As most of my readers are no doubt aware, I have personally thrown myself and my family “boots and all” into integrating into the local Singapore community. I have done this by choosing to live in the heartlands, and creating a network of very close friends consisting predominately of local Singaporeans and their families. Many of the bonds we have formed will be life-lasting and we are extremely grateful and loyal to the caring local people who have opened up their lives and their country to us.Over time, I have had numerous emails from a variety of people and nationalities, asking for my advice and to tap into my experiences. I apologise to those people to whom I have not yet responded. The upcoming SIF “Xpats Dialogue” will be a perfect opportunity to both meet up in person and also to partake in this very healthy panel discussion on integration into the local community. (Please be sure to drop me an email if and when you register, so I’ll know to look out for you).
The Singapore International Federation (SIF) “Xpats Dialogue” is a platform to promote interaction between the expatriate community in Singapore and members from the Singapore government, business sector, academia and civil society. The dialogue session seeks to engage expatriates of all nationalities in discussion with prominent personalities from relevant fields on pertinent issues.
Most expatriates have formed their own communities in Singapore while some have also become part of the larger Singapore community. Where do the cultures converge and where do they diverge? How can expatriates feel at home in Singapore?
SIF Xpats Dialogue: “Expats Inside Out: Integrating into the Local Community” will explore the issue of social integration and look at ways in which the expatriate community can and have made an impact in the local community.
Guest of Honour: Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
Date: 11 November 2008 (Tuesday)
Time: 7.00 pm – 9.30 pm (registration at 6.45 pm)
Venue: River Room, Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
PROGRAMME
6.45 pm Registration of participants
7.00 pm Welcome address by Ms Jean Tan, Executive Director of Singapore International Foundation
7.05 pm Keynote address by Guest-of-honour, Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
7.20 pm Dialogue begins
8.15 pm Break
8.30 pm Dialogue resumes
9.30 pm End
PANEL
• Dr Lee Boon Yang - Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
• Mr Andrew Hooper-Nguyen - Chairman, The Kind Exchange
• Mr Anthony Michael Fulwood - Chairman, Zhenghua INC Committee
• Mr Joseph A. Anderson - Board Member, Singapore American School Board
• Mrs Marie-Caroline Dallery - President, Friends of the Museums
MODERATOR
• Dr Leong Chan-Hoong - Head of Psychology Programmes, SIM University
This dialogue is open to expatriates in Singapore, and no fee is required for participation. To register, please email your name, contact number and nationality to Ms Dorothy Chai at dorothy.chai@sif.org.sg or call 6837 8732 by 7 Nov 2008.
Spaces are limited, do sign up early!
About Singapore International Foundation
Established in 1991, the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to nurture active global citizens and friends for Singapore.
SIF aims to help the development of communities outside of Singapore through the Singapore Volunteers Overseas (SVO) programme. SIF facilitates the participation of volunteers in capacity-building programmes in areas as diverse as healthcare and health education, organisational and personal capacity development, empowerment of disadvantaged children, women and families, and rehabilitation of the disabled.
SIF seeks to reach out to new audiences and friends of Singapore through a public and cultural diplomacy programme which includes organising concerts abroad and hosting visits to Singapore by foreign thought leaders and influential personalities in the fields of academia, business, civil society, government and the media.
For its work, SIF was presented the Excellence for Singapore Award. Our Patron is His Excellency S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore.
1 comment:
hi pete. I'll be there along with some colleagues. will email you privately. Thanks for the info.
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