Jalan-Jalan: Learning Journey

Jalan-Jalan was an immersive learning journey designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of community leadership. The programme aimed to illuminate the vital role that effective leadership played in nurturing successful communities. Through this experience, participants gained insights into the multifaceted responsibilities that community leaders shoulder.

A key focus of Jalan-Jalan was exploring the collaborative partnerships that existed among religious, community, and government entities. These partnerships were crucial in supporting minority Muslim communities. The programme also emphasised the need for community leaders to be drivers of innovation and positive change.

What set Jalan-Jalan apart was its unique approach to learning. Rather than relying on traditional classroom settings, the programme conducted its sharing sessions within lived spaces. These were real-world environments where the physical manifestations of community leadership could be observed and understood in practice. This hands-on approach allowed participants to see firsthand how leadership principles were applied in actual community settings.

The programme offered four venues, each aligned with the ICCOS focus areas:

- Social Upliftment and Empowerment
- Representative Leadership
- Social Cohesion for the Future
- Considerations for the Future: Enterprise, Professionals and Religious Sector

Participants selected one venue of particular interest for an in-depth exploration, as visits occurred concurrently.

Venue highlights:

1. M³@WGS showcases the collaborative effort between the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), MENDAKI, and MESRA to build a Community of Success, emphasising strategic deployment of resources and collaborative efforts for sustainable progress and upliftment of the community within the context of community leadership and empowerment.

2. Enabling Village exemplifies representative leadership through its principles of universal design and accessibility, promoting inclusivity and connectedness among diverse communities. It offers practical insights into implementing inclusive community initiatives, taking into account factors such as age, abilities, and socio-economic levels. Additionally, it focuses on social innovation, training, and employment, as well as the consideration of amenities, disability, community, and assistive technology services to address the diverse needs of the community.

3. Harmony in Diversity Gallery emphasises the importance of fostering well-being, sense of belonging, and voluntary social participation of all members of society, contributing to a more harmonious, cohesive, and resilient community fabric through embracing diversity and promoting mutual understanding among different segments of society. The visit hopes to contribute to participants’ envisioning of the future of social cohesion. Aside from the information that will be shared in the exhibits, gain insights through the sharing by the host, on the other aspects that also needs to be considered, designed, and implemented in order to take the learning and appreciation of social cohesion beyond the gallery experience.

4. Singapore City Gallery showcases Singapore's physical transformation through urban planning efforts, emphasising the need for holistic and forward-thinking approaches to urban development, creating an inclusive and accommodating urban environment for the diverse society in Singapore. It also highlights how urban planning decisions made in the past have influenced the present landscape and how current urban planning initiatives are geared towards creating a resilient and future-ready city. This multifaceted approach to urban planning is rooted in the recognition that addressing future societal challenges demands holistic solutions that leverage collective potential to address pressing issues through the contributions from entrepreneurs, professionals, and religious sectors.