‘It was pouring heavily during Friday prayer, after which
a large part of the congregation were stranded in the mosque
due to the heavy downpour. One after another, those who
were driving fled alone in their automobiles without
offering a lift to those stranded.’
‘Aisha was selected by her college to attend an
international conference in Frankfurt. The conference
had benefitted her greatly, opening doors of opportunities.
Due to her committed involvement and active participation
during the conference, she received a second invitation to
another conference in Denmark. There could only be one
representative from Singapore. Aisha knew very well
that this would give her the edge in building her
portfolio. However, she chose to pass on the
invitation to her peer instead.’
‘The atmosphere at the toddlers’ section in the
regional library was lively, the whole floor bustling with
activities as the children were happily conversing with each other,
some reading loudly the books in their hands. At the centre of
the section, a junior college student was taking up a considerably
large area where the toddlers are supposed to be, spreading out his
study materials on a toddler table, bag and books around him,
comfortably making use of the space to study.’
‘Hafiz graduated from the ITE with a
Higher Nitec in Electrical Engineering. Over
the years, he had gained substantive experience
in the industry. With the knowledge of an opportunity
in Aceh, Hafiz took the leap of faith to be employed
there as an expert with an established engineering
company. He now heads a project of restructuring
the electrical infrastructure in Aceh.’
‘I was invited to receive S$80 of Zakat
disbursement at XYZ building, which is about
26 train stops from where I live. When I arrived,
I was led to my seat amongst the rest of the receivers.
We were waiting for the arrival of the Guest-of-Honour.
Meanwhile, the photographers were flashing away
their cameras at our faces. It was only about over
an hour later that the GOH arrived.
Have you noticed or observed anything of such incidences or experiences as depicted above? Was there any that either disturbs or worries you, or any that elates or aspires you? Have you wished that you can document it and share it with the rest of the world? Have you hoped that something could be done to it, or that you could do something about it?
The Forward Planning Exercise (FPE) Unit, under the Community Leaders’ Forum (CLF) 2010, is calling for submission of ideas that may be developed into public messaging for common reflection. If you have observed or noticed anything within our community that either irks or touches your conscience and makes you want to point it out so that others will notice too, now is the chance.
Categories
Youthful Youth: Students* up to 25 years of age
* Students must be enrolled in any learning institution at time of submission
Mature Youth: Youth of any age
Themes
Stop Scratching: Observations that irritates, disturbs, perturbs, worries, annoys, agitates…
Beat the Drums: Things that you wished you had thought of, and those that you felt ought to be celebrated…
Methods
Write: Through scribbles and notes.
- Post or email to us your thoughts
- Within 500 words
- Essay, spoken word, poetry, blog, etc.
- In either Malay or English
Shoot: Through posters, photo stories and short video clips.
- Any types of non-traditional films are welcome, including silent films, mobile films, animated films and photo montages
- Films up to 6 minutes in length
- Films must present factual materials with little or no fictional additions
Submission
We will accept submissions from both amateur and professional producers. Pursuant to FPE’s objective of public education, we request that notes and visuals be made available for online viewing. All submitted films must be final cuts. All requests for confidentiality and anonymity will be honoured. No submission fee required. Each person is entitled to one entry ONLY. Please proceed to send us your works via the online Submission Form.
Viewing
Selected entries to this project will be available for viewing on this CoMMunityMatters blogsite, and included in a multimedia CD for public distribution at the CLF Conference 2010.
Contact detail: CLF2010-FPE@mendaki.org.sg
What used to be rare or frowned upon is the norm nowadays – Tattoed Malay youths/adults.
Whether these tattoos are purely artistic expressions or a symbol of gang/criminal affiliation or whatever the reasons are, i strongly believe they should not be encouraged nor condoned or worst, be leftalone.
these individuals have their rights in terms of freedom of expression but most importantly, they’re muslims and Islam forbids tattoos. do they not know of this? and if they are indeed ignorant, what caused this lack of knowledge?
i do not believe this matter has been addressed properly in the media and by the relevant bodies. we should not a turn a blind eye and i strongly believe the ulamas and community leaders come forward.
we need to bring this matter to light to enlighten and educate the the naive and the future generations. nothing good has come out of having a tattoo while the consequences, are aplenty.
this is a good and worthwhile initiative. will this be communicated via social media like Facebook and Twitter etc
Thanks for rightly reminding us on the power of the new social media tools! We’re working on it right at this very moment; so look out for WYTC soon on your Facebook updates!
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It was the morning rush-hour. Running late, the waiting time for the arrival of the anticipated public bus to bring me to the Bedok MRT Station seems to take ages. Minutes crwaled by, and not a single bus in sight. After a few more anxious glances over my ticking watch, the bus finally arrived.
The bus was jam-packed. The bus driver, presumably not a local, based on his particular slang of the “broken English language”, bawling at the bus passengers to further go towards the rear of the bus so that more passengers could “squeeze” into the bus.
In the midst of the crowd, a young mother, carrying her toddler child, who possibly was no older than a three-year-old child, managed to make her way through into the bus. The little boy wore a t-shirt, indicating the child-care center that he goes to. He was initially asleep as his mother boarded the bus, carrying him across her shoulder.
FUpon boarding, first, she was struggling to reach for her “Ezylink” card, digging deep in her grocery bag, trying hard to keep her balance as the bus sped off towards its next designated bus-stop. At the same time, this young mother had also to contend with the cries of her toddler child, who in a sleepy mode, was barely able to open his eyes then, perhaps still too sleepy to be awakened at such an early hour in the morning, asking for his bottle of milk.
Upon reaching the next bus-stop, the young mother somehow managed to pay her due busfare by cash, after being unable to locate her “Ezylink” card. Her little toddler son too had been pacified with his bottle of milk. With very much effort, she tried to keep her balance as the bus speeds off.
But somewhat of a common sight, no one in the bus made an effort to offer this young mother and her child a seat. And it was two bus stops away from the bus interchange.
In the background, an audible music that sounded of some “Bollywood” music coming out from someone’s MP3 system. Not too far away, was seated a young man, in his crisp office suit, and shiny business shoes, with his eyes lightly shut, as if trying hard not to be in touch with his immediate surroundings. He was occupyng the “green seat” usually reserved for the more senior citizens and expecting mothers.
Not too far away, there are a group of school children, either too engrossed in their conversations of the latest Play Station 2 series or messaging their friends and peers via their “Blackberries” and “touch-screen” i-Phones.
The bus eventually arrived at the Interchange. Outside, the fresh morning brezee was welcoming. The young mother, and her child alighted with much relief. But only after they are shoved about by the enthusiastic rush-hour crowd who the last thing that they needed, were to be late for work.
The next day, almost a similar sight, most often than not, do actually happen. All man for himself. Survival of the fittest. And most ironic of all, the bus that had been mentioned was carrying the public advertisement of “Towards a more Gracious Society”…I smiled and walked away too, like any one of them…..thinking aloud, but falling short in action.
It was a long love work in the engineering services sector. Back then working is a pure enjoyment. You feel juz like@home working in one big family. Nowadays time change, situation and environmental change. Weekly meeting we only talk about money. Nothing else. It seems there is no humanity spirit like before. Hopefully it wll turn the table around again.