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People's Association

Sparks

"Sparks" is a community innovation initiative enabling Community Clubs to facilitate resident-driven solutions for local challenges and community development.

Last updated 21 January 2026
The word "Sparks" with colorful, stylized lettering, the tagline "Ignite. Innovate. Impact," and a red interconnected rings logo.

"Sparks" is a community innovation movement - by the community, for the community.  It reflects PA’s refreshed mission to spark and nurture community participation. As Singapore’s communities become increasingly diverse, this initiative aims to enhance the role of Community Clubs (CCs), moving beyond traditional service provision to becoming catalysts for community-led innovation and solutions that address local challenges and aspirations, fostering a deeper sense of ownership and unity contributing towards nation building.

Two groups stand indoors holding posters with doodles and notes during community engagement sessions.

To achieve these objectives, PA has introduced three interconnected components under the “Sparks” umbrella:

  1. Community Innovation Spaces (CIS):  Ten pilot CCs have been selected to redesign part of their spaces to enable residents, volunteers, community and corporate partners to come together to brainstorm ideas, share insights and test out innovative solutions to address community concerns and bring collective aspirations to fruition.

The 10 pilot Sparks @ CC are:

  • Central Singapore District: Geylang West CC, Pek Kio CC

  • North East District: Buangkok CC, Pasir Ris East CC

  • North West District: Nee Soon South CC, Zhenghua CC

  • South East District: Mountbatten CC, Kampong Chai Chee CC

  • South West District: Boon Lay CC, Tengah CC

Two views of the Sparks innovation space at Buangkok Community Centre. Left image: Four young people collaborating around a laptop at a white round table, with the "Sparks - Ignite, Innovate, Impact @ Buangkok CC" wall branding visible behind them. Right image: A wider view of the modern co-working space showing people at high tables with bar stools, colorful circular wall displays, and a curved white seating area with the Sparks logo.

  1. Community Innovation Taskforces (CIT): Each of the Sparks @ CC has formed a taskforce, comprising Grassroots Leaders and partners who are the driving force behind the community innovation journey to foster a culture of innovation, drive community participation, and spearhead ideation sessions and activities within the CIS.

A large group photo of approximately 35 people at a Sparks event, arranged in two rows on a stage with red curtains. Participants are giving thumbs up gestures and many are holding certificates or awards. Behind them is a large screen displaying the "Sparks - Ignite. Innovate. Impact" logo, with branded banners on either side of the stage.

Take a look at the launch of the first CIS by Geylang West CIT

  1. Sparks x BFG Community Hackathon: An inaugural collaboration between the PA and Open Government Products (OGP), combining PA's deep community connections with OGP's technological expertise and past experience running the Build for Good (BFG) hackathon.  The Community Hackathon rallied the community to identify pressing local issues and develop innovative tech solutions that address community challenges and aspirations. Since June 2025, participants received support from CITs, experienced tech mentors, and hands-on workshops to refine their ideas into prototypes.

Problem Discovery:

People are gathered in three groups, interacting and working on laptops at a tech event with red chairs and tables.

Product Visioning & Team Sharing:

Groups of people in a brightly lit room, working on laptops and discussing projects, with Employment and Our Journey signs visible.

User Testing:

People engaging in outdoor gardening, a group discussion, and a meeting activity indoors with vibrant banners in the background.

Community Hackathon Finale:

After a month of dedicated development, the Community Hackathon reached its inspiring finale on 12 July 2025 at Heartbeat@Bedok, that drew an audience of about 1,000 people.  21 passionate teams of 100 passionate like-minded youths presented their innovative, tech-driven solutions to a distinguished panel of judges with 5 winning teams progressing to BFG Accelerator Programme.  Each project demonstrated how technology can be harnessed to address local community challenges and create meaningful impact.  Find out more about the Community Hackathon journey and the projects here.

A large, diverse group of people wearing white shirts pose together at a Community Hackathon event indoors.
People are gathered in an indoor event space, some interacting with exhibits and others looking at posters and displays.
People stand and interact at tech demo booths in a brightly lit event space with informational displays and devices.

Discover the 5 winning teams, 1 Community’s Favourite team and their impactful solutions!

Eight people celebrating at a Community Hackathon event, holding a large ceremonial cheque for S$20,000 made out to the "Community Hackathon 2025 Winning Team." Six people stand in the back row giving thumbs up, while two men kneel in front holding the cheque. They're positioned in front of a wall with "Community Hackathon" branding and colorful curved design elements.


Team SeniorSays

CIT: Nee Soon South

Streamlines senior outreach by auto-filling forms through conversation transcripts, turning emotional insights into actionable data for better and faster care.

Eight people celebrating at a Community Hackathon event, with six standing in the back row giving thumbs up and two kneeling in front holding a large ceremonial cheque for S$20,000 made out to the "Community Hackathon 2025 Winning Team." Several participants wear red lanyards and matching white t-shirts. The backdrop shows "Community Hackathon" branding with logos for Sparks, Build for Good, and Open Government Products.


Team Red Flags

CIT: Geylang West

Helps young adults make smarter and independent financial decisions by serving as “Grammarly for finance” that spots risky terms, decodes jargon, and verifies contract details.

Seven people celebrating at a Community Hackathon event, with five standing in the back row giving thumbs up and two kneeling in front holding a large ceremonial cheque for S$20,000 made out to the "Community Hackathon 2025 Winning Team." Most participants wear white t-shirts with event branding. The backdrop shows "Community Hackathon" branding with "build for good" logo visible on the left side.


Team SeniorSync

CIT: Zhenghua

Empowers Active Ageing Centres (AACs) to deliver personalised care through a senior care platform that tracks requests, customises care, and streamlines support.

Eight people celebrating at a Community Hackathon event, with six standing in the back row giving thumbs up and two kneeling in front holding a large ceremonial cheque for S$20,000 made out to the "Community Hackathon 2025 Winning Team." Most participants wear white t-shirts with event branding. The backdrop shows "Community Hackathon" branding with "build for good" and "Open Government Products" logos visible on the left side.


Team LetterKey

CIT: Zhenghua

Helps seniors understand official letters by turning them into bite-sized summaries and audio formats, delivered in their preferred language

Two photos of Community Hackathon award ceremonies. Left image: Eight people celebrating with a ceremonial cheque for S$20,000 made out to "Community Hackathon 2025 Winning Team," with participants giving thumbs up and one person playfully covering their face. Right image: Seven people holding a ceremonial cheque labeled "Community Hackathon Community's Favourite," with participants arranged in two rows against the same branded backdrop featuring colorful curved design elements.


Team CallBridge

Empowers hearing-impaired users to communicate independently using real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech technology.

Team Hawkify (Community’s Favourite)

Enables hawkers to gain visibility and strengthen their livelihoods by connecting them with diners and supporters.

  1. Sparks Citizens Developer network: A network for passionate community innovators and stakeholders to come together to inspire the next wave of impactful collaborations.  Selected teams from the Community Hackathon will be part of the Sparks Citizens Developer network, where they will collaborate with respective Community Innovation Taskforces to pilot their solutions within local communities.  They will receive support through mentorship from PA’s ICT and PA partners, funding as well as access to PA’s community network for user-testing.

Join the Sparks community innovation movement!

Ready to spark change? Join us in this community innovation movement and be a catalyst for positive change and impact. Whether you have innovative ideas, a passion for community building, or simply want to lend a helping hand, we invite you to connect with us!

Email PA_Partnership@pa.gov.sg and let's ignite change, innovate together, and create lasting impact for the community!

People interacting in various settings: meeting, crafting with a sewing machine, and distributing items outdoors.
People are participating in activities at a workshop: using laptops, writing on whiteboards, and assembling a wheelchair.