Upcoming Yellow Ribbon Project 2010 Activities
Wear-A-Yellow-Ribbon Activity
Duration: Month of September
Street Donation Day: 25th August 2010
The simple act of wearing the Yellow Ribbon is an active display of the community’s support in offering second chances and acceptance fo ex-offenders. Each Yellow Ribbon is handmade by an inmate and it symbolises his/her hope for forgiveness and acceptance. This year, we aims to distribute 375,000 ribbons to spread the message of second chances.
In 2009, a record 1691 volunteers joined us for the Street Sales Day and their strong show of support helped raise $37,000 for YRF. Alike previous years, our staffs and volunteers will throng the streets to distribute the Yellow Ribbon Packs and encourage the community to pin on the Yellow Ribbon for the month of September to illustrate their support. Suggested donation for each pack is $2.00 and funds raised will go towards the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2010
(Launch Event)
Date: Sunday, 5 Sep 10
Time: 7.45am
Category: 6km Fun Run and 10km Competitive Run
Start Point: Changi Village, Farnborough Road
End Point: Changi Prison Complex
GOH: Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs
The Yellow Ribbon Prison Run is back with a new twist! Show your support for ex-offenders who sincerely want to change and help us set a record for the “Largest number of runners wearing yellow shoelaces!” Get your Yellow Ribbon Shoelace at $2.00 when you register.
Featuring a unique run route, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2010 sets a pace unlike any other runs in Singapore.It will take you past several historical sites in the Changi area including Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and Old Changi Prison Wall. As you approach the finish line, you will enter the conserved old Changi Prison Gatehouse that leads you to the new Changi Prison Complex.
At the end-point, a carnival featuring a rehabilitation fair and performances with testimonies by our inmate and ex-offender performers awaits the runners, allowing runners to learn more our rehabilitation work and how they can help in the aftercare.
Themed “Beyond The Run”, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run is all about giving ex-offenders a second chance to start afresh. By your participation, you are lending your voice collectively for all ex-offenders “to pick themselves up and to get back on track”.
Register now at www.yellowribbonprisonrun.sg today! Join us on our facebook group at “Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2010” to show your support too!
Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition
Date: 1 to 14 Sep 10
Time: 10am to 7pm – Monday to Sunday
10am to 9pm - Friday
Venue: Chapel, Level 2, Singapore Art Museum (SAM)
Discover the inner thoughts and feelings of inmates and ex-offenders, as each brush stroke paints their resolve to change for the better.
The Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition provides a platform for inmates and ex-offenders to express their hopes and aspirations through art, showcase their artistic talents, foster closer family relationships and reach out to the community. The focus this year is on how the CARE Network, through the Yellow Ribbon Project, has given them the opportunity to RestART their lives. Hence,the creative theme revolves around REsilience, Self-Awareness, Transformation, Adaptability and Reintegration into The community.
Please show your support for the cause by attending this special exhibition. Give them hope through your attendance, and provide the blank canvas they need to RestART their lives.
For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition, please visit www.yellowribbonprisonarts.sg
Events
THEME: Coming Together, We Care
This year into our seventh campaign, the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) has achieved a high level of awareness since its launch in 2004. In 2009, a total of 154 community partners came forward to join us in our cause despite the challenging economy and this aptly illustrated the community’s strong support in offering a hand to ex-offenders who desire to change.
In 2010, CARE Network is celebrating their 10th Anniversary. Since the formation of CARE Network in May 2000, one of its key achievements was the launch of Yelllow Ribbon Project; spreading the message of giving second chances to deserving ex-offenders, garnering greater community support to help ex-offenders reintegrate back into society and start their lives afresh.
Past Yellow Ribbon Project 2010 Activities
Yellow Ribbon in Chingay Parade Singapore 2010
Date: Friday, 19 February and Saturday, 20th February
Venue: F1 Pit Building
The Yellow Ribbon Project will be participating in one segment of Chingay Parade Singapore 2010 alongside other 5000 local and international performers. The over-arching theme for Chingay 2010 is "ImaginEast" (东方奇想) and YRP is set to perform the segment entitled "Yellow River" together with other performers from the community.
Symbolising "forward looking and advancing life with vibrancy", the Yellow River is synomous with the Yellow Ribbon Project's objective to seek to engage the community in giving ex-offenders a second chance at life and to inspire a ripple effect of concerted ommunity action to support ex-offenders and their families."
As we form the heart of the segment - the Yellow River, the contingent is formed by ex-offender volunteers from ISCOS, our own YRP volunteers, students from Jurongsville Secondary School, Jun Yuan Seconary School, Tanjong Katong Secondary School, Boonlay Seconday School and Zhong Hua Secondary School, Singapore Scouts Association and volunteers from SINDA.
We are grateful to their efforts for their active participation in the rehearsals and as part of the Yellow River. Catch us at Yellow River Segment during Chingay 2010!
Yellow Ribbon Culinary Programme Graduation Ceremony
Date: Friday, 19 February and Saturday, 20th February
Venue: Changi Prison Complex
The YRP Culinary program graduation ceremony, held on 30 Jan 2010, at the Changi Tea Room, Changi Prison Complex, was the culmination of a six-month program delivered by Shatec Institutes to selected inmates who underwent the Certificate in Basic Culinary Skills Course. The graduation ceremony was recognition of the inmates’ efforts in wanting to better their skills and hope for a better life after their release. Ms Ho Ching, Executive Director and CEO of Temasek Holdings, graced the ceremony as the Guest-of-Honour. Ms Ho Ching and guests were treated to a luncheon prepared by the 11 inmate graduands, showcasing their culinary skills.
What was extra special about this ceremony was the family bonding session which went on after the ceremony. Family members of the 11 inmate graduands attended the ceremony with zest, seeing their loved ones progressing even during incarceration. Words of encouragement were exchanged and it was certainly a proud moment for the inmate graduand and their family members when they stood with Ms Ho Ching for the photo taking session with their framed certificate.
Yellow Ribbon Art Competition
Date: Friday, 4 June
Venue: Changi Prison Complex
Receiving more than 300 entries, only 40 art pieces, consisting of 2D and 3D artworks, were shortlisted. Acting as a platform for talented inmates to express their artistic skills, and to bring across this year’s theme of “RestART”. Inmates expressed their hope and commitment to their families and community through their artwork based on this theme, which is an acronym for Resilience, Self-Awareness, Transformation, Adaptability, Reintegration into The community.
In total, three Distinction Awards and seven Merit awards were presented to the winners by Ms Jane Ittogi. Ending on a high note, volunteers from Art Loft also conducted an art workshop for the finalists and their families to give them an opportunity to interact. It was a meaningful time for the inmates and their families to bond through a simple art-and craft activity together.
Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition and Tribute of Love, Eat With Your Family Luncheon
Date: 21 and 29 May 10
Venue: Changi Prison Complex
Following a year of successful partnership with Shatec Institutes, the Yellow Ribbon Culinary Programme Committee collaborated with the school once again to organise the culinary competition. Aimed at identifying hidden and unpolished talents among the inmates, the competition served as a platform for inmates to showcase their culinary talents.
Sizzling sounds and aromatic breezes permeated the training kitchen in Institution A3 during the month of May, as the Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition 2010 unveiled with a culinary demonstration by chef mentors from Shatec Institutes. A total of 44 participants took part in the competition and they were tested on their skill in western cuisine based on a list of ingredients specified by the chefs.
The teams then tussled out in the finals held on 21 May 2010. The star-studded event was graced by celebrity chefs Eric Neo and Louis Tay, who were members of the four-men judging panel.
Following the finals, the three finalist teams were given an opportunity to cook for their loved ones at the Tribute of Love luncheon, held on 29 May 2010. The emotionally-charged event was graced by Guest-of-Honour (GOH) Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Health. Among the guests were celebrity chefs Eric Neo and “auntie-killer” Eric Teo (President of the Singapore Chefs Association). The finalists’ families arrived ahead of their scheduled time, waiting anxiously for the luncheon with their loved ones. The event concluded on a high note with the finalist teams serving their winning dishes to their loved ones, as a tribute in appreciation of their loved ones’ unconditional love and support.
Yellow Ribbon Song Writing Competition
Date: 21 and 29 May 10
Venue: Changi Prison Complex
8 July 2010 marked an important day for both staff and participating inmates of the Yellow Ribbon Songwriting Competition as talented inmates, ex-offenders, as well as MCYS probationers performed songs they had written to distinguished judges in the music industry to express their love and gratitude for their families through their performance. Of the 480 entries, only 12 made it to the finals.
Gracing the event was the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lucas Chow, Former CEO of MediaCorp. The participants sang and performed to their best ability.Engaging the audience for the first time, attendees were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite song in the Most Popular Song Award segment. Encouraged by the performance, Mr Lucas Chow went on to encouraged the participants to continue with the good work of singing and writing songs as they might one day become worldclass singers one day.