Project CARE 2014 by Hong Wen School

On 2 October 2014, Hong Wen School celebrated Children’s Day with a very meaningful programme at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) – Project CARE “Children Actively Relating with the Elderly”.

Accompanied by 84 teachers and 40 parent volunteers of the school, a total of 1328 pupils carried goodie bags and walked from the school, about 500 metres away, to KWSH. Besides contributing the goodie bags, the students also put up (on the display panels) lovely message cards specially penned by them for the elderly residents.

Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and Mayor of South West District, was the Guest-of-Honour for the event.  The presence of Ms Low not only added encouragement to the commendable effort of the pupils but also brought comfort to the elderly residents.

Together with Ms Low, some pupil representatives handed the goodie bags to the elderly residents who responded with grateful smiles. Besides watching a performance by the school’s Chinese Orchestra, the residents also enjoyed breakfast in the auditorium with the pupils, teachers and volunteer parents.

“The aim of Project CARE is to enable our pupils to realise that they too can play a part in contributing back to the society meaningfully. We would like our pupils to have an enriching experience of celebrating Children’s Day by sharing their joy with the elderly from Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, our valued partner in the community. Respect and care for the elderly are two important values which we want to inculcate in our children.” said Mr Poon Siow Leng, Principal of Hong Wen School.

Out of their own school pocket money, the pupils raised a donation of $2,400 for KWSH. This heart-warming gesture testifies of their charitable spirit. KWSH applauds Hong Wen School for organising this programme in conjunction with their Children’s Day celebration.

KWSH is not only one of the oldest charitable hospitals in Singapore offering quality healthcare services for the sick and needy, but also has a long standing tradition of inspiring Singaporeans towards social responsibility and community service.  As a role model of the community in advocating good social values in many generations, the hospital has been partnering schools to organise projects that can impact the community as well as learning for students.