FORT TANJONG KATONG

1. FORT TANJONG KATONG A Community Problem Solving Project By: Shona Tan, 412 Megan Quah, Gracia Lee, Sarah Giam, 413 Tjoa Shze Hui, 414 Tan Wei Qing, 415

2. AREA OF CONCERN Historical significance of Fort Tanjong Katong Recent excavation and subsequent reburial of Fort Tanjong Katong 3. Current state of Fort Tanjong Katong

3. 45 residents surveyed, all living within 1.5 km of the fort.  64.4% of residents surveyed did not know about the fort’s existence 35.6% of residents surveyed knew about the fort. About 2/3 of the people surveyed living around the fort do not know about its existence. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

4. CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED Isolated location of excavated bastion of Fort within Katong Park

5. CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED 2. Derelict appearance of the excavated bastion

6. UNDERLYING PROBLEM Given that Fort Tanjong Katong is on the verge of being disregarded, how might we publicize its existence and promote its significance through tangible means, such that this valuable historical site will be more widely-known, especially among the Katong community, and will hopefully receive continued protection in the year 2008 and beyond?

7. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS • Prominent signage at Katong Park entrance • Interactive activities with schools • Sale of Fort Merchandise • Work with National Heritage Board (NHB) to: • Set up long-term exhibit at a museum • Produce and distribute information booklets • Feature article on Fort in newsletter(s) distributed by NHB

8. INTENDED PLAN OF ACTION • Conduct preliminary research on the Fort • Establish partnerships with relevant authorities • Promote the Fort amongst the Katong community • Set up a Website • Set up a signage in the park

9. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 1: Preliminary Research (April – Sept ‘08) • Determined extent of problems • Conducted survey with residents in Katong area on their knowledge of Fort Tanjong Katong

10. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 1: Preliminary Research (April – Sept ‘08) • Conducted research on Fort Tanjong Katong’s historical background, recent news pertaining to it • Interviewed Ms. Ang Chiean Hong, NParks Head (Bishan-Punggol), and Mr. Oh, Manager • Conducted site survey at Katong Park Our group at Katong Park

11. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 2: Establishing Partnerships (May – Sept ‘08) • Established Partnerships with: • Mr Lim Biow Chuan, MP for Marine Parade GRC and Mountbatten CCC

12. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 2: Establishing Partnerships (May – Sept ‘08) • Established Partnerships with: • Dr. Widodo Johannes, Assistant Professor at National University of Singapore (Architecture Department)

13. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 3: Community Outreach: Preparation (Sept – Oct ‘08) • Contacted and liaised with schools in the Katong area • Design merchandise for sale • Prepare information booklets • Compile Presentation Materials

14. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 3: Community Outreach: Obtaining Sponsorship • (Oct ‘08) • National Youth Council (NYC): Young ChangeMakers scheme

15. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 3: CommunityOutreach (Oct ‘08 – Jan ‘09) • Schools Visit (link to video here) • Collaboration with: • NParks • National Heritage Board (NHB) Public Education Division, NHB

16. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 3: Community Outreach: Continued Partnerships with Organisations (Oct ‘08 – Jan ‘09) • With National Heritage Board (NHB) • With NParks and construction company:Construction and implementation of signboard • With other schools

17. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 4: Setting up a Website(Oct ‘08 – Jan ‘09) • Can’t rmb.!!

18. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 3: Community Outreach: Continued Partnerships with Organisations (Oct ‘08 – Jan ‘09) • With National Heritage Board (NHB) • With NParks and construction company:Construction and implementation of signboard • With other schools

19. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION • Phase 5: Setting up a Signage (??? ‘08 – Jul ‘09) • Survey at schools visited • Survey on Website • Repeat on-site survey

20. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • March – Sept 08 • Conducted extensive preliminary research • Including 2 site surveys of Katong Park • Meetings and interviews with various authorities • Door-to-door survey of nearby residential area • Concretised action plan based on external feedback and research

21. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Sept – Dec 08 • Designed and produced merchandise • including notebooks, badges, information booklets • Held outreaches at various schools • morning assembly talks, PowerPoint presentations, information boards • sale of merchandise • Presented project to Young ChangeMakers, part of National Youth Council and received grant • Submitted signage design to NParks

22. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Dec 08 – Apr 09 • Explored possibility of online collaboration with NHB • Confirmed signage design and set up signage at Katong Park • What about website?

23. EVALUATING EFFECTIVENESS • Dec 08 – Apr 09 • School Visits/Presentations • Surveys/Feedback Forms • Merchandise/Information Booklets • Surveys/Feedback Forms • Website • Hit counter/Comments • Collaboration with authorities • Signage • Post-project survey among residents

24. CHALLENGES FACED • Largely ambivalent attitude of the community towards Singapore’s heritage and a lack of support for our project • Circumstances made our project’s initial objective unfeasible • Nature of project highly dependent on liaison/ response from the authorities. Hence, project progress often slowed, beyond our control

25. REFLECTIONS • Focused too much on some aspects, instead of diverging our interests and increasing our chances of success • Good group dynamics • Overall, we believe we have made an impact on the community through encouraging them to learn about their heritage, and by providing them with the means to do so.

26. THE END Are there any questions?