SG50 search on for what the heart calls home

SINGAPORE — The search is on — for uniquely Singapore places in the heart.

As part of the celebrations to mark the island’s 50th anniversary next year, Singaporeans are invited to share their special places where special memories, big and small, have been made — be it watching the sunset along a bridge or sipping teh tarik in Little India — on the SG Heart Map, a giant collective map of places that define Singapore as home over the years.

Speaking at the launch of the SG50 programme at the HDB Hub Mall yesterday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said it is timely for Singaporeans to reflect on how they have progressed as a nation.

“There are many things that bind us together, many reasons why we are proud to be Singaporeans,” he said.

The giant SG Heart Map aims to weave a tapestry of the special places that define Singapore as home, and also to allow Singaporeans to share their dreams for the future. The stories shared will help trace the country’s transformation from a backwater in its early years to a modern city today.

The public’s submissions of their favourite places will be curated into a giant composite SG Heart Map, which will be unveiled next November.

Singaporeans have until tomorrow to visit the HDB Hub Mall to share their stories and “pin” their favourite locations onto a map using heart-shaped balloons. More than 500 youths from 17 schools will be involved as SG Heart Map Champions to encourage people to pick their places and contribute stories.

Those who cannot make it to the mall by the weekend can share their stories on the SG Heart Map portal at www.heartmap.sg or submit their contributions to more than 70 booths islandwide, such as at MRT stations, shopping centres and community centres. Special vans will also travel around to collect contributions.

The public have until March to submit their stories of their favourite places. Fifty locations will be chosen and highlighted in the middle of next year.

Selected Singapore artists will use the stories submitted to co-create works such as poetry and films. Their pieces will be showcased at the finale event next November, along with the giant composite SG Heart Map.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu said the giant map would weave together a fabric of collective memories and aspirations to celebrate the special spots.

“There are many places we can be proud of and many beautiful moments in this country. So, we hope Singaporeans will step forward to build a beautiful SG Heart Map together,” said Ms Fu, the co-chair of the SG50 Environment and Infrastructure Committee overseeing the map project.

Mr Khaw noted that, even while Singapore transforms, everyone would have places that hold special memories. That is why the Government wants to work with everybody to put together the “first-ever crowd-sourced map” that captures Singapore’s heart and soul, he added.

Through the stories on the map, Singaporeans will be reminded of and rediscover the places around them. “Collectively, these stories will trace the development of Singapore,” he said.