Page 136 - Our Hawker Stories

A Taste of Heritage: Reflections from WVPS NE Ambassadors

Hawker culture in Singapore is more than just about
food — it’s a vibrant part of our national identity. As NE
Ambassadors from West View Primary School, we set out
to explore what makes our hawker centres so special.
Through our interviews and reflections, we discovered
that hawker centres are not just about eating — they
are spaces where community, culture, and history come
together.

Hawker centres are often called the “community dining
rooms” in Singapore. Here, people from all walks of life
come together to enjoy diverse, affordable, and delicious
local dishes. Whether it’s a quick breakfast before school
or a weekend dinner with family, hawker centres offer
something for everyone. options, like less oil and salt, and more veggie-based
dishes. At the same time, people hoped that classic
We interviewed diners at the hawker centre and asked dishes would be preserved for future generations to
them what hawker culture means to them. enjoy. There were also suggestions that hawker centres
should embrace the future while respecting their
“Do you like to have meals at the hawker centre?” heritage — perhaps through eco-friendly practices or
digital innovations.
“Yes!” one diner replied. “There is a huge range of
affordable, delicious local dishes all in one place. I love In the end, one message was clear: hawker culture is a
it!” treasured part of Singapore’s social fabric. It brings us
together across generations and cultures, offering not
We also asked how people would feel if hawker culture just food, but memories, laughter, and the warmth of
were to disappear. One thoughtful answer was, “I would community.
feel like I’m losing a piece of living history, an everyday
connection and cultural pride.” As NE Ambassadors, we are proud to be part of this
living heritage. We hope to continue sharing the story of
Many shared that hawker culture is a symbol of our our hawker culture — one plate at a time.
multicultural heritage and everyday life. “To me, it
represents something incredibly human and meaningful “As students, we see hawker centres not just
— it’s about community, resilience, heritage and joy,” as places to eat, but as places to learn —
said another.
about culture, history, and what it means to
When we brought up Singapore’s effort to include be a Singaporean.”
hawker culture in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural
Heritage, people responded with pride. “It’s a beautiful Elizabeth Rachel Goh, Cerda Pio Miguel Junico,
and well-deserved recognition,” one diner said. Benke Anna Zofia, Suhrit Pradeep
NE Ambassadors
We also asked for suggestions on how hawker food and West View Primary School
centres could evolve. Some ideas included healthier

132 Our Hawker Stories