Everyone once in a while, we were remembered a great block buster movie, TV show, a great book produce by a great producer, author,writer etc. Does it take a producers, great author to come up with good ideas? Not at all.
Before they are great, they were just normal folk like us. Lightning and inspiration can and will strike anywhere and everyone, In my previous working experience prison inmates was the most creative of all, they are just like everyone but more time in their hand. When I was involved in the Singapore Yellow Ribbon Project which was a nation-wide campaign to raise the
awareness of Singaporeans about the need of inmates, ex-offenders and
their families for societal acceptance. There are approximately 11,000
ex-offenders who are released from the various prisons and drug
rehabilitation centres each year. As most ex-offenders have to return
to their families and the community, the focus on rehabilitation and
aftercare efforts alone are not adequate. The Yellow Ribbon Project
highlights the important part the community plays in the creation of an
inclusive social environment where ex-offenders, who display strong
desire to change, and their families can find the hope to start life
afresh and become contributing members of society. In June 28, 2007 – Some 24 inmates pit their
presentation and writing skills against one another at the Yellow
Ribbon Poetry-writing and Storytelling Competition held in Changi
Prison. The annual Yellow Ribbon Poetry-writing
Competition and the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Storytelling Competition
were jointly organised by the CARE Network and National Library Board
(NLB).
Based on the theme of “Giving”,
inmates penned original poems and stories in English, Chinese, Malay
and Tamil, and shared about how they wanted to contribute to their
families and society.
To
prepare the participants for the competition, a special word camp was
organised for those who signed up. Participants had the privilege of
having guidance from theatre veteran Peggy Ferroa, who contributed to
producing the Yellow Ribbon Concert 2006. The word camp was held for
seven hours each day for two days to help inmates learn more about
story and poetry creation and presentation skills.
If you think you have a good idea, now is the time to find out.
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