Orientations & Actions — Part 1: Youth, Civic Life & the City
Join us for Orientation & Actions, a vibrant gathering hosted by Urban Kakis! This event is all about creating a dynamic space for young minds, community experts, and institutions to explore the pulse of civic life in our bustling city.
Dive into our Youth-Centred Panel, where we'll delve into the heart of Singapore’s urban experience, sharing insights on how civic life takes shape around us. Later, immerse yourself in the Human Library—a unique opportunity to connect and engage with personal stories from youths, exploring how they envision and participate in our city's future.
Youth-Centred Panel on Civic Life
What makes civic life for youth possible in Singapore today?
What limits it, and what could open new possibilities and ways of being in the world?
This panel brings together young voices to explore how civic life takes shape through spaces, institutions, communities, and everyday practices, and how we might imagine more inclusive urban futures shaped with and by youth. Hear from...
Hoe Su-Fern – Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Arts and Culture Management Programme at the Singapore Management University
Genevieve Ong – Senior Partner, Forest School Singapore; Community Curator, Stranger Conversations
Rustam Shariq Mujtaba – Curator, Young Changemakers; Founder of Project Broken Barges
Denyse Tan – Founder, Urban Kakis (Moderator)
Human Library: Urban Civic Life
Meet individuals from diverse backgrounds who will share personal stories about how they understand their role in the city, and the small but meaningful ways they are making change. As part of Urban Kakis’ areas of interest, this session highlights the often unseen, everyday civic work that young people are already doing across Singapore.
Hear from folks from...
Zac Toh – Urban Farmer and Founder of City Sprouts
Tham Jun Han – Co-founder of FriendzoneSG
Terese Lim – Storyteller and Producer from Our Grandfather Story
Bryan Michael Chiew – Community builder and Founder of Kampung Spirit Initiative
Vareck Ng – Transport Advocate and Programmes Manager at Urban Kakis
Miku Seko – Co-founder at Motive Fitness and The Daily Movement
Ng Ching Siang – Curator at Young Changemakers
Gallery Walk & Collective Reflection
To close the afternoon, participants will move through a gallery walk featuring short prompts, quotes, and artefacts drawn from the panel and Human Library conversations.
This is a reflective segment designed to help participants:
Pause and process what resonated
Reflect on how civic life shows up in their own everyday contexts
Notice connections across stories, spaces, and practices
Participants will be invited to leave behind reflections through notes, drawings, or short responses which collectively form a shared snapshot of how youth understand civic life today.
Bring your curiosity, questions, and energy for an afternoon of meaningful conversations and discovery. Whether you are deeply involved in civic work or simply beginning to think about your place in the city, Orientation & Action invites you to listen, learn, and connect.
Orientation & Action is part of an ongoing programme series exploring youth, civic life, and the city. More sessions will follow.
Programme Rundown
2:30 PM – Arrival & Registration
3:00 PM – Opening & Sharing (Urban Kakis & Temasek Shophouse)
3:20 PM – Youth-Centred Panel: Civic Life & the City
4:10 PM – Human Library: Urban Civic Life
4:55 PM – Group Reflections & Gallery Walk
5:30 PM – End