Ground-Up Initiative (GUI)

05/10/2026

"Ground-Up Initiative is a space for us to learn about care: for ourselves, one another, and the soil we stand upon! Growing up in a concrete city (albeit looking green), living with nature was not my second nature. GUI teaches me that we are active guardians of where we are based. In tending the garden, we tend to one another too. In GUI, there is a sense of learning that needs no fixed curriculum, but rather, surfaces in interactions with the space and the people around. There is an organic sense of diversity and richness, and a lot of love in this place.

In five years, I hope to see GUI still thriving with communities of all ages coming together. At the same time, I hope to see many other mini-GUIs in other parts of Singapore. I think GUI is more than one space. I hope the message and way of GUI is spread so that we bring back the kampung spirit to little local green spaces across the island.

So my wish is for this experience and space of transformation to be offered to even more who come and visit.”

Check out the upcoming Weaving Futures Unconference this coming 17 & 18 October, hosted by a group of wonderful folks consisting of Jodie, Michael and their community! https://luma.com/weaving-futures-2026

– Jodie, 2026

02/10/2026

🐾 Tails of Hope: Meet a Rescue Dog & Discover the Stories Behind SOSD’s Work!💛

Every dog deserves a chance to belong. Join us for an inspiring afternoon with Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD) to learn about Singapore’s beloved Singapore Specials, rescue, TNVRM, fostering, adoption, and the people who make second chances possible. 🐶✨

📅 31 October 2026
⏰ 1:30–3:00 PM
📍 Training Room, Kampung Kampus, 11 Chenchuru Close
🎟️ Pay-as-you-wish
📝 RSVP by 28 October

Come meet a rescue dog, hear their story, and discover how kindness can help build a more compassionate community. ❤️

All proceeds from the sharing session support the life-saving work of SOSD.

https://tinyurl.com/3c5kdtav

27/09/2026

“I'm a scientist by training, but outside of work, I'm usually doing something completely different. Curiosity is what keeps me going, and it's what brought me to GUI. Volunteering here gave me a way to try something new, meet people I wouldn't otherwise meet, and be part of something bigger than myself.

At GUI, the pace slows down. There's space to be present, to reconnect with nature and with the people around me. I came to give my time, and somewhere along the way, it gave me a sense of belonging I wasn't even looking for.

My fondest memory is the move to the new site, where everyone stayed positive and carried on without fuss, proving that GUI is really about its people, not the place. I hope it keeps reaching the people who need it most - those feeling disconnected - because Singapore has few spaces where you can simply show up, work with your hands, share a meal, and be reminded that not everything has to be transactional.”

– Peiyi, 2026

21/09/2026

"I spent over ten years looking for a space in Singapore to host open space gatherings. Most venues are corporate—four walls, artificial lighting, and air conditioning where you stay comfortable, but you don't really move or connect deeply. GUI was completely different. The gathering space isn't air-conditioned, and I love that. You're truly experiencing the elements.

What guides us in open space is simple:
• Whoever comes are the right people.
• Whenever it starts is the right time.
• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened—be prepared to be surprised.
• Whenever it's over, it's over.
• The law of mobility: if at any time you find yourself where you are not learning or contributing, use your two feet and go someplace else.

If you notice you’re not, do something. Move around. Shift. Do something for yourself and other people. With GUI it’s a wonderful space to learn that. When the sun is hitting you, maybe take a walk!

Place matters. Will people remember that they were sitting in a hotel? Not really. But they will remember the lunch after volunteering at Balik Kampung more vividly, or gathering around a campfire built in a simple wok. My fondest memory was when we did a meditation in the Gathering Space, and the sunset was right there. It was priceless. I felt a deep gratitude for the space and the people who showed up. This is the value that GUI provides. I learnt that place shapes the community, more than we realise.

What we do in GUI is to provide something nature already freely gives, and not over-build on it. Singapore is losing so many spaces like GUI, and with them, the intangible values we cannot describe: freedom to play, roam around, without any particular restrictions. I imagine that without these spaces, it will be a very different living environment for people to grow up in. It’s hard to describe the impact in words."

Check out the upcoming Weaving Futures Unconference this coming 17 & 18 October, hosted by a group of wonderful folks consisting of Michael and his community! https://luma.com/weaving-futures-2026

– Michael Ong, Humans of Ground-Up Initiative, 2026

17/09/2026

🌿 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚💚

Come discover a wonderful variety of experiential DIY activities, including creating lanterns for the mid-autumn festival using recycled materials!

Stay on to explore Kampung Kampus, and connect with our warm and welcoming community. 🌱enjoy also home-brewed kopi and herbal tea eggs and artisan bakes, there’s something delicious for everyone!☕🥚🍞

📍 Kampung Kampus

⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

🗓️ Mark your calendar: Sunday, 20 Sep 2026

Bring your creativity, curiosity, and family along—we can’t wait to create, learn and share with you! 💚

14/09/2026

💚 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔, 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 🖐️🌱

Where little hands lead the way! ✨

Let your little explorers get messy, curious and creative through 4 child-led nature play experiences — from Splash Lab 💦 and Forest Feast 🌿 to Giant Art Jam 🎨 and Muddy Buddy! 🤎

Join us for a morning of joyful discovery, imagination and messy fun! 🌈

📅 20 Sept | 2 Oct & 18 Oct | 15 Nov | 20 Dec
⏰ 9.00am – 1.00pm
📍 Kampung Kampus
🎟️ From $45/child (3–8 yrs old)

👕 Bring a change of clothes and get ready to get messy!

✨ Limited slots available — sign up now:

https://bit.ly/messy-hands

We can’t wait to welcome your little explorer! 💚🌱

09/09/2026

💚 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈 💚

Last weekend at Balik Kampung, we got our hands in the soil—making compost, rejuvenating our stream, tending to our trees and landscape, and harvesting vegetables. 🌱

But it was about more than getting things done.
It was about slowing down.
Reconnecting with the land.
Laughing and working alongside one another.
And finding a little space to reconnect with ourselves. 💚

Since 2008, Balik Kampung has been our flagship volunteer programme, bringing people of all ages together to farm, upcycle, do woodworking, cook, and care for shared spaces.

Together, we’re building a 21st Century Kampung Culture in Singapore—one that is more connected, sustainable, and joyful. 🌏

✨ Want to be part of it? Come join us at Balik Kampung!

https://www.groundupinitiative.org/give

02/09/2026

🌿 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉-𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 💚

Come discover a wonderful variety of experiential hands-on activities, with delicious bakes and drinks lovingly prepared by our Kampung Bakers!

From home-brewed kopi and herbal tea, eggs to artisan bakes, there’s something delicious for everyone. You’ll definitely be spoilt for choice! ☕🥚🍞

📍 Kampung Kampus
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🗓️ Block the Date: Sunday, 20 Sep 2026

Stay on to explore Kampung Kampus, and connect with our warm and welcoming community. 🌱

Bring your creativity, curiosity, and family along—we can’t wait to create, learn and share with you! 💚

30/08/2026

“I have a ‘never try never know’ kind of mentality. GUI gives me the space to think out of the box. I am grateful to find another part of my persona. For instance, I had the idea of organising the trip to Malaysia to visit Kongsi Co-op & GK Organic Farm Tai's Choice Kitchen 呆食厨房, to jio (invite) everyone, and to have everyone believe in me! That part of me felt courageous. I felt like I was someone who could seek out opportunities, and share them with likeminded people.

My favourite place would be the compost area – even though it’s “smelly” at times. What fascinates me is how food waste – instead of going to the incinerator – can create ‘black gold’! Compost helps to nurture the soil, which grows our vegetables without requiring fertilizer, pesticides, or artificial chemicals.

My dream is that we – GUI – can become a space hosting artisans who are exploring and doing new things, as well as an ecosystem nurturing alternative ways of living. Because I also envision myself within this ecosystem of artisans! For example, I feel it’s crucial for lower income families to take control of their gut health, by making their own probiotics. I shared about Self-Compassion enzyme-making with my GUI peers. Everyone is so willing to be my ‘guinea pig’ to try out my kombucha & tempeh!! It made me feel that GUI is a space where alternative living can be made possible.

If GUI closes down, we’ll lose artisans, those who think out of the box. They might decide to move overseas to expand their dreams, instead of nurturing their aspirations in Singapore. So as a society, we'll also lose a place to expose people to alternative, sustainable ways of living – even without travelling abroad.

In supporting GUI, I know I am supporting an environment where other ways of living can be made possible. I believe that no matter big or small, our efforts to care are still important.

Because Mother Earth is only One.”

– Huiting, , 2026

24/08/2026

Don’t forget to join us this week for our classroom series for a time of Yoga, Breath-work and Meditation!

🧘 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝑼𝒔 🪴

Sometimes the most meaningful journey is the one that brings you back to yourself. 🌍💚 Join our friends from the Centre for Inner Studies Singapore at our next classroom series for an afternoon of mindful movement, conscious breathing, and peaceful stillness. Step away from the rush and reconnect with what truly matters. 🌿

📅 29 August 2026, Saturday
🕜 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Training Room
🧘 Bring a yoga mat or a big towel.
🎟️ Pay-As-You-Wish | RSVP by 27 August

🎟️ Sign up here: https://bit.ly/Ground-Beneath-Us
or at link in bio for instagram.