Community Build on ground-up efforts to create a 'we' society

In his recent National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong articulated a vision of Singapore as a "we" society - one built on shared responsibility, compassion and collective effort.

- Constance Singam

A society where everyone contributes and everyone matters.

This spirit of "we" is already being cultivated through programmes that encourage active citizenship and community-building. Citizens' panels and Alliances for Action, for example, provide platforms for residents to deliberate on and co-develop policies on complex national issues. These initiatives show how inclusive governance can work in practice - when ordinary people are trusted with the responsibility of shaping decisions that affect them.

The design of public spaces also cultivates the "we" culture. HDB void decks, community kitchens, neighbourhood committees and intergenerational spaces are all meant to encourage interaction and strengthen social ties.