In support of ComSA Whampoa Centre’s goals, the Community Development programme works towards enabling a healthy community where older people are engaged and residents, in general, have an increased sense of well-being.
We envision an inclusive community where…
- | Older people are actively defining and performing their personal and civic roles with people of all ages who bring meaning and support to their lives; |
- | Older people provide inputs and make decisions together using a culture-centred community-based process; |
- | Older people are able to sustain a robust participation and decision-making process in the community; |
- | Older people and mature residents have the capability to develop and implement civic-action initiatives; and |
- | A positive image of successful ageing and of older people thrives, as holders of community history and active contributors to society's productivity and values |
The key pieces of the Community Development component are:
1. | Delivery of trainings on self-care, wellness and empowerment reaching out to a broad range of residents aged 45 years and older |
2. | Setting up and management of support groups or a seniors’ club that will sustain self-care and wellness practices and empower older people and the community—in general to provide assistance (befriending, exercise partnering, food delivery, etc) as well as camaraderie |
3. | Formation of an active and capable pool of volunteers across age groups to facilitate trainings, assist older people, generate better awareness of self-care and wellness, and lead initiatives that will engender a stronger sense of community and the awareness of positive ageing |
4. | Developing activities and events that will highlight the history, the people and the spirit of the community through the active engagement and participation of everyone in the community |
5. | Facilitate empowerment activities that will develop community advocates who can develop and implement civic-action initiatives to help resolve issues and improve communication within community as a whole |
The Self Care on Health of Older Persons in Singapore (SCOPE) is a community development programme that combines research and training components.
SWING is a community development strategy and a process that facilitates older people’s participation in their own community.
The Guided Autobiography Group (GAB) programme was developed by Dr James E. Birren, an ageing research pioneer.
Curating Whampoa is a community art and heritage project that seeks to collect curate and present the rich cultural and living heritage of Whampoa through a series of thematic events organized over the two-year period.
Enriching and Mobilising Participation of Whampoa’s Elder Residents (EMPOWER) is a 3- year pilot programme that aims to build a ground-up peer leader empowerment programme.