The Stranger Space: A Year of Growth, Community and Courage | Genevieve Ong | TEDxYouth@ACJC
Ms Genevieve Ong speaks about how she found the courage to build a “Stranger Space”, an ever evolving third place where people shape it as much as it shapes them. She talks about finding so much respite and rejuvenation in this third place, that she decided to build one funded by the community. Moments of serendipity were commonplace in this “Stranger Space” that welcomes everyone. Furthermore, she provides a refreshing perspective on how routines are not about doing the same thing over and over everyday for the rest of life. Genevieve is a human with 2 dreams.
The first, is to “play” for the “rest” of her life.
The second, is to make for a better soul for Singapore, through the build of The Stranger Space.
She was part of the village at Forest School Singapore (FSS) until The Good Death of Forest School Singapore in November 2024. She now extends her practice and learning at Stranger Conversations, buying time and making space to try on all versions of her adult self, the way she held space for children at FSS. It’s taking a village of strangers to raise this regenerated adult! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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