Purple Parade 2022: Supporting Inclusion and Celebrating Abilities of Persons with Disabilities

^{The combined AWWA-SUSS contingent at the Purple Parade march.}

This year marks the 10th year of The Purple Parade - Singapore’s largest ground-up movement to support inclusion and celebrate abilities of Persons with Disabilities. To show our support, SUSS staff and student communities came together and formed a contingent with AWWA to march in solidarity with them as part of The Purple Parade on Saturday, 29 October 2022. AWWA is a social service agency whose mission is to empower the disadvantaged, maximising their potential to lead independent and dignified lives. SUSS has been supporting AWWA consistently over the years through active volunteerism and fundraising.

This joint SUSS-AWWA Purple Parade contingent effort was made possible through the collaboration of SUSS’ Human Resources department and the Office of Service-Learning & Community Engagement (OSLCE). It is also part of a larger movement to grow our support for Persons with Disabilities in our SUSS community, such as students with disabilities.

^{The SUSS Contingent getting ready to march at the Purple Parade.}

Jason Ng, Specialist at the SUSS Office of Service-Learning & Community Engagement and participant of the contingent effort, said, “It was meaningful to be able to march alongside AWWA, conveying the message that it takes a village (of partnerships) to raise inclusion. Making the experience even more memorable, I became a buddy to a father who came with his son, a student with AWWA’s special education school. Spontaneously during the march, the son held on to my hand, allowing us to give mutual support. This inspired me to think how we could also be a support to those around us – or even be proactive in seeking help when we need to. I look forward to this meaningful inclusion cause going beyond an event, and becoming a part of our everyday lives.”