Yellow Ribbon Project 20th Anniversary Concert 2024: Celebrating 20 Years of Second Chances

Singapore, 17 October 2024 – The Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) concluded its 20th-anniversary celebrations this year with a concert, "Celebrating 20 Years of Second Chances", at The Star Performing Arts Centre. Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, was the Guest-of-Honour. He was joined by over 4,000 attendees, including representatives from various government agencies, community partners, volunteers, members of the public, ex-offenders and desistors as well as their families.^[1]

Advocating the Yellow Ribbon Cause and Building an Inclusive Society

The overwhelming turnout for the concert reflected the strong societal support for the Yellow Ribbon cause and a more inclusive society. The concert conveyed our deep appreciation and gratitude for the contributions and efforts of all stakeholders in championing second chances, in particular, the CARE Network, and forged a renewed collective commitment for the next two decades. Through a varied and interesting lineup of performances in the form of songs, videos and a skit, the concert illustrated the challenges ex-offenders might face in their reintegration journey, as well as their hopes and aspirations. 

"It's not that I never tried to change. I did. But 10 years ago, people were different— less forgiving and less supportive. It's much better now. People are kinder, more accepting, and more supportive. Without the help of organisations like ISCOS and FITRAH, it would have been so much harder," said Ms Sabrina Chong Abdullahas she shared her experiences as an ex-offender. She noted a significant positive shift in public attitudes toward the acceptance and support of ex-offenders over the past decade. ^[2]

Barry Yeow, an ex-offender who turned his life around to become an accomplished artist, produced a painting as part of a special segment during the concert. This artwork willbe auctioned at the CARE Network’s upcoming 25th Anniversary Joint Gala in 2025, with proceeds going toward the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Two inmates from Changi Prison’s Performing Arts Centre (PAC) joined local singer Suthasini Rajenderan on stage to perform the song "Shallow". They also performed an original song titled "Love Can Heal", which was written by an ex-offender. Local singer Benjamin Kheng was joined by seven ex-offenders from the Yellow Ribbon PAC Alumni band to perform the song "I'll Stand By You". These meaningful collaborations showcased the talents of inmates and ex-offenders and demonstrated the power of music in fostering community support for their integration.

As a show of support for the Yellow Ribbon cause, concert attendees wore Yellow Ribbon crochet pins handmade by women inmates from the Arts Behind Bars programme. These initiatives exemplified the ongoing commitment to support ex-offenders while celebrating positive change.

20 Years of Transformation: Celebrating the Yellow Ribbon Project’s Milestones and Impact

Concert attendees viewed a video that highlighted the YRP’s key milestones over the past two decades, underlining the significant impact of providing second chances to ex-offenders. Collectively, these efforts reflect YRP's ongoing commitment to shaping a more inclusive society—one that enables ex-offenders to rebuild their lives and contribute  to society.

What began as the Yellow Ribbon Walk has now evolved into the well-supported Yellow Ribbon Prison Run, with YRP's influence even reaching foreign shores. For example, YRP has inspired similar reintegration initiatives in countries like the Czech Republic, Fiji, Philippines, Northern Ireland and Thailand, amplifying its mission of fostering second chances for ex-offenders.

Beyond just being recipients of second chances, YRP also empowers inmates to give back to society through various initiatives. For instance, they participated in the packing of goodie bags for a National Day parade, cooking for elderly residents and producingmasks during the pandemic.

Launch of the YRP New Tagline – “We Are Each Other’s Second Chances”

SM Teo launched the new YRP tagline – "We Are Each Other's Second Chances" – which encapsulates YRP's core mission of fostering an inclusive society. The new tagline emphasises how individuals, organisations, employers and the broader community can help ex-offenders in their reintegration journeys, enabling them to become contributing members of society.

Chairperson of the concert organising committee, Superintendent Cem Sim, said, “The presence of each and every one at the concert helped transform the evening into a powerful celebration of hope, resilience and second chances. Our work is an ongoing journey. We hope to inspire more to come forward and join us in this meaningful cause – to be each other’s second chances.”

Sara Dowlatkhah, an ex-offender who performed at the concert, said, “The YRP concert is a true celebration of the love, compassion and hope we have been sharing as a community. Over the years, we have truly become more inclusive, and it’s been amazing to witness the support given to ex-offenders.”

The concert will be available on meWATCH for public viewing from 3 November 2024 for a period of 12 months.

^[1] Desistors are ex-offenders who have successfully remained offence-free in the community for a longer period and are undergoing a transformative shift in self-identity, social relationships and life circumstances.

^[2] ISCOS (Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Limited) is a co-operative that supports ex-offenders, their children and families with programmes and services that are geared towards enhancing the skills level of its members, connecting them with supportive employers and providing social support through positive peer groups.  FITRAH (Family and Inmates ThRoughcare Assistance Haven) is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Singapore Prison Service, and M³ partners, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), MENDAKI Singapore and People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) to provide enhanced support services to incarcerated Muslim individuals and their families. Inmates are supported through incare services, such as weekly religious counselling, while ex-offenders receive aftercare support to ease their reintegration into society.