Nee Soon GRC to host $6m 21st century kampung culture community
PUBLISHED ONNovember 08, 2014 12:40 PM
Non-profit organisation, Group-Up Initiative (GUI), today unveiled plans for a 26,000 square metres community learning campus located at the former Bottle Tree Park in Khatib.
Named the Kampung Kampus, otherwise known as 'Home of Ground-Up Initiative', it will focus on nurturing grounded leaders to strengthen society and help build stronger 5G - Gracious, Green, Giving, Grounded and Grateful - communities.
The 5Gs form the foundation of GUI's 21st Century Kampung Culture.
This project, expected to cost $6 million, will be carried out in three phases. Founder and Kampung Chief, Mr Tay Lai Hock shared that Kampung Kampus is designed as a low carbon footprint campus, and will feature tropical sustainable architecture, building methods and technologies.
The first phase costing $2.8 million will see the construction of the Living Heritage Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall, an office building, organic vegetable plots and Prototyping Zone. This is expected to be completed by June 2015.
GUI envisions Nee Soon as Singapore's first community-inspired 5G-town through the Kampung Kampus.
After spending more than two years of intense engagement with various government stakeholders and, then, with support from Chong Pang Citizens' Consultative Committee and Nee Soon GRC Grassroots Organisations, GUI gets to remain at its original location in the former Bottle Tree Park with a 260 times expanded area.
Minister K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law and Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, was at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kampung Kampus with around 120 guests. He participated in a brick making process with GUI members, volunteers and others using a sponsored brick-making device. The bricks, a combination of soil, sand and cement will be used in the construction of some feature walls.
Mr Shanmugam said "GUI wants to make a positive difference in the community we live in. They are passionate about many things - the environment, leadership, and teamwork, through learning and interacting with nature. Many young people, full of energy and aspirations are involved. We worked with them and we hope they will develop programmes that will continue to benefit and inspire members of our community."
For more information on the project, go to www.groundupinitiative.org.
spanaech@sph.com.sg