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1. What makes people poor?

Being poor is when you don’t have as much as other people. It is not because one is below some absolute poverty line, not because one cannot buy shoes or feed his/her children. It is one’s relationship to other people in society that makes him/her poor.

Hence, poverty, in essence, is a relationship between people.

2. Whose responsibility is it to help these poor?

Every Singaporean who has the physical and socio-economic ability should play their part to help the poor and give them a better life.

3. The title of the video is “Invisible Singaporeans”. Why are these Singaporeans invisible?

40% of Singapore’s population are the non-singaporean part of the labour force, such as the helpers, construction workers, who aren’t part of Singapore’s poverty and income data. Although they play an important role in Singapore’s development, they are not acknowledged for their work.

4. What can an individual do to help or include these Invisible Singaporeans?

The individual must learn to accept them themselves first. They can also try to help them by doing simple things like buying them a drink. The individual can then go on to influence other people to accept the invisible Singaporeans to create a more inclusive society for the invisible Singaporeans.

5. How can we meet the current or future needs of the community you are serving?

We are serving the special needs community, which consists of people who have different disabilities such as Down syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability. Their needs are very varied. One big issue they face is public stereotypes and judgement, which we can only help alleviate by raising awareness of the PWDs and showing that they are not disabled, but just differently abled. We think the caregivers spend a lot of time trying to keep the PWDs occupied, hence for our SPICE project, we are thinking to design a multi-sensory product that combines different therapies we learnt in the health module to keep the PWDs occupied and train their motor skills. This will help the caregivers have some time to themselves and also help the PWDs have fun and improve themselves.

6. What are some of the implications of the “solutions” you have generated? Would any of these "solutions" impact on other groups in the community?

As mentioned above, our idea of a multi-sensory device will keep the PWDs occupied and train their motor skills. It will also impact their caregivers in the way that they will have more time to do other stuff.

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1. What makes people poor?

Being poor is when you don’t have as much as other people. It is not because one is below some absolute poverty line, not because one cannot buy shoes or feed his/her children. It is one’s relationship to other people in society that makes him/her poor.

Hence, poverty, in essence, is a relationship between people.

2. Whose responsibility is it to help these poor?

Every Singaporean who has the physical and socio-economic ability should play their part to help the poor and give them a better life.

3. The title of the video is “Invisible Singaporeans”. Why are these Singaporeans invisible?

40% of Singapore’s population are the non-singaporean part of the labour force, such as the helpers, construction workers, who aren’t part of Singapore’s poverty and income data. Although they play an important role in Singapore’s development, they are not acknowledged for their work.

4. What can an individual do to help or include these Invisible Singaporeans?

The individual must learn to accept them themselves first. They can also try to help them by doing simple things like buying them a drink. The individual can then go on to influence other people to accept the invisible Singaporeans to create a more inclusive society for the invisible Singaporeans.

5. How can we meet the current or future needs of the community you are serving?

We are serving the special needs community, which consists of people who have different disabilities such as Down syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability. Their needs are very varied. One big issue they face is public stereotypes and judgement, which we can only help alleviate by raising awareness of the PWDs and showing that they are not disabled, but just differently abled. We think the caregivers spend a lot of time trying to keep the PWDs occupied, hence for our SPICE project, we are thinking to design a multi-sensory product that combines different therapies we learnt in the health module to keep the PWDs occupied and train their motor skills. This will help the caregivers have some time to themselves and also help the PWDs have fun and improve themselves.

6. What are some of the implications of the “solutions” you have generated? Would any of these "solutions" impact on other groups in the community?

As mentioned above, our idea of a multi-sensory device will keep the PWDs occupied and train their motor skills. It will also impact their caregivers in the way that they will have more time to do other stuff.

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What are the barriers/challenges faced by the community in your ComEd?

Mobility restrictions (行动不便)

Age gap (different interests and preferences)

Difference in dialects and languages

Prejudice between both parties (elderly and their children)

How may these barriers/challenges be overcome?

Hosting more activities which includes both parties and as such, encourage interactions and garner a friendly relationship

Increase accessibility for them so as to make their mobility less restricted, for example adding brakes to the wheelchair

Direct translator for dialects

Pen pal

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How can we meet the current or future needs of the community you are serving?

Some needs our target community, elderly, have are the need for income. In the last decade, Singapore resident population has grown older with more elderly and fewer younger people. The proportion of residents aged 65 years and above has increased from 8.7% in 2008 to 13.7% in 2018. There are now fewer working-age adults to support each resident aged 65 years and above as indicated by the falling resident old-age support ration from 7.6 in 2008 to 4.8 in 2018. This decrease causes the elderly to experience trouble with income since they cannot work. Even with government subsidies and the CPF, it will still be hard to have a steady and secure income. Some methods to meet this need could be increasing the amount of subsidies the government provides. This will allow them to live with less worry as they will have more income or have to pay less. Another possible solution is to make the food or items less expensive so that the elderly can spend less money on the necessities.

What are some of the implications of the “solutions” you have generated? Would any of these “solutions” impact on other groups in the community?

By increasing the amount of subsidies the government provides for elderly, Singaporeans would have to pay more for taxes so that the country can still sustain itself. This will not make other Singaporeans happy, especially those in the middle or upper class who have no trouble sustaining themselves and do not understand the situation the elderly is in well. Since the upper class’s income is more, they will also have to pay more taxes, which will make them unhappy. By making food or items less expensive, the sellers will have to suffer. They are already most likely struggling with their business as most Singaporeans shop at shopping centres instead of markets nowadays, so their goods are already not being sold much. If they have to reduce the price they would have to suffer even more.

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Barrier that prevent a society from inclusivity 

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Barrier that prevent a society from inclusivity 

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What other barriers prevent a society from being inclusive?

Ignorance
some people may have some pre conceived prejudice against a group based on the things they heard and they assume they are true as they do not truly know if these stereotypes are real.

Abilities and disabilities
We may look down at people with physical or mental disablities as we do not have them and we think of them as less capable than us. This may not be true as these people, although with disabilities, may have some talents that we lack as well.

Race and Religion
In a country, the majority race may pick on the minority race, like how the Whites pick on the Blacks in America. The national religion may also result in conflict with other religions.

Social class
Some people with lower income jobs may face discrimination as others may look down on their jobs, or some people may feel excluded as they need financial assistance and other laugh at them. However, we should not judge someone based on their family backgrounds, but their personality and character.

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The Indian lady thought that all Chinese are arrogant based on her bad experience in primary school where she was teased. She got offended and even hurt when she heard some of the stereotypes the Chinese shared. The Chinese kids thought that the Indians do not bath and that’s why their skin colour is different. They thought that they were always smelly and asked why do Indians have a red dot on their forehead. They were even afraid and didn’t like to interact with other Indians in the community.

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What are some stereotypes the Indian lady and the Chinese have of people from the other racial group?

Indian Lady thought Chinese were arrogant

The chinese boy thought Indians were scary, and that they don’t bathe

What other barriers prevent a society from being inclusive?

Gender

Religion

Education

Socio-economic status

Disability

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1. What are some stereotypes the Indian lady and the Chinese have of people from the other racial group?

The Indian lady thought that most Chinese were
- arrogant
while the Chinese thought that Indians were
- scary
- dirty as they had dark coloured skin

2. What other barriers prevent a society from being inclusive?

The fact that we are just unable to accept people who have differences as many people have the fixed mindset that they discriminate against them

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1. Do you think that social experiments like this one should be carried out in secondary schools?

I think such social experiments should be conducted in secondary schools too. While Secondary school students are very busy with school work. This may benefit both parties. The secondary school students can relax with the other person. The secondary school students face a lot stress to keep up with studies, sometimes they just give up, and just ignore the grades and do whatever they want, this person can help the secondary students before they give up, and encourage the secondary school students. They can share stories with each other and just help one another out, such bonds of friendship is important, and like this they can make friends from outside of their usual groups of friends. This will also allow them to have someone else to confide in to. This can also allow one another and understand each other much better. And can likely allow both parties to be able to get over the usual stereotypes, and also be able to help more people.

2. What can you do as an individual to bring about an inclusive community in your neighbourhood?

I, as an individual can try to open up more, and get over any previous stereotypes and prejudices. I can try to talk or engage with the other people in the communities to understand the other party. I need to be able to understand them, before i can do anything to help them and try to include them, and persuade others go include them. However to truly be a inclusive community, everyone has to be able to get rid of any past prejudice and stereotypes they may have. Everyone must also be able open up to the other, and trust one another.

3. What prevents people from letting others know about their disabled family members?

It is due to the lack of understanding by Singaporeans. There is a segregation between Singaporeans and the disabled, and many are uncomfortable and awkward about interaction with people with disabilities and ostracise and leave them out. For example, many parents did not support the idea of their children interacting and sitting next to disabled students, making them feel excluded and unaccepted. They may have done so out of shame, fear or helplessness, or because there few reasons to go out as there were few support services, much less job openings, for the disabled in the past, compared to what is available now.

4. What attitude do the majority of the people have towards the disabled in Singapore?

The majority of Singaporeans are hostile towards the disabled and ostracise them from their society. They feel that the disabled are different and less capable and are uncomfortable interacting with the disabled, distancing themselves from them. In some cases, family members may even choose to hide the fact their family member is disabled as they may feel that they are an embarrassment and are ashamed of them.

5. What can the government do to help change the perception of people towards the disabled?

The government can build more common spaces to allow the disabled to bond with other people. When other people see that the disabled people also have their own strengths at other aspects, they will change their perceptions of them. The common spaces can be something which the disabled are good at. Other people always think they the disabled can’t do anything, but they are wrong. The only difference between them is that they have different strengths. When they see the disabled doing something they are good at, they will probably changed their perception and start to think that they actually have something they are good at/ better than others.

6. Besides the government, what can individuals do to build a more inclusive society?

We individuals can stop judging those unfortunate people. We can take the initiative to invite them to join us in whatever we are doing, be it games, or others. If each and every one of us starts including them in our daily lives and stop excluding them just because they are not as good as us in some aspects, our society will be much more inclusive.

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1. The Chinese children thought that Indians were scary, while the Indian lady had thought that Chinese were arrogant.

2. Other barriers include sexism, ageism, homophobia, social economic gap and discrimination against people with special needs, different nationality, religion, etc.

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Environment Session 2 Workshop Activities

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Environment Session 2 Workshop Activities

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1. What are some stereotypes the Indian lady and the Chinese have of other people from the other racial group?
The Chinese felt that Indians were scary/dirty as their skin was dark-coloured and it seemed like they did not bathe. The Indian lady thought the Chinese were arrogant and unsympathetic as they always teased her when she was back in school.

2. What other barriers prevent the society from being inclusive?
Social class - people living in private housing rarely socialise with people living in public housing
Disability - people tend to discriminate against/feel that those with special needs/disabilities are inferior
Religion/Beliefs/Culture/Language - people are annoyed at each other’s religious/cultural practices, (e.g. Malay weddings at void decks)

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1) The Indian lady thought that chinese are very arrogant. the chinese boy thought that Indians were scary when they were young. The chinese at the Indian lady’s school were teasing her that she did not bathe.

2) Stereotypes, different cultures, different religions, different races, different ages, disabilities, social class divide, language, gender, education

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1. What are some stereotypes the Indian lady and the Chinese have of people from the other racial group?
That the chinese are arrogant and rude. The Indians don’t bathe, they’re black and scary.
2. What other barriers prevent a society from being inclusive?

Language and religions

Age

Stereotypes and stigmas

Influence

Disability

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1. Do you think that social experiments like this one should be carried out in secondary schools?

Yes.

Firstly, because it widens one’s perspective and gives people a chance to improve one’s self esteem and confidence. They also get to interact with people of other ages.

Secondly, it helps people see how two totally different people can be friends and have things in common. After seeing the positive outcomes of the experiments, the public could perhaps be positively influenced and become more open to meeting new people and fostering relationships.

2. What can you do as an individual to bring about an inclusive community in your neighbourhood?

Be open to interacting with neighbours, and try to get to know them better. Accept differences and try to help those who are different to be included in activities happening around the neighborhood.

3. What prevents people from letting others know about their disabled family members?

People feel shame, fear or helplessness about their disabled family members

There are few support services and job openings for the disabled, hence parents feel that there’s no use in letting others know anyway

4. What attitude do the majority of the people have towards the disabled in Singapore?

Empathy, pity, love, sympathy

They feel uncomfortable interacting with the disabled.

A survey found that close to two thirds of the respondents shared the belief that Singaporeans are willing to share public spaces with children with special needs, but are not willing to interact with them.

"Singaporeans embrace the idea of inclusion, but there is a gap between what we think and what we do," said Lien Foundation programme manager Ng Tze Yong.

Half of the parents polled feel uncomfortable about their child having to sit next to one with special needs in class.

Parents of disabled children feel shame, fear or helplessness for their disabled children and want to keep them out of the public’s sight and mind

5. What can the government do to help change the perception of people towards the disabled?

Public education to raise awareness of the different disabilities and give tips to communicate and interact with people with disabilities

Give them jobs which allows for interaction with public

Facilitate meaningful interactions between the public and special needs

Launch campaigns to raise awareness about the disabled

Community Centres can collaborate with special needs centres and organise volunteering or fundraising events open to the public, so that the public has a chance to work together with the disabled, and learn their strengths and weaknesses

6. Besides the government, what can individuals do to build a more inclusive society?

change their own mindsets about the disabled

don’t stereotype people of different races or of other genders (such as LGBTQ+ community)

respect one another as equals

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Pre module
Q1) Yes. These social experiments not only help the student, but is also beneficial for the elderly they are paired with. Thought the experiment the pair can understand each other’s perspectives and lives, changing the stereotypes which exist. It provides an opportunity for the people involved to interact with another group of society which they hardly have any contact with.
Q2) As an individual, I can initiate conversations with people in my neighbourhood of all ages and races. Every beginning of a friendship needs someone to make the first move. Without doing so, everyone would simply walk past one another with their own opinions of others in their minds. I can also encourage my friends and families to be more open and friendly to people in the community.
Q3) People with disabled family members hide them out of the public’s sight out of shame, fear or helplessness. This is because many Singaporean’s are uncomfortable with interacting with people with disabilities. The families of disables persons do not want to be put in a spot in public, and neither do they want to make their family member feel out of place.
Q5) Public Education to raise awareness of disability issues. This can make people understand and emphasise, changing mindsets. Charities that support those with disabilities such as the Disables People’s Association (DPA) and SPD, have been holding talks to raise awareness about disability issues for years. The DPA  goes to schools, offices and other organisations to get the public to understand what people with disabilities are going through and to think of how to ease the barriers. Through interaction, by creating ways to facilitate meaningful interaction between people with and those without disabilities. This can help co rest misconceptions. For example, in 2012, the Education Ministry said the 20 special education schools for children with disabilities would be paired with mainstream schools, so that students from both schools have opportunities to mingle. For example, during recess and at school events.

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1. Do you think that social experiments like this one should be carried out in secondary schools?

Yes, I think that a few of these experiments should be carried out in secondary schools so as to bridge the gap between the elders and youths. This also helps to encourage an inclusive society regardless of race, religion, age, etc.

2. What can you do as an individual to bring about an inclusive community in your neighbourhood?

We shouldn’t discriminate others who are different from us such as of a minority race, or a different religion.

3. What prevents people from letting others know about their disabled family members?

The stigma of society and the shame that comes with it.

Misunderstandings

4. What attitude do the majority of the people have towards the disabled in Singapore?

The people in Singapore treat the disabled like they are not human, like they do not belong

5. What can the government do to help change the perception of people towards the disabled?

Exposing the people to the disabled

Raising the awareness

6. Besides the government, what can individuals do to build a more inclusive society?

Accept the disable for who they are

Don’t offer pity, offer empathy

Basically treat them as you would treat any other person

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1. Do you think that social experiments like this one should be carried out in secondary schools?

I feel that social experiments like this one should be carried out in secondary schools as school and education is a large part of a student’s life and would be prime place to carry out such activities. More often or so, individuals would not be willing to take the first step and initiate conversations with people from other age groups but if the school executes such a program, students would be pushed to their limits and eventually have to learn to overcome their “fears” and doubts in their hearts. School is large part of where we learn our morals from and get influenced and if the school can take action, it would be very effective for the student population as a whole.

2. What can you do as an individual to bring about an inclusive community in tour neighbourhood?

As an individual, there are many things we can do to bring about an inclusive community no matter how small the actions may be, but most importantly, to make a difference would require everyone to play their part and take the initiative too. As individuals, we can learn to put aside our judgements for people of any age and take initiatives to interact with them and understand more about them instead of putting our prejudices on them and sticking with our own age groups. Because it is these prejudices and judgements that pulls us apart in this community and this social divide would only cause misconceptions between each other due to existing judgements. With our small actions, we can at the same time influence others to do the same thing, showing them the advantages of such friendships which would improve our quality of life, both physically and mentally. Through these interactions, we would be able to learn to boost our confidence as well and learn to take the first step to take action to help others. Even if we are afraid of talking to them, there are still other ways to make them feel included such as hosting activities which is what we did during comed or just silently help them behind their backs to somewhat comfort them.

3. What prevents people from letting others know about their disabled family members?

There are many factors that prevent people from letting others know about their disable family members. The first factor, is of course, prejudice and existing stereotypes against and related to them. For example, someone might be afraid of discrimination because of the fact that they are associated with someone that is disabled. A recent survey in Singapore showed that Singaporeans remained uncomfortable interacting with people with disabilities. Given the segregation between most Singaporeans and the disabled , it comes as no surprise. This survey aims to change the mindsets of Singaporeans and to also create opportunities for the disabled to interact with people like us so as to help those out of their shame, fear or helplessness. Perhaps it is this fact that convinces those who have disabled family members that having disabled family members is something that will bring shame onto them and lower their chances of having better jobs or finding relationships and/or friendships. The other factor of not letting others know could be the fact that they are ashamed of the result of social isolation and are afraid that people may also find it uncomfortable to interact with them because they are related to the family members. Young children may suffer the most impact if their friends get known of them having disabled family members as young kids are naturally influenced by what society or their parents have told them, especially social stigmas like keeping away from those people because it may be “contagious”.

4. What attitude do the majority of the people have towards the disabled in Singapore?

The majority of people in Singapore are not willing to include or interact with the disabled in Singapore. Majority of them do not aim to try integrating them into the community which results in the gap in social class, particularly between us and the disabled. The fact that we name the group of them with special needs “disabled” widens the gap even more. There is no such thing as a fair and inclusive society and however much we say that we try, it is hard to change the attitude of those who are set on feeling or being uncomfortable around them.

5. What can the government do to help change the perception of people towards the disabled?

I think that there is no need to change the perception of people towards the disabled, because the only people who would have a need to boost their superiority that much and constantly convince themselves that they are better clearly have an inferiority complex, in which case, they should go and meet a psychologist, because they are so conceited and stuck up, someone needs to unplug their socket.I mean like, what is up their nellies? It is so revolting and repulsive to see someone think that disabled people are worse than them, it is really pitiful to watch actually, watch someone have such a low ego that they feel the need to belittle others in order to feel big.

6. Besides the government, what can individuals do to build a more inclusive society?

There is no need to build a more inclusive society, because they are already part of our society and those who think they are not, are the ones that are truly excluded from our society.

Using the words ‘inclusive society’, shows that they are not currently part of our society and you know what? I admit that they are definitely excluded from our society because some people just think that they are so up there that they need someone to bring them back to earth, to show them how awful they truly are and believe me, if they have to go to such extents in order to feel good about themselves, I really question their existence.

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Environment Session 2 Pre Module Q 1 to 6

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Environment Session 2 Pre Module Q 1 to 6

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1.Do you think that social experiments like this one should be carried out in secondary schools?

I think that they should be carried out. Currently the older generation and the younger generation are not close at all, other than some who are close to their grandparents. I believe that we should all get close to the older generation as we will be able to learn a lot from them, such as life skills that they have learnt or some advice that they can give us. Through conducting such social experiments the younger generation will be able to become closer to the older generation and make them a better person. In the video Kieyron developed a friendship with Uncle Bill, and they both helped each other improve themselves. Kieyron got better at the NAPFA test and Uncle Bill’s physical well-being became better. So I think that these types of social experiments should definitely be conducted.

2. What can you do as an individual to bring about an inclusive community in your neighbourhood?

We can adopt a growth mindset instead of thinking of stereotypes of others. Maybe elderly like Uncle Bill will think that the younger generation are all very rowdy and do not do their work, but actually some of the younger generation are actually not like that, like Kieyron from the video. Through having a growth mindset we will be able to look at things from a different perspective and accept different facts even if they are different from what we thought. If we can accept others and build bonds there will be a more inclusive community. Another method can be being more proactive and trying actively to make new friends or talk to more people. People nowadays do not really talk to strangers voluntarily so if we started talking to others in our neighbourhood it will surely become more inclusive.

3. What prevents people from letting others know about their disabled family members?
Many people prevent other from knowing about their disabled family members as they are in fear and helplessness. Knowing that their family members will be discriminated in society and feel left out among bornmal people, they do not know what to do as Singaporeans do not understand the disabled and prefer not to mix with them. To prevent them from feeling left out, their family members would rather not let anybody know about them incase  they get bullied.

3. What attitude do the majority of the people have towards the disabled in Singapore?

Many families keep their disabled children mostly at home/in institutions, out of sight, and out of mind. This was done so perhaps out of shame/fear/helplessness. Most of those was also clearly in response to the lack of understanding by Singaporeans in general.

The Lien Foundation survey of 1000 people found that: 1) close to 2/3s of the respondents shared the belief that Singaporeans are willing to share public spaces with but not interact with children with special needs, 2) half the parents polled were uncomfortable about their child having to sit next to one with special needs in class, and 3) 62% of those disabled do not feel included or accepted.

5. What can the government do to help change the perception of people towards the disabled?
The government can organise more events encouraging the disabled and normal people to interact with each other to allow the public to see how despite the differences between them they are still largely similar to normal people other than their disability which instead of making them outcasts, make them special and unique in this society.

6. Besides the government, what can individuals do to build a more inclusive society?

mindset measures : public education needed to raise awareness of disability issues. Charities supporting those with disabilities have been holding talks to raise awareness about disability issues.

physical measures : MCCY (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth) minister: “A society is cohesive when its members respect one another as equals regardless of differences, and when it works for everyone and not just a few.” Some measures that have been taken to grow the common space for greater social mixing are community-led initiatives that will deepen understanding on sensitive issues such as race and religion. Local community stakeholders will also get greater support to coordinate and mobilise resources, strengthening a shared sense of responsibility and ownership. In addition, MSF (Ministry of Social and Family Development ) will transform the early childhood sector to allow more families to have access to affordable and good quality early childhood services to give every child an equally good start in life. Hospitals will partner primary care and community care providers to bring seamless care to patients and reviewing their healthcare financing policies such as more targeted government subsidies to better direct support towards those in greater need. Education-wise, 20 special education schools for children with disabilities would be paired with mainstream schools so that students have opportunities to mingle.