I took part in the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run last month, as a Social Media Advocate, where I had participated in the 10km event, running the race in support of second chances for ex-convicts and their re-integration into society.

So recently, to thank me for my contributions and support of second chances, I had been invited to the Yellow Ribbon Appreciation Dinner this year.

This event took place recently at the Suntec City Convention Centre in Singapore.

Event held to recognise the contributions of supporters to the cause 

The annual event is held to recognise the invaluable contribution of volunteers and corporate partners who support the Yellow Ribbon Project in the rehabilitation and re-integration of ex-offenders into society.

Meeting my table mates

I was seated at a table with my friend the Singapore Blade Runner – another one of the Yellow Ribbon Project’s Social Media Advocates, as well as members of Team Strong Silvers and some staff from the Singapore Prison Service.

Team Strong Silvers are an inspiring group of elderly Singaporeans who hope to use themselves as an example to promote an active lifestyle amongst senior citizens in Singapore. 

The group regularly do calisthenics workouts such as pull-ups, push-ups, squats and dibs – and their core strength will definitely put many young people to shame.

Through the course of the event, it was interesting to get to know the members of Team Strong Silvers better and find out more about what makes this group of inspiration seniors tick.

An elaborate six-course local Asian dinner

For the event itself, this began with an award-presentation ceremonies, before the food had been served.

This was an elaborate six-course local meal, with mainly Chinese dishes and with the highlight being the “Temasek (Chicken) Rendang”, which had been the winning dish in a culinary competition where the inmates from Singapore Changi Prison competed against each other.

During the competition, inmates had worked in pairs to prepare a dish based on the theme of ‘My Family’s Recipe’ and the rendang had emerged as the champion dish.

I think that doing such competitions are great to equip the inmates with new skills so that they can become valuable members of society upon their release from prison.

Though the version of Temasek Rendang that was presented during the Yellow Ribbon Appreciation Dinner had been cooked by the in-house caterers from Suntec Convention Centre, the recipe used, had been the exact same one from the culinary competition.

The rendang was still very delicious though. The sauce was tasty and packed a punch, and the chicken meat inside was soft, absorbing the flavour of the sauce very nicely. 

It would have been good if a side serving of rice had been provided – to soak up more of the yummy gravy so that it would not go to waste.

The other dishes at the dinner were a cold dish combination, seafood broth soup, vegetable parcels wrapped in beancurd skin, a fried rice dish wrapped in lotus leaf, with a sesame rice balls in red bean paste for our dessert.

Ends with a small game

Just before the event ended, we were encouraged to play a small game, where each table had to combine forces and work together to piece together a simple jigsaw puzzle.

Once completed, each jigsaw puzzle would have messages of support for second chances on it.

I thought that the whole concept of this game was quite meaningful and really helped to drill home the message of the Yellow Ribbon Project to us.

This is because it is important for all members of society to work together and come to an agreement in giving second chances to ex-convicts, to provide them with the necessary opportunities to turn over a new leaf.

Photo Booth

As well, through the course of the evening, a photo booth was also available for attendees to take pictures using the fun props provided.

I had thought that the props were pretty good, and I had some good fun with Thor’s Mjölnir hammer and Captain America’s shield.

A meaningful event 

As a whole, I would say that I had a good time at the Yellow Ribbon Appreciation Dinner and that this event had been a great way to conclude my duties as a Social Media Advocate for the Yellow Ribbon Project in supporting second chances in 2019.