribute of Love, A Community Service Project
Date: 26 September 2009
Venue: Harmony Hall, Home Team Academy
Guest-of-Honour: Mr Lim Boon Heng
(Minister, Prime Minister's Office)
For the first time, inmates volunteered their culinary skills and whipped up a luncheon for the elderly and children on 26 Sep 09 at the Home Team Academy in a community service project in collaboration with Lions Club of Singapore and National Arts Council.
About 50 inmates and 120 ex-offenders combined their efforts to cook and serve the elderly engaged under the Befriending Programme of Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore) and children from Toa Payoh Service Centre and Balakrishnan Home.
The meals were prepared by the inmates in the prison kitchen. Ex-offenders were invited to offer their services by serving the meals to the elderly and children. And this was no mere feat as inmates cooked a hearty 6-course vegetarian meal for 500 elderly and chicken burger meal for the children.
Invited to the event were the elderly and children were led to be seated at tables laid out in banquet style at the Harmony Hall. The elderly and children were entertained by performances from prepared by the National Arts Council and Pierce Secondary School. The elderly and children went back with a goodie bag each, containing Milo, biscuits and other items.
This event would not have been possible without the support of sponsors such as Lions Club, National Arts Council, NTUC Foodfare and others. This is testimony of the importance of support from community partners to the efforts of the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.
Yellow Ribbon Project Gigatt/Quanta Tattoo Removal
Date: 28 Jul 09
Venue: Changi Prison Complex, Medical Centre (CMC)
In July 2009, the Yellow Ribbon Project and GiGatt International started a two-year tattoo removal programme as a first step in helping former gang members turn over a new leaf. Inmates with gang related tattoos can now remove their tattoos for free while serving their sentences.
This pilot programme is part of the Singapore Prison Service’s Zero-Tolerance Policy for gang-related activities in prison institutions and is supported by GiGATT International Marketing Pte Ltd and QUANTA System SpA.
Ms Karen Lee, Senior Assistant Director, Programme Management, commented that, “Our Zero-Tolerance Policy underpins the approach we have taken to eliminate gang-related activities in prison. We educate inmates that being part of a gang is not tolerated and initiatives such as this will greatly help inmates to renounce their gang affiliations.”
One of the inmates who received treatment to remove his tattoo on his arm said, “Many of us want to stay clean of gangs. However, we are easily identified by gang members because of our common tattoos. Peer pressure makes it even harder to leave the gangs completely. Removing our gang tattoos is more than just a symbolic act for us – it gives us the chance at a clean slate of life.”
Yellow Ribbon Art Competition
Date: 1 July 09
Venue: Kaki Bukit Centre
For most of us art represents something beautiful or interesting to look at but for others art symbolises an avenue for re-start their lives. In this year’s Yellow Ribbon Creative Festival 2009, the Art Competition held at Kaki Bukit Centre (Prison School), represented this and more to the inmate participants.
The art pieces vying at the Art Competition were not just limited to the auditorium at KBC. They spilled out of the auditorium all along the corridor. The Yellow Ribbon Art Competition is an annual event under the Yellow Ribbon Project, which was graced this year by Guest-of-honour, Ms Jane Ittogi, Chair of the Singapore Art Museum on 1 July 09 at the Rhapsody Performance Hall at KBC.
This year there were 19 Distinction and 35 Merit winners in the competition.
Inmates showed their creativity using materials such as noodle containers, straw mats and copper wire in the Recycled art category. Inmates displayed their versatile artistic capabilities by producing various mediums of art, from pyrograph and acrylic paint on wood, oil paint on canvas, pen on paper, acrylic on canvas to colour on paper.
For a preview of prison art this september, drop by the Singapore Art Museum,8Q from 9th September to 20th September.
For more information on Prison Art Adoption Programme please click here!
Tribute of Love - Father's Day Tribute
Date: 20 June 09
Venue: Changi Prison Complex
Nothing can be deemed more satisfying than a heartwarming meal cooked with love and tears by your family member.
An overture to the Yellow Ribbon Cooking Competition 2009, the 12 finalists emerged polished and confident after weeks of honing their culinary skills under the tutelage of Shatec’s Chefs.
Closer to the heart of the finalists, by reaching the finals of the Yellow Ribbon Cooking Competition 2009, it would mean they would get an extremely rare chance for them to invite their loved ones and their families into prison; to dine together as a family celebrating Father’s day together.
One the finalist’s father (59) said that, “I never knew my son could cook! Not to mention a fare like this, which is comparable to meals served in top restaurants.”
Gracing the event was Mr Masagos Zulkifli Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Home Affairs and guests from Temasek Holdings and Shatec Institutes.
Complimenting the food whipped up by inmates from SCORE Catering and the mouth-watering dishes by the 12 finalists was the entertaining stage performances by the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) house band.
Yellow Ribbon Cooking Competition
Date: 26 May 09
Venue: Changi Prison Complex
Vying for the much coveted top prize of $500 cash and a scholarship sponsored by staff of Temasek Holdings to further hone their culinary skills when they are released from prisons, 36 inmates from the various prisons and drug rehabilitation centres signed up for the 2nd Yellow Ribbon Cooking Competition 2009. In addition to the prizes, the highlight of the competition was the opportunity for finalists to cook for their loved ones and family members at the Tribute of Love event which wass tied with Father’s Day.
Based on the theme “Spring” and on a 3-course western culinary, the contestants thought of ideas to inject creativity into the presentation of their dishes. Of the 9 teams that started, only 3 teams (Team KCP, Team A4 and Team CWP) reached the finals after days of grueling training and assessments by Shatec chefs during the heats.
The finals was graced by VIPs from Shatec Institutes, officers from SCORE and Prisons and community partners of the Yellow Ribbon Project. Sitting on the panel of judges were Mr Matthew Yim (Vice Principal of Shatec Institutes), Mr Paolo Zambrano (from Singapore Chefs Association), Mr Catan Tan (Senior Mentor of Shatec Institues) and heading the panel was Head Judge Mr Tony Khoo (Executive Chef of Marina Mandarin Singapore).
One of the participants, whose team came in second said, “I really look forward to cooking for my loved ones. It's very hard to get such a chance in prison.”
Singapore After-Care Association’s Charity Film Premiere 2009 – State Of Play
Annually 10,000 people are released from the prisons and of these, only an average of 3000 ex offenders could be assisted due to limited funds. There are at least 7000 people who may potentially need our help.
The Singapore After-Care Association is raising funds to support the welfare and rehabilitation services for offenders and their families through their Charity Film Premiere 2009 – State Of Play
Starring Ben Affleck and Russell Crowe the movie tells a tale of two unrelated deaths (a petty thief and a congressman’s assistant). A newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) uncovers a turbulent past connected to the Congressman and the aid of an ambitious young rookie writer (Rachel McAdams). Cal begins uprooting clues that lead him to a corporate cover-up full of insiders, informants, and assassins. But as he draws closer to the truth, the relentless journalist must decide if it's worth risking his life and selling his soul to get the ultimate story.
These are the details of the event :
GOH: Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office
Date: Wednesday, June 03 2009
Time: 7.30pm to 10.30pm
Location: Cathay Cineplex, Cineleisure Orchard, Level 4 & 6, 08 Grange Rd, Singapore
Tickets are priced at $30 and $50, for more information on the tickets purchase you can contact SACA at 6294 2350 / 6294 2763 or via email at donate@saca.org.sg
