STORY PREVIEW

2021

A Place to Feel Alive

Design For Change Singapore

Singapore

MENTOR

Leena Vesonathan

Step 1 FEEL

List the challenges or problems in your surroundings (school,neighbourhood etc.) that bothered you.

Our group, Secret Cake’s ‘forever young’ Ms Serene, likes to read articles on pre-schools, does mid-range sudoku and is a relief teacher. After understanding her more, we realised that she wants to keep her mind active and body fit. She shared how being with children makes her ‘feel alive’. She also shared that many people her age do not have a ‘purpose’ in life and that it affects their mental health. Being with children she feels it keeps her young and feeling alive, she feels this way she is contributing to the society by educating the children. And it is very satisfying. She loves window shopping, hence, it will be great to have some places to sit and rest after walking a lot – a convenient space with a peaceful environment that is not on the high levels. She enjoys being with children and wants to feel useful to society.

State the problem chosen to work and why.

After much thinking, we realised that having more resting areas and activities that both seniors and children get to do together at a convenient area will be good. So we decided to make the mall experience more memorable.

Who were the people affected by the problem? What were their primary concerns?

Our team understood that it is very important for active retired seniors to have a purpose in life and engaging with children is very fulfilling. On the other hand, young parents are busy, they want their children to be ‘cared for’ while in the mall. So we decided to combine these needs and came up with the ‘Forever Young CLUB’ idea.

Step 2 Imagine

List ALL the different solutions you came up with.

1. Zumba Classes for everyone to get active. 2.Gaming Arcade for seniors to play traditional games and teach the young ones. 3.Big Wall for art therapy. 4.Hobby Centre to do what each person likes. 5.Human Library for seniors to share their experiences in their lives. 6.A shooter that will shoot the number onto the sudoku board

Which solution from those listed above did you choose to implement and why?

1.Seniors Got Talent-good for entertainment and can allow seniors to share their unique skills. 2.Nanny services-required and needed by many parents. 3.Gaming arcade and big wall and hobby centre-is engaging for the inter generation. We chose to combine these 3 ideas into a ‘club’ like solution for the seniors that provides ‘child-minding service’, engaging activities for both seniors and children and a performance based ‘I still got talent’ group. Our team understood that it is very important for active retired seniors to have a purpose in life and engaging with children is very fulfilling. On the other hand, young parents are busy, they want their children to be ‘cared for’ while in the mall. So we decided to combine these needs and came up with the ‘Forever Young CLUB’ idea. This can be in a mall or a big condominium. Active seniors who have lots of knowledge and active minds can engage with children with patience, and teach them through a human library (where seniors can share their life stories to teach children values and just about life in general) On a monthly basis this club holds a talent show - and seniors are welcomed to perform as they like - this becomes a great show once a month in the mall and attracts families to watch. Parents can also leave their children in responsible hands while they may be shopping like we see at IKEA stores. Children are happy, seniors can rest and engage, read books or share about their life in the human library section. Some common games in space are included that are engaging for both generations.

Step 3DO

Describe very briefly the process of implementing your solution(s).

We went through a series of workshops and was helped by the facilitators, youth mentors to come up with the drawings of our final idea. Due to covid restrictions, we had to plan out making the prototype together during the school holidays.

What was the result or impact of your project?

This project was the selected winner by the client, Frasers Property and they are looking to roll out these ideas at the common spaces that this property group is involved in.

How many people were impacted by your solution(s)?

100

What did the impacted people have to say about your project? Provide 2 quotes or testimonials:

https://www.frasersproperty.com/inclusive-spaces/bridging-generations/prototypes#MentalWellbeing

What challenges did you encounter while implementing your project, and how did you overcome them?

We needed to finish our prototype in a short period of time and had a lot of things to build such as the stage, tables and chairs. We also did not know how to make and arrange the items along with the write up that we had to write. We also needed to redo our prototype as the original one got wet in the rain How did we overcome them? We distributed the different items to build between the four of us and got the items prepared, watched videos on Youtube on how to build the items and thought of what to write for the report. Our prototype is about a gaming arcade where seniors, children and youth come together to play games, share talents, have fun and relax.

How long did it take to implement your solution?

15-30 Days

Which global goals does your story align with?

Good health and well being

Please explain briefly why do you think so?

We understood from the seniors that it will be great to have some places to sit and rest after walking a lot – a convenient space with a peaceful environment that is not on the high levels. They enjoy being with children and wants to feel useful to society. Our idea provides a platform for them to constantly remain active and cares for their well being

Step 4 SHARE

How did you share your project with your school and community? Who did you share your project with? What was their response?

Yumin Primary 's story was featured in media in and a culminating event that was attend by guest-of-Honour, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for National Development https://www.frasersproperty.com/home/frasers-corporate/essentials/shared/dataitems/press-releases/2021/september/Frasers-Property-Inclusive-Spaces-intergenerational-dialogue

Approximately how many people did you share your story of change with?

More than 100

Briefly share your plan to sustain the impact of your project?

Yumin Primary is looking at submitting the project to the local community council to see if it can be implemented in residential block around their school area

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