HOPE SINGAPORE: PROJECT SPARKLE
“Many young people roll their eyes and laugh, but young people here roll up their sleeves.”
That's what Ms Denise Phua, the Mayor for the Central Singapore District, said at the inauguration of Project Sparkle 2016, a mass community cleaning event to serve the needy in Singapore that has just finished its fifth year running since 2012. More than 2600 volunteers spring-cleaned more than 440 apartments for the needy elderly and families, and gave them New Year goodie bags and cleaning tools. This year, Hope Centre expanded its repertoire of services to include gate-painting and reached out to four different areas namely, Kampong Glam, Jalan Basar, Chinatown and Punggol.
There's so much more that could be said about Project Sparkle 2016 that broke new grounds, but we'll leave it to both the blessers and the blessed to say it best.
"It's fun to meet new people and... my house is clean!" -Khairianee, 13, Kampong Glam neighbourhood
"In the end, it isn't just about cleaning, it is the befriending and letting them know that there's someone who cares. The one touch may prevent many undesirable things from happening." - Mr Desmond Lee, 37, Block I/C, Kampong Glam neighbourhood
"In life, there is no point even if you have a lot of money but are not happy. Being a single mother can get very lonely and difficult as I have to juggle many things - such as paying the bills, cleaning the house, working, taking care of my children. So I am very happy and thankful for these young people who came to help me clean my house, and also happy that I can share my life experiences with them." -Mdm Rosna Binte Nordin, 47, Jalan Besar neighbourhood
Yes, even as sweat runs down our cheeks, here is a beautiful microcosm of what God is doing to redeem our neighbourhoods. For we are called to leave our cloistered comfort zones and let Him send us into all the world, to repair our broken world and restore our shattered communities, just as we are doing even now with Project Sparkle today in the manner of Isaiah 58:10-12:
"...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. ... Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."
