Patchworks

About Patchworks

2020-08-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Patchworks is a special project committee of Nanyang Technological University- Welfare Services Club. Led by a group of passionate undergraduates, Patchworks launched a series of social entrepreneurship ventures targeting to amend social perceptions of the different aspects of society and to encourage social cohesiveness.

Patchworks is currently working on projects with the elderly and seniors of our society. For more information on Patchworks' projects, please visit Patchworks Official Website.

Patchwork of Reminiscences Book Launch

2010-06-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Following the success of Patchwork of Flavours, Patchworks is proud to present to you our new publication, Patchwork of Reminiscences!

A compilation of 17 unique and touching accounts of Singaporean elders, we promise that Patchwork of Reminiscences will be an inspirational and rewarding read! It is also our pride and honour to have his Excellency S R Nathan pen the foreword of the book.

Come celebrate with us, as we launch our book with festivities and joy!

Event name: Patchwork of Reminiscences: Live. Learn. Experience.

Date: 25 July 2010
Venue: Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Level 1 Atrium (outside John Little)
Time: 12pm to 6pm

Besides being able to enjoy music and dance performances by both students and the elders at our event, we have interactive games lined up, with attractive rewards for the winners!

A few of the main characters in our book would also be invited up on stage to share with us snippets of their stories. Be prepared to get inspired as the elders show you their passion for life!

Watch Anna Tay and her husband put up a dance duet.

Come listen to G.T. Lye share his experiences in the Peranakan theatre.

Witness the love between Othman & Halimah as they recount their kampong love story.

Each Patchwork of Reminiscences book sells at SGD$15, and entitles you to a goody bag (with various vouchers and goodies!), as well as a chance to win exclusive prizes at our 2 lucky draws, ideally timed at 2:30pm and 4:30pm!

Top lucky draw prizes include:
Supor products (rice cookers, frying pans, woks)
Sime Darby Sunflower Cooking Oil

WMF Cutlery

All goody bags will be available while stocks last, so do come down early to purchase your copy of the book, or order online in advance at Patchwork of Reminiscences blog. Snippets of the book will be posted on our official website for you to have sneak-peeks of what the book is like! You would definitely crave for more after reading them!

Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to Asian Women Welfare Association (AWWA) and Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home, so bring along your family and friends and join us on 25th July to Live. Learn. Experience. and do your part for charity!

We hope to see you there!

For more information on the project and event, please visit Patchworks Official Website or Patchwork of Reminiscences blog.

You can also become our fan on Facebook to get the latest updates on your Facebook newsfeed!

Once again, we thank you for your interest in our cause!

Inter-generation Cooking Session at Student Care Service Centre

2009-12-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

7th December 2009
Student Care Service, Hougang Centre

The marriage of the steaming hot mouth watering curry chicken with the legendary fried bee hoon was certainly a taste etched in our memories.

However, what even more memorable was the process of cooking the dishes taught by two AWWA seniors who are Mdm Cheong and Mdm Lee to the youths from Student Care Service at its Hougang branch.

With the passion to learn cooking, the youths were quick to follow the instructions and picked up various cooking skills taught by the energetic seniors, both in their golden years.

It was a harrowing event when the youngest of the lot picked up the peeler. He was so vigorous with his newfound tool that we were worried for his safety! To our surprise, he showed amazing dexterity. The finely peeled potatoes bore silent testimony to this young cook’s skill. During the session, the youths had their cutting, slicing and even chopping skills put to the test, as they participated actively with the preparation. Interestingly, only one youth was courageous enough to manoeuvre such a huge chopper onto the chicken! It was really hilarious when all of us quickly and unabashedly made ourselves scarce when the chicken was being chopped, lest we end up in the same fate.

Even though all of us had met for the first time, there was an unprecedented level of cooperation. Everyone took on a fair share of the work, from the preparation of ingredients to cleaning up at the end of the session. Through this process, we forged new friendships and enjoyed ourselves.

After all the hard work under the guidance of experienced cooks, the result is simply delicious food!

Patchworks: Scents from the past

2009-09-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

When time seems to pass by us so hastily, don’t we sometimes wish that a moment - just a moment would stop for us? As we age and our memory deteriorates, who, what and which stages or incidents of our lives will we remember?

As a student volunteer for the project ‘Patchwork of Reminiscences’, I choose to write. Using text to the best I could to share and record the valuable learning points and reflections of the different elders I meet.

It was in the midst of the famous Ya Kun Coffee aroma that the graceful and ever-amiable Aunty Anna shared with me her life experiences. Similiarly to most elders that I had spoken before, Aunty Anna holds faint memories of incidents dated when she was a young girl. She may not remember many faces or names, but she confided in me that there was a scent she would never forget.

The scent of opium - A small but significant part of her life story.

I remembered vividly, the expression on Aunty Anna when she accounted to me how she grew up with the scent of opium. It was only on good days where her father could afford opium, could she own temporary tranquility in her home - no quarrels, no abuse, just the sweetish pungent smell filling the compound. To her father back at that point of time, that scent was a sweet escape from the harsh reality of being a larbourer. To the little girl, the scent was assuring. It assured that it would be a peaceful night ahead for the family. Ironically, she also resented the fact that the burning of those black poppy seeds was the cause of the hardships on her family – earning never enough to feed the addiction of her father then.

The conflicting emotions associated with the scent of opium reflects a stage of Aunty Anna’s life– her days spent running around in kampong, her difficult but precious childhood days. It occurs to me strongly then, how uncannily scents can evoke not just past memories but also, emotions.

It also made me wonder.

As Singapore experienced the rise of the opium syndicate in the mid-19th century to late 20th century, how many other families were affected by the trading of opium? How many other children had the same childhood “scent” with our dearest Aunty Anna? Fortunately, the situation took on a bright turn as the government passed a bill to extend the death penalty to all cocaine, cannabis and opium traffickers on 30th November 1989. The younger generation like myself, would probably never experience real opium or the scent of it.

But as the society evolves and with emerging of new occupations etc, what were the scents that replaced the scent of opium?

Is there such a scent that could pull strings close to your heart?

It is the scent of opium for Aunty Anna.

It is the light scent of the rain for me.

What about you?

Report on Donation event

2009-08-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

It has been about a month since Patchworks’ event, “Patchwork of Flavours: Learning Recipes, Bridging Generations” on 28th June 2009 at Bukit Panjang Plaza. If you were there to support us, thank you very much and hope you’ve enjoyed the event as much as we did. If you weren’t able to make it, fret not as we are here to bring you the hottest report of the event!

Along with our Guest-of-Honour Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Patchworks presented our four beneficiaries: AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens, Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home, Geylang East Home for The Aged and Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme with the cheque of SGD10, 000.

Guest-of-Honour Mrs Yu-Foo presenting cheque to representatives of our beneficiaries

Patchworks had a great time participating in the fun-filled event with the crowd at Bukit Panjang Plaza. From the lucky draw winners to the exuberant children who enjoyed the candy floss and balloon sculptures given free of charge, many happy faces were spotted throughout the event. The various dance and drum performances also drew overwhelming responses from the audiences. It was definitely a memorable experience for all who attended.

Energetic drums performance by Zhenghua Secondary School’s Drums Ensemble

Dance performance by South View Primary School’s Indian Dance

The event would not have been successful without the help of many people. Quoting Patchworks’ Vice Chairperson Daniel, “There were much groundwork and foundation that had to be laid. It would be hard for one to imagine the magnitude of the work that was needed to be done, nonetheless, we pulled it off with less than 2 months of planning. We were only able to plan and execute the event due to the dedication, perseverance and sacrifices of all involved.”

We would like to extend our utmost appreciation to our Guest-of-Honour Mrs Yu-Foo for gracing the event, members of NTU Students’ Affairs Office, Alumni Affairs Office and Corporate Communications Office for helping us in numerous ways in facilitating the entire project and event, and all our big-hearted sponsors for their generosity in sponsoring the event’s venue, goodie bag, freebies and lucky draw prizes! Also, not forgetting to show our gratitude to our performers who spiced up the event, and the dedicated beneficiaries for their kind support by setting up booths and engaging in the publicity efforts during the event.

Happy winners of our lucky draw prizes

Guest-of-Honour Mrs Yu-Foo presenting the Certificate of Appreciation to our performers

Most of all, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all supporters of Patchwork of Flavours-for believing in our cause and recognizing our efforts!

A Big Thank You!

Patchworks: A tale of Rubber Tapping

2009-07-26T00:24:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed listening to stories ever since I was young. These stories, especially those of the past that are foreign to me, never fail to pique my interest. I get blown away by how storytellers bring their stories to life – the sparkle in their eyes as they unravel their plots, their animated hand gestures, and undulating tones. They are nothing short of amazing.

The love for such tales has led me to Ayer Rajah Daycare Centre, where I had the privilege to listen to Madam Tan Kwee Eng’s life story. I basked in excitement and anticipation as I waited patiently for her to reveal the intrinsic details of her eventful life.

Many events and experiences Madam Tan shared with us, but there was one area in her life that particularly grabbed my attention: Her first job as a rubber tapper.

Rubber Tapping - Image from the National Archives

In the early 19th century, there was a shift in focus from agriculture to manufacturing in Malaya. Malaya became one of the biggest exporters of rubber in the world, producing other raw materials such as palm oil and tin as well. This is due to the surge in demand for raw materials, which is essential for manufacturing industries in the West (For example, the mass production of automobiles which requires rubber for rubber tires). Hence being in the rubber tapping profession, Madam Tan was part of this move to push the economy to greater heights.

Madam Tan remembered the days when she had to be awake at 4A.M and set off for work, while most people were still in bed. She braved through the pebbled roads, the darkness, and of course the possible dangers she may face, being a young girl, travelling alone. Imagine how horrifying it must have been for her! I cringe at the thought of ever having to experience this.

Upon reaching the rubber plantation, Madam Tan started working on the trees assigned to her. With deft hands and steady skills to boot, Madam Tan was one of the conscientious rubber tappers who collected a good amount of latex by the end of the day. She used a tapping knife, specially designed to excise thin layers of bark. Before the tapping knife was invented, a small hatchet was used to tap rubber. http://www.malaysiaflora.com/Articles/tabid/55/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/A-Brief-History-on-Rubber-Tapping-in-Malaysia.aspx

As Madam Tan dwelled deeper into the minute details of rubber tapping, it dawned upon me that rubber tapping is an art. It requires patience and concentration. If the rubber tapper shears the bark too deeply, the tree would be damaged. On the other hand, if sheared too lightly, the latex would not flow out of the tree. This serves as a gentle reminder for me that in life, there have to be a balance of everything. Too much or too little of something would not benefit one in the long run.

Having heard about the fascinating details of the art of rubber tapping, I am inspired to learn more about this profession. Being a city dweller all my life, sheepishly, I have to admit that what Madam Tan shared was rather to new to me. Indeed, I have much to learn about things and places that stretch beyond the parameters of city life.

This sharing session has certainly been an enjoyable and enriching experience for me, and I hope it would be for you too when you read more about it in the Patchwork of Reminiscences.

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 26th July 2009.
http://yesterday.sg/2009/07/por-a-tale-of-rubber-tapping/

Patchworks: Why Tales From Old People?

2009-07-24T03:38:00.000-07:00

I’m Sean, a 24-year-old English Literature major from Nanyang Technological University. For “A Patchwork of Reminiscences”, I interviewed 77-year-old retired teacher, Mabel Chew.

I can vaguely remember a time when not everybody had a hand-phone. To me Singapore has always been an eminently safe country, safe to walk anywhere at all times of the day. My closest brush with war is watching Channel News Asia report on America’s Middle Eastern Campaign. Not so for Mabel.

Mabel was born in Singapore in the year 1932, and lived through the Japanese occupation as a child. She remembers vividly the night bombs fell on Singapore, the thundering sounds of buildings getting blown up. She recalls a time when girls shaved their heads and bound their chests in fear of getting raped by Japanese soldiers. She recalls the dismembered heads Japanese soldiers put on spikes to serve as warning, a time everyone in Singapore lived in constant fear.

During our four-hour conversation, I got to know Mabel very well, got to hear her whole life’s story. As Mabel narrates the life she’s led- as a teacher, a wife, mother and finally grandmother- she describes a Singapore unrecognisable from the one I know. I feel almost nostalgic for a past I never lived.

And that’s why her story is important, why all their stories are. Only in them can we discover and explore a time and place that is forever lost, that exists only in these stories.

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 24th July 2009.
http://yesterday.sg/2009/07/patchworks-why-tales-from-old-people/

Donation event: PRIZES

2009-06-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

What are we all expecting for at the end of this month?

Patchworks' donation event, titled

"Patchwork of Flavours:
Learning Recipes, Bridging Generations"

it would be!

Besides being able to enjoy exciting dance and drums performances by students and elderly, there would be attractive prizes to be won at our event!

For every purchase of the cookbook, Patchwork of Flavours (priced at $12, available in both chinese and english versions), you would gain a chance to win exclusive prizes worth a total of $5000 in our special lucky draw!

· Coslab Wellness Packages- up to $3000!

· Supor Wok Set and 20 Supor Pans- worth more than $700!

· Woh Hup sauce hampers worth more than $760!!

· WMF Cutlery Set- worth more than $500!!

WHAT'S MORE??!

For every purchase of POF, there would be FREE

· Goodie bags to be given away!!

· Candy Floss!

· Sasa Makeover!

All of the free items above are on a WHILE STOCK LASTS basis, so do purchase early to avoid disappointment!!

We are also happy to bring you the news that a booth selling “Will Your Child Eat a Tomato?” by Nurse Emily Taito will be set up. It is a book that contains useful information for your FAMILY and YOU to boost your immune system! Buying it alone it costs $12, buying it with POF it costs JUST $10!!! A special gift will also be given away on a WHILE STOCK LASTS basis!

WHY WAIT?? Bring your family and friends along to this inter-generational event on 28th June, Bukit Panjang Plaza to have a fun-filled day! Be prepared to bring loads of happiness and prizes back home!

SEE YOU THERE!

Patchworks: Let’s go back to the start

2009-06-18T04:51:00.001-07:00

My grandmother called me on the phone every single day when I was a child, just to chat. But I was always impatient to get back to my computer game, and pressed the hang up button on the phone. When I released the button, she was still on the line, oblivious that I was not listening anymore.

Listening to her voice was a privilege that is taken away by time. The daily phone calls dwindled to just once every few days as she increasingly weakened with age. When she passed away, the calls stopped altogether. I could not get used to her lack of presence, so I pretended that she was still there in her Bukit Batok flat, except for the physical impossibility of meeting up.

This lack of appreciation on my part was a reminder that my grandmother, like all elderly people, was a human time capsule. Their unique experiences from tumultuous times in history made them knowledgeable, and also enriched them emotionally. What elderly people can tell us, in my opinion, are stories far more meaningful and memorable than the superficiality in this current age.

When I interviewed Mr Soh Yong Kee, a 73-year-old former secret society member, he too had anecdotes to share, stories that survived layers of memories piled through the decades.

His bare back bore scars of knife wounds sustained from past gang fights, and his right leg had also suffered from traumatic injuries due to the clashes. However, in his old age Mr Soh said he has since mellowed from the violent days of his youth.

He said: “The doctor at Tan Tock Seng told me that elderly people cannot get too upset. We must enjoy the little things in life and go with the flow. But I asked him, why can’t we choose to be miserable? He said, what has passed is already in the past. Thinking about it will only harm the brain and worsen my glaucoma.”

While listening to him, I had this thought. This man had experienced his own happiness, tribulations, triumphs and loss to arrive at a point in his life where he is finally at peace with himself. It was also a little lesson in itself, that no matter how unsatisfied or aimless we are with our lives, there is always the perennial hope that one day we will have our own self-actualizing moment.

Yip Jieying

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 28th June 2009.
http://yesterday.sg/2009/06/lets-go-back-to-the-start/

Patchworks: A hundred years of memories

2009-06-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I'm an international student studying at NTU Singapore, and I love spending my weekends walking around the city and soaking in the local culture. I love watching people go about their daily chores, it's a habit that's clued me into the Singaporean way of life and made me love the little quirks that make the islanders so unique!I'm always curious about people and their perceptions of Singapore. Like an adolescent with a growth spurt, it's taken a couple of decades for Singapore to transform itself from a teething, hiccupping infant to a sophisticated, wondrous city. The sky's the limit! But what of the Singapore that was? What about the yesterdays that we've swept under the carpet?My quest for the answers to these questions led me to participate in a heritage project by the Patchworks team which speaks to the elderly, chronicling their personal life experiences which reflect on Singapore's past and her growth through the years.

This is how I first visited The Saint Teresa Home for the Aged in Khatib, and waited in its peaceful environs to meet gentle old Mr. Wee. Ten years ago, a stroke paralyzed the right half of his body and limited his speech abilities, but his spirit is undeterred and his mind is still bubbling with stories of his past. His recent baptism was an important event for him; he seems visibly happier and more contented. Mr. Wee spoke to me about his care-free life as a young bachelor in Singapore. His stories were nostalgic pictures of life in the 1960s. Speaking to him led me not only to better understand Singapore's blood-stained history but also clued me into the trials and tribulations that Mr. Wee's generation was forced to confront during those turbulent times. My talk with Mr. Wee has impacted my own perspective on life too!

Take a minute to reflect upon where your life fits into the larger picture of things. Where is life taking you? Your past may hold the key to your future. Make sure you know where to find it! Explore your Singaporean identity at the 'Patchwork of Reminiscences' blog.

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 18th June 2009.
http://yesterday.sg/2009/06/patchworks-a-hundred-years-of-memories/

Patchworks: Of loving memory

2009-06-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Nothing is more valuable than time spent with my own grandparents. Watching their eyes glimmer with rekindled passion, I listen as they indulge in retelling their past experiences. But what struck me most was how these experiences are merely memories, and how they were unable to recall exact details, dates and time to give a full vivid picture of them. Unlike an old photograph that preserves every detail of that particular moment, our memory is subjected to the effects of time. We forget, our memory fail us. Nostalgia thus becomes important, because emotions are attached to these memories. There is a sentimental need for the past, and we relive those emotions through the act of retelling stories and experiences. Putting an emotion to these memories and then preserving them in stories therefore gives them a voice, a place in our society. We all thus have a part to play as individuals, like my grandparents in passing on experiences, memories and valuable lessons that are unique to every single voice of Singapore to preserve traces of nostalgia here.

An escape into an old love story even for a few hours is certainly worth making as we enter a different yet familiar world where the idea of love steers away from what the modern society makes it out to be. This is a story of two distinct individuals who never imagined they could end up as lovers, as soul mates. It is also a story that brings out their individuality, and what makes them unique as voices in society. It brings us back to the nostalgic and carefree pursuit of happiness, straying us away from the complexities of modern life.

There cannot be a better way to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary this coming July. This story, celebrates their lives as two valuable individuals whose love will be made an inspiration to others, and especially their family.

Sarah Aini

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 15th June 2009.
http://yesterday.sg/2009/06/patchworks-of-loving-memory/

Donation event - Latest updates

2009-06-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

We are very glad to provide you with the latest updates about Patchworks' donation event as mentioned earlier in this blog.

The event will mainly consist of a cheque presentation ceremony to the beneficiaries of our project, "Patchwork of Flavours"(POF)

A total of $10,000 raised from POF will be divided equally amongst the 4 beneficiaries as follow:
i. AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens
ii. Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home
iii. Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme (Singapore)
iv. Geylang East Home For The Aged

In addition, we will be presenting a token of appreciation to long-time supportive entities of "Patchwork Of Flavours".

We have also lined up various exciting programmes, such as community performances by school children and an elderly dance troupe, to entertain the crowds.

Free goodie bags will also be given out(while stock lasts).

Both English and Chinese version of "Patchwork of Flavours" will be sold at the booths at the event. Each new purchase of POF will earn you a chance to win attractive prizes in our lucky draw. There will also be autograph session for the purchase of POF at our booths.

The details of the event are as follow:
Venue: Bukit Panjang Plaza @ The Garden Plaza

Date: 28 June 2009 Sunday

Title: Patchwork Of Flavours: Learning Recipes, Bridging Generations

Time: 12pm to 4pm

With attractive prizes to win, freebies to gain and most importantly, a chance to learn more about how Patchworks reach out to the elderly and bridge the gap between the generations in our meaningful project POF, now bring your family members along to this inter-generational event to enjoy a fun-filled sunday! You will not be disappointed!

Patchworks: An Impersonation

2009-05-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

The enormous success of the hit drama serial 小娘惹has sent many into a craze over the Peranakan culture. While I confess to be one of those who did not follow this drama serial with fervor, my interest in Peranakan culture stems from my grandmother’s keen practicing of its customs, which more often than not has let me savour various nonya kueh. Hence, together with another volunteer from Patchworks, I jumped at the opportunity to speak with Mr Peter Wee, a self-described ’story teller of the Peranakan culture’ within the heavily adorned walls of his establishment, the Katong Antique House, and find out, among others, the real meaning of the term ‘Peranakan’.

Amidst the intricate study of each painstaking weave of the kebaya and the feasting of the senses at each culinary demonstration (including a very delicious sambal udang), we at Patchworks also grabbed the chance to delve into the workings of the Peranakan Play. We volunteers also met up with GT Lye, an undisputed authority on the art of the Peranakan Play, and discovered the truth behind the role of the ‘impersonator’ on stage. We were lucky enough to receive a spontaneously crafted rendition of a Dondang Sayang, which would be transcripted and translated for the upcoming publication.

Come let us share with you these lesser-known aspects of the Peranakan Culture in ‘Patchwork of Reminiscences’.

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 27th May 09.
http://yesterday.sg/2009/05/patchworks-an-impersonation/

POR: Preview

2009-05-18T03:19:00.000-07:00

The term “grandfather stories” can be used humourously to describe someone’s never ending narration of perhaps rather unentertaining, boring stories. It would sometimes begin with “Long before your time, in an ancient province in China…” which would no doubt begin an exodus of an audience as quickly as the Tan family in “Under One Roof” ( a 1994 hit TV Series in Singapore).

Or maybe not.

Patchworks- a special projects committee of the Welfare Services Club (WSC) of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is working on a project entitled “Patchwork Of Reminiscences”.

“Patchwork Of Reminiscences” (POR) is a collection of original short stories from Singaporean seniors from all walks of life, culminating in the publication of the short stories book for public sales. It is a 100% student-initiated project (from concept to writing to production) that intends to preserve a chapter of our elders’ inspiring, personal life stories and capture the essence of playing a part and observing Singapore’s development as a nation.

Some of them will tell happy stories. Some of them will tell tearful stories. Some of them will strike a chord in your heart. Some of them will remind you of the more important things in life. All of them, indeed, are genuine accounts from real seniors living now in Singapore.

They are not sharing their stories to profit monetarily from it. Neither will Patchworks. Proceeds from the book sales will be donated to needy beneficiaries that support our society’s elderly. However, profit we all will, as we gather to appreciate their contributions to Singapore, their nostalgic accounts, and their words of reflective history.

“Patchwork Of Reminiscences” is proudly supported by Nanyang Technological University, and the National Heritage Board has been kind to assist us. Some of you may have heard of “Patchwork Of Flavours”- a 38-recipe book containing recipes again contributed by our seniors. “Patchwork Of Flavours” is available at selected Kopitiams and Books Kinokuniya.

In the following weeks, Patchworks’ writers will pen their thoughts, and give insight into their interviews with the seniors via blog entries here. Do look out for them! You may also visit our website and blog for more updates.

We hope you will support this meaningful project by purchasing a copy of the book when it is launched (4th quarter 2009, details will be released later)!

Patchworks warmly welcomes you to enjoy a blend of intricate and intimate stories, beholding true accounts of perseverance and endurance- a patchwork of reminiscences!

Cross-posted from Yesterday.sg on 18th May 09.

Patchwork of Reminiscences at Yesterday.sg

2009-05-18T03:12:00.000-07:00

We are honoured to cooperate with the National Heritage Board's blog: Yesterday.sg in our publicity effort for the brand new project: Patchwork of Reminiscences.

Yesterday.sg is a full-fledged social portal media that engages readers in our heritage through blogging, discussion forum, Talkback, Internet television platform (Heritage TV). It is a Singapore's heritage, museums & nostalgia blog with world ranking No. 5 in terms of viewership. Anyone can share his thoughts and sentiments on just about any heritage, history, the arts or museum-related topic.

National Heritage Board is very interested and supportive of our community project - Patchwork of Reminiscences. They are helpful to publicise our project via this platform to raise the public awareness and stimulate interest even before we launch our books!

Blog entries about POR will be posted on Yesterday.sg from this week onwards.Do look out for these exciting blog entries and have a better idea of our meaningful project!

We will also cross-post the blog entries we have at yesterday.sg at our very own blog in appreciation of the regular followers of our blog!

Please continue to support Patchworks!

Donation event - Follow Up

2009-05-15T02:48:00.000-07:00

Patchworks is donating SGD10,000 to four beneficiaries in June or July!
Tentative date: 28 June 2009. Early morning to early evening event.
It's a milestone for us, and probably for NTU students as well! The 10k is solely raised from the sales of "Patchwork of Flavours" (POF).

We are looking for capable souls within NTU who can handle one or several portfolios just for the event organization itself. Such as, Business Managers, Logistics and Operational Support, and general cheerful volunteers to attract and draw crowds!

If you have experience, all the better. If without, but is willing to learn, training will be provided! We just need your commitment and enthusiasm.

Basic requirements.
Biz Mags: Good command of english, a bit of business sense. Available via phone, email and in Singapore.
Ops and Logistics: Outgoing, steady, non-panicky, glib tongue. Able to handle customers, books and sales.

The event will include perfomances and lucky draws, goodie bags will be given.

If you are interested to assist us, please write to patchworks.is. donating@ gmail.com with your name, email and number. This is open to all your friends as well! We will provide food and refreshments for the event, and award you eca points for recognition of your service.

Donation event

2009-05-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

Patchworks is proud to announce that it is donating SGD10, 000 to our four beneficiaries!
This donation is made possible by continuous public support for our recipe-book “Patchwork Of Flavours”.

An official donation event will be held soon, most probably in the upcoming months and we will present a cash cheque to each of our beneficiaries.

Patchworks will announce the date and venue of the donation event on this blog- it will be a simple ceremony with lots of fun-filled activities- so stay tuned and come back for further updates!

Once again, thank you very much for your encouraging support and our partners’ unwavering belief in our cause!

Official Launch of Chinese Edition of Patchwork of Flavours

2009-01-21T20:14:00.001-08:00

Hey guys it has been a while! January 2009 marks the beginning of Patchworks’ collaboration with Kopitiam to place "Patchwork Of Flavours" (POF) at 11 Kopitiam outlets around Singapore.

The collaboration kicked off on the 17th of January with a mini-launch of the Chinese Edition of POF at Sembawang Shopping Centre’s Kopitiam with a book-sale cum cooking demonstration.

Prior to the event, members of Patchworks were already seen in action before some of the stalls at Kopitiam opened. Our members worked as a team for the preparation for the cooking demonstration and appreciation ceremony.

Cooking ingredients were chopped and prepared

Aprons to be presented to Aunty Anna and Aunty Seenie at the end of the event were decorated.

Booths for the cooking demonstration and selling of cookbooks were set up.

Members were also dispatched to different parts of the shopping centre to hand out flyers and inform the public about the event held at Kopitiam. We targeted areas like the entrance of the shopping centre and Giant with more human traffic.

We were honoured to have two recipe contributors, Auntie Anna and Auntie Seeni, to personally demonstrate to the crowd how to prepare their featured recipes. The cooking demonstration started at around10 a.m. with Aunty Anna’s Stuffed Tau Pok.

With the help of the DJ’s humor and friendly nature, we managed to draw in a huge crowd. At the end of the demonstration, the public was invited to experience the taste of the delicious Taopok that Aunty Anna made.

We had a break in between and the DJ went around Kopitiam food court to raise interest of the public. It was an interesting session as the DJ asked fun and innovative questions which spiced up the atmosphere a lot!

Shortly after, Aunty Seenie’s demonstration on how to cook Simple Fried Putumayam followed. Many were enticed by the fragrance of the dish and sang praises of it after savoring its extraordinary flavour.

Favorable feedbacks on the dishes served as good advertisement for our cookbooks, which help to boost sales. Besides that, Aunty Anna and Aunty Seenie autographed the cookbooks and took pictures with the purchasers of the books which helped to make things more interesting.

At the end of the event, we had an appreciation ceremony for Aunty Anna and Aunty Seenie. The aprons which we decorated earlier were presented to them and worn by favorably them. The Patchworks committee then took group photos with them. With that, the event ended rather successfully.

Many thanks to Aunty Anna and Aunty Seenie for their effort during the event as it helped a lot in marketing our cookbooks to the public. The recipe for the above dishes can be found at Page 11 and Page 19 of the recipe book respectively.

Patchworks would also like to express our gratitude and thanks for Kopitiam Group of Companies for their kind assistance and generosity towards supporting us and a good social cause! And also photographer Kokil for capturing unforgettable moments of the event. Last but not least, a big thanks to our members for organizing the event with such dedication, enthusiasm and hard work.

Get your copy of "Patchwork Of Flavours" today!

Now available at the following Kopitiam outlets (at the Kopitiam Card Counter):

North:
Sembawang Shopping Centre, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Thomson Plaza

North East:
Compass Point

Central:
Plaza Singapura, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Tiong Bahru Plaza, VivoCity, Toa Payoh Central, KK Hospital

East:
Hougang Mall, Tampines Mall

West:
Jurong Point, National University Hospital

Patchwork Of Reminiscences

2008-12-26T23:49:00.000-08:00

"Patchwork Of Reminiscences" is the working name of a new exciting project proposed by Patchworks. Its purpose is to compile a collection of true, heart-warming and inspirational life experiences from the lives of elderly members of our society, publishing them into an easy-to-read short stories book.

The primary objective of the book is to bring the reader from the modern Singapore that we now live in to the pre-war, war-era and post-war Singapore that our grandparents and parents lived in. The process of compiling the book, "Patchwork Of Reminiscences" will allow student and seniors to interact in a lively way as students help the elders to recount their life journeys. Students can benefit from the experiences the seniors had during those challenging times. Meanwhile, seniors will have a platform to publish their life stories and reach out to a greater audience.

"Patchwork Of Reminiscences" is in line with Patchworks' belief that seniors can contribute to society in more creative manners than one. Written from the perspective of an ordinary citizen with an eventful life story, "Patchwork Of Reminiscences" seeks to capture accounts which would sadly be lost if no formal written record was ever made. Finally, the proceeds of the book sales will be channelled to the participating beneficiaries, providing a sustainable business venture for the seniors - a social entrepreneurship objective that Patchworks actively seeks to propagate.