More Than Ourselves
It was day two of the much talked about A-level examinations. It was closed to two in the afternoon and most were exiting the compound except for us. Walking in we saw examination signages plastered around. Most of it were to inform candidates of the time and venue to report to. Others were reminders to honour the ritual of 18 year-old junior college students. It has been some time since we saw any of these but it was not hard to recall these moments, in fact, nothing much changed, the similar sense of seriousness came through.
We were the ‘odd balls’. The only similarity we had with the regime of the school was our uniformed ‘Be Bold Be You’ shirts, a coordinated attempt to demonstrate unity and belonging.
Invited into the school to inspire critical-thinking to a group of 17 year-old ‘talents’, we decided that the best leverage would be that of their immediate surrounding.
How does Play, Live and Work- the three spaces that we revolve our lives around look like through them? What could our world have more of that they can offer their unique skills to? We were inspired by the lenses of the 17 year olds, the same ones who claimed right at the start of the workshop that they have never ever wandered into their neighbourhood before this.
PLAY SPACES
What’s the point of having facilities that remained locked up?
Why the contrast between coloured playgrounds and dull fitness centres?
Chess stations that has now become artefacts of the past?
WORK SPACES
Job mobility and choices for the less educated is limited.
Our desire for flexi-work arrangements kind of resides in the previous generation, albeit a different form. Work does not have to be fixed to one location!
Work places for many in the neighbourhood were also lived spaces. We met many domestic workers who shared a different perspective of what work spaces meant to them.
LIVED SPACES
It was not the resident of Serangoon that we met. The idea of who forms the community of Serangoon was challenged. We found Mdm Soon, who spend much time in Serangoon working but stayed at Toa Payoh. Home to her was just a shelter. Partly due to circumstances in life, other parts due to relationships and opportunities here, Mdm Soon spends the morning working at a wet market nearby and the rest of her time at the provision shop.
Inquiry into Action: The-How-Might-We- Question
How might we get more people to tap on their varied senses to devise new ways to revamp the community we live in?
How might we have more community corners where residents discuss interest and current news together?
How might we have more ‘Sunday Times’ Where you can be yourself, be bold, open and loving?
We left the session with an invitation for them to walk and explore the neighbourhood again. This time with renewed lenses and thicker stories of what makes us and the space around us. The possibilities are for them to generate.
Walking out of campus, it felt different from when we walked in. Each step with a lighter bounce and with hope that these 17 year-old will journey their school years with more than just what is within their textbooks.
Bold At Work is a platform that facilitates experiences that exemplify the future of learning and the future of work. With individuals, we work on the sense of agency, purpose and mastery. With teams and groups, we look at our collective system and how we can exercise our voice within. With organisations, we journey with them to effect transformative changes. If you are keen to find out more of what we do, chat us up at hello@boldatwork.sg