Celebrating SPD is Plucky Sharks at Purple Parade 2018

Since the inauguration of the Purple Parade in 2013, SPD has been a supporter of this largest movement in Singapore that promotes inclusion and celebrates the abilities of persons with [...]

Key takeaways:

  • “Besides the sense of achievement of being able to bring smiles to the beneficiaries and seeing them enjoying the carnival, the emotional send-offs meant that the volunteers have also connected with their hearts,” said Sanjay Mundhra from the Social Impact Committee of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Since the inauguration of the Purple Parade in 2013, SPD has been a supporter of this largest movement in Singapore that promotes inclusion and celebrates the abilities of persons with special needs. It was no different this year.

SPD, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. came together for the third year to form a joint contingent for the event which took place at Suntec City on 27 October. Riding on the “plucky” theme which we have adopted for the last two years, our 150 member-team comprising volunteers from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. as well as clients and staff went as a school of purple plucky sharks. More than just plucky, which means brave and courageous, we were also a fun and creative bunch.

Every member donned fanciful purple shark hat while some carried purple shark cut-outs – all handmade by the team. Clients from our Day Activity Centre also contributed to the effort by making their very own shark hats.

Through the formation of this inclusive contingent, volunteers from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. also got the opportunity to interact with persons with disabilities and had glimpses of their challenges.

“Besides the sense of achievement of being able to bring smiles to the beneficiaries and seeing them enjoying the carnival, the emotional send-offs meant that the volunteers have also connected with their hearts,” said Sanjay Mundhra from the Social Impact Committee of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

“It was touching to see the connection between the HP volunteers and our clients,” said Kam Jin Chieh, Assistant Director for Adult and Elderly Services at SPD. He recounted how a volunteer and one of our clients, who was on the home-bound van, had placed their hands on the vehicle’s window to bid each other goodbye. “Hopefully, there are many more such opportunities for connection between volunteers and our clients,” he added.

We thank Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. for their continuous support to SPD and look forward to forming another plucky contingent next year!