Issue 06 Apr - Jun 2014

IRCC NEWSLETTERDifferent Dinners, One Heartbeat | Profile | IRCC Food Trail 2 | Faith in YOUthIN THIS ISSUE

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Good news! We were very heartened by the generous offer of a full page in a constituency

newsletter in the North to provide articles about local festivals or IRCC events. The strong show of support for our efforts to promote racial harmony is appreciated much like the unexpected showers we enjoyed recently. We understand that the constituency newsletter is distributed to every household and that we can insert the QR code for readers to read the entire IRCC newsletter. This shot of adrenalin sustained the committee as we walked from MCCY office to Hong Lim market on Saturday 22 Mar morning for our second Food Trail.

If you haven’t heard about our Food Trail, we hope you’ll read about what our participants have to say about this bonding activity. We also hope that you will find time to join us for the next outing as a resourceful member of the team has proposed 8 varieties of the king of fruits - 8 being an auspicious number - plus rojak, a uniquely Singapore dish. As Mary Poppins would say, it’s Supercalifragilistic-epecialidocious!

Another recommendation in this issue is a special interview of a gentleman who has

taken part actively in Thaipusam for years. What’s special about him? He’s a Taoist fengshui master and an award winning former bar manager. His fascinating story taught us what interfaith understanding really means.

As usual, the centerspread carries the biggest event of the 2nd quarter. Yes, it’s the Appreciation Night for IRCC members. From many accounts, it was a memorable night of great food and great programme. Deputy Director of Community Engagement Unit, MCCY, Mr Somo expressed his gratitude to all IRCC members for their hard work in promoting the IRCC cause and participants expressed their appreciation with smiles and laughter throughout the night.

Finally, we have decided to extend the Newsletter naming competition based on feedback that the dedicated mailbox did not accept some entries even when they were emailed before the deadline. We apologise for the technical fault and to be fair to all readers, we will extend the deadline till 31 May. No kidding, so please continue to email us when you have a brainwave.

Happy Easter!

Dear ReadersContentsDear ReadersEditorial Committee

Qing Ming FestivalTamil New Year

A Visit to Jain Religious SocietyInter-Faith Dialogue “Faith and New Year Celebrations”

IRCC Cares: Lunar New Year Charity Lunch 2014IRCC Newsletter Naming Competition Deadline Extended!

Different Dinners, One Heartbeat

IRCC Food Trail 2

Profile: The Chinese Kavadi Carrier

Having ‘Faith in YOUth’

Festivals highlights from Apr to Jun 2014 Calendar of Courses for IRCC Members from Apr to Jun 2014

Watsup IRCCs? IRCC Quiz #6

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Editorial CommitteeChairperson

Members

Disclaimer

Ms Leo Kwang Lin, Woodlands IRCC

Mr Bernard Chiang, PBM, Braddell Heights IRCC Mr Tan Hwa Kwang, PBM, Clementi IRCC Mr Abdul Aziz Abdul Samad, PBM, Eunos IRCC Mr Rhazaly Noentil, Hougang IRCC Mr Chia Keng Hian, BBM, PBM, PB, PBS, OStJ, Kampong Glam IRCC Mr Abdul Rashid Bin Ibrahim, Tampines Changkat IRCC Mr Khoo Kim Seng, BBM, Teck Ghee IRCC Mr Albert Lee, Telok Blangah IRCC Mr Chandraseharan Vijayakumar, Telok Blangah IRCC Mr David Choo Yong Kee, PBM, Toa Payoh East IRCC

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of the IRCC Newsletter Editorial Committee. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are correct and up-to-date at the time of printing. Some details are liable to change. All information is accurate at time of printing.

QING MING FESTIVAL 清明节

Contributed by IRCCs in Northwest Region

One well-known story about Qing Ming started after the legendary king Dayu （大禹）successfully solved the problem of flooding that was the scourge of the Chinese several thousand years ago. To celebrate the return to normal life, the Chinese people sang and danced in Spring when earth became warm again. Some chose to travel to see more of their beautiful country. Some chose this period to visit the graves of deceased parents and ancestors with incense and food. The day before Qing Ming was often marked by the Chinese eating cold food（寒食）. Why this special custom? History books tell the sad story of how a loyal scholar by the name of Jie Zitui（介子推）died at the hands of his foolish king, Duke Wen of Jin（晋文公）. Jie was so determined to help the Duke become king during his harsh exile of 19 years that he offered his starving royal master soup cooked with his own flesh cut from the thigh. The Duke was so moved that he promised a huge reward for Jie when he became king. But the Duke promptly forgot what he had promised when he was crowned king of Jin. Reminded of his promise by one of his

subjects, he rushed out to look for Jie who by then had decided on leading a quiet life in the woods, undisturbed by the maddening politics in the palace. One can imagine how angry the king must have been when Jie refused to obey the king’s command to work for him again. He then did the unspeakable thing of burning the forest to force Jie and his mother to leave their hut. After the fire, the desperate Duke cried at the sight of Jie’s burnt body wrapped around a tree trunk. To remember his loyal follower, the Duke decreed that his subjects should eat cold food – and not use the stove to cook their meals - the day before Qing Ming. This year, Qing Ming falls on April 5. In Singapore, Chinese families would start visiting their ancestors’ graves a couple of weekends before that day. In the lunar calendar, Qing Ming is 108 days after the Winter Solstice (marked by eating rice dumplings stuffed with peanut or red bean paste) which is before Christmas. Why 108? To the Chinese, it is a special number associated with perfection and eternity and spring is welcoming and rejuvenating, a great start to another year of abundance, we all hope.

TAMIL NEW YEAR Contributed by IRCCs in Southwest Region

SignificanceTamil New Year is a day of celebration for the Tamils. They rejoice with happiness. Thamizh Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first month in the Tamil Calendar year. The auspicious occasion of Puthandu is also popularly known as Varusha Pirappu or the birth of New Year and falls on 13th or 14th April according to the Gregorian calendar. Tamilians all over the world greet one another by wishing “Puthandu Vazthukal” (Happy New Year), with fervour on this day, which is supposedly the day when Lord Brahma (the Creator of the word, accordingly to Hindu mythology) started creation. People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Varusha Pirappu in a big way by merrymaking and feasting.  They also visit the temples and conduct ‘poojas’.

Story relating to the festivalThe traditional New Year celebrations in mid-April originated as a harvest thanksgiving, the high-point of the annual production cycle. Interwoven closely with the first astrological phase of the sun, it is timed to coincide with the first rice harvest of the season, namely rice.

Astronomically, it is celebrated on the day on which the sun passes from Meena Rashiya (Pisces) to Mesha Rashiya (Aries). Tamil New Year (Puthandu) RitualsA popular custom of Puthandu is  ‘kanni’  which means the auspicious sight. Following the ritual, people start the Puthandu day by watching auspicious or favourable things like gold, silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits, vegetable, flowers, raw rice and coconuts that will bring good fortune throughout the year. This

is done under the belief that a good start to New Year will ensure prosperity and happiness in the coming year. This is followed by the ritual bath and a customary visit to the temple to seek divine blessings for the coming year after which, the Panchangam (almanac) is read.

Early in the morning, women of Tamil Nadu adorn the entrance of their house with colourful ‘Kolam’ (design made with rice flour) and deck the doorway with mango leaves. The centre of the Kolam is decorated with a lamp called  kuthuvillakku,  in a belief that it would dispel darkness. The highlight of the festival is the ‘Maanga Pachadi’ (a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers), which is at the same time sweet, sour and bitter to signify all aspects of life.

Kolam is a design created from colourful rice flour.

Green rice-dumplings, made of glutinous rice flour, dyed with vegetable juice and stuffed with red bean paste, are eaten in certain regions of China as part of the traditional “cold food”.

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Contributed by IRCCs in Southeast Region

As part of the IRCC Care program, Braddell Heights, in collaboration with the Singapore Women`s Association, organised the annual festive lunch on 20 Feb 2014. The beneficiaries included elders from different races and religions. The celebrations included sumptuous festive food, entertainment, goodies bag, lucky draws and distribution of red packets. 300 elders from the various old folk homes and elder service centres were invited to a Halal lunch at the Fond Garden Restaurant, Kallang Theatre. As many were of advanced age and wheelchair bound, volunteers helped with the transport arrangement. To honour the pioneers, nostalgic multi-racial songs were specially arranged and sung in different languages by very experienced artistes, including some former MediaCorp celebrities. One of the elders was very touched by the songs and he reciprocated with an impromptu Tamil song.

The Guest-of Honour was Mr Seah Kian Peng , Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC who graciously conducted the lucky draws as the grand finale for the event. Our IRCC members

from the various Religious Groups were also present to distribute Hongbaos to all the invited senior citizens.

IRCC Newsletter Naming Competition DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The Editorial Committee would like to thank readers who emailed us and apologize to those who tried in vain due to a technical problem on our end. The fault has since been rectified. We are convinced that many more have interesting suggestions to share on a more memorable and meaningful name for IRCC’s only newsletter. Please continue to email us. The new deadline is 31 May 2014. Many creative ideas were received from readers and we hope to keep the brainstorm going! Please continue to submit your ideas via newsletter@ircc.sg and you stand to win attractive prizes! The competition is open to all, so spread the word and keep emailing in

Inter-Faith Dialogue “Faith and New Year Celebrations”A group of IRCC members from Central region met on Saturday morning, 22 Feb 2014, at The Arts House@The Old Parliament to participate in an engaging inter-faith dialogue session. Titled “Faith and New Year Celebrations”, the dialogue was organised in conjunction with the Chinese Lunar New Year month and explored how different faiths celebrated their respective new years. 

The objective of the dialogue was to promote an awareness of the various faiths through the understanding of their festive new years and the traditions, practices and customs associated with their celebrations.  Invited speakers Master Adrian Long (Taoist Federation Singapore),  Muhammad Fazalee (Harmony Centre), Rev Winston Tan (Church of the True Light) and

Ms Thavamalar Balakrishnan (Hindu Centre) captured the audience’s attention with their witty and engaging presentations, which also included inspiring anecdotes on Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. A panel dialogue segment was weaved into the two hour session, with many eager IRCC members posing their queries to the speakers after their presentations.

A networking buffet was catered for the participants and speakers at The Arts House Earshot Cafe after the dialogue.  Besides enjoying a hearty lunch at the cosy restaurant, the participants and speakers had a great time mingling and networking with fellow members across IRCCs.  The dialogue was attended by more than 50 IRCC members and religious leaders.

IRCC Cares: Lunar New Year Charity Lunch 2014

A VISIT TO JAIN RELIGIOUS SOCIETY Contributed by IRCCs in Northeast Region

If asked to name the different religious communities in Singapore, it is likely that many S i n g a p o r e a n s , especially youths, would not include Jainism. On my part, I had a Jain classmate many years ago who asked about the ingredients of snacks we offered her. Jains are strict vegetarians and do not eat food such as eggs, meat and seafood.

Jains are followers of Jinas, supreme human beings, who have conquered their inner passions such as anger, ego, deceit and greed. Jinas have annihilated their karmas and attained liberation i.e. freeing themselves from the cycle of life and death. Jinas guide and teach Jains on how to achieve liberation for themselves. Jains do not believe in a creator God but rather achieving liberation is considered as having achieved Godhood.

Listening to the presentation on a recent visit to the Singapore Jain Religious Society, taught us that Jains have a unique belief system that dates back to more than 2500 years ago. That was the time when the last Jina of the current time cycle, Lord Mahavir, was born in what is now known as Bihar, India. His teachings have been compiled into 45 religious scriptures called the Jain Agams.

Jainism’s main principles can be summarised as the AAA of Jainism.

1. Ahimsa – the principle of non-violence. Jains believe that all living things have the potential to achieve Godhood and hence no one has the right to hurt the life of another living thing by means of thought, speech or action. Hence the reason why Jains are vegetarians. Jains also make considerable effort to minimise harm to plants, restricting any plant killing for essential human food intake. 2. Aparigraha – the principle of non-possessiveness.Worldly wealth creates attachments, which result in fear, greed, jealousy, ego, hatred and violence. Jainism teaches that we should not feel attached to worldly objects which leads to bondage to the cycle of birth and death. The Jain way of life advocates responsible living and limits possessions to what is important or necessary. 3. Anekantvad – the principle of multiplicity of viewpoints.Jainism teaches that we should not be absolute in our views but instead try to see and understand alternative viewpoints to gain a better understanding of the truth. Just as a coin has two sides, every situation has many aspects. Jains have been present in Singapore since 1910. Currently there are approximately 1,500 Jains in Singapore. Though the community is small in number, they are extremely vibrant and energetic in their outlook. The Singapore Jain Religious Society is located at 18 Jalan Yasin near Eunos MRT. It is a tranquil focal place for Jains to connect to Lord Mahavir, as well as a place for the Jain community at large to gather and celebrate key Jain festivals such as Mahavir Jyanti (the birth of Lord Mahavir), Paryushan (the 8 day Introspection period to reflect and to seek/give forgiveness) and Diwali (Lord Mahavir’s passing and attainment of liberation).

Over 40 participants visited the Jain Religious Society on the 8 Mar 2014 for an insightful presentation on Jainism.

Contributed by IRCCs in Central Region

- Content edits courtesy of Jain Religious Society of Singapore

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Different dinners, one heartbeatTo thank members for their dedication and hard work over the years, the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC) held the Appreciation Dinners in the 1st quarter of the year.

Due to the sheer number of IRCC members, the Appreciation dinners were split into 3 sessions. The first session was called IRCC Harmony Nite, held on Thursday, 27 February 2014, at the Marina Mandarin Hotel Ballroom. It brought together 500 guests from various IRCCs, religious and community-based organisations gathered for a celebratory night of friendship and inter-faith bonding.

Many guests turned up for the gala event in creative national costumes befitting the night’s theme “Around The World” and some also took to the stage in good spirits to participate in the game segments. The IRCC Ten Year Journey Exhibition displayed at the ballroom foyer attracted a huge crowd who reminisced about IRCC’s milestones and achievements over the past decade.

Everyone enjoyed themselves, in one happy guest’s words, “I learnt a bit more about IRCC, enjoyed the shows, met up with friends and had a fun time. A very successful event!”

Winners for the Best Dressed - Male and Female Individual. Mr Kwan Jih

Leong, PBM, Assistant Secretary, Yew Tee IRCC (Left) and Mrs Pongkodi

Rajikannu, Member, Punggol South IRCC (Right).

Pastor Gabriel Liew, representing Kampong Kapor Methodist Church, receiving a token of appreciation from Community Engagement Unit Deputy Director, Mr Vendesan Somo.

Working Crew dressed for the theme “Around the World” !

The second session to thank IRCC Members was IRCC Appreciation Night. Held on 28 February 2014, at The Joyden Hall @ Bugis+, it was a night of laughter and camaraderie as all gathered to exchange views about workplans, achievements and challenges. The Dinner enabled religious stakeholders to network and explore possible collaborations that would be beneficial to the community.  We were glad that all the participants thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gamely took part in the various ice-breaking activities, interactive poll and photo-booth!Guests are invited to wear ethnic costumes and participated

in fun table activities.

IRCC Appreciation Night @ River Terrace was held on 13 March 2014 at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

The programme started with the screening of the music video of the IRCC Song and an opening speech by Mr Vendesan Somo, Deputy Director of the Community Engagement Unit, who highlighted the progress and achievements of the 29 IRCCs over the past year. President of NUS Inter-Faith Club, Miss Vijayalakshmi, shared with members on the club’s inter-faith efforts, enthusing members to engage youths in their IRCCs too.

A photo montage on the IRCC milestones over the past year was also shown, much to the audience’s delight. Members were then treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner with the Singapore’s skyline at night as the backdrop.

The organisers would like to thank IRCC members for their contributions. IRCCs have successfully worked together with religious and community organisations over the years, and we certainly hope that the good work will be continued.

The participants with their artwork for the game "Colours United" being

judged on their creativity!

IRCC Members enjoyed the tossing of "Yu Sheng" on the last

day of Chinese New Year.

Members at the River Terrace with the beautiful skyline of Central Singapore

in the background.

A photobooth was set up for members to have fun with the props and

photos for a night to remember.

Guests were wowed by the ingenious

Face-Changing performance.

Mr Bernard Chiang, PBM (left) and Ms Wendy Khon (right),

representing Singapore Women’s Association, with the token of

appreciation.

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IRCC NEWSLETTER FOOD TRAIL 2On 22 Mar 2014, 16 participants embarked on a hunt for good “Mee” in IRCC Newsletter annual Food Trail. The theme for this Food Trail was “Mee” and participants got to enjoy how Mee Siam and Mee Rebus were prepared by Chinese, Malay and Indian stall owners. At the first stop, participants sampled Mee Siam and Mee Rebus prepared by Mr Soo, stall owner of Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa, located at Hong Lim Market. He is best known for his Mee Siam which is concocted using a secret recipe made up of fruit juice and seafood stock. Mdm Latifah revealed that it was her first time eating Mee Rebus and Mee Siam prepared by Chinese and remarked, “very light & refreshing!”. Before proceeding to the next stop at Waterloo Street kopitiam, participants paid a special visit to the Singapore Calligraphy Centre, where they were hosted by Professor Tan Siah Kwee and committee members, who gave them a short and informative tour around the Centre. Participants were also given a chance to try their hands at Chinese calligraphy and understand how the lessons were conducted in the centre. After the visit, participants simply crossed the road to Sabeena’s Indian Cuisine, where participants sampled a “redder and richer” Mee Siam prepared by the Muslim

Indian stall owner. They were also treated to a plate of hot crispy Indian Rojak, which was the stall’s specialty dish.

The final stop was P & Z Eating House, located at Geylang Lor 3. It claimed to serve the best Mee Rebus in Singapore. Prepared fresh daily by the owner, Mr Taha, the Mee Rebus gravy was thick and rich with fragrant spices. At the end of Food Trail, one of the participants, Mr David Liow, was generous in his feedback, “We are here not only to sample the different Mee dishes but to learn as well about how different races prepare and present their favourite food.”

First stop @ Hong Lim Market

One of the participants, Mdm Siti Aishah practised writing Arabic using Chinese calligraphy strokes.

Members from Singapore Calligraphy Centre graciously welcomed participants for a short visit.

Second stop @ Waterloo Street

PROFILE: THE CHINESE KAVADI CARRIER

Feeling relaxed while doing the final preparation before the walk.

Mr Michael Lim, with his supporters carrying milk pots at his side to provide prompt assistance during the 4km walk.

Third stop @ Geylang Lor 3: Participants visited the what-they-claim-to-be the best Mee Rebus in Singapore!

Mr Michael Lim, one of the few Chinese Kavadi carriers in Singapore.

He started working in his youth as a dishwasher, worked his way up to a Bar Manager after 13 years, before representing his hotel as an International Bartender Competition in Italy in 1992 and is now a qualified Feng Shui Master. When requested to share his views on the involvement of youths in the Thaipusam Festival, Mr Michael Lim, 39, founder of Yu Feng Nan Fu Xuan Shan Miao (玉封南府玄善庙) Taoist Temple, was happy to share his views with the IRCC Newsletter editorial team.

What Got Him Involved

“It all started 9 years ago when I fainted while walking back home after the annual prayer in my temple. Further checkup showed small white dots in the X-rays of my kidney and liver.” At that time, he met an elder Hindu devotee, who recommended that he should carry the kavadi in return for the gods granting him his wish for good health. After making the promise, as he was doing the necessary preparations, to his amazement, the white spots disappeared! This strengthened his belief and he embarked on his journey of carrying the kavadi faithfully and consecutively year after year.

15 Days of Cleansing before Thaipusam

Michael shared how he learned the ritual and practices involved in carrying the kavadi, through his Hindu friends, which he initially thought to be a one-day affair. “15 days before Thaipusam, I started fasting. A normal day begins with showering in the morning before prayers to Lord Subramaniya and the kavadi items. I drink only milk in the morning and put ash on my forehead. Then I will go to work, eating only fruits for lunch and offer my evening prayers before eating

rice porridge with vegetables cooked by my wife. At night, I do not sleep on the bed, but sleep on a piece of cloth placed on the floor. During this period, I do not shave or wear footwear, neither do I visit friends or attend birthday parties or funerals.”

Thaipusam – A Family Affair

On the day of Thaipusam, Michael would offer Lord Subramaniya fruits and yellow or orange flowers (Lord’s favourite colour) dressed in yellow. He said Thaipusam is a family affair, as his wife will be carrying the plate of fruits and floral tributes with his two sons carrying the milk pots and one being his official photographer. 40 of his Taoist friends also formed the entourage, to give him support during the procession.

As part of Thaipusam ritual, his head, hands, head and upper half of his body were pierced with hooks, skewers and small lances called ‘vel’, his tongue and cheek pierced to impede speech and help him focus on the Lord. A total of 127 ‘vel’ were pierced on his body. His kavadi was decorated by peacock feathers (the vehicle of Lord Subramaniya) and a statue of the Chinese deity, “Ji Gong”( 济公). In all, he walked with a kavadi that weighed about 30kg for almost 4km from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Serangoon Road, to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Tank Road.

His Beliefs“I believe Taoism has strong links with Hinduism. My family members extend their utmost support to me during the fasting period for Thaipusam. I encourage everyone to learn, to see and to have their wishes granted by performing this ritual. Moving forward I am willing to teach the younger generation of Taoists to learn, follow, practice the beliefs of Hinduism and motivate others. I am very happy that my children share the Thaipusam rituals with their friends. They are proud to share that their Dad is carrying the Kavadi!

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Having ‘FAITH in YOUth’By Ms Nasuha Selamat

FESTIVALS HIGHLIGHTS FROmAPR TO JUN 2014

Vesak Day (13 May)

Vesak Day is celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate Buddha’s birth and enlightenment (Nirvana). On this day, devotees perform good deeds and will fast or go on a vegetarian diet.

Good Friday (18 Apr)/ Easter Sunday (20 Apr)

Good Friday is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. Good Friday commemorates the Crucifixion and death of Jesus while Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

Qing Ming Festival (5 Apr)

Qing Ming Festival is known as ‘All Souls Day’. During this period, the Chinese will pay their respects to their ancestors by sweeping their ancestors’ tombs, making offerings of food and burning joss paper. Qing Ming is observed 10 days before and after the actual day.

Vaisakhi Festival (14 Apr)

Vaisakhi or Baisakhi Festival originally started as a harvest festival in Punjab but took on a greater significance for the Sikhs where it commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa in 1699. Khalsa refers to Sikhs who have undergone the sacred Amrit Ceremony initiated by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Ramadhan (start 28 Jun)

Fasting is required of Muslims during the Islamic month of Ramadhan. Fasting in Islam means to endure hunger by not taking food or drink and to rein in one’s desire and urges by abstaining from acts like smoking and sex, from dawn to dusk. This is a time to practice self-restraint, patience, sacrifice and humility.

CALENDAR OF COURSES FOR IRCC MEMBERS FROM APR TO JUN 2014MEDIATION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION9AM – 5PM OASIS HOTEL COURTYARD 3 8 SINARAN DRIVE SINGAPORE 307470 OverviewExplore the more challenging Conflict Management environment of IRCC:

• Understand importance of conflict management, why conflicts are inevitable and the cost it incurs

• Practical approach and core skills of managing conflicts using the five essential strategies

• How to mediate “Win-Win” mediation • Differences in impasse, stalemate and deadline: How to recognize,

counter and benefit from them

BASIC TENETS OF THE BAHá’í FAITH 11AM – 1PM BAHA’I CENTRE 55 CANTONMENT ROAD SINGAPORE 089754 Overview The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Its core teachings emphasize the spiritual unity of all humankind. In its comparatively short history of about 170 years, the Bahá’í Faith has grown to embrace adherents from more than 2,000 ethnic, racial and tribal groups. In Singapore, the Bahá’í Faith is one of the ten religions represented under the Inter-Religious Organisation. COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY IN A CRISIS9AM – 5PM GRAND PARK ORCHARD HOTEL 270 ORCHARD RD SINGAPORE 238857 OverviewBeing the central point of contact upon a crisis, IRCC members neeed to have the necessary skills to manage such situations. Participants will learn about scenario planning and conflict management methods. • Crisis – An Overview: Case Study and Characterisitics • The Prevention and Management of Crises of an Ethnic, Religious Nature and Ethno-Religious Nature • Strategies, tools and processes, role and responsibilities UNDERSTANDING PERANAKAN CULTURE9AM – 1.30PM ONEPEOPLE.SG 381 TOA PAYOH LOR 1 SINGAPORE 319758 Overview You will get to visit Peranakan Museum and a tour of Peranakan House. Led by certified tour guide, you will get to know ten galleries of the world’s finest and most comprehensive Peranakan collection in displays that trace the main episodes of Peranakan life.

SATURDAY

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Youths engaged in lively discussions to share their perspectives on how youth can play a part in maintaining racial and religious harmony

We have "Faith in YOUth"! Let's work towards our goal together!

SATURDAY

14JUN

THE PILOT TEST

Youths are no strangers to dialogues. Yet when it comes to discussions about religion in Singapore, we tend to see fewer youths participating in religious discussions. Consequently, we are not able to really understand how youth view religious harmony or their personal relationships with people from a different religion. As part of Radin Mas IRCC’s ongoing efforts to engage the youth, the event ”Faith in YOUth” was envisioned as a platform to fill these gaps as well as to enhance our understanding of how youth perceive faith. An estimated 60 youths from the various religious organizations in Radin Mas IRCC took part in the event held at Church of St Teresa. Although the participants are from different faith groups, they subscribed to one common ‘faith’ that day, that is, an open mind on how to promote and maintain religious harmony in Singapore. Topics raised included youth’s hesitation when meeting youths of a different religion and how the government could help create a more inclusive society. Allowing youths to boldly decide their own topic of discussion gave us a sense of their thoughts, concerns, experiences and most importantly, showed that organic discussions on religion are possible platforms to engage the youths in meaningful exchanges.

A PERSONAL REFLECTION

The event did not just benefit the youths who participated but also those who had helped to organize it. As one of the main drivers of this event and part of NUS Interfaith, I have learnt a lot about how an event takes place. I also gained experience in working with different groups of people, each with his or her distinct vision. There were challenges in trying to turn ideas into reality. I am very grateful to Radin Mas IRCC for taking up the challenges to organize this event with youths. I am thankful for the trust they had in us to execute the event. I believe that the youths of today can contribute positively if empowered with opportunities, support and trust in their execution of ideas and ambitions.

WHO WE ARE

• Started as an interest group in 2005 under the University Scholar Programme (USP)

• Currently an interest group under the NUS Community Engagement Programme (CEP) network

• Open to all NUS students of different faith and beliefs

• Members consist of Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims and also free-thinkers

WHAT WE DO

• Organise various talks and dialogues to engage students to discuss about different religious beliefs and how religion plays a part in Singapore society

• For instance, talks on ‘Jihad’, ‘Zoroastrianism’ and ‘Secular Humanism’ were organized in 2013

• Hosted the French Interfaith World Tour team in Feb 2014 on youth involvement in interfaith relations

• Collaborate with other faith & cultural societies to reach out to a wider audience

• Members are encouraged to keep abreast of the wider interfaith scene

WHY

• Share the same belief that there is a need for mutual understanding and respect among people of different faiths

• Believe that engagement and dialogue is the key to clarify any misconceptions & preconceptions and also essential to create a culture of understanding beyond tolerance

• We believe that youths have an important stake in interfaith appreciation

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1. Answer both questions.

2. Submit your answers together with your particulars to our correspondence details located at the bottom of this page.

It’s that simple! 5 sets of IRCC prizes up for grabs!

All entries (limited to 1 entry per person) must reach us before 31st May 2014. Incomplete and/or incorrect entries will be disqualified.

Q1 How many ‘vels’ were pierced in The Chinese Kavadi Carrier’s body?

Q2 When will the “Vibrant Geylang Serai: Heritage in Harmony” event be held? (Day/Month)

Full name: Identification card no: Address:

Contact Number:

Hi May! I’m Michael friend, Kumar!  Did you hear about the Geylang Serai IRCC Inter-Faith Exhibition cum Carnival on 31st May?

Sounds interesting, tell me more, Kumar!

“Vibrant Geylang Serai: Heritage in Harmony” is an exhibition organised to raise awareness of the IRCCs and to showcase the religious and community organisations in the constituency. There will be religious exhibits, cultural booths & performances food/games stalls and fringe activities.

Wow! When and Where is it being held?  

The exhibition will take place on Saturday 31st May, 11.30am-5pm at the Open Plaza outside Singapore Post Centre, just beside Paya Lebar MRT.

That’s nice! Is it open to public? Can I bring my family and friends?

Yes, it is open to the public. More info can be found on the IRCC website www.ircc.sg.

Ok, I will let my friends know about the event. It will be a fun day out with my friends!

IRCC Quiz #6

ANSWERS TO IRCC QUIz #5Thank you for participating in our IRCC Quiz #5. Here are the answers.

Q1 Where was the inaugural IRCC Overseas Retreat conducted? Batam

Q2 When will the IRCC Food Trail 2 be held? 22/03/2014

Congratulations to the following lucky winners of IRCC Quiz #5

Chandra Sekavam Pillai SXXXX233H Vasantha Devi SXXXX998I Amy Tan Book Gek SXXXX383H Sarjit Kaur SXXXX296Z Thangavem Maliga SXXXX323C

Winners will be notified via post

IRCC Newsletter Editorial Committee c/o Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Community Relations and Engagement Division 140 Hill Street #02-00 Singapore 179369

Email: newsletter@ircc.sg

Like to share your views/feedback with us? Write in to the IRCC Newsletter Editorial Committee.

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