Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) Community 🌱

☕️ 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈🤎

We had the pleasure recently to work with a corporate company to help process their waste namely in the form of coffee capsules. Our team was able to separate the used coffee grounds to be used in our compost and repurpose the capsule covers as decoration on one of our projects. The week's worth of coffee ground collected amounted up to 4kg! Grateful GUI could be part of such sustainability initiatives like these that not only help reduce waste but also promote eco-friendly practices in creative ways!

#sustainability #coffeegrounds

🌾 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒈𝒂𝒍: 𝑨 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 🌾

Today, we celebrate the start of Pongal, a time to give gratitude to the farmers who grow our food and to Earth who sustains us. We share this beautiful photo, captured by Maria during our last Balik Kampung, reminding us of the beauty that grows when we care for the earth and each other.

#Grateful

🌟 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 🌟

We connected with Peiyi and Xinyao at WeCreate’s birthday celebration, leading to their visit to GUI during our last Balik Kampung—together with their friends (many from Allkin Singapore, thank you for the important work you do)! It’s always heartwarming to welcome like-minded individuals into our space and exchange ideas.

We’re also thrilled about their book, “How to” of Community Work, which dives deep into the science and heart of building communities. This is a topic that resonates deeply with the GUI community, where many of us are also curious about and passionate about learning more.

What would you like to know more about community-building?

Support their incredible work and grab a copy of the book here: https://www.designcommunitywork.com/how-to-of-community-work/

#BuildingCommunities

🌱 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝑽𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆 🌱

We’re excited to share a beautiful video by Luin: "The Silly People Trying to Move a Village". This heartfelt piece captures the essence of our community’s deep relationship with soil and the shared determination to rebuild a home for GUI. Thank you Luin! For your storytelling and the thumbnail artwork.

📺 Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzgaZ_oqb2U

#GUIsBigMove #ThePowerOfSoil

📦✨ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒏! ✨📦

As part of #GUIsBigMove, the dismantling and packing at our Heartquarters has officially started, accompanied by plenty of sorting. Many of the furniture pieces we’re moving out were once discarded and given a second life at GUI. Now, after years of use, some have reached the end of their journey. We’re grateful to have truly maximized their lifespan.

At our new space, we’ll continue this ethos by embracing second-hand furniture, breathing new life into pre-loved pieces.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible volunteers who are walking this transition with us. Your dedication means the world. 🙏🏼

P.S. We’re in need of house-moving-sized cardboard boxes! 📦 Please feel free to drop them off anytime at our HQ foyer.

#GUIsBigMove #Grateful #Growth

🪨 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕🪨

Featuring our multi-talented volunteer and facilitator, Mr Yang, the secret Stone Art Artist who has been contributing to the collection of the many lovely stone art pieces outside our HQ💖. These stone art pieces not only serve as decorative elements but also carry with them blessings and creativity, enriching the environment around our HQ. As we approach #GUIsBigMove, these stones will undoubtedly add a unique and heartfelt touch to our new site. Thank you Mr Yang for contributing such meaningful art into our space!🙏

#grateful

🌳✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑼𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒊 𝑺𝒊𝒏 ✨🌳

The GUI community fondly remembers the late Uncle Hai Sin, a cherished friend and supporter for over 10 years. A retired engineer with a boundless love for creation, Uncle Hai Sin could always be found at TouchWood, busy crafting something extraordinary.

We were once invited to his home, where we were astounded to see a complete woodworking workshop nestled within.

Uncle Hai Sin passed on last month, and while we mourn his loss, we celebrate his legacy. Over the years, he generously donated many of his woodworking tools to GUI, enabling countless others to explore their creativity.

We are incredibly blessed to have had Uncle Hai Sin as part of our journey. Though we will miss his companionship and creativity at TouchWood, his spirit will live on in the tools he shared, the projects he inspired, and the memories he leaves behind. 💚

#RememberingUncleHaiSin

Dear GUI Volunteers,

Have you gotten your GUI-inspired T-Shirts, Postcards, and Stickers yet? Don’t wait any longer—round 2 of orders is now open!

The Lazy Nomads, a film team from NTU, has designed beautiful merchandise inspired by our space to help raise funds for their production! Surplus will be donated to GUI.

Key details:
📅 Pre-orders reopen today! Sizes are limited, so act fast! Visit the link in our bio to place your orders here > https://tinyurl.com/shoplazynomads

🗓️ Merchandise availability: Orders will be ready by the end of January 2025. If you ordered during the first round, your items are already on their way.


A message from the team:
“Hi there! We’re fourth-year university students working on our Final Year Project—a heartfelt documentary about GUI, a beloved community space built by and for the community.

Thank you for being part of this journey, your unwavering support means the world to us and helps bring this project to life!

Warm regards,
The Lazy Nomads Film Team”

🌟✨ 𝑵𝒆𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒚 ✨🌟

On the last day of 2024, GUI had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Nee Soon Countdown Party, led by our very own TouchWood team. Together with participants, we turned upcycled wood into tags, showing them the possibilities of transforming waste into something meaningful.

We’re deeply grateful to the amazing team—Mei, Khin Boon, Wan Jun, Ray, Wei Jie, and everyone who supported with the logistics and preparations—for engaging the community and helping us usher in the new year with creativity, connection, and purpose.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in this experience. Here’s to more impactful moments in 2025 as we continue to inspire change, one piece of upcycled wood at a time. 💚

#CommunityInAction

🌿✨ 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 2025 𝑻𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 ✨🌿

On the first working day of the year, the GUI team—full-time and part-time—took a meaningful morning walk to sync, connect, and heal. While we work tirelessly to nurture the land and the community for the thousands who come through GUI, it’s equally important to take the time to nurture ourselves.

We’re incredibly grateful to Santosh Kumar for guiding us on a Deep Time Walk, a reflective journey that reminded us of our connection to the earth’s vast timeline. As the Chinese saying beautifully puts it, “休息是为了走更长远的路” (Rest is for the purpose of walking a longer distance).

This pause allowed us to ground ourselves, refocus, and gather strength to walk further, together.

Special thanks to our photographers Luin, Gwen, Marcia, KK, and Yumei for capturing these meaningful moments of connection and reflection.

Here’s to moving forward with purpose and care in 2025—both for our community and ourselves. 💚

#Grateful #Grounded

🌿✨ 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆 2024 ✨🌿

To our beautiful community, this year was only possible because of you. Thank you! 💚

#GUIsBigMove

🌿✨ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒏𝒔 ✨🌿

As we move into Feb 2025, GUI will shift its focus to the demolition of buildings at our current site and the handover of the land back to SLA by the end of February.

This is an emotional milestone, but it’s also a time for reflection and gratitude. The structures we take down symbolize years of memories, while the land we return carries the legacy of the community that nurtured it.

We are immensely thankful to everyone who has supported us through this transition. The spirit of GUI will live on in our new space, and together, we’ll continue to build, grow, and create a future rooted in sustainability and connection.

Let’s keep moving forward—together. 💚

#GUIsBigMove #NewBeginnings

🌿✨ 830 𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝑲 𝒂𝒕 91𝑳𝒐𝒓𝑪 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏 𝑬𝒏𝒅 ✨🌿

Yesterday marked the last Balik Kampung (BK) at GUI’s current home, and it was bittersweet. Captured beautifully by Lynn and Xiao Hui, these photos reflect the spirit, dedication, and love that have defined this space for so many years.

But while this chapter of BK has come to an end, the work continues. We still need everyone to come back! With our lease ending in Feb 2025, volunteers will return in January to focus 100% on packing and moving—a monumental task as we transition to our new home.

To everyone who has been part of our BK journey, thank you for your heart and hands. This is not goodbye; it’s a new beginning. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey together. 💚

#GUIsBigMove #CommunityInAction

🍃 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒔 🍃

Good farmers know that farming isn't about growing vegetables or fruits, it's about growing soil 👩‍🌾 That's why we wanted to end GUI's classroom series with an event centred on soil and land.

Join our last classroom series, From Dirt to Life, a three-part programme that delves into the story of soil in our modern metropolis, and shares practical steps to build healthy soil:

1. 🎥 "Moving Earth" film screening and sharing by Ian Mun from Roving Studios
2. 🍊 RIDEN composting workshop by Ian Wong from FOLO Farm (Malaysia)
3. 🌳 Agroforestry planting workshop by Marcus Koe from Habitat Collective

Don’t miss out on this knowledge-packed programme with an exclusive opportunity to partake in the first tree planting session at GUI’s new space!

📅 Date: 21st Dec 2024, Sat
🕑 Time: 8.30am-12.30pm
💰 Participation Fee: $80
🔗 Sign up by Dec 18th: bit.ly//fromdirttolife

🌟 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝑼𝑰! 🌟

We're kicking off the week with gratitude and a heartfelt thank you to the incredibly talented Victoria Lim for yet another stunning video! 🎥✨

This time, Victoria takes us on a journey through her experience upcycling glass bottles into cement pavers for our upcoming new space. At GUI, this process is more than just about sustainability—it's about community, purpose, and reimagining waste.

We are so grateful for our community and for people like Victoria who pour their hearts into meaningful work that makes an impact. 🌍💚

#WasteToBuild

🌍 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉: 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑮𝑼𝑰’𝒔 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 🌱

#GUIsBigMove is well underway, and our amazing community has been working tirelessly to prepare our new home. The earth at the new site presents a challenge—it's not in its best condition—but we’re taking it as an opportunity to nurture it back to life. 🌿

Years of dedication have gone into building the topsoil at our current space, and we are committed to doing the same at our new place. The team has been planning how to enrich the soil naturally, introducing compost from our own composting efforts and transferring good microbes from our existing site to kickstart a healthy ecosystem.

Understanding the earth is fundamental to everything we do. Healthy soil means healthy plants, healthier food systems, and a stronger community. Together, we’re building not just a physical space but a foundation for sustainable growth and deeper connections with nature. 💪💚

#GoodSoilGoodUs

🌟 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒖, 𝑯𝑷 𝑨𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒊 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒆! 🌟

We are deeply grateful to have been part of the HPA Gala Dinner 2024. The creation of the HP Garage Replica, a stunning homage to HP’s humble beginnings, was a true community effort. Built out of upcycled wood, the project was led by our talented TouchWood team and brought to life by many of GUI's community members—adults and children alike—who poured their heart and hands into this masterpiece.

Sponsored by the visionary Mr. Koh Boon Hwee, the replica stood out as a symbol of ingenuity and sustainability, celebrating HP's legacy while showcasing the power of collaborative effort and upcycling. 💚

#UpcycledWood

🌱 𝑩𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝑵𝑺𝑪 𝑨𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚! 🌱

Did you know that GUI’s new home will be right next to the North-South Corridor (NSC), specifically near the Heritage Recreational Trail @ Yishun? This development stands to benefit the community, and here’s your chance to get involved!

📣 Our friends at Participate in Design (P!D) are hosting an open call for the NSC Ambassador Programme, and they’re looking for passionate individuals to join.

✨ Your Role as an Ambassador:
🌍 Represent the community by facilitating conversations and ensuring diverse voices are heard.
💡 Advocate for the NSC’s vision and engagement efforts.
🗣 Distil ideas and feedback collected from community events and online pop-ups.

📅 Express your interest and find out more:
👉 https://go.gov.sg/nsc-ambassadors

#CommunityEngagement

☔️ 𝑨 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 ☔️

Here’s another beautiful video by the talented Victoria Lim, capturing the heart and soul of our community as we count down to the final Balik Kampung sessions at our beloved current home. 🌿

Despite the rain, our kampung spirit shines brightly—full of smiles, laughter, and togetherness. It’s a reminder that no matter the weather, our community remains resilient and vibrant, coming together to nurture the earth and one another. 💚

#GUIsBigMove

🌱 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒊𝒂! 🌱

Starting the week with heartfelt thanks to Living Soil Asia for their generous support of #GUIsBigMove! We’re grateful as they donate all proceeds from their upcoming workshop, Reimagining Our Soil Story, to support #GUIsBigMove. 🙏

This inspiring workshop will explore how we can revitalize Singapore's soil, food systems, and communities through everyday choices and actions. Here's your chance to join in and make a difference:

🗓 Lesson 1: Tues, 3rd Dec, 7-9 PM
🗓 Lesson 2: Sat, 7th Dec, 9 AM-12 PM
🗓 Lesson 3: Tues, 10th Dec, 7-9 PM
👉 Sign up here: www.livingsoil.asia/courses

We’re also incredibly thankful to have reconnected with Vivian from Living Soil Asia during the Moving Earth film screening. Vivian, thank you not only for your unwavering support but also for introducing us to Imaginal Seeds, another powerful partnership on this meaningful journey. 🌍

#ReimaginingOurSoilStory

🌟 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌! 🌟

Belated Birthday to Huiting! We are so blessed by Huiting, who passionately supports our fundraising drives and never misses a beat in completing the weekly composting activity. All this while balancing her day job of taking care of people! 💪💚

Here’s to more beautiful moments together as we grow and nurture this space we call home! 🌱

Photo Credit: Priscilla

#SundayCheer #Throwback #GUICommunity

🌱 𝑩𝒊𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝑼𝑰 🌱

At GUI, we are incredibly privileged to witness and nurture the beauty of biodiversity around us. From the vibrant mulberries that thrive in our soil to the delicate patterns of a moonflower, every detail tells a story of a thriving ecosystem. Our community has often marveled at the calm presence of garden snails, the striking beauty of a paradise green snake, and the playful charm of our beloved farm cat. 🐾🌼

These six stunning photos, taken by Priscilla, remind us of the richness of life that has made GUI its home. But as we prepare to bid farewell to our current space, the challenge lies ahead: moving the flora we've lovingly nurtured to our new space, a barren clay-topped land.

🌿 Join Us! 🌿
With the help of our landscape architect Bronwyn and the Camphora team, the community is working hard to bring our plants to our new home. https://groundupinitiative.org/volunteer/

📸 Photo credits: Priscilla

#GUIsBigMove #GroundedInNature

🌿 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑰𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 🌿

The Earth In Focus, Singapore Nature Film Festival 2024, at Sentosa, brought together a community of passionate individuals from all walks of life, united by the shared vision of making nature’s stories relatable and impactful.

We are grateful to Daphne from Wild Space and Ian from The Roving Studio for the opportunity to support this incredible festival in a meaningful way. GUI was honored to contribute a trophy made from waste wood, a reflection of our belief in sustainability and creativity. This collaboration came to life with the dedication of our TouchWood team and the invaluable help of Mr. Lim and his family, who craft this piece with care and precision.

This meaningful conversation began during the Moving Earth screening by Rachel Cheang from Energy Collab and Ian Mun, and seeing it culminate at Earth In Focus has been inspiring.

✨ Discover more nature-inspired stories at www.earthinfocus.co

Photos Credit: Ian Mun & Daphne Ong

#Grateful

🌿✨ 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕-𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝑼𝒑𝒄𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑 – 𝑱𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝑼𝒔! ✨🌿

Looking for a meaningful way to bond with your child and make a positive impact on the environment? Join us on 30th November 2024 for a special Parent-Child Upcycle Art Workshop in collaboration with NIE & LCBC! Transform used bicycle tyres into one-of-a-kind art pieces, and explore upcycling's environmental benefits during a guided walk around the venue. 🌍💚

📅 Date: 30 Nov 2024, Saturday
📍 Location: Ground Up Initiative (91 Lor Chencharu)
🔹 Only 8 spots available—register now!
(https://forms.gle/L9sCVw2cQooQKeYX8)

We look forward to seeing you there!

🌱 𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝑼𝑰 🌱

We're thrilled to share a podcast from our architect's (WeCreate Studio) team on Inclusive Design and its meaning in today’s spaces. As they explore what it takes to truly include everyone in the design process, from accessibility codes and regulations to universal design principles, it’s an inspiring reminder of the values we hold close at GUI.

Artwork: WeCreate Studio

🎧 Tune in to their Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8lmMd4u6W0

🍃 𝑴𝑺𝑬 𝑮𝒐-𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝑮 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 🍃

Last week, GUI was privileged to be invited to be part of the MSE Go-Green SG Educator's Networking Session where we learnt more about Go Green SG 2025, and had the chance to be part of the sharing and networking of teachers from MOE.

Through this session, GUI was able to connect with teachers, to share with them about what we do at GUI and inspire them with our desire to connect people with nature and one another through our different programs, workshops and volunteering opportunities. We were also able to host a Grow Your Superfood Microgreen eco workshop with participants.

Aside from the session, we are grateful to have the guidance of Eugene and Pamela, from MSE, for our ongoing SG Eco Fund project. Thank you once again MSE for having us and we hope to inspire more people about environmental sustainability at GUI.

#grateful #environmentalsustainability #gogreen2025

🌍✨ 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂!

When we reach out for support for GUI, companies and foundations often ask us about our impact—how much waste we’ve processed, how many people we’ve reached. While these numbers matter, the true power of GUI is something more intangible: the quality of people in our community and their deep love for each other and for the earth. 🌱💚

It's a reminder that our biggest impact is the heart of our community and the shared passion that drives us.

Thank you, Victoria, for showcasing the spirit of GUI ❤️

🍃 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 8 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒔 🍃

Saturday mornings at GUI are often filled with the laughter, and chatter from our passionate volunteers who come to get their hands into the soil, foster connections with one another and the environment and to simply be present. Practicing mindfulness during our morning exercises, working together in teams and sharing a meal with one another are what makes our time back home so special. Last 8 BK at our current space, don't miss this opportunity!

Sign-up here; https://groundupinitiative.org/volunteer/

🍃 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝑬𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑰𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 🍃

In a recent article by CNA on mud and play, we were encouraged to let children play outdoors, engage in mud play and more sensory types of play as the exposure to the microbes in dirt might actually help children develop stronger immune systems – and may even decrease their risk of developing allergies and autoimmune diseases.

In fact, the article stated that research even shows that children raised in environments with high levels of microbial exposure – such as farms or homes with pets – are less likely to develop allergies or autoimmune diseases.

Love that we get to encourage little ones at GUI to do just that! It is indeed a joy to watch little ones explore and engage in their own ways of creative outdoor play with plants and soil. We agree that letting children get dirty by playing in mud could offer more than just fun – it may be an essential part of building a strong immune system. 😍

Light Up Your Homes And Hearts This Deepavali

We had a lovely lunch prepared by Anu yesterday to celebrate Deepavali at our Kampung.😍 It was a wonderful time reconnecting with one another over lunch and sharing a Deepavali meal together!

GUI wishes all our Hindu friends a joyful Deepavali! May this festival of lights fill your homes with happiness, love, and endless blessings. Enjoy the celebrations!

#deepavali

🌱 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 #1000𝑮𝑼𝑰𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒏 & 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑭𝒖𝒏! 🌱

Throwback to when Huiying and Julian organized a memorable potluck gathering! Thank you both of you!! This event was a beautiful blend of old and new connections, a chance for friends of Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) to come together and share in the spirit of community. 🌿

Throughout the evening, people mingled, shared their “why” for connecting with GUI, and enjoyed an incredible spread of plant-based dishes, potluck style!

Our gratitude goes out to Stranger Conversations (@strangerconvos) for generously providing the space, and to everyone who joined. Each of you made that evening truly special. 💛

If you’re a friend of GUI or have been touched by our work, we invite you to join #1000GUIConnections to support GUI’s journey as we rebuild at our new site. (Link: https://rayofhope.sg/campaign/1000guiconnections)

📸 Photo credit: Julian

#Grateful

🌞 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑭𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝑼𝑰 🌞

Check out this beautiful caterpillar video captured by Xiao Hui on our farm! 🐛 Does anyone know its name?

Here at GUI’s chemical-free farm, we embrace a balanced ecosystem, where creatures big and small each play their part. A balanced farm is far more important than a pest-free one—it's about respecting nature, nurturing healthy soil, and trusting the process. 🌱

Share your thoughts below and let us know if you can identify our little visitor!

#TrustTheProcess

🌱 𝑨 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒖 🌱

Today, the GUI team was pleasantly surprised by a sweet note left on our little 小G. Thank you, Jadie! Your encouragement means the world to all of us working hard to sustain and move GUI forward.

We miss you too, and it’s truly wonderful to witness your journey—from attending our H3ROES camp in your secondary school days to now, as you embark on new milestones, buying a flat and soon getting married! 🌟

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. To everyone who’s been supporting and cheering us on, thank you. Your love and encouragement keep us going. 🧡

GUI is GUI because of her people. Here’s a beautifully crafted video by Victoria ❤️, capturing exactly how the community feels at this moment. (Caption in comments!)

"There’s something special about getting your hands dirty for a good cause." - Ron the farmer

Thank you Ron the farmer for this lovely video!! You can follow him @sg_farmercist!

🌿 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 10𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝑭𝑶𝑳𝑶 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒎! 🌿

We are truly blessed to have joined in your incredible celebration! The gratitude shown by the farmers, especially when they humbly asked for forgiveness if any of the vegetables didn’t grow as well as expected, was deeply touching. This beautiful gesture reminds us that farmers are the most grateful people—constantly giving back to the earth and their communities with humility and care. We must learn from them and carry that same gratitude in all that we do. 🌱

We were also inspired by revisiting FOLO’s large-scale composting efforts, a testament to sustainability at its best. The meal cooked by FOLO’s farmers, made with their fresh produce, was absolutely delicious and truly embodied the spirit of farm-to-table.

Here’s to many more years of farming, community, and shared learning! 💚

#FOLOFarm #10YearAnniversary #SustainableFarming #Gratitude #FarmersWisdom #CommunitySpirit #FarmToTable

🌿 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑬𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 & 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆! 🌿

We are so grateful to Caroline Essame and Erica Neve for leading an inspiring round table on Nature Connection in Education at GUI before heading to the Philippines. Their insights, drawn from years of experience in Singapore, the UK, and Erica’s work with the Eden Project, enriched discussions on wellbeing, climate anxiety, nature deficit disorder, and integrating nature into education policy and youth empowerment for climate action.

We were fortunate to have a vibrant group of attendees who made the conversation even richer with their contributions.

We are excited to share that there will be a continued session in March 2025, and we hope GUI’s new home will be ready by then to host this important conversation. Caroline and Erica have graciously offered to provide further resources and support for this crucial topic, and we are eager to build on this momentum! 🌍🌱

#NatureInEducation

🌿 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝑼𝑺𝑺 🌿

We are grateful to have hosted the SUSS at GUI for a Human Library and Kampung Tour! 🎉 Participants had the chance to engage with inspiring changemakers, including;

Ibnur - Chief Foresight Officer at GUILD
Sok Leng - Co-founder at Semula
Martin Franklin - Co-founder of Green Well Sustain
Yee Kuan - Founder of Pitter-Patter
Bingyu - Kampung Architect at GUI

Together, there was an exchange of valuable insights between participants and humans! 💡 Thank you, SUSS, for this enriching exchange! 💚

#CommunityBuilders

🌿 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒖, 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒚𝒖! 🌿

A heartfelt shoutout to Minyu, who has returned to Taiwan, for all the incredible support she has given to GUI across our platforms, especially with the Earth Oven team! We are grateful for her generosity, from sponsoring a table at our fundraising dinner to her unwavering dedication.

Here are two beautiful photos of Minyu—one with a special gift made in TouchWood: a small bottle of earth and an adorable bread-shaped soft toy initiated by Irene from Earth Oven. 🌍🍞

Best wishes, Minyu! We look forward to seeing GUI grow in Taiwan! 💚

#CommunitySpirit #ThankYou

🌟 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒖 𝑩𝒊𝒄𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒐-𝑶𝒑: 𝑷𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 🚲

We're proud to highlight the inspiring work of the Lorong Chencharu Bicycle Co-Op, a dedicated group reviving and upcycling bicycles at GUI. Their passion for sustainability and community shines as they repair bikes, giving them a new lease on life for those in need.

Recently featured on 狮城有约 | 不一样的义工：脚踏车合作社 or loosely translated as "A Date with Singapore | Unusual Volunteers: Bicycle Co-op.", they exemplify how small actions lead to big environmental and social impact. Watch the full feature here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9-2y5u1yoA

Join LCBC and fix for change!

#SustainabilityInAction #CommunityBuilders