In December 2021, Jewel launched a Jewel BeLeafers horticulture volunteer programme to weed out the challenges posed by reduced manpower during the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted the amount of care provided to Jewel’s indoor forest and gardens. Initially starting with just five passionate volunteers from Changi Airport Group, the programme gradually blossomed. Through word-of-mouth and the chance to master professional pruning and weeding techniques under the guidance of Jewel’s horticulturists, the initiative attracted a growing number of volunteers beyond the airport community, all eager to nurture Jewel’s lush greenery.  

February 2023 marked a pivotal milestone for this programme. A social media call-out for volunteers sparked enthusiastic responses, drawing a good pool of green thumbs. Among them were Daniel Mah, 54, and Sharon Tan, 61, both retirees, who were inspired to join the programme after seeing the call-out. Their passion for horticulture has kept them actively involved in the programme ever since, contributing significantly to the beauty of Jewel’s landscape.  

Recalling her most memorable experience, which took place during the inaugural session of the Jewel BeLeafers programme, Sharon recounted, “I came to Jewel not knowing what to expect. It was later that we learnt that we were going to clear weeds at the East Gateway Garden. During that session I met Erinna, who taught us how to use different apparatus to cut the weeds and loosen the soil, as well as trim the plants. All the volunteers worked hard together, and we finally cleared the garden of weeds after three hours.”

“Now every time I walk past the garden when visiting Jewel with my family or friends, I will proudly share with them that this is a garden which I helped to prune!”

Erinna Pak, Manager of User Experience (Landscape), from Jewel’s horticulture team, and the driving force behind the Jewel BeLeafers programme, brings each volunteering session to life with her infectious enthusiasm. Before diving into the hands-on work, Erinna kicks-off with a concise safety briefing on equipment use.  She then shares insights about the plants that they would be tending to that day, as well as essential pruning techniques. “I always encourage ‘plant talk’ among the volunteers, on topics like plant care and pest management. I would also chat with them about their plant collection,” shared Erinna.

The Jewel Beleafers programme currently has about 30 active volunteers, many of whom are retirees with a passion for gardening. Their contribution extends beyond horticultural tasks. For Valentine’s Day this year, the Jewel BeLeafers decided to spread joy beyond the gardens. Using flora like roses, eucalyptus, eustoma, caspia and statice, they crafted about 250 posies and distributed them to Jewel visitors on 14 February. Despite the meticulous work required to prepare each bouquet, the volunteers were rewarded with radiant smiles of those who received the posies, making every effort worthwhile.  

During Jewel Blooms 2024, Daniel and other volunteers decorated the Shiseido Forest Valley with various floral displays. 

To add some excitement to their volunteering sessions, Erinna organised a special behind-the-scenes visit to Changi Airport’s nursery. During the tour, the volunteers not only explored the nursery but also learnt the art of proper soil potting. They immediately put their newfound skills to use, preparing soil to grow the sunflowers displayed in Terminal 2’s Sunflower Garden.  

Jewel BeLeafers potting soil after their behind-the-scenes tour of Changi Airport‘s nursery.

In addition to making a difference to Jewel’s gardens, the Jewel BeLeafers forged new friendships with one another.

Having grown roses along his HDB flat’s corridor over the last 10 years, Daniel decided to join the Jewel BeLeafers programme as he wanted to work on gardens of a larger scale. He enthused, “Having a group of plant lovers coming together, learning about gardening skills and sharing our knowledge of plants and flowers with one another gave us a new sense of belonging. I made many new friends along the way as well.”

“Being a gardener myself, I know how much work it takes to keep one plant alive. Hence, I truly appreciate the dedication it takes to keep the gardens at Jewel and Changi Airport flourishing. I feel proud to be able to contribute to the lush landscape at Jewel”, Daniel concludes.

Cultivating greenery, building community

To Erinna, the Jewel BeLeafers progamme holds a special place in her heart. She shared, “This programme is more than just a volunteer initiative, it's the coming together of a vibrant community who love both plants and Changi Airport. Through offering them the chance to learn, connect with nature, and befriend others with a common interest, we hope to build a community that can help shape a truly iconic destination in Singapore.”