FORT TANJONG KATONG

A Community Problem Solving Project By:

Shona Tan, 412Gracia Lee, Megan Quah, Sarah Giam, 413

Tjoa Shze Hui, 414Tan Wei Qing, 415

1. Historical significance of Fort Tanjong Katong- Used to strengthen defence- Buried in 1901- Shows 19th century military architecture

2. Recent excavation and subsequent reburial (2006) of Fort Tanjong Katong

3. Current state of Fort Tanjong Katong- On the government’s ‘Safeguard’ list- Few know about its existence

AREA OF CONCERN

45 residents surveyed, all living in Tanjong Katong, 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.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Knew aboutFort'sexistence

Did not knowabout Fort'sexistence

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED

1. Isolated location of excavated bastion of Fort within Katong Park

CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED

2. Derelict appearance of the excavated bastion

Given that Fort Tanjong Katong is on the verge of being disregarded by the public, 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?

UNDERLYING PROBLEM

SOLUTIONS BRAINSTORMED

Collaborate with NParks, National Heritage Board, Katong CC to:

1. Paint mural/banner on wall on stage in Katong Park

SOLUTIONS BRAINSTORMED

2. Set up an interactive exhibit of the Fort in its pavilion

3. Install a directional signboard outside of the Park to the excavated portion of the Fort

4. Make informative mobiles hung from walkway ceiling

5. Organize funfair in Nov 08 with Fort-related activitiesGive presentations to schools in the vicinity of the Fort

INTENDED PLAN OF ACTION

1. Conduct preliminary research on the Fort

2. Establish partnerships with relevant authorities

3. Promote the Fort amongst the Katong community

4. Evaluate effectiveness of actions taken

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 1: Preliminary Research (April – Sept ‘08)

• Determined extent of problem• Conducted survey with residents in Katong area on their

knowledge of Fort Tanjong Katong

• Conducted research on Fort Tanjong Katong’s historical background, recent news pertaining to it

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Our group at Katong Park

Phase 1: Preliminary Research (April – Sept ‘08)

• Conducted site survey at Katong Park

• Interviewed Ms. Ang Chiean Hong, NParks Head (Bishan-Punggol), and Mr. Oh, Manager

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 2: Establishing Partnerships (May – Sept ‘08)

• Established Partnerships with:

• Mr Lim Biow Chuan, MP for Marine Parade GRC• Mr Lim Chen Sian, Chief Archaeologist, 2004 excavation

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)

• Discussed ideas that his students had come up with for an interpretative centre for the Fort

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 3: Community Outreach: Obtaining Sponsorship (Oct ‘08)

• National Youth Council (NYC): Young ChangeMakers scheme

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 3: Community Outreach: Set up a Website (Sept ‘08 – Apr ‘09)

• Website (http://savethefort.wordpress.com)-Reach out to wider (online) community- Chronicle project’s progress- Provide updates on any new happenings

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 3: Community Outreach: Set up a Website (Sept ‘08 – Apr ‘09)

Our Website:

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 3: Community Outreach (Sept ‘08 – Jan ‘09)

• Outreach to schools- To educate students about the existence and significance of the fort- To raise funds through sale of merchandise for the implantation of our action plan- Schools visited: Tanjong Katong Secondary School, Chung Cheng High School (Main), Kong Hwa School, Tanjong Katong Primary School

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTIONPresentations/ Talks

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTIONAt our booth

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 3: Community Outreach (Sept ‘08 – Jan ‘09)-….

• Collaboration with:• National Heritage Board (NHB)

Public Education Division, NHB

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 3: Community Outreach: Set up a Signage (Sept ‘08 – Apr ‘09)

• Liaised with NParks: Proposed setting up an informative signboard at Katong Park entrance- Designed signage- Obtained approval- Contacted construction company- In process of finalising manufacturing details

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN OF ACTION

Phase 4: Evaluating Effectiveness of Actions (Nov‘08 – Apr ‘09)

1. School Visits/Presentations• Surveys/Feedback Forms• Close to 95% of students agreed that our presentations

were effective and relevant.

2. Merchandise/Information Booklets• Surveys/Feedback Forms

3. Website• Hit counter/Comments• Over 700 hits so far, with an average of 30 visits a week

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Comprehensive preliminary research • Concretised action plan based on external feedback and

research• Explored possibility of collaboration with NHB• Presented project to Young ChangeMakers, received grant• Held outreaches at various schools• Designed and produced merchandise• Set up website• Submitted signage design to NParks• Confirmed signage design and currently in process of

setting up signage at Katong Park

CHALLENGES FACED

1. Largely ambivalent attitude of the community towards Singapore’s heritage and a lack of support for our project

2. Circumstances made our project’s initial objective unfeasible

3. Nature of project highly dependent on liaison/ response from the authorities. Hence, project progress often slowed, beyond our control

REFLECTIONS

1. Focused too much on some aspects, instead of diverging our interests and increasing our chances of success

2. Good group dynamics

3. Further action to be taken to promote the fort- Enlarging the scope of our project- Post-surveys after signage is put up.

THE END

Are there any questions?