Geylang West CC First Of 10 To Create 'Sparks' For The Community

Up to $1m will be set aside to fund collaborative initiatives at CCs to address residents' needs

- Wong Pei Ting

Aged 92, Madam Kwek Eng Noy uses her motorised wheelchair to go to the active ageing centre for karaoke sessions, or to navigate around her home to get chores done.

But like her frail body, the $1,500 mobility device has its limits.

After eight years, one of its levers came loose and would switch from automatic to manual mode on its own, requiring her to get help to adjust the lever.

However, thanks to a free wheelchair repair initiative at Geylang West Community Club (CC), located near her four-room flat at Kallang Heights, Madam Kwek is now mobile again.

On March 22, the CC became the first of 10 CCs to launch a dedicated collaborative space for residents, volunteers and partners to curate projects that address the community's needs.

Such spaces are called "Sparks".

The other nine CCs are: Pek Kio CC, Buangkok CC, Pasir Ris East CC, Nee Soon South CC, Zhenghua CC, Mountbatten CC, Kampong Chai Chee CC, Boon Lay CC, and Tengah CC.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who is deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA), on March 22 announced that the PA will support up to 50 initiatives under the Sparks umbrella over the next three years.