How would you live, work, and play in the Singapore of 2065? 

 

Imagine if you had gills to live underwater, to overcome the heat from the atmosphere, and the decreasing land space. 

 

Or imagine super trees around Singapore, which are spewing out air-conditioning to cool the surface temperature. 

 

How about high-speed rails that would connect Singapore to Bangkok, Jakarta, and Hanoi? You would be able to travel passport-free without worrying about the costs (or environmental impact) of flying. Just hop on the train, and in a few short hours, you could be sipping Bangkok’s famed Thai milk tea. 

 

 

On 5th July, Saturday, a combined total of 41 children and adults came together at Tanglin Community Club to discuss what they envisioned SG100 to look like. 

 

This was no ordinary chit-chat session full of quickly-forgotten wild ideas. There were also graphic recorders in attendance who were visually scribing everything that was discussed. 

 

 

The children quickly and enthusiastically joined in on the sketching, drawing what their future Singapore would look like on large sheets of paper on the floor.

 

So what did this diverse, cross-generational group foresee for SG100?

 

AI everywhere 

 

It started first from one’s personal life. Most were positive about how AI would help one’s education. Jonathan, a polytechnic student, suggested that AI would be infused into holographic teachers, allowing students to learn from anywhere, at any time.

 

Ming, who had long finished his education, suggested that with AI, students would be assessed without them even doing any examinations. The technology would be able to determine their competence on an individual basis based on how they were answering questions in class, or discussing lessons with their friends. 

 

With the advance of technologies, reaching 100 years old would be an everyday occurrence. Vaccines that could eradicate cancer would be developed, together with exoskeletons that could aid the elderly in their everyday movements. It sounded like something right out of Will Smith’s classic movie, ‘I, Robot.’ 

 

 

One community 

 

But despite the big focus on technology, the group was also mindful about what a Singaporean community of the future might look like. Young parents spoke about how they envisioned a more closely-connected community.

 

 

A parent started by encouraging the work of Moulmein-Cairnhill’s grassroots committees, sharing how more events like this visioning exercise would make Singapore an exciting community to live in, both for children and adults.

 

Another parent added, “it would be beautiful to see the different generations connecting in one hub. Like the elderly having their rehab, and then the kids studying in the kindergarten, and parents being able to lim kopi whilst waiting to pick up their kids.” 

 

There would then be sheltered skywalks connecting this hub to the different residences where people stayed, under one big dome to keep out the increasing heat. Kids would skip along these skywalks, racing home safely, whilst being unaffected by the sky and ground traffic. 

 

Diverse, but not divided 

 

Considering all these advances, participants naturally started thinking about how they could be used to promote greater inclusiveness for people from all walks of life. Clara Tan, one of the organisers, spoke about how she would love to see combined basketball sessions, where both able and differently-abled players shared the court. 

 

Another parent shared a bold idea. 

 

“Why don’t we do away with SPED (special education) schools? Why don’t we put both mainstream and SPED students in the same school?” 

 

There was a pause around the room. 

 

He shared his vision of how mainstream schools could take in those with special needs, promoting a greater mutual understanding. Such integration would bring together differences from a young age, allowing these children to learn something from each other. 

 

Such integration from a young age would make all children more open to engaging and learning from one another.

 

A Singapore where possibilities are our passion 

 

A young child of 8 quickly remembered the Wakanda popularised by Black Panther and declared, “we would be fun but high-tech like Wakanda!” 

 

Singapore would be connected via a high-speed hyper loop, with passengers getting from point to point in half the time of our current MRTs. 

 

But beyond the infrastructure, there was a mindset of remaining open. One citizen shared his vision of how Singapore could continue remaining open and accepting towards people from other countries. Encouraging diversity, being a friendly community, and being respectful of each other would remain Singapore’s approach to a volatile world. 

 

 

Despite big shifts in the international community, this exercise showed one thing: Singapore remains an open, warm and welcoming society.

 

Holding true to Singapore’s founding values amid a challenging global landscape may not always be easy. But we have never been afraid of difficulty, and will always remain committed to becoming a force for good in the world – no matter what the future may bring.

 

Indeed, as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reminded Singaporeans at his swearing-in ceremony, 

 

“As long as we continue to believe in ourselves, have faith in one another, and work together, we will endure. Singapore will endure. Be it SG100, or even beyond, there will still be Singaporeans – standing strong and free.

 

And not only will we survive – we will prevail.

 

And we will keep this little red dot shining brightly – as a beacon of hope, resilience and possibility.

 

So, my fellow Singaporeans, with courage, imagination and new resolve, let us build a Singapore that is open, inclusive and full of opportunities.”

 

The Envisioning SG100 event was organised by Moulmein-Cairnhill CCC and the Balmoral Residents’ Network for their community of residents.