Balik kampung! : Bottle Tree Park

Sitting along the MRT tracks between Khatib and Yio Chu Kang is a lovely place called Bottle Tree Park. Amidst the laid back village style surroundings, humbly growing day by day is Ground-Up Initiative (GUI). GUI was set up by a group of folks looking “to find and inspire ways to live larger, more joyful, holistic lives”. Gifted with some land from Bottle Tree Pte Ltd, the GUI folks are working steadily towards social and ecological harmony in the community. The world today is becoming increasingly urbanised, where greenery and natural resources are slowly disappearing. It was thus very heartening to feel the strong passion of the founders and team, who with full awareness that what we have will be depleted someday sooner than later, aim to build a live classroom so that all of us can understand the value and importance of the earth, and our place on this planet. Balik Kampung is one of GUI’s initiatives and it aptly describes what volunteers may expect of the place, people and activities to be done. It was wonderful to have a mini experience of our heritage, to know the real meaning of a kampung. Here, sustainability is the key. Hence, eco-friendly materials are used for the construction and beautification of the premises whenever possible. On this particular day, our team mainly cleared the area of the soon-to-be learning centre because the gloomy skies threatened to rain. Although there was a lot of clearing and moving of furniture, I believe all our actions contributed towards completing the bigger picture – GUI’s vision of having the centre to allow public know more about sustainability. I particularly like a quotation from Gandhi that one of the founders, Lai Hock, shared, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. You don't have to be rich, you don't have to be powerful and you don't have to be nominated. You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated. A caring heart and commitment is all that’s needed. If we want the world to be a better place, we have to put our thoughts into actions. After all, actions speak louder than words. I can’t wait to go back again! Contributed by volunteer, Kulaa This story was first published on SG Cares (www.sgcares.org), a volunteering initiative by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre.