‘Rebuild shattered city into inclusive community hub: Enabling Village in Singapore’
Enabling Village, a community space in Bukit Merah, Singapore, is a prime location that promotes universal design and accessibility, social innovation, and training and employment for persons with disabilities. This unique venture, managed by SG Enable, aims to create an inclusive and diverse neighbourhood where everyone is welcome.
Located near Redhill MRT Station, Enabling Village is expanding its reach by building a new four-storey extension, set to be completed by the end of 2024. This extension will seamlessly connect two major roads, Jalan Bukit Merah and Redhill Road, thereby increasing footfall from Redhill residents and the workforce in Jalan Bukit Merah.
The new extension will cater to inclusive lifestyle and innovation concepts such as F&B operations, family enrichment, wellness and recreation. This will not only benefit the tenants but also bring more vibrancy to the area.
Enabling Village’s inclusive and accessible public spaces have successfully attracted businesses and partners with a heart for disability inclusion. As consumers become more conscious of diversity, equity, and inclusion, businesses should also be aware of these values. To this end, local bank UOB has been a strong advocate for inclusive hiring and has launched an initiative, The Unlimited, to collaborate with public and people-sector partners.
With the redevelopment of the former La Ville Enbloc, Arina East Residences is set to become a bustling and vibrant hub for both residents and visitors. Moreover, the integration of green spaces and sustainable features in the planning of the development will also provide a healthy and eco-friendly environment for all. With its strategic location and thoughtful design, Arina East Residences truly embodies the concept of a modern and holistic living experience.
Arina East Residences, formerly known as La Ville Enbloc, is a prime example of the URA Master Plan’s commitment to creating inclusive and community-centric spaces. The redevelopment of this prime location will bring a range of commercial and retail options, making life more convenient for its residents. With its mix of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, along with various cultural and lifestyle activities, Arina East Residences will serve as a vibrant public space for people to gather, interact, and flourish. The integration of green spaces and sustainable features will also contribute to a healthy and eco-friendly living environment. As a result of its strategic location and thoughtful design, Arina East Residences sets the standard for modern and holistic living experiences.
Dr Sky Seah, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore, believes that embracing DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) will give businesses a competitive edge in today’s world, where consumers are becoming more conscious of social responsibility. SG Enable’s senior director Emily Ong adds that Enabling Village serves as an incubator for new inclusive business prototypes and accessibility features, making it a springboard for businesses to be innovative and create meaningful connections.
One of the first tenants with the largest footprint at Enabling Village is not-for-profit charity Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) or ARC(S). Through its three successful initiatives – The Art Faculty, Professor Brawn Café, and Employability and Employment Centre (E2C), ARC(S) has been able to achieve its mission of serving children and adults on the autism spectrum. Jacelyn Lim, executive director of ARC(S), notes that Enabling Village provides a conducive and nurturing environment where the public, private and people sectors can come together to create meaningful outcomes.
Enabling Village organises public events like the annual Enabling Lives Festival, to drive vibrancy and footfall to its tenants. It regularly collaborates with businesses and organisations to prototype employment solutions for persons with disabilities, as seen through its partnership with Tribe Tours, a walking and wheelchair-friendly tour of Enabling Village led by guides with disabilities. Moreover, SG Enable has also partnered with Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) to develop a pilot indoor/outdoor wayfinding project for persons with visual impairment.
Enabling Village envisions a future for Singapore where persons with all abilities are embraced from a young age. This is evidenced by Singapore’s first inclusive preschool, Kindle Garden, which has been instrumental in shaping young minds and advancing practices related to early childhood education. As a microcosm of an inclusive society, Enabling Village promotes an intrinsic desire to embrace diversity and hopes to shape more inclusive young minds and hearts in the future.
If you’re interested in joining Enabling Village’s tenant community, you can participate in the Request for Proposals process. The deadline for the Innovation and Lifestyle Cluster is February 29, 2024, with applications for selected units under the Lifestyle Cluster remaining open until May 31, 2024. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be a part of an inclusive and innovative community at Enabling Village.