Projek Pelangi

SPACES Community's first project was Projek Pelangi which was aimed to bring cheer to poor Muslim elderly and families by offering to paint their homes for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri '03. Apart from offering diverse peoples with an opportunity for social service, it was also an excellent exercise in inter racial harmony. At a time when different races and religious groups in the world are polarised from one another, we want to set an example of how different peoples regardless of race, religion, sexuality, gender or economic status can work together to make Singapore a better home for each of us.

Project Name: Projek Pelangi. Pelangi is "Rainbow" in the Malay language. We added colour to the living environment of the homes and families we served as we painted their apartments. In a small way we brightened lives in this already difficult economic conditions.

Project Nature: Painting homes of our Muslim Singaporeans living in two and three-room flats, and breaking fast (dinner) with the families we served. Apart from just serving the families it gave those among us who are non-Muslim, an opportunity at community building and cross cultural experience.

Target Group: Muslim families and elderly in low-income estate of the Tanglin Halt area.

Date: 15 November 03 (9am - 8pm including dinner), Saturday

No. of households: 25 (Initial target was 20).

No. of volunteers: 100 (3-4 volunteers per household). Initial target was 80.

Breaking Fast: Dinner (15 Nov, 7pm-8pm) were provided as we broke fast with those we served, at Blk 37A Tanglin Halt Road. Our VIPs, Zainudin Nordin, MP for Bishan-Toa Poyah, members of the Queensway Residence Committee (Queenstown Branch) and members of the IRCC (Queenstown), joined us and the residence to break fast.

News: The event was reported in Berita Harian on 1 Nov 03 and was featured prominently in colour print on the front page in Berita Minggu on 16 Nov 03. It was also reported at the 8pm News on Suria TV channel on 15 Nov 03.

Follow-up Visitation: Further to the painting done on 15 Nov 03, many of the households expressed their heart-felt appreciations and welcomed all volunteers back to their houses to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. On 6 December 03, a group of volunteers returned to all the houses for a follow-up visitation as we celebrated Hari Raya Aidilfitri with the families in their newly painted homes.