Our Events & Initiatives

The access to training in culinary skills, music literacy, the performing or visual arts, on top of mindset change, are integral to an ex-offender’s rehabilitation and reintegration back into society. Hence, Yellow Ribbon Singapore and the Singapore Prison Service collaborate with many like-minded stakeholders to enable this access. These efforts are celebrated at the following YRP events and initiatives.

What's Happening This Year!

Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival

The Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival (YRCAF) returns in August to share the untold stories, aspirations, and transformative journeys of inmates through art. The theme, “We are Each Other’s Second Chances”, conveys inmates’ hope for the community to give them a second chance in life, so they can become contributing citizens and pay it forward.

The festival offers a dynamic platform to showcase the remarkable talents and skills of inmates. This vibrant celebration of creativity and rehabilitation demonstrates how art can bridge communities and transform lives, while providing visitors with unique insights into the inmate artists’ journeys of rehabilitation, hope and redemption.

The launch on 1 August at One Holland Village is set to dazzle with an iconic fashion show, where specially curated outfits that have been inspired by the inmates' artworks will grace the runway, bringing their artistic vision to life in a unique and contemporary format.

Art enthusiasts can immerse themselves in our static exhibition at One Holland Village from 2 to 6 August, which will showcase a compelling collection of the inmates' artistic expressions.

To further extend our outreach into the community, a roving art truck will bring our exhibition to schools and institutes of higher learning on weekdays, as well as shopping malls, community spaces and national attractions on weekends. Through this mobile approach, we hope to spread the message of second chances across Singapore, and share our inmate artists’ artworks and stories with more people.

This year, young artists from secondary schools and tertiary institutions are invited to participate in a nationwide art competition, interpreting this year's theme through fine art and short video clips. The top entries will be showcased as part of our art exhibition.

Join us in this extraordinary celebration of art and beyond second chances, and take the first step to help transform lives across Singapore!

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Yellow Ribbon Songwriting Competition

The Yellow Ribbon Songwriting Competition showcases the diverse musical talents of inmates whilst providing them with a meaningful platform for self-expression through music.

Under the guidance of industry professionals, selected inmates will receive structured coaching to develop their songwriting skills. Through this creative process, inmates will craft heartfelt compositions that convey their emotions, reflections, and personal messages to their loved ones and the community.

Themed “Celebrating Second Chances Together”, the competition reminds all that artistic expression holds no boundaries. By nurturing their gift for music, inmates not only embrace their creativity, also discover a therapeutic outlet to share their journey of rehabilitation and transformation.

Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates on this inspiring event taking place in September!

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Yellow Ribbon Project Events Over the Years

Yellow Ribbon Prison Run

The Yellow Ribbon Prison Run (YRPR) aims to unite communities across Singapore to create an inclusive society that supports ex-offenders and their families by championing beyond second chances.

Through participating in YRPR, members of the public demonstrate their solidarity and commitment to breaking down barriers and eliminating social stigma. Each stride taken during the run represents a step towards acceptance and understanding. With the collective presence of runners from all walks of life, it sends a powerful message of hope and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to start anew and contribute meaningfully to society.

In celebration of the Yellow Ribbon Project’s 20^th anniversary in 2024, YRPR introduced an exciting new Kids' Dash category to complement the established 10km competitive run and 5km categories. The milestone event drew unprecedented support, attracting a record-breaking attendance of nearly 11,000 participants and raising an impressive sum of $557,370. These funds were channelled to support various rehabilitation and reintegration programmes designed to assist inmates, ex-offenders and their families.

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Yellow Ribbon Project's 20^th Anniversary Concert

Yellow Ribbon Project's 20^th Anniversary Concert integrated the movement's journey of championing beyond second chances in the community, highlighting current successes, and future vision. The event showcased diverse talents of inmates and outstanding ex-offenders through a series of specially curated skits and musical performances.

In addition to involving inmates and outstanding ex-offenders, the concert brought together prominent and influential public advocates and ambassadors as we showcased the abundance of good work done by the community and galvanised the nation to build a more inclusive society, a nation beyond second chances.

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Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition

Held in partnership with like-minded community partners like the Singapore Chefs' Association (SCA), the Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition showcases the culinary talents and vast potential of inmates exploring a career in the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector.

Through the close mentorship and training from community partners during the competition, participants honed their culinary skills and palette. This contributes to expanding their career prospects in the F&B and hospitality sectors.

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Yellow Ribbon Awards & Appreciation Ceremony

The Yellow Ribbon Appreciation & Awards Ceremony is the signature platform that recognises outstanding individuals, organisations and ex-offenders, for their contributions towards championing beyond second chances and building a more inclusive and cohesive Singapore.

This ceremony celebrates those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, ex-offenders and their families. Award recipients include employers who have opened their doors to hiring ex-offenders, community partners who have provided support services and co-led community initiatives, and ex-offenders who have transformed their lives and now inspire others through their remarkable journeys. Their collective efforts and dedication exemplify the spirit of beyond second chances, proving that with support and determination, lasting positive change is possible.

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