The ship has sailed.
The first quarter of 2024 may be over but...
Hello everyone,
We hope 2024 has been treating everyone kindly so far. While the year started not without its challenges, it has been an eventful and rewarding time for us here at Orang Laut SG. Let us embark on a journey through the first 3 months of this year, detailing the events and highlights that have transpired thus far.
The year started off on a wholesome note. We hosted 30 elders from Montfort Care and took them on a tour to Pulau Sekijang Bendera (St John’s Island). This island has a coloured history, from being a quarantine and detention centre to becoming the recreational place it is known for today. However, it was also home to its original islanders.
We were honoured to have provided the elders with an enriching experience, where they learnt about the island’s unique stories and folklore, and its myriad of uses of flora and fauna before enjoying food prepared by Mak Ani and Mak Noni, the former islanders of Pulau Semakau. Additionally, the elders were invited to draw upon the memories of their past homes through arts and crafts, providing an intimate platform for them to reminisce. These tours are a pleasure to carry out, and we hope to do more in the future!
As part of our community and outreach efforts, we participated in a Chingay celebration hosted by Telok Blangah Community Centre. Through our booth activities, we got to share more about what we do with the residents of the area. Additionally, Telok Blangah is an important landmark for us, a neighbourhood where the Southern Islanders were first relocated. It’s good to have met old friends and neighbours!
Recently, we were invited to hold a booth at Nanyang Technical University (NTU) on March 25th and March 26th as part of Biodiversity Week. This opportunity allowed us to engage with both local and international students, where we shared about the former lives of the Orang Pulau through the lens of biodiversity. The Bubu (fish trap) we displayed, which was weaved by a former islander, came in handy, as it was a natural conversation starter among students passing by. A special thanks to NTU for having us!
Almost customary at Orang Laut SG, we also held our annual Bubur Lambuk Ikan Tenggiri distribution for the fourth time. This year, we partnered with Common Ground Civic Centre to share a piece of our food heritage with the folks living in Bedok, lovingly prepared by Mak Noni and Mak Ani, who were also present at the event. In total, we distributed about 400 bowls, which was made possible with the support of our followers and volunteers.
Lastly, we were thrilled to have been invited by Bricolage to share our food and stories at Makan the Change, a six-week event celebrating the diverse tapestry of Singapore's food landscape. The event aims to bring together local farmers, producers, chefs, changemakers, and businesses at the forefront of sustainable practices. There, we discussed the history and culture of the Orang Laut/Pulau and hosted a dinner featuring the food of our community.
Starting with Gulai Nenas and Pucuk Ubi as appetisers, Sotong Hitam, Siput Sedut and Asam Pedas Tenggiri were featured as the mains of the evening before ending with a sweet treat of Kueh Lopes and pandan tea. The atmosphere was vibrant, and the audience was lively. It was an enriching experience for us, and we are truly grateful for it. Spaces like this allow us to create a holistic personal experience for us to share and learn from each other.
2024 started with ramped-up efforts on our outreach programmes, and we are just getting started! Did you know that OrangLautSG offers volunteer opportunities? If you're keen on supporting the work we do and want to lend a hand, do join our Telegram channel, where we regularly post updates about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
That is all for now, folks! We are certainly looking forward to what the rest of 2024 has in store for us. If you’re interested in working with us, drop us an email at hello@oranglaut.sg.
Ramadan Kareem,
Firdaus