Vision
To bring Saya (happiness) through design
Mission
By tapping into the potential of community social enterprise, we aim to foster stronger bonds and engagement in the community
About
Driven by the vision to foster stronger bonds and aid community engagement through design, Project Masaya was hatched in the recesses of the Department of Architecture in the National University of Singapore in 2017. Anchoring our approach in participatory design, we aim to propose as with the first one being a playground in the Philippines from 28 May to 10 June 2018.
The village is a product of collaboration between NGO Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Capitaland Ascott. At the heart of GK's community transformation is restoring dignity, and giving back the poor's capacity to dream and work towards the fulfillment of their dreams.
Site Context
Location: Brgy. San Pedro, Batangas City, Philippines
Demographics: 40 families with an estimation of 80 children from the age
of 0-16 years old
Project Scope
1. Construction of playground
2. Refurbishing the existing sundry shop to accommodate
baking for sale
A participatory design workshop was held in June 2017 by four NUS Architecture students. The priorities identified through the workshop
are:
- Playground
- Water tank
- Library
- Parking
1. Construction of playground
2. Bamboo furniture social enterprise - Participatory design
workshop for livelihood
3. “Kids Paradise” - Arts and crafts workshop for children
Construction of Playground
Issues identified in the village during the recce trip in February, 2018:
- Absence of play facilities
- Large number of children - Estimated to be 80 children from 0-16
- Sibol School, the village nursery, will be open to children from both within and outside the community
​
A playground was hence requested by the community, and is proposed as one of the main focuses for ProjectMasaya 2018.
Proposed location of playground In front of Sibol School, the village nursery
Serves as a connector between the old and new village houses while providing the children a common space to play
The exchange of low-cost as well as local construction techniques allowed for a more enriching time spent in the village.
The knotting of ropes was also a skill passed down from the more experienced beneficiaries.
Participatory Design Workshop for Livelihood
Participatory design workshops were conducted with the local beneficiaries under the guidance of Dr. Tan Beng Kiang. This approach was adopted as we believe that it is the most effective in instilling a sense of ownership in the end users while allowing them to agree on a model that contribute to the sustainability of the project.
Pop-up booths were set up prior to the formal participatory design workshop in the weekend to gather general demographic information of the GK village. Through active feedback sessions we managed to source out their habits, needs, and aspirations for their community.
After a week of this active consultation, we narrowed down the possibility of kick-starting a ground up baking enterprise, tapping allowing the Titas who are currently home makers to have a stable source of income alongside taking care of their children. The participatory design element thus crystalises the long-term agenda for sustainable growth.
Kids Paradise - Arts and Crafts Workshop for children
Kids Paradise
- Requested by NGO Gawad Kalinga
- Daily session 3:30-4:30pm (7 days)
Member Testimonies
“There were times when I questioned the utility of the playground we were building. But waking up every morning to see the village children clambering over the playground, laughing and chasing each other, as it was nearing completion reminded me that of the joy that
architecture can bring to life. The playground provided a place where the children could root their fertile imaginations and grow. I hope that the playground will be a valuable, if small addition to the tapestry of their environment.”
- Chia Yuxuan, Fundraising I/C
“During Project Masaya, I felt respect for, and even envy, at the locals’ casual claiming of skills such as bamboo and fruit harvesting that “even the kids can do”. In construction, a simple plastic tubing and water could be a tool to mark out heights, and coconut shells could be a shovel, a pouch, a lampshade. One cannot help but feel the common notion of city dwellers having‘lost something’ the ability to Make Do with what we have. It also prompts me to rethink what education is - in reality a formal architect is not needed to build a building, and qualifications are rarely a good summary of an individual’s skill. Therefore through Project Masaya I have gained more humility as a formal
student, and a reminder to look beyond an individual’s qualifications as an indication of their skill.”
- Feranda Chua, Member
“Holding the Kid's Paradise workshops during project Masaya really allowed us to bond with the children and the community whom we had come to impact. We quickly realized that regardless of whether the activities ran according to plan, ultimately what mattered most were the relationships formed and moments shared. It was easy to get caught up with the progress and completion of our project as architecture students, however as we watched the children whom we had come to know by name and had grown to love play on the playground, lingering past their bedtimes to spend a little more time with us, these moments really grounded us fundamentally to the reason why we had embarked on this project in the first place.”
- Vanessa Khoo, Kid’s Paradise I/C
“I still remember the joy and pride I felt when I was told that the playground that we constructed gives the children a courage, a courage to believe more beautiful things that are waiting for them ahead in their life, things that worth them to fight for.”
- Jiang Dongyuan, Member