S.P.A.C.E – Community Engagement at AWARE Singapore
S.P.A.C.E (Support, Partner, and Act Through Community Engagement) is AWARE Singapore’s dedicated department for community and volunteer engagement. Established in 2023, S.P.A.C.E is committed to inspiring, empowering, and connecting individuals to build a fairer, more compassionate, and gender‐equal future. Through innovative programmes and strategic partnerships, S.P.A.C.E nurtures a new generation of feminist leaders and mobilises communities to challenge harmful social norms and practices around sex, relationships, and gender equality.
Our Vision
At SPACE, our goal is to empower individuals as agents of change. By cultivating a supportive community and equipping participants with essential knowledge and skills, we help to transform social norms, challenge harmful practices, and renegotiate the boundaries around sex, relationships, and gender equality. Through our varied programmes and partnerships, we strive to foster informed, respectful, and safe communities throughout Singapore.
Our Workshops
Sexual Assault First Responder Training (SAFRT)
An SAFRT workshop being held at the AWARE Centre. Workshop sessions are conducted both online and in-person.
A three‐hour programme designed to familiarise participants with trauma reactions and symptoms so they can provide effective support to survivors. Participants gain an understanding of the impact of sexual violence, the meanings of sexual assault, harassment, and consent, and learn about Singapore’s legal framework and available resources. (See upcoming SAFRT dates here.)
Birds & Bees
A comprehensive consent education programme that empowers individuals to build healthy relationships. This workshop guides participants through navigating consent, setting boundaries, and acquiring the skills needed for responsible decision‐making in relationships.
Active Bystander Training
An interactive workshop that equips individuals with the tools to recognise and address power‐based violence, intimate partner violence, and gender‐based microaggressions across various settings. Participants learn to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy relationships and develop practical intervention skills to support others and foster a more inclusive environment.
Community Partnerships
Safe Space
In collaboration with social service agencies, the Safe Space initiative makes consent education safe, accessible, and inclusive for children and youth from all backgrounds—including those with different abilities, living in low‐income communities, or who have experienced violence. Through tailored, interactive workshops on consent, boundaries, sexual violence, and bystander support, participants are empowered to make informed, safe decisions for themselves and their peers.
Vanguard Initiative – Masculinity
This youth programme focuses on gender equality and healthy masculinity. In partnership with young men, parents, educators, and social workers, the initiative encourages critical thinking about traditional masculine norms, promotes respectful relationships, and aims to improve mental well‐being while preventing gender‐based violence.
Girls Night Programme
Designed to empower young women to take action on safety and gender‐based violence, Girls Night unfolds in three phases:
Exploring & Understanding Community Safety: A safe space for girls to share concerns and experiences regarding community safety.
Knowledge Resource Workshop: Equipping participants with essential knowledge on consent, boundaries, healthy versus unhealthy relationships, and active bystander intervention, alongside building a personal trauma toolkit.
Activating Change: Supporting girls to design and implement community-based campaigns that promote safety and well-being, fostering leadership and positive community change.
Our Impact
SPACE collaborates with a wide range of organisations and institutions, including SMU, Otis, NTU, and international schools, to extend the reach of our programmes. In 2024, our ‘Community Takes Action‘ IDEVAW event, and 2023’s ‘Fair for All’ open house engaged diverse audiences, laying the foundation for new initiatives.
Sugidha Nithiananthan, Director of Advocacy and Research at AWARE, presenting data on tech-facilitated sexual violence at AWARE IDEVAW 2024. Photograph by Bernadette Xiao (@bernadette.xiao on Instagram).
In 2025, our workshops and community partnerships continue to expand our impact by providing safe, accessible spaces for informed discussion and practical learning on issues of consent, relationships, and gender equality.
For more information about our programmes or to find out how you can get involved, please leave us your contact details. We welcome your interest in joining our mission to create a more equal and compassionate society.
