About
Love My Neighbour
Say hello to our neighbours!
As the Chinese proverb acknowledges, ‘远亲不如近邻, or a faraway relative is not as useful as a neighbour nearby, knowing our neighbours and neighbourhoods well is a lot more important than we think.
Taking place from 4 to 20 August 2023, the fourth edition of My Community Festival is a celebration of the everyday people and places in our neighbourhoods and an opportunity for us to initiate greetings, meet and connect with our neighbours.
Organised by non-profit organisation My Community – with support from the Singapore Tourism Board and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth – the festival features an extensive line-up of co-curated tours, experiences and a festival village at Chinatown thoughtfully curated around the theme ‘Love My Neighbour’.
So, come and meet the diverse communities in our neighbourhoods and immerse yourself in their touching stories and experiences!
Love My Neighbour
Have you ever dreaded bumping your neighbours in a lift? Whether the awkward silence, probable ambushes by unfamiliar adults scrutinising and commenting on our appearances, or the unwelcomed onslaught of personal questions which we are too shy to answer? The humble elevator, sheltered walkway, bus stops and hawker centres offer everyone in the neighbourhood an opportunity to know everyone else. However, we will always remain as strangers to one another unless we initiate contact and break the ice.
Neighbours play a crucial role in our lives. Whether it is borrowing a cup of salt or looking after each other’s homes while we travel abroad, neighbours provide immediate support and assistance in times of need. They are people who live close by and their companionship can create a sense of comfort, familiarity and solidarity in a rapidly changing environment.
This year’s programmes, curated based on the theme ‘Love My Neighbour’, therefore seeks to explore the significance of neighbours in our lives, engaging participants through tours and experiences to conjure new perspectives on this apparently simple concept.
About My Community
My Community is a non-profit organisation which works to capture and preserve community stories, reconnect people to places and social networks, and deepen heritage appreciation and express across the country. It also advocates for greater community involvement in cultural management and urban governance. Since its inception in 2010, My Community has spurred the growth and development of a common-man approach to heritage where everyday experiences and Singaporeans are chronicled and celebrated.
Today, My Community is supported by an army of over 1,000 volunteers who work with a nimble team of staff to organise guided tours, exhibitions, festivals and other placemaking programmes in Queenstown, Bukit Merah and Kallang-Whampoa.
