PANORAMAA P U B L I C A T I O N O F H W A C H O N G I N S T I T U T I O N

A P R I L – J U N E 2 0 1 7

向世界展示甘榜精神的可贵 Scaling New Peaks of Excellence Leading with Compassion – A Values in Action Special

CONTENT

CElEbraTiON | 12Scaling New Peaks of Excellence

ExplOraTiON | 64Making Waves at the 2nd International History Olympiad

Scientific and Cultural Exchange at the Science and Technology Symposium for Youths

色彩缤纷的文化交流节

走一趟历史文化之旅

ValuEs iN aCTiON spECial | 74A Gemstone of Hope

K1ndling the Spark of Empathy

Reinvigorating the Lives around Us

Compassion through Fashion

Serving the Community through Cardboard Craft

Broadcasting the Miao’s Mountain Voices

spOTlighT | 722016 Mid-Autumn Festival (MAF) Celebrations

ClarificationIn the October-December 2016 Issue of Panorama, the featured class gathering included members from the graduated class of 1976 on that day. It started as a Class 4C initiative but later, many good friends of other classes joined in the celebration.

highlighTs | 06Hwa Chong in the News

Peaks of Excellence

The Future of Education – The Global Learning Alliance Singapore Summit 2016

iNspiraTiON | 14Inspiring Teacher of English Shares Her Leadership Philosophy

Outstanding Economics Teacher shows that Economics is Everywhere

Passion and Pedagogy – Lessons from the Best Literature Teacher of the Year

向世界展示甘榜精神的可贵

华中队荣获朝阳杯国际朗诵比赛亚军和

新加坡赛区全国冠军

Battle of Wits at the Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championships

Lighting the Path for a Greener Future

Hwa Chong’s Eco Hero

Making a Place for Themselves

A Winning Combination at the National Sahibba (Malay Scrabble) Competition

Surpassing the Competition with Mettle

Hwa Chong NPCC Unit Hits Bullseye

Reclaiming Glory at the Inter-Zone First Aid and Home Nursing Competition

华中儿女爱心接力

passiON | 42Acquiring Global Literacy at the 10th Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit

黑发早思银发潮 为国为民献计谋—

2016年亚洲青年华语论坛

Keeping the Singapore Spirit Alive – Pre-University Seminar 2016

“Rowed” to Success – Hwa Chong Canoeing Finds Strength in Service

Broadening Horizons, Serving with Passion – Young Health Ambassadors Programme 2016

模拟联合国大会，华中学生表现耀眼

公益慈善导航心的方向

再现文革历史《浩劫》震撼人心

The Clarion Call of the Bugle

2016年种族和谐日民俗文化缤纷行

A True Renaissance Man – Celebrating Triple Firsts in Geography and Law at Cambridge

Passion and Tenacity – Important Ingredients for a Winning Strategy

Chen Yihao 4B1

Tan Shao Chong 4S2

Cheong Zi Yu 4S3

Liau Yee Seng 3H1

Colby Peh 3O2

王德华 16A10

吴小滢 16S65

张镭耀 16S6J

张溪庭 16S72

郑欣怡 16S72

光宇 16S7B

洪舜甫 17A10

林俊愷 17A14

許家维 17A15

王乙焜 17S6A

王泓皓 中四汇聚一班

张泽楷 中四汇聚一班

朱俊安 中二聚英三班

EDITORIAL TEAM

PANORAMASTUDENT EDITORS

Wong Yang 16A14

Joshua Ooi Wei Jin 16S79

Loh Wen Jie Zachary 16A12

Claudia Lee Xue Ting 16A14

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Ma Si Cheng 16S73

DESIGNER

Zhu Ziyi 16S64

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ng Xin Lin 16S69

Lee Yueyu 16S6P

Lim Shi Huan 16S73

TEACHER-ADVISORS

Mr. Kor Zhi Yang korzy@hci.edu.sg

Mr. Benjamin Hathaway benjaminhw@hci.edu.sg

Mr. Kenny Tan tanwp@hci.edu.sg

Dr. Tan Mei Leng tanml@hci.edu.sg

Ms. Josephine Phay phaycs@hci.edu.sg

Ms. Yin Xiu Ping yinxp@hci.edu.sg

PHOTO CREDITS

National Environment Agency

Speak Good English Movement

Photographic Society

Media Tech Club

WRITERS

Owen Cho Kok Quan 16A11

Tan Yan Rong, Eilun 16A12

Amelia Tan Ling 16A15

Koh Jin Ian 16A15

Yeo Teng Wei 16A15

Calvin Chen You Jia 16S63

Nathan Widjaja 16S66

Leong Say Kiat, Conan 16S6A

Ashley Sherphen Liang 16S72

Wong Yi Jie 16S72

Ellie Lew Yi Ting 16S75

Eleanor Loh Kei Ying 16S7C

Daniel Lim Yu Hian 16S7G

Ng Wei 17A10

Eugene Lee 17A15

Khor Jia Wei 17A15

Quince Pan 17A15

Ryan Chee Choon Hoe 17S68

Kenneth Wu Rong Jie 17S6D

Low Kang Siang Raphael 17S6G

Wei Yongxi 17S7F

HWA CHONG06

HigHligHts

• S'porein2035– Inclusive and innovative ST, Pg. B2, 1/6/2016

•Groomingtomorrow'sleaders ST, Pg. B3, 27/7/2016

•Boundbyatimeless piece of history ST, Pg. B9, 1/9/2016

•Wellversedintheart of teaching English ST, Pg. B5, 14/10/2016

•Injectingvigourinto scientific research ST, Pg. B12, 21/10/2016

•Nurturingfutureleaders BT, Pg. 16, 31/10/2016

NOTablE sTOriEs

IN THE NEWS

NOTablE sTOriEs

• 三组视频聚焦中国

ZB Now, Pg. 4, 20/7/2016

• 中学4年熏陶

男生学会体谅父母

WB, Pg. 5, 13/8/2016

• 热爱华文华语 她们赴华深造

ZB, Pg. 8, 16/8/2016

• 新加坡学生夺13金 扬威国际奥林匹克赛

ZB, Pg. 2, 31/8/2016

• 马善高：环境取得可持续

发展 国家才能长久成功

ZB, Pg. 12, 22/9/2016

• 学者：应对未来经济挑战

须不断栽培创新人才

ZB, Pg. 10, 28/10/2016

PEAKS OF EXCELLENCE

ACADEMIC AWARDS

iNTErNaTiONal hisTOry Olympiad • 2GoldMedals

siNgapOrE iNTErNaTiONal maThEmaTiCs ChallENgE • DistinctionAward • BestMathematicalModelling Special Award

siNgapOrE sCiENCE aNd ENgiNEEriNg Fair • 4GoldMedals

sENOkO susTaiNabiliTy ChallENgE • TopPrize (Junior College Category)

iNTEr-sECONdary sChOOl pharmaCEuTiCal sCiENCE ChallENgE • Champions

NaTiONal Olympiad iN iNFOrmaTiCs • 2GoldMedals

JurONg TOwN COrpOraTiON (JTC) i3 ChallENgE 2016 • Champions

yOuNg mayOr urbaN plaNNiNg COmpETiTiON • Champions (Senior Category A) • BestPrototypeWinner

a*sTar NaTiONal sCiENCE sChOlarship (bs) • 3Awardees

a*sTar uNdErgraduaTE sChOlarship • 2Awardees

dsTa uNdErgraduaTE sChOlarship • 6Awardees

dEFENCE mEriT sChOlarship • 4Awardees

Edb sChOlarship • 1Awardee

EduCaTiON mEriT sChOlarship • 2Awardees

hEalThCarE mEriT sChOlarship • 1Awardee

hEalThCarE mEriT award • 23Awardees

miNisTry OF FOrEigN aFFairs FOrEigN sErViCE sChOlarship • 1Awardee

siNgapOrE gOVErNmENT sChOlarship (miNisTry OF sOCial aNd Family dEVElOpmENT) • 3Awardees

siNgapOrE gOVErNmENT sChOlarship (spF) • 1Awardee

lOCal mEriT sChOlarship (spF) • 1Awardee

siNgapOrE-iNdusTry sChOlarship Full TErm • 7Awardees

TEaChiNg sChOlarship • 2Awardees(Overseas) • 11Awardees(Local)

SPORTS

PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS, UNIFORMED GROUPS AND OTHERS

2016 iNTErsChOOl spOrTs ChampiONships •Won51Top3Titles

siNgapOrE armEd FOrCEs yOuNg lEadEr award 2016 • 5Awardees

siNgapOrE pOliCE FOrCE bOOk prizE 2016 • 3Awardees

Edb prOmisiNg yOuNg lEadEr award 2016 • 5Awardees

8Th zhaOyaNg Cup iNTErNaTiONal liTErary rECiTal COmpETiTiON (siNgapOrE rOuNd) • NationalChampions

prEsidENT’s sCOuT award • 6Awardees

FraNk COOpEr saNds awards • GoldAward(Scouts) • GoldAward(Ventures)

NaTiONal CadET COrps bEsT uNiT COmpETiTiON • GoldAward (for the 20th consecutive year)

NaTiONal pOliCE CadET COrps OVErall uNiT prOFiCiENCy award • GoldAward (for the 20th consecutive year)

NaTiONal pOliCE CadET COrps iNTEr-uNiT .22 rEVOlVEr ChampiONship • TeamChampions

sT. JOhN ambulaNCE brigadE COrp aChiEVEmENT award • GoldAward (for the 16th consecutive year)

siNgapOrE sECONdary sChOOls dEbaTiNg ChampiONship • TeamChampions

raFFlEs JuNiOr COllEgE uNdEr-14s ChallENgE shiEld (ENglish dEbaTE) • TeamChampions

NaTiONal baNd COmpETiTiON • GoldAward

CiTi-ymCa yOuTh FOr CausEs 2016 •2YFCDistinctionAwards •YFCBestFundManagementAward •YFCBestFundraiserAward •YFCBestPublicOutreachAward •YFCBestVolunteerMobilizationAward •YFCEntrepreneurshipAward

(Organizing team members were students from Hwa Chong Institution and other schools)

siNgapOrE armEd FOrCEs sChOlarship (saFs) • 3Awardees (One of two schools awarded the highest number of SAF scholars)

siNgapOrE pOliCE FOrCE sChOlarship (spFs) • 1Awardee

publiC sErViCE COmmissiON (psC) sChOlarship • 19Awardees (A quarter of all PSC Scholarships offered)

siNgapOrE armEd FOrCEs ENgiNEEriNg sChOlarship • 1Awardee

siNgapOrE armEd FOrCEs mEriT sChOlarship • 1Awardee

siNgapOrE armEd FOrCEs mEriT sChOlarship (wOmEN) • 1Awardee

2016 – EARLY 2017

SCHOLARSHIPS (ACCURATE AS OF JANUARy 2017)

FuTurE prOblEm sOlViNg prOgram iNTErNaTiONal CONFErENCE • OverallChampions (Community Problem Solving Competition Senior Division)

2016 TaiwaN iNTErNaTiONal sCiENCE Fair (TisF) • FirstPlace (Medicine and Health Category) • YoungScientistAwardWinner

iNTErNaTiONal biOlOgy Olympiad • 1GoldMedal

The mercury hit 32°C in sunny Singapore as educators from eight different countries bore the sweltering heat in good cheer to gather in Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) for the Global Learning Alliance (GLA) Singapore Summit. First organized by Teachers College at Columbia University, Scarsdale Public Schools District (New York) and Hwa Chong Institution five years ago, the GLA has grown significantly since the first Summit, and is today an international consortium of more than 40 leading educational institutions committed to innovative pedagogy.

Quince Pan 17A15

10

HigHligHts

THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION – THE GLOBAL LEARNING ALLIANCE SINGAPORE SUMMIT 2016

1

2016’s Summit was held from 24th to 26th August 2016 and revolved around the topic of intercultural collaborative problem-solving. After two and a half days of intense closed-door think-tank sessions as well as cultural activities, the Summit culminated in a forum that was open to the public.

Keynote speaker Professor Freddy Boey (Deputy President and Provost, Nanyang Technological University), in his speech on global collaboration, innovation and enterprise in education, spoke about the three “I”s of learning (Interactive, Inspirational and Institutional) and how they are relevant to the ever-changing educational landscape. In the 21st century, the educator must engage the student and teaching has to be interactive. The educational institution should provide opportunities for students to participate in exciting research and be inspired. Last but not least, a disciplined and structured approach to education is essential, one that creates a sense of belonging to the institution that provides such a form of education – the physical school.

Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal) chaired a panel during the forum to conclude the various discussions on inter-cultural collaborative problem-solving that were held over the course of the Summit. Two case studies were brought up: a collaboration between Hwa Chong Institution and Scarsdale High School, and a group project done by students across Europe. Researchers from both case studies highlighted how students in both case studies communicated and worked effectively with each other despite national and cultural boundaries.

The Summit provided a valuable opportunity for educators to share pedagogical ideas and philosophies with their peers from all over the world, and many of its participants emerged from it brimming with ideas to bring back to their respective classrooms. Mrs. Foo Woon Keat (Director / Studies), for example, was impressed by the sharing by Mrs. Stella Lau (Headmistress,DiocesanGirls'School,HongKong).Mrs.Foosaid, “She (Mrs. Lau) fervently stressed the importance of giving students opportunities to articulate their thoughts, and described how she had given them the chance to share their opinions with their peers in a mature and civilised manner at one assembly in her school.”

Hwa Chong Institution would like to thank the Ministry of Education for supporting the Summit, as well as the Economic Development Board and GlaxoSmithKline for sponsoring the Summit.

1 Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal) chairing a panel with fellow illustrious educators2 Professor Freddy Boey (Deputy President and Provost, Nanyang Technological

University) giving his address

2

4

3

3 A passionate participant sharing his views4 The Organizing Committee

SCALING NEW PEAKS OF EXCELLENCE

For over 97 years, Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) is proud to have nurtured countless enterprising servant leaders with a sense of purpose, passion, and compassion. Representing the best of East and West, generations of Hwa Chong students have remained steadfast to the school’s core values of giving back to society.

We are honored to be the first school to be conferred the Singapore Quality Award with Special Commendation. The award recognizes Hwa Chong’s sustained global leadership, and is conferred on organisations that have scaled greater

12

1

CELEBRATION

2

1 Nurturing holistic excellence in generations of Hwa Chong students

2 Principal Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (extreme right) with the other winners of the Business Excellence Awards 2016

heights of excellence over the past five years. HCI would not have been able to achieve global standards of excellence without the support of many stakeholders and partners.

We are grateful to the Hwa Chong Board of Directors, HCI Board of Governors, HCIS Board / Directors, Hwa Chong Seniors’ Club, Hwa Chong Alumni Association, Hwa Chong Junior College Alumni, the Ministry of Education, partners, alumni, staff, parents, students and the Hwa Chong community for their unwavering support.

“The Singapore Quality Award with Special Commendation was only possible due to the tireless efforts of our staff and students. With this award, we are considered one of the best schools in the world. While 2017 has its own challenges, as long as we stay united, guided by our motto 自强不息 and Win-Win philosophy, we will continue to scale new heights.”– Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal)

INSPIRING TEACHER OF ENGLISH SHARES HER LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHy

Joshua Ooi Wei Jin 16S79

INSPIRATION14

1

1 Mrs. Chan yin-Shin (Principal Consultant 1 / English) (Photo Credit: Speak Good English Movement)2 (from left) Dr. Janil Puthucheary (Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry

of Education), Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal), Mrs. Chan and Mr. Goh Eck Kheng (Chairman of the Speak Good English Movement) (Photo Credit: Speak Good English Movement)

32

Hwa Chong’s English department may comprise four different subjects and more than forty teachers, but they are all united by one aim: to nurture students holistically, and to develop pedagogically so as to better support our students.

The department has been guided by strong and visionary leadership, and we are honoured that our Principal Consultant 1 of English, Mrs. Chan Yin-Shin, has been awarded the Inspiring Teacher of English Award (Leadership Award – Junior College Category). This award acknowledges teachers who ignite a love for the English language and are effective in helping their students speak and write accurately.

A literary aficionado, Mrs. Chan entered the teaching service with a strong sense of purpose and an open mind. “There’s always something to learn from your colleagues,” she said, having been influenced by the wisdom and expertise of her contemporaries. She is immensely grateful for her supportive superiors, including Mr. Chan Kwok Leong (Deputy Principal /Studies (College)), Mrs. Chin Bee Kuan (Deputy Principal / Studies (High School)), Mrs. Tan Ai Chin (Dean / Research Studies) and Mr. Seow Hwye Tiong (former Dean / Student Development), who all helped bring out the leader in her.

Mrs. Chan sees her leadership role as one where she provides support by ensuring that “the conditions are right for others to do their job well. This enables subject and level heads to focus on their subject areas, and teachers to focus on their teaching.” She also strives to provide opportunities for teachers to “work collaboratively and synergistically, so that the department as a whole can go further and do better.”

By all accounts, the department has indeed gone further and done better. General Paper students have consistently achieved stellar GCE A-Level Examination results. Our Literature students regularly win the Angus Ross Prize (awarded to the top non-

British A-Level Examination script), while the English Language and Linguistics students had a strong maiden showing at the International Linguistics Olympiad. Mr. Tan Wah Jiam (Senior Consultant / Knowledge and Inquiry) has previously clinched the Inspiring Teacher of English Award. Mrs. Chan stressed that none of this would have been possible without the hard work of her colleagues.

In the classroom, Mrs. Chan is a role model as well. As Lu Jinyao (16S79) shared, “she never fails to make lessons pleasant and enriching with her kind and warm disposition.” Supporting students with their problems and in their intellectual growth have helped Mrs. Chan forge strong teacher-student ties, making each year meaningful. Interacting with students, she stressed, is the “heart of being a teacher.”

To those aspiring to be a language teacher, her advice is simple: while one should be aware of the demands an educator faces, “if you have a heart for people, particularly youths and children, be brave and try it out!”

3 Leading a discussion on innovative pedagogy

OUTSTANDING ECONOMICS TEACHER SHOWS THAT ECONOMICS IS EvERyWHERE

Eleanor Loh Kei Ying 16S7C, Daniel Lim Yu Hian 16S7G

INSPIRATION16

1

1 Ms. How Lai yin Deborah (Principal Consultant / Arts) receiving the Award from Mr. Ng Chee Meng (Minister for Education (Schools) & Second Minister for Transport). Standing beside Mr. Ng is Professor Quah Teong Ewe, Euston (Head of Nanyang Technological University's Division of Economics, and President of the Economic Society of Singapore)

2

3

Price discrimination evidenced by the fat tax in air ticket pricing – Pan Si Wen (14S77) can still recall this and other anecdotes that Ms. How Lai Yin Deborah (Principal Consultant / Arts) had shared in Economics lessons. The class, Si Wen said, was “always amazed by how Economics is so close to our daily lives.”

Indeed, Ms. How’s quest to show the real-life relevance of Economics has had a great impact on the students that she has taught in her 16 years of teaching. In recognition of her efforts, Ms. How was conferred the inaugural Outstanding Economics

2 Ms. How giving students 'fluttering butterflies' to encourage them to persevere

3 Class photo with 14S77

Teacher Award (OETA) in 2016. She was one of only two recipients of the Award, which honours and celebrates the efforts of exemplary Economics teachers.

Ms. How revealed that she did not always possess a love for Economics. When considering which subject to specialize in university, she weighed factors such as the opportunity cost in terms of time. This led her to pragmatically choose Economics over other subjects. “I guess this was a very ‘Economics’ way of decision-making back then,” she mused.

After seeing the impact she made on her students, Ms. How’s passion for the subject bloomed. Indeed, Ms. How’s primary motivation is her students. What drives her and her department to improve constantly and become more skilful educators is their desire for their students to be engaged in the classroom. To that end, they have devised numerous innovative learning packages and lessons.

For instance, one of Ms. How’s fondest memories of teaching was a team-based learning lesson conducted using Nearpod, an interactive presentation and assessment tool. She introduced an element of competition by awarding prizes to groups with the highest scores. “All of the students were actively engaged,

be it for independent or collaborative tasks,” she shared. “I was really pleasantly surprised when even the very quiet students started to challenge their teammates over the answers.”

Such experiences keep Ms. How’s passion for Economics alive. She finds her work immensely meaningful as students “become responsible for their own learning, and love learning and applying the concepts in their daily lives. This is what makes the teaching of Economics most joyful and fulfilling.”

Ms. How encouraged fellow Economics tutors to “follow your heart and keep the passion for teaching and learning alive.” While challenges may arise, Ms. How sees them as opportunities to learn and improve. After all, as she pointed out, the Chinese characters for “crisis” – “危机” – signify "danger" and "opportunity" respectively.

As for her students, Ms. How hopes that they will continue to love Economics and see its influence in their daily lives.

PASSION AND PEDAGOGy – LESSONS FROM THE BEST LITERATURE TEACHER OF THE yEAR

Khor Jia Wei 17A15

INSPIRATION18

1

1 An engaging class discussion2 Ms. Liew with 3 batches of Humanities Programme students

3

2

The Best Literature Teacher of the Year Award is given to teachers who display outstanding teaching effectiveness both within and outside the classroom; possess the ability to inspire, promote and sustain interest in Literature among students; and use a creative approach to teaching, so as to foster critical thinking and challenge students to engage in independent inquiry. We are honoured that the Award was presented at the inaugural Asian Women Writers’ Festival to our very own Ms. Liew Pei Li (Senior Consultant / Humanities Programme and Literature).

3 Ms. Liew Pei Li (Senior Consultant / Humanities Programme and Literature) receiving the Award from the Guest-of-Honour Ms. Alexandra E. McKenzie (Deputy High Commissioner and Political Counsellor, British High Commission Singapore)

Ms. Liew has always wanted to become a teacher. When she was taking her PSLE Chinese oral examination, she was asked to share her ambition. Her eager reply was that she wanted to become a language teacher to share her passion for books with others. Ms. Liew’s love of Literature began in Secondary 1 and stemmed from her interest in finding patterns in stories. To her, the reader is like a detective, putting together clues — both spoken and unspoken — to get the full picture.

The value of Literature, Ms. Liew shared, lies in how it helps individuals to understand complex global issues in a nuanced and textured way that news articles cannot provide. While some might believe that poetry is a luxury we cannot afford, Ms. Liew pointed out that instead of viewing Literature as an indulgence, we should see it as something to be luxuriated in — to enjoy without stint or distracting thoughts of grades or potential reward.

In class, it is not uncommon to see Ms. Liew actively engaging with the class. She never fails to deliver a meaningful lesson, as students like Matthias Seah (17A15) can attest. “Learning is never static in class,” he said. “She encourages us to share our views actively, and the discussions we have are both engaging and enlightening.”

Ms. Liew credited the Literature teachers who taught her when she was a student in Hwa Chong for inspiring her to follow in their footsteps. “They were electrifying and knowledgeable mentors who sparked my passion in the subject,” she recalled. She is also grateful for the opportunity to return to her alma mater to teach.

When asked for advice to HCI students, Ms. Liew responded in typical literary fashion, quoting a line from the Global Learning Alliance Singapore Summit that Hwa Chong hosted in 2016: be generous with differences and find affinities.

6月假期第一周，我校十多名学生经过周全准备后，在老师的带领下动身前往美国密歇根州立大学，出席一年

一度的“未来问题解决计划世界赛”。这项驰名国际的赛事主要是开放给世界各地不同年级的学生参加，为他们所

做的小组专题作业提供一个展示与评比的舞台。今年，我校代表的参赛作品都和解决社区问题有关，在和来自11

个国家的70多支队伍经过激烈的角逐后，其中一队凭着《连接乌鲁班丹的过去和现在》获得评判团的一致青睐和肯

定，荣膺2016年高年级组世界冠军殊荣。

向世界展示 甘榜精神的可贵

INSPIRATION20

相较于往年的参赛作品，这支队伍最大的特色是不选择一个固定的受益

机构或群体；而是与乌鲁班丹民众俱乐部合作，将视野投射至整个社区。自

建国以来，我国经济持续繁荣，人们生活忙碌，丰衣足食之余，最需要的其

实是精神滋养和文化浸润。然而，由于现代化的发展步伐过于迅速，往往使

人们忽视对文化遗产的重视，导致文化快速流失的缺憾。有鉴于此，这支拥

有7名成员的队伍，通过一系列活动推动区内的文化建设，加强可贵的甘榜

精神。这是提高社区居民精神文明建设的重要渠道。

在获得奖项后，队员们无不欣

喜万分，翁乐轩（16S63）回忆过

去一年半的辛苦筹备时提到：“我

们由始至终都不是一帆风顺的，尽

管面对再多的困难和挑战，也从未

想过要放弃，我们深信复兴文化对

建立社区凝聚力是至关重要的。”

另 一 成 员 黄 佑 龙 （ 1 6 S 6 2 ） 补 充

道 ： “ 一 开 始 ， 我 们 只 希 望 配 合

SG50金禧年推出乌鲁班丹区一些地

标和建筑的记录与宣传。最后却因

为意识到文化底蕴的重要性及令人

担忧的现状，而选择把范围加以扩

大，为此，我们也相应得付出更多

的时间与精力。”

从 最 初 构 思 到 最 后 定 案 ， 从

设计展板到推广活动，同学们都是

一步一脚印地走过来。为了撰写并

出版月刊《乌鲁班丹的故事》，他

们花费很多时间去采访区内的不同

居民，以便更全面地展现区内极具

风情的生活方式和多姿多彩的文化

氛围，加强人们对自己家园的了解

和兴趣。这支队伍期望他们对文化

的保护与宣导不会就此停止，而是

能够在未来得到更多人的接受与认

可。因为只有社区的精神文化越来

越丰富，居民对社区的认同感、归

属感和向心力才会越来越强，整个

社会的发展才会更和谐，这是人们

应该追求的目标和方向。

2

1

张镭耀 16S6J

3

1 队员布置好展区，准备迎接早来的参观者

2 美国民众对我校参赛队伍提出的促进社区精神文明方案深感兴趣

3 学生深入浅出地讲解专题作业的特点

7月2日，“第八届朝阳杯国际中小学生朗诵比赛”国内选拔赛在一片沸腾的欢呼声和掌声中圆满落下帷幕。我

校派出的两支参赛队伍在场上展现了实力，取得令人瞩目的优异成绩，华中一队更是凭着充满魅力的朗诵技巧和舞

台风采，从颁奖主宾新加坡中国文化中心主任马红英女士手上领走冠军杯。

从上午的初赛情况便可看出本届比赛确实是高手如云，各校代表都做足充分的准备。在朗诵时，既配合了音乐

和幻灯片，也加入了动作与表演，可谓十八般武艺齐上阵，为的就是加强朗诵艺术打动人心的感染力。经过初赛的

淘汰，最后中小学各有6支队伍成功晋级，进入决赛一较高低。吃完午餐后，尽管天气十分炎热，却无法阻挡选手

们的热忱，他们各自找了个地方积极排练，务求在决赛中表现出最精彩的一面。

INSPIRATION22

2点决赛正式开始，竞争比起上午来更为激烈，各

校选手都全力以赴。场地虽然换成舞台空间更大的礼

堂，但丝毫不影响我校参赛者的表现。按照抽签顺序，

由3名高一男生王鹏飞（16S6B）、郑钰澎（16S6Q）

和彭根毅（16S73）组成的华中一队率先出场，只见他

们挥洒自如，进退有度，无论是声音、语调、表情、动

作、台位、感情都配合得紧密无间，把本地诗人淡莹的

《海魂》朗诵得雄浑悲壮，气势磅薄，深深吸引评判的

眼球，更带给观众从感官到心灵的多重震撼，让人沉醉

其中，博得台下阵阵掌声。

接着是华中二队登场，两名女生林佳莹（16A12）

和张溪庭（16S72）的组合所朗诵的篇章是《哭泣的圆

2

1 华中两队代表与指导老师陈美玲博士（右三）赛后合影

2 华中一队（右起：王鹏飞、彭根毅、郑钰澎）朗诵时声情并茂，感人至深

3 三位男生成功夺冠后，代表新加坡昂首晋级国际赛

张溪庭 16S72

3

明园》，她们极具阴柔之美，扣人心弦的演绎方式瞬间

带动场上的气氛，让人感觉悲凉沧桑，获得优胜奖。

郑钰澎在受访时说道：“我们三人的声线不太一

样，在练习的过程中要不断磨合，这样才能让观众在聆

听时感受到音韵和共鸣之美。”他们的辛勤付出终于得

到回报，出色的表现赢得评判团的青睐，成功夺冠，并

代表新加坡昂首晋级国际赛。8月13日的赛场更是亚洲

各地选手大显身手的舞台，精彩绝伦的朗诵艺术又一次

让全场观众惊喜连连。经过一番龙争虎斗，华中队不负

众望捧走世界亚军荣誉，为国争光，为校添彩。

华中队荣获 朝阳杯国际朗诵比赛亚军和 新加坡赛区全国冠军

1

BATTLE OF WITS AT THE SINGAPORE SECONDARy SCHOOLS DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Eugene Lee 17A15

INSPIRATION24

1

1 Receiving their trophies from Ms. Julia Gabriel (Founder Director, Julia Gabriel Centre)2 The team with coaches (from left) Mr. Ang Wee Jian, Mr. Woo Jek Jin, Mr. Bryan Chan

and Mr. Foo Jun Sheng

2 3

The Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championships (SSSDCs) are the most prestigious tournament for secondary school debaters. Jointly organized by the Julia Gabriel Centre and Debate Association (Singapore), the tournament is held over three months and culminates in the Grand Finals. After three months of late nights and painstaking work, and three gruelling rounds against other powerhouses, the Hwa Chong team eventually emerged as the overall champion team in 2016. The team comprised Dominic Yap (17S7G), Kenneth Tan (17S61), Khor Jia Wei, Lee Jit Ping and myself (all from 17A15).

3 Celebrating their victory at the SSSDCs

The final showdown was held at the United World College of South East Asia. The Hwa Chong team opposed the motion "This House believes that leaders of political parties should be chosen by its senior office holders and not its wider membership." The Hwa Chong team’s opponents put forth the argument that political parties should put in place more moderate leaders who can reach out to a larger proportion of the electorate, giving the party a higher chance of winning elections.

However, the Hwa Chong team vehemently opposed the notion that the be-all-and-end-all of parties is to put in place "moderate candidates" to win elections. It drove home the message that candidates who sought to be "moderate" by pandering to everyone do not truly have a political stance — they are effectively standing for nothing. Furthermore, the fundamental function of parties is to represent a particular group of individuals, even if that set of beliefs does not belong to the mainstream. Hence, the leadership must be chosen by the ones who make up and define the party – its wider membership base. This line of logic proved to be the clincher that tipped the balance over to the HCI team, giving it a 6-1 win over its opponents.

For six years, the HCI Debating Team had come very close to winning this championship, so victory was especially sweet for the team, which not only bagged the team championship title, but also the individual Best Speaker of the Tournament and the Best Speaker of the Grand Finals titles as well.

The team would like to thank its coach Mr. Foo Jun Sheng for his invaluable advice, the teachers-in-charge Mrs. Raj-Priyahlatha Nainar (Senior Consultant / English Language) and Mdm Hemalatha D/O Seenivasan for their constant support and encouragement, their seniors who came down to spar with the team, everyone who came down to support the team during the various rounds of the competition, and the school for its unwavering support and guidance.

LIGHTING THE PATH FOR A GREENER FUTURE

Loh Wen Jie Zachary 16A12, Claudia Lee Xue Ting 16A14

INSPIRATION26

1 (from left) Mr. Paul Maguire (President and Chief Executive Officer, Senoko Energy Pte. Ltd.), the Hwa Chong team, Mr. Low Kay Siang, Mrs. Tan Ai Chin (Dean / Research Studies), and Mr. Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad (Minister for the Environment and Water Resources)

2 3

Recent advances in green technology have brought the issue of sustainable energy into the limelight. With the looming threat of global warming, Earth’s future is becoming increasingly dependent on the efforts of youths, such as those of a team of Hwa Chong students, who undertook the task of paving a bright, new and sustainable future for the environment.

Comprising Bryan Lim Cheng Yee, Zhang Shiting (both from 15S68), Teng Nam Thian (15S6E) and Sia Tze Kai (15S73), the team proposed the use of solar cells made from food

2 Presenting their award-winning ideas3 Innovation in the laboratory4 Champions of sustainable energy

waste, as well as ‘solar trees’ as a greener and more useful substitute for street lamps. Their innovative proposal clinched them the top prize in the Junior College Category of the Senoko Sustainability Challenge. Organized jointly by Senoko Energy Pte. Ltd. and the Ministry of Education, the Challenge requires students across Singapore to propose ideas to improve Singapore’s environmental sustainability in any four aspects – food, water, health and energy.

When asked about the team’s inspiration for the ‘solar tree’, team leader Bryan cited the eco-friendly and garden-city aesthetic of Singapore, as well as the redundancy of street lamps during the day. The concept of a ‘solar tree’ – tree-like street lamps that power households during the day through solar cells – can thus help large swathes of sunny land-scarce Singapore go green.

While certainly impressive, the team’s journey to create such a product was not an easy one. Having to create a working prototype from scratch, as well as fixing leakages in the prototype, were a few problems that impeded the progress of the team. Despite these hardships, the team never gave up and instead worked tirelessly over three months to modify the prototype until they achieved success.

The team’s passion for sustainable energy is evident. Bryan, for example, strongly believes in the need to modify the world’s energy matrix, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. He also dreams of a day when different sources of renewable energy – such as solar, wave and nuclear energy – can complement each other to provide sustainable energy for Singapore.

To juniors participating in similar competitions, Bryan encouraged them to “work on something that you are passionate in. It is this passion that will help you tide over hard times.”

The team would like to thank their teacher-mentor Mr. Low Kay Siang for his dedication and advice. They are also grateful for the support and assistance of Mrs. Tan Ai Chin (Dean / Research Studies), Mr. Mong Kok Meng (Director / Estate Management), Dr. Lim Jit Ning (Senior Consultant / Research), Mdm Lim Cheng Fui (Senior Manager / Science Research Centre) and Mdm Adeline Chua (Senior Technician / Science Research Centre).

4

1

HWA CHONG’S ECO HERO

Amelia Tan Ling 16A15, Ashley Sherphen Liang 16S72

INSPIRATION28

1

1 Receiving the EcoFriend Award from Mr. Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad (Minister for the Environment and Water Resources)

(Photo Credit: National Environment Agency)2 With The Lunchbox Experiment Focus Group Discussion participants at NTUC Centre

2

3

On 20th September 2016, Oan Jia Xuan (15S7B) became one of nine proud recipients of the 2016 EcoFriend Award, which recognises the efforts and achievements of environmentally-proactive people who have contributed to Singapore’s clean and green environment.

It is no surprise that Jia Xuan, President of the Green Council, has been conferred the Award; in her capacity as a student leader, she implemented numerous environmentally-friendly

3 The Project bECOme team at their first The Lunchbox Experiment briefing4 Collecting disposable cups at Cross Country 2015 at MacRitchie

Reservoir Park with fellow Green Councillors

initiatives. For instance, the Green Council introduced the air-conditioning policy, where classes switched off the air-conditioner for four hours of lessons per week. Thanks to this policy, the school saved 403 hours of air-conditioning use from January to May 2016. The Green Council also collaborated with Hwa Chong Boarding School to initiate various activities such as the “Pass-It-On” campaign, when schoolmates donated used uniforms and textbooks.

Meanwhile, outside school, Jia Xuan is the team leader for Project bECOme, which promotes the reduction of plastic waste amongst households in the Bukit Batok estate. Project bECOme worked with Young NTUC to carry out The Lunchbox Experiment, where 25 adults working around the Central Business District were encouraged to bring their own lunchboxes to buy their meals. The data collected will provide insights into how people can be encouraged to use lunchboxes instead of disposables. Jia Xuan’s interest in the green movement began a few years back, when she realised the tremendous amounts of waste we generate daily. Becoming more cognisant of this issue, she grew into a passionate advocate for waste reduction. However, she acknowledged that her enthusiasm is not shared by all. As opposed to Taiwan and Japan, where recycling is emphasised and cultivated from a young age, Singapore is still working on cultivating a green culture. Many still use disposables, for instance, reflecting their indifference towards their carbon footprint.

To address this, Jia Xuan strongly advocates educating the young. She spearheaded the Primary School Green Camp in 2016, during which 300 students learnt about environmental issues and how they can play their part in the green movement. “Education of the young is very crucial,” she noted. “Children promoting green messages to their family members is more meaningful and effective than any campaign.”

Jia Xuan would like to thank her Green Council teachers-in-charge and fellow Green Council members for their support in encouraging a greener culture in school and organizing outreach initiatives. While advocacy can be challenging, “it is much harder to make a policy work if people don’t understand the rationale.” Jia Xuan seeks to continue inspiring more people to adopt greener lifestyles “through my sincerity.” She hopes that fellow youths will become more conscious of their actions and be more proactive in adopting green practices, and that Singapore will continue to adopt good environmental practices from other countries and cultivate her own sustainable efforts.

4

MAKING A PLACE FOR THEMSELvES

Nathan Widjaja 16S66, Eleanor Loh Kei Ying 16S7C

INSPIRATION30

1

1 The winning team

2a

2b

After a gruelling battle of creativity and innovation, the team comprising Sean Lee Kian How (15S65), Chang Wei Jie, Jerroy, Elliott Chow Yuk Yean, Koh Hui Yi (all 3 from15S7D) and Tan Jia Yi (15S7J) emerged as champions in the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) I3 Challenge 2016, a multi-disciplinary team-based ideas competition held from 7th to 9th June 2016. The theme of the competition was Placemaking, which involved the planning and designing of public spaces.

The team was first introduced to the one-north estate via a tour, where they gained a deeper understanding of the planning that JTC had carried out to make the estate a great place to work, live, play and learn. Over the next two days, the team conducted interviews with workers in one-north developments such as Biopolis and Fusionopolis to learn more about the initiatives that they would like to see in the estate.

The team adopted a community-based and ground-up approach to create an identity in the estate and foster community ownership. Leveraging on the current strengths of various companies and organisations already based in the estate, they sought to maximise user engagement, while minimising additional expenses and challenges.

A comprehensive plan with specific instructions for its execution was then developed by the team, who also created graphics and mock-ups of their proposed application to facilitate the easy visualisation of their ideas. Their three intense days of hard work culminated in a cohesive presentation of concrete plans that set them apart from their competitors.

However, their achievement certainly did not come easily. Facing a variety of challenges from the get-go, the team members’ individual enthusiasm resulted in a barrage of disconnected and unlinked ideas. Due to the short duration of the competition, they were pressed for time to generate solid

ideas and create their final product. In view of their difficulties, the team adapted by increasing communication and allocating tasks to different members to enhance their efficiency.

The team came away with not just the championship title, but also the knowledge of how to utilise public spaces to bring diverse groups of people together. Hui Yi for instance reflected that “well designed and developed public spaces are accessible, functional and interesting, adding to the unique character of the location.” The team hopes to apply the principles of Placemaking to “involve more Singaporeans in creating public spaces that are by them and for them,” creating an environment with its own identity and culture.

The team members would like to express their gratitude towards their teacher-in-charge Mr. Lee Gah Hung, as well as Mrs. Phee Peh Ling (Senior Consultant / Science and Math Talent Programme) for encouraging them to join the competition.

2a and 2b The team's vision for one-north

A WINNING COMBINATION AT THE NATIONAL SAHIBBA (MALAy SCRABBLE) COMPETITION

Liau Yee Seng 3H1

INSPIRATION32

1

1 Receiving the trophies from Guest-of-Honour Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Social and Family Development)

2

3

Once again, the National Sahibba (Malay Scrabble) Competition saw a crowd of native Malay speakers contesting for honour and victory. The four-member team from Hwa Chong Institution – comprising Loh Tze Siang, Chang Zhe Ming (both from 3A1), Ng Jia Quan (2O3) and myself – was fighting against tough odds in order to make our mark. Fight we did, however, and we are glad to have done the school proud by being awarded Second Runners-up at the national level.

The beauty of the game of Sahibba stems from its unpredictability. Every game is unique, every move calculated anew. No two people play the same way. Each word placed brings forth new possibilities, new chances for both sides. Players also have to decide which risks are worth taking, and when. An overconfident player is a careless player, but a scared player opens himself to intimidation and utter defeat. To strike a fine balance is key.

Indeed, playing a game of Sahibba is a mental challenge that requires many skills: control, manipulation, knowledge and premonition. Such skills do not come overnight, and the countless hours training together have been an unforgettable experience. We had spent night after night bending over a scoresheet and a dictionary, testing each other’s limits, pushing each other to greater heights. While there were times when we were so tired from practice that we wanted to stop early and enjoy ourselves instead, we took turns to spur each other to persevere. Truly, it is the people and the bonds between us that make the struggle worthwhile.

Thus, our biggest takeaway from the competition is not the trophy, but the memories we have forged, working together to achieve the same aim. My own fondest memories revolve around my teammates, be it Tze Siang entertaining us with his puns, Zhe Ming keeping us on track when we got too distracted, or Jia Quan bringing the smiles to our little band.

The four of us would like to thank Cikgu Tan Hui San (Education Consultant / Malay Studies) and Cikgu Siti Azimah bte Zailaini for all the invaluable time, support and guidance that they have given us. We would also like to thank the school for the opportunity to participate in this competition. It has been a truly eye-opening experience for us, and we will strive for greater heights in the future.

2 Analyzing the battlefield carefully3 A match in progress

SURPASSING THE COMPETITION WITH METTLE

Colby Peh 3O2

INSPIRATION34

1

1 The boys with (left) Teacher I/C Mr. Esteban Karplus, (centre) coach Mr. Tang Ong Soon and (right) Mr. Tok Aik Lin (Principal Consultant / PE & CCA)

2 3

In 2016, our ‘C’ Division boys clinched their division’s judo championship title for the third consecutive year.

The journey to standing atop the podium as national champions was not so smooth sailing. It began close to two years ago, when they first joined judo as a Co-Curricular Activity in Secondary 1, with no idea of what was in store for them. The world of judo was completely foreign to them. Slowly but surely,

though, they found their footing in this new and exciting sport. They tried their best in every training session, shedding blood, sweat and tears along the way. Visible improvement in their mastery of the sport spurred the boys to work even harder as the National Schools Judo Championships approached.

At the Championships, the team faced injuries and an all-new competition format that left the Hwa Chong team at a disadvantage in numbers. While every school could now send four judokas to compete in every weight category, Hwa Chong only had a total of 10 judokas in five categories.

The team did not let this faze them, however. With every setback they faced, they grew stronger. They learnt from their mistakes, picked themselves up and trained to be better judokas in the spirit of 自强不息 (tireless self-improvement with tenacity, innovation and passion).

This spirit shone through during the competition. Undaunted by the competition, the team displayed undeniable resilience in their fights, eliminating opponents with spectacular throws. The team has indeed done their seniors, the school and everyone who has supported them proud by retaining the title once again. As judo senior Marcus Tan (16S63) shared, "We’re immensely proud of this batch of talented judokas. This victory has not come easy for us, and it has shown that once again the best judoka is not just the one who is the strongest physically, but also the one who is the strongest mentally."

2 The 'C' Divison judo champions3 Perfecting their throws

A large part of the credit has to go to Mr. Tang Ong Soon, who has been the coach of the Hwa Chong judo team for the past 26 years. His invaluable guidance and experience in judo, coupled with his patient teaching, have pushed the boys to meet and even exceed their potential.

The team is now looking ahead to defend the ‘B’ Division Championship title, which was won by their seniors in 2016 as well. The physical and mental stamina and resilience that they have exhibited will no doubt put them in good stead as they prepare for their next fight.

All the best, young judokas!

HWA CHONG NPCC UNIT

HITS BULLSEyE

Tan Shao Chong 4S2

INSPIRATION36

1

1 Our triumphant Hwa Chong Institution NPCC cadets 2 Brimming with confidence3 The gold standard in shooting excellence

2

3

The National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) was formed in 1959 and has grown from strength to strength to become one of the largest uniformed youth organizations in Singapore. Revolver shooting is among one of the many interesting activities that the National Police Cadet Corps introduces to their cadets. The aims of revolver shooting are to train the cadets’ will to excel and instill a greater sense of discipline, as well as to give them a better understanding of the duties undertaken by

the Singapore Police Force. Our very own cadets from the Hwa Chong Institution NPCC Unit have ample opportunities to experience revolver shooting.

In 2016, HCINPCC sent two teams for the Inter-Unit Annual .22 Revolver Shooting Competition, led by the Unit’s Weapons Training Field Instructors. Only the best of the best marksmen stand a chance in this intense competition, for cadets had to build up their arm strength to be able to fire a total of 24 bullets within 80 seconds. They also needed to polish their ability to time their shots perfectly.

Despite facing intense competition from traditional powerhouses during the Preliminary Rounds on 30th May 2016, both teams made it into the Finals of the competition. The atmosphere at the Finals was extremely tense, as both HCI teams were amongst the last few to shoot and they had heard that there were other teams who had done much better in the Preliminary Rounds. However, that only gave the Hwa Chong teams more motivation to fight on. The Finals were a resounding success for HCI as the teams clinched both the 1st and the 2nd positions in the Team Boys’ Category.

The teams’ achievements are the result of the tenacity and grit that they had put into honing their shooting skills. Cadets first encounter the .22 caliber revolver in Secondary 2, and the team members – who were all in Secondary 3 or 4 in 2016 – had spent months and even years practicing their shooting skills before the Competition. Their aim is to get not just one perfect shot, but a series of perfect shots.

Apart from the shooting competition, the HCINPCC Unit also attained its 20th consecutive Gold Unit Overall Proficiency Award, and retained its position as one of the two schools to have achieved this feat. 2016 was indeed a spectacular year for the HCINPCC Unit, and the Unit will strive to perform even better in 2017.

RECLAIMING GLORyAT THE INTER-ZONE FIRST AID AND HOME NURSING COMPETITION

Chen Yihao 4B1

INSPIRATION38

1

1 Hwa Chong St. John Ambulance Brigade in action2 Making sure everything goes as planned3 Perfecting their techniques

2 3

On 31st July 2016, Hwa Chong St. John Ambulance Brigade sent two teams to compete in the Inter-Zone First Aid and Home Nursing Competition organised by St. John Ambulance Brigade Singapore. The Ambulance Cadet team consisted of Lee Yi Hang (4A1), Sherman Wee Jing Jie (3S2), Ansel Bryce Tan Jun Ying (4S3), Han Sheng Jie, Philip (3S1) and myself. The Ambulance Adult team comprised Bong Chin Hong Vincent (4O2), Chin Qi Ren (3S3), Tay Hsian Yao, Jeremy (4O1), Zhu Qien (4O2) and Ng Shen Ray (3H1).

We are glad that we have done the school proud. Hwa Chong was named Overall Champions in the Ambulance Adult category, and 1st Runners-up in the Ambulance Cadet category. These were major achievements for the Hwa Chong St. John Ambulance Brigade, as they represented a triumph for us in this competition after a one-year hiatus.

This victory was possible because both teams persevered for nearly a year through countless training sessions. We knew that the competition was going to be tough, but that did not stop us from pushing ourselves to the limit. Our defeat in the past year did not leave us wallowing in self-pity, but instead motivated us to work even harder towards our shared goal.

As we got closer and closer to the day of the competition, training intensified and many of us found it challenging to juggle our studies and the long training hours. Admittedly,

the thought of throwing in the towel had indeed crossed our minds more than once. However, when we realized that doing so would mean letting not just ourselves down, but also our teachers and peers who have been supporting us throughout this journey, we were driven to double our efforts instead. On the day of the competition, when we heard the results of our months of training and perseverance, we could not have felt any happier. Looking back, we managed to use our 自强不息 spirit to overcome all odds and fight back harder than ever. As former American President Abraham Lincoln once said, “It’s not about how many times you fall down, but how many times you get back up.” All of us can definitely agree on that. It is the spirit of fighting back that kept us going even in our toughest times and helped us to bring glory back to the Hwa Chong St. John Ambulance Brigade.

吴小滢 16S65

善 良 是 人 类 最 可 贵 的 一 种 情 感 ， 能 奏 出 世 间 最

动人的爱心之歌。在2016年“青年行善活动公益比

赛”（Youth For Causes）上，两组由我校学生所主

导的慈善项目从100个晋级项目中脱颖而出。Project

FIHR（Faith In Humanity Restored）获颁4大奖，

即特优奖、最佳筹款奖、最佳基金管理奖以及创业

奖。Project Edelstein则赢得优异奖、最佳义工动员奖、

最具影响力奖和2016年未来问题解决计划赛（社区问

题）高级组全国冠军。这两组服务学习项目取得成功的

背后有怎样的故事？

Project FIHR

为推广环保意识，Project FIHR早在2014年就由当

时就读高二的林钊卫（13S65）和另外3名同学发起。然

而，项目并没有随着他们毕业离校而告终，如今项目筹

委会已扩大到50多人，招募了近900位学生义工，核心

组员是高一学生林伟诣、中四学生魏铭江和陈韦全，队

长则是校友林钊卫。

过去3年来，他们都在帮助不同的机构，今年的受

益团体是新加坡环境理事会。为扩大宣传层面，筹委会

举办的活动包括给学前幼儿举办讲座，让国人从小就培

华中儿女 爱心接力

养正确意识和良好习惯，这样环保意识才有永续性。林

钊卫表示：“全球暖化的问题已经越来越严重，没有了

大自然，人类根本无法解决其他问题，所以环保是全球

公民运动，我们应该将环保做为每天必达的目标。”

此外，他也认为售卖别人所需物比起纯粹博取同情

心筹款更具市场潜力。因此团队选择售卖实用性高的虎

尾兰来筹款。这种植物能净化空气，防辐射，并在夜间

释放氧气。目前，Project FIHR已筹集超过170,000元的

善款。获奖时，林钊卫坦言比赛成绩不是这个公益项目

的终点，而是新的起点，这场爱心接力将由学弟妹们一

届届延续下去。

Project Edelstein

Edelstein在德语中是指宝石，这个服务学习项目是

由高一同学刘凯祥、许鹤译、戴敬衡和林靖伟所发起，

旨在提高公众对骨髓移植的认识，以帮助更多患者。整

个策划团队汇聚了15所学校的100多位学生。

为帮助“骨髓捐赠计划”筹集更多资金，以及鼓励

民众参与骨髓捐赠计划，Project Edelstein团队策划了一

系列活动，包括街头表演、义卖、活动营、音乐会等。

INSPIRATION40

1 林钊卫手里的虎尾兰花语是坚定刚毅，代表坚韧不拔的顽强精神

2 从小启蒙幼儿的环保意识，在环境问题日益严重的今天意义更加深远

3 ProjectEdelstein核心团队成员团结一致为这个服务学习项目而努力

4 学生义工通过街头表演，达到推广骨髓捐赠意识的作用

1

2 3

4音乐会作为募资的重要平台，邀请到了歌艺俱佳的实力

派唱将助阵，同时国会议员安宁阿敏也出席了这一活

动并签署成为骨髓捐赠者。除了利用社交网络广为宣传

外，志愿者也借着街头快闪舞蹈传达“献血英雄”的概

念，鼓励民众捐赠骨髓。同时在各个活动现场也有摊位

招募献血者。

一分耕耘，一分收获，Project Edelstein不仅向多

达86万的民众传递了骨髓移植的信息，还招募到462名

骨髓捐赠者。和Project FIHR一样，他们也有意让学弟

妹接手此项目，并将范围扩大，尤其是招募献血者的活

动将不间歇，使更多患者受益。

At the 10th Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit (APYLS), held from 18th to 26th July 2016, more than 100 students and teachers from 28 schools across 14 countries gathered in Hwa Chong to discuss pertinent issues of today’s world and forge cross-cultural ties.

The theme for this year’s edition of APYLS, “Auguries of Growth,” saw student delegates engage in intellectual discourse on growth and development in fields such as the sciences, trade and education. Led by 23 student facilitators from Hwa Chong, Student Dialogues also provided delegates with various platforms to share innovative solutions on the topics discussed.

Delegates further enhanced their understanding of global issues through interactions with guest speakers at the Summit Dialogues. One of the speakers, Mr. Bilahari Kausikan (Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), left a lasting impression on delegates with his frank responses to questions posed to him about diplomacy and geopolitics. Paddy Krishnamurthy, a delegate from India’s Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, remembered Mr. Kausikan’s talk for being “refreshingly direct.”

Wong Yang 16A14

42PASSION

1

On top of the dialogues, delegates had the opportunity to visit private companies, statutory boards and research organisations such as Mediacorp, the Housing Development Board and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Through these trips, teacher chaperones and delegates alike gained invaluable insights about Singapore and its role in the region from policymakers and industry professionals.

The engrossing programme was capped by a grand finale – tea with His Excellency President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana. The arrival of the President was met with much fanfare, as delegates lined the entrance of the Banquet Hall to greet him. After distributing the prizes for the Outstanding Floor Speaker Award and the Outstanding Presentation Award, the President viewed an exhibition prepared by the delegates that encompassed their learning from the past nine days. He then mingled with the delegates and shared his thoughts on some of the issues discussed at the summit, before the entire group gathered for a summit photo with His Excellency The President along the steps of the hall.

Through the summit, delegates gained an appreciation of the responsibilities they bear as agents of change of the next generation. Many walked away with more personal insights too; Angus Yiu (17S61) shared that “APYLS has also allowed me to learn more about myself and explore my interests, especially at a stage where many of us will have to make decisions about the course of study we wish to pursue.”

Teacher chaperone Mdm Samia Al-Rawahi, from Khawla bint Al-Azwar Basic Education School in Oman, added, “Through APYLS, we have shared our Arab culture with others and made people realise that there are diverse facets to our society.”

2

3

4

1 APyLS organisers, educators and delegates. Standing with them in the first row are (from left) Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal), Mr. Lee Sen Choon (Chairman, Board of Directors), President Tony Tan Keng yam, Mr. Desmond Ong (Chairman, Board of Governors) and Mrs. Chin Bee Kuan (Deputy Principal / Studies)

ACQUIRING GLOBAL LITERACy AT THE

10TH HWA CHONG ASIA-PACIFIC yOUNG LEADERS SUMMIT

2 Learning more about the success of the Housing Development Board3 Fruitful sharing of views at a Student Dialogue session4 A fun team building session

“银发浪潮对社会的挑战”、“社会保障体系如

何应对银发浪潮”、“打造亲乐龄的生活环境”，这些

看似离青少年很遥远的话题，却是今年“亚洲青年华语

论坛”上讨论的焦点。8月3日至5日，中国、香港、台

湾、马来西亚和我国十多所学校的百多位海内外学子齐

聚华岗，围绕着论坛主题“共同打造亲乐龄社会”探讨

当今社会的老龄化问题。

随着医药科技的进步与人类寿命的提高，老龄化

已成为本世纪各国所面对的一大挑战。为了引导学生关

注亚洲地区的热门问题，同时培养学生的逻辑与批判思

维，我们把参加者分组，让他们共同分析这些迫在眉睫

的社会问题。期间，来自不同地区的学生互相交流，聆

听不同的见解，激发思想的火花，并建立友谊的桥梁。

论坛也安排学生参观新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会、华社自

44PASSION

1 参加论坛的海内外师生在陈嘉庚铜像前留下身影

2 潘校长颁奖给决赛的优胜队伍

助理事会等团体，并带领他们实地考察新加坡老人活动中心，让学生对老龄化问题有更深一层的了解。中国海口九

中的李赫受访时表示这是很好的活动，既可以丰富学生的课外知识，开拓眼界，又能收获友谊，增强团队精神。

论坛的高潮是5日于戏剧中心举办的闭幕典礼，当天担任评判的嘉宾有新闻工作者林启元先生以及南洋理工大

学的周兆呈博士，而被选中呈献三个分论题的小组都以富有创意、活泼有趣的方式分享了各自的成果，让观众耳目

一新。最精彩的是主宾卫生部兼通讯及新闻部徐芳达政务部长的演讲，他和全场分享了我国政府打造亲乐龄社会的

远大目标与所做的努力，使大家开拓了眼界，增长了见识，收益良多。

2

3 4

黑发早思银发潮 为国为民献计谋— 2016年亚洲青年华语论坛

王乙焜 17S6A

1

3 集思广益的小组讨论

4 潘兆荣校长（左）赠送书法作品给徐芳达政务部长

KEEPING THE SINGAPORE SPIRIT ALIvE – PRE-UNIvERSITy SEMINAR 2016

It is often Social Studies lessons that come to mind when students reflect on our progress as a nation. At this year’s Pre-University Seminar, however, students learnt that Singapore’s core principles and values are more than just words in a textbook.

From 30th May to 2nd June 2016, over 500 students from 30 pre-university institutions, including Junior Colleges, the Centralised Institute and Polytechnics, participated in the annual Pre-University Seminar. Jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), this year’s edition was held at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

46PASSION

Wong Yang 16A14

1

2

3 4

1 Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies) answering a participant's question at the Opening Ceremony

2 Our writer Wong yang (last row, second from right) with his group3 Putting the finish touches on an exhibition board4 An enraptured audience at one of the panel discussions

Guided by the Seminar’s theme, “Living the Singapore Spirit”, students interacted with industry and community leaders and exercised their creativity to engage the public on their respective areas of focus. These areas touched on a wide range of national issues with which Singapore continues to grapple.

In the months before the seminar, participants researched their team’s assigned topic, and had the opportunity to interview industry professionals and leaders. Teams also planned a CARE Special Activity, which would allow them to contribute to a chosen cause.

On 30th May, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam kicked off the Seminar with a keynote address at the Opening Ceremony. Mr. Tharman called on youths to preserve a united Singapore, adding, “Twenty years from now, we will still be a little red dot, always will be. But it will be a deep red dot, the colour of the Singapore heart.”

It is in this spirit that – over the course of those four days – student participants would resolve to inspire fellow Singaporeans to create a better home. Participants attended panel discussions, where they gleaned insights from experts on an array of issues, ranging from volunteerism to foreign relations. They also carried out their meticulously planned CARE Special Activities, which allowed them to reach out to fellow Singaporeans on the ground.

To encapsulate what they had learnt, the student participants prepared posters and multimedia presentations. Their efforts culminated in a stunning exhibition at the Closing Ceremony, which was graced by Mr. Wong Siew Hoong (Director-General of Education, Ministry of Education).

As a student facilitator, I witnessed how teachers and student facilitators alike toiled to ensure the smooth running of the Seminar months before it even began. The Seminar also proved to be a platform for me and my peers to develop our leadership capacities and learn more about our personal strengths and weaknesses.

For everyone involved, the Seminar was a worthwhile experience from which lessons were learnt, friendships were forged, and memories made. Armed with a deeper understanding of what it means to live and uphold the Singapore spirit, student participants are well-placed to keep the Singapore flag flying high.

“ROWED” TO SUCCESS – HWA CHONG CANOEING FINDS STRENGTH IN SERvICE

For 24 hours in May 2016, Hwa Chong’s canoeing team brought students and the public together to paddle close to 1,300km at the Hwa Chong 24-hour Static Kayaking Challenge, raising both funds and awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS) – all on dry land.

On 28th May at 2pm, the team began paddling under a blazing afternoon sun at The Star Vista mall, stopping only when the clock struck 2pm again the following day. Supported by students from Hwa Chong and members of the public, over 500 participants of diverse age groups from all over Singapore took turns to paddle on kayaking ergometers continuously for 24 hours. Guest-of-Honour Ms. Grace Fu (Minister for Culture,

48PASSION

Wong Yi Jie 16S72, Daniel Lim Yu Hian 16S7G

1

2

3 4

1 Paddling for a worthy cause2 The Hwa Chong 24-hour Static

Kayaking Challenge at The Star vista

3 Ms. Grace Fu (Minister for Culture, Community and youth & Leader of the House) and Mr. Oh Boon Keng (Honorary Secretary, Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore)) at the closing ceremony

4 The Hwa Chong Canoeing Team with Ms. Fu, Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal) and MDAS representatives

Community and Youth & Leader of the House) also played her part by paddling on a static kayak herself. In total, more than $46,000 was raised.

First organised in 2011, the annual event is held to support Singaporeans with muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder where the patient’s muscles deteriorate with age, causing them to be unable to perform everyday tasks. Canoeing team Teacher I/C Mr. Quek Wee Tong said of the team’s service learning event, “We hope to demonstrate how we can stand alongside people with muscular dystrophy as well as those who may need our support.”

This year, event organisers strived to expand their reach beyond Hwa Chong to enable Singaporeans from all walks of life to participate. Project Directors Zane Leow (15S68) and Nicole Tan (15S73) thus brought the project out to a shopping centre, The Star Vista, for the first time in the event’s history. Participants included canoeists from several schools, Singapore’s national canoeists, para-canoeists and children from the Singapore Canoe Federation’s Kids-In-A-Kayak (KIAK) programme.

Naturally, organising this event came with its challenges. Since this was the first time the event was held outside school and made open to the public, preparations were much more intense, and the organising team had to work around the clock. Nevertheless, the organisers managed to pull through and the event ran smoothly, thanks to the tireless commitment and effort of the team.

Looking forward, Nicole and Zane hope that future iterations of the project will rely more on the strength of the canoeing fraternity and school community working together. They also wish to continue supporting MDAS and inspiring participants to aid the less fortunate. As they put it, “patients suffering from muscular dystrophy may face the deterioration of their muscles over time, but what matters is their willpower and resilience.”

As a final word of encouragement, Nicole and Zane recited the event slogan – “When the muscles fail, the mind takes over.”

BROADENING HORIZONS, SERvING WITH PASSION – yOUNG HEALTH AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME 2016

The Public Health Service (PHS), which is organized by medicine and nursing students from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, initiated the Young Health Ambassadors Programme (YHAP) to empower youths to encourage the community to adopt healthy practices. In 2016, the YHAP and volunteers from Hwa Chong Institution embarked on health projects to further serve the community’s health needs. This inaugural group comprised over 20 Junior College One students with a strong interest in medicine and community service. This is a reflection from two of the participants.

Our journey officially started in May 2016 at a meeting at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. There, our mentors outlined the proposed timeline for the programme and also assigned us into various groups. After attending briefings

50PASSION

Joshua Ooi Wei Jin 16S79, Eleanor Loh Kei Ying 16S7C

1

2

3

1 Introducing a member of the public to a student-designed game

2 Booths at the screening sessions

3 Our writer Eleanor Loh (second from left) with her group and Mrs. Foo Woon Keat (Director / Studies)

on general facts about cancer, we had to conduct further research on specific cancers, such as breast, colorectal and cervical cancers.

Armed with this knowledge, we then proceeded to design interactive booths that were to be showcased to the public during the Public Health Service’s free dental and health screening sessions on 8th and 9th October 2016. Through innovative posters and simple yet exhilarating games, we hoped to furnish more information to the public on the risks, causes and symptoms of cancer, and the kind of healthy lifestyle practices that we should adopt.

The screening sessions were held at Clementi Avenue 3. Our interaction with people from all walks of life affirmed and reinforced our commitment to continue contributing to the community even after our participation in the YHAP came to a close. Indeed, the YHAP highlighted to us literally the power of our voice, that even we youths can help make a difference in the lives of others. Youths are not insignificant; we have the power – and the responsibility – to improve the overall health of the community.

Aside from manning the booths, we also had the opportunity to shadow and learn from our mentors, who were carrying out tasks such as blood tests and collating Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) signups. As Joel Hong (16S7B) shared, this allowed us to gain more enriching insights into “what it’s like to be a medical professional serving our community.”

Public health remains an important aspect of healthcare in Singapore; when looking to give back to society, it is hence important not to neglect this area. We are thus very grateful for this opportunity to give back to society and would like to thank the Public Health Service and Mrs. Foo Woon Keat (Director / Studies). The YHAP has truly been an exceptional eye-opener for those of us who hope to serve as our nation’s next generation of medical practitioners.

六月假期里，我校派出两支队伍参加莱佛士模拟联

合国大会 (RMUN) 以及由英华中学 (自主) 所主办的模

拟联合国大会(IMUNC)。第25届莱佛士模拟联合国大

会于6月1日至3日举行，而第9届模拟联合国大会则于6

月6日至8日举行。这两个大会吸引了莱佛士书院、莱佛

士女中、英华中学（自主）以及南洋女中等各学府的学

生参加。我校共派出16名代表参加莱佛士模拟联合国大

会，21名代表参加模拟联合国大会，他们在这两个会议

上都有不俗的表现。

模拟联合国大会主要是让参加的中学生扮演各国

的外交部发言人，在会上阐述观点、辩论政策、投票表

决、做出决议等，让他们有机会体验联合国运作模式，

并鼓励学生认真思考如何克服人类所面临的一系列挑

战。与会者谈论的话题包括欧洲的难民危机，加沙地带

的封锁以及联合国安理会的改革等等。这对学生的语

言、写作、学术、思辩、沟通、公关等各方面能力都提

出非常严格的要求，有助于提高他们对国际事务的关注

与了解。

52PASSION

1 许家维（中）代表华中领取莱佛士模拟联合国大会最佳团体奖

2 林杨恩（中三人文一班）条理分明地阐述论点

3 我校参加莱佛士模拟联合国大会的代表团阵容强大

在莱佛士模拟联合国大会中，我校在联合国第四委

员会 (SPECPOL)、联合国安理会 (UNSC)、阿拉伯联盟

(Arab League)、非洲联盟 (African Union)与苏联内

阁(Soviet Crisis Cabinet)五个委员会中获得最佳代表

奖（Best Delegate）；欧盟(EU)、英法内阁(London-

Paris Crisis Cabinet)及联合国第四委员会获得荣誉代

表奖（Honourable Mention）。此外，阿拉伯联盟也

同时荣获最佳立场文件奖（Best Position Paper）。我

模拟联合国大会，华中学生表现耀眼

洪舜甫 17A10 林俊愷 17A14 許家维 17A15

1

2

4 5

3

校也因个人奖项的总数最多，荣获最佳团体奖 (Overall

Best School Delegation), 这是历年来最佳的成绩。同

样，在模拟联合国大会，我校学生也成功摘下多个奖项!

通过活动，参加者都增长了见识，丰富了经历，也认识

到自己的不足，这是一个很好开阔眼界的机会，因为唯

有通过高水准的交流，才能获得更广泛的思路。

4 中四双文化三班陈炜恒（左一）表现出众，获颁模拟联合国最佳代表奖

5 参赛者在场外热情交流，建立宝贵的友谊

Project Synapses 是一项由我校和维多利亚初级学院学生发起，帮助脑麻痹患者的公益活动。整个活动筹划

小组由14位学生组成，为了更好地了解病友的真实生活及面对的困难，他们数次造访新加坡脑瘫协会（Cerebral

Palsy Alliance Singapore），然后将所知和感悟，凝缩成精简的文字，在网络平台面簿Facebook和图享

Instagram上与公众分享。组员更利用课余之暇订制手机外壳、徽章、发夹等物件，将灵感转化成动人的图案设

计。这些凝聚了筹划组心血的爱心物品往往让人爱不释手，引起关注。在短短3个月里，组员展开多次街头募捐。

在300多位中学生志愿者的热心帮助下，物品很快就告售罄。路人纷纷驻足挑选物品，同时也对脑性麻痹症有更深

刻的了解，为这些不幸的患病者奉献一份爱心。

54PASSION

1 RunningMan最后撕名牌的环节把整场游戏的气氛推向高潮

2 慈善街头演出给忙碌的都市人带来一股心灵的清流

3 活动筹划小组精心制作的展板，能起到教育公众的效果

公益慈善导航 心的方向

光宇 16S7B

筹划组为了让更多人能感受脑麻痹病人的不便与辛

苦，别出心裁地根据韩国流行综艺秀“Running Man”

设计了一场体验游戏。参加者在手脚受限制的情况下，

要完成许多平常看来十分简单的任务，从而在最后撕

名牌的环节中获得优势。尽管身体受限，参加者为了

获胜，无不使尽浑身解数。在享受胜利的喜悦之际，

他们也体会到病患的辛苦和不便。维初的赵逸扬分享

道：“Running Man让我体会到团结协作和助人为乐的

意义。当一个人的努力不足以通过游戏关卡时，队友的

援助起到了极大的作用。对于社会上有需要的人来说亦

是如此。也许在我们看来只是付出了绵力，获益者却能

感受到极大的鼓舞。同时，个人力量虽有限，但众志成

城，便能有不小的收获。”

在 社 会 人 士 和 志 愿 者 的 共 同 努 力 下 ， P r o j e c t

Synapses总共筹到善款两万余元。在展开募捐之

外，Project Synapses还召集各所初院的志愿者举行

了一次街头演出。在表演的过程中，组员还通过叙述

方式，让公众知道脑麻痹患者勇敢克服身体缺陷的事

迹，传递满满的正能量，并感动了一些观众，自愿加

入队伍，这一幅温馨的场面，令人动容。

维初的王雪婷在表演后说：“Project Synapses组

员花了很多心思和时间来安排活动，以达到提高公众意

识和帮助脑瘫孩子的目的。我从此次经历中感受到组员

的用心与努力，他们精心准备宣传和表演，对报名的志

愿者也照顾得很周到，不难看出他们的付出和热忱。我

真心希望更多的国人可以参与到类似的慈善活动中来，

多一份理解，多一份爱心，让社会变得更加美好。”志

愿者中年纪最小的是许智伟学弟（中一启元二班），他

表示：“这场历时5个月的服务学习项目，实际上获益

最大的是我们。能够帮助弱势群体，对我来说是既有趣

又有意义的经验。”

1

2

3

7月份，我校戏剧中心热闹非凡，华岗剧坊两年一度的大戏开锣了！这次演出的是酝酿有两年之久，以中国文

化大革命（1966-1976）为背景，重演文革初期全中国被疯狂卷入革命浪潮的历史剧《浩劫》，这部剧情节跌宕起

伏，扣人心弦。

剧中主角是高一学生赵卫东（毛闻达饰），他和就读中三的堂弟赵文达（徐嘉禄饰）先后被卷入这场黑暗的政

治运动。在经历了批斗走资派、抄家破四旧以及文攻武卫等政治斗争后，赵卫东最终在一场红卫兵两派的血腥武斗

中献出了年轻的生命。他的死引发了赵文达以及台下观众对于这场人类浩劫的深刻反思。

56PASSION

1 批斗之风席卷校园，学校全面停课

2 因亲人的出卖，赵文达一家惨被抄家

再现文革历史《浩劫》震撼人心

中四汇聚一班 王泓皓 张泽楷

为了这次的大戏，华岗剧坊上下可说是做足了准

备，付出了努力与汗水。长达四个月的排练，其艰辛可

想而知。学生编导与一众演员每晚八点离开剧场已是家

常便饭。临近正式演出时排练的次数更是密集，除了星

期天及公共假期，所有成员都是风雨不改地回校排练。

然而，过程中很少听见有人抱怨；更多的反倒是彼此之

间的关怀和打气，以及导演不厌其烦的指导与改进。正

是本着这种积极向上的态度，华岗剧坊才能够将他们最

完美的一面呈献给观众。

鉴于现代学生对于当年的文革历史未必清楚，为了

让学生能够看懂剧情，华文老师利用周会给学生提前补

上历史课，希望大家以史为鉴。正如潘兆荣校长所言，

纵观历史，绝大部分的政治运动都与学生群体有着密切

的关系，面对纷繁的世界，如何保持理智、明辨是非，

值得莘莘学子深思。

值得一提的是，原订的四场演出场场爆满，获得

空前好评。后来，华岗剧坊又应南中的要求，为南中师

生加演两场，第二场还吸引不少慕名而来的公众。《浩

劫》虽然已圆满落下帷幕，但它带给观众心灵上的震撼

却久久萦绕心头，并激发人们去正视与反思这段历史。

3 赵卫东的死让堂弟悲痛不已

4 校领导在谢幕后上台鼓励为演出辛苦了数个月的师生

1

2

3

4

THE CLARION CALL OF THE BUGLE

2016 saw the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Hwa Chong Scout Group Bugle Band. To commemorate this occasion, the Hwa Chong Scouts decided to take on a challenge during the school’s National Day Parade – after all, what better way to celebrate than by showing our dedication to our beloved country? Although the Bugle Band had not played its instruments during the Parade since 2011, we decided that we would not only complete the march-past, but also play our instruments as we did so.

58PASSION

Cheong Zi Yu 4S3

1

3

2

1 The Hwa Chong Scouts2 Standing at attention with bugles in hand3 Bugling our love for the nation

The road ahead seemed quite difficult because many of the band members, especially the juniors, were unfamiliar with the procedure for the Parade, much less a Bugle Band performance during a formal march-past. In addition, the Parade is an important feature in the school calendar, and the other Uniformed Groups would also be marching smartly to celebrate our nation’s birthday. There was no room for error – but a lot of room for stress and anxiety!

Nevertheless, our instructor set the goal and the standard. Together we were resolved to put our anxieties aside, practise hard, and put on a good performance on the day of the Parade itself. There were, consequently, numerous practices. We learned the hard way what it truly means to pour blood, sweat and tears into our work. Time and time again, we stayed late in school to sharpen our precision. Not a single step could be allowed to go wrong, not a single turn could be allowed to be out of sequence.

The toughest moments were when we saw our schoolmates going home after a hard day’s work, but we had to remain for yet more practice. Often, the setting sun formed our backdrop as we tirelessly prepared for the Parade. After an initial period of struggle, a spirit of resilience and unwavering pursuit of our target grew in us, a spirit that became stronger and stronger the more we practised as a contingent.

Happily, our persistence paid off, and we exceeded our expectations. We could hear the crowd’s excitement when we lifted our bugles and their clarion tones filled the terraces. Our schoolmates cheered wildly at hearing deep musical notes that had not been heard at the terraces for years. Marching proudly on the field on our nation’s birthday, I think all of us were thinking the same thing: that truly, determination will lead to success. Our founding fathers have proven this by steering our country to success despite all odds, and we, in our small way, have proven this too.

今年的种族和谐日，我校主办了一次别开生面的民俗文化缤纷行。近百名来自裕廊中学、马西岭中学、圣升英

校、德贤中学及我校四大共识联的学生领袖，围绕着裕廊湖区展开跨文化互动之旅。每到一个地方，参加者必须先

了解该处的历史和特色，同时完成指定活动。

60PASSION

1 有机会接触异族文化，学生都觉得新鲜又好玩

2 了解裕廊区的发展加深学生对建国历史的印象

2016年种族和谐日民俗文化缤纷行

中二聚英三班 朱俊安

第一站是知新馆。参加者分成不同小组，每组由

5-6名不同种族、不同学校的学生组成。听取简短的讲

解后，小组便开始进行活动。例如：穿上异族的服饰拍

照，了解异族的日常生活、用语习惯等。最有趣的任务

就是使用有限数量的雪糕棒把乒乓球从地面举起。在过

程中，每个人都积极参与，或互相配合，或认真交流，

一下子就打破陌生的感觉。

第二站是裕廊镇大会堂。我们小组的任务是使用

非优势手来叠杯，叠得越多越好。经过协调，我们很快

就完成了挑战。下来是要对裕廊镇大会堂的背景作更深

入的了解。原来当初创建大会堂是为了开发和管理裕廊

3 有趣的饮食文化是拉近彼此距离的最佳途径

4 活动前先出席讲解会

2

3

1

4

工业区，以便经济发展局吸引外资，促进岛国的经济增

长。裕廊镇大会堂在2015年7月被评为我国第69个国家

级建筑，也是第7个被列入古迹的战后建筑。

第三站是哈沙那回教堂，组员们须画出回教堂的

传统特征。这宗教场所不只是回教徒寻求精神慰藉的地

方，它还有着教育和服务社区的功能。接着各小组的足

迹还延伸到飞禽公园。所谓“百闻不如一见”，一天下

来，不仅加深了同学对裕廊区的认识，也对该区未来的

新变化充满期待。此外，参加者更了解本土的民俗文

化，增进与异族同学的友谊，绝对是收获满满！

A TRUE RENAISSANCE MAN – CELEBRATING TRIPLE FIRSTS IN GEOGRAPHy AND LAW AT CAMBRIDGE

If there is a phrase that best describes Mr. Desmond Chong (09A15), it would be “Renaissance Man.” Indeed, he has a diverse array of talents and interests – a sincere inclination to lead honed from his term of service as a former Student Councillor and ECACO Chairperson and a burning passion for competitive sports as an ex-canoeist. As a mark of his academic excellence, he received the Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship to study Geography at the University of Cambridge, where he attained Triple Firsts in Geography and Law in 2016. His research interests are in international law and finance, the regulation of financial institutions and financial market actors.

Amelia Tan Ling, Yeo Teng Wei (16A15)

62PASSION

1

Initially a Geography undergraduate, Desmond’s interest in Law was sparked after intense discussions about the discipline with his peers. Citing this field as a gateway to learn about the real world, he realised the attraction of studying Geography and Law in tandem, particularly in geopolitics and environmental law. Studying both subjects would give him “a more holistic training and education.”

Noting the similarities in the thought processes behind the two subjects, Desmond remarked that at the undergraduate level, Geography “becomes like a science; you really need tobelogicalandrational,andit'sjustthesamewithLaw.”He further noted how “Geography emphasises a lot on processes,” which is important in studying Law too, where “understanding the mechanism behind how something works” is paramount.

Although he was from the Humanities Programme, Desmond advocates inter-disciplinary learning, for there is great value in understanding the complementary nature of both the sciences and the humanities. While a strong scientific background provides a more rational and structured thought process, the humanities train one’s critical thinking and to “think more holistically about current affairs.” Balancing the study of the sciences and the humanities will benefit one greatly in “whatever field one goes into.”

Desmond is thankful for his journey at Hwa Chong, with its many memorable and defining moments. When asked if he had any advice for his juniors, he had this to say: “Every

2 3

4

1 Desmond Chong 2 Desmond in his graduation gown

at the Senate House in Cambridge

3 Performing with his fellow Councillors at Mid-Autumn Festival 20094 Desmond (far right) with his peers on the last day of Peking University’s

summer school in 2014

Hwa Chongian really has a lot of potential. You just have to believe in yourself and strive with an undying attitude towards your goal, and you will have nothing to worry about.”

He also credits his Hwa Chong education as being greatly beneficial, especially in cultivating an attitude of independent learning, which has provided him with a “strong foundation” for academic life at Cambridge. He and his Singaporean peers did face some initial difficulties in integrating into British university life because the process of making new friends was not easy. Nevertheless, his three years in Cambridge exposed him to people from a wide variety of cultures, some of whom he still shares close friendships with.

PASSION AND TENACITy – IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS FOR A WINNING STRATEGy

One of the best decisions she has ever made – that was how Minerva Lim (11A14) described her decision to study History at the undergraduate level. Despite her interest in the subject, Minerva had not intended to pursue it at the undergraduate or postgraduate level initially. Encouragement from her Humanities Programme history tutor Mr. Nicholas Miles, however, changed that.

Minerva’s passion has driven her to great heights. After her A-Level Examinations, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore scholar was admitted into the University of Oxford’s Keble College. She not only graduated with First Class Honours in Modern History, but was also awarded the Gibbs Book Prize (awarded to students with the top ten average marks in the Final Honours School of History, across all colleges in the University of Oxford). Minerva was also awarded the

Loh Wen Jie Zachary 16A12, Joshua Ooi Wei Jin 16S79

64PASSION

Vice-Chancellor's Social Impact Award, which recognisesstudents who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their commitment to voluntary and charitable work, and social entrepreneurship. She is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in World History at the University of Cambridge, and is a recipient of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

During her three years at Oxford, Minerva juggled challenging academic courses and extra-curricular activities, on top of adjusting to life in a foreign land. Even language became a culture shock – the Northern English accent that many of her peers use originally sounded like a completely foreign language. Looking back now, Minerva shared that “my three years in Oxford were the best time of my life – academically challenging but also deeply beneficial for my personal and emotional growth. Oxford is a place that really forces you to grow in the best and most diverse of ways.” Minerva credited the academic rigour of the Humanities Programme and the A-Level Examinations for instilling in her the tenacity to overcome challenges that she faced, such as her Finals examinations in Oxford. She would like to thank her supportive tutors at Hwa Chong, “who gave me the flexibility to direct my own learning in challenging and meaningful ways.”

The President of the then-History and Current Affairs Society (HACAS) recalled fondly as well her time with her friends and CCA mates, and the support and joy that they had given to each other. Minerva also expressed her gratitude to HACAS teacher-in-charge Mr. Ian Ong (Education Consultant / History) for his guidance.

Minerva encouraged juniors to be unafraid of pursuing goals “far beyond” their own perceived limits. Recounting how she had never expected to even obtain a place in Oxford, Minerva challenged her juniors to dream big. She also advised her juniors to make decisions for themselves; such decisions, she said, give one a sense of ownership to invest time and effort in endeavours that one has a genuine passion for. As Minerva can attest, living with passion is what we should aim for.

2

3

4

1 Minerva Lim2 Outside the Radcliffe Camera, one of the Bodleian Libraries’ key

buildings and the site of Oxford’s History Faculty Library

3 Receiving the vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Award from Dr. Louise Richardson (vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford)

4 11A14 and 11A15 on a combined outing at the Botanic Gardens

1

MAKING WAvES AT THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL HISTORy OLyMPIAD

Owen Cho Kok Quan 16A11, Ashley Sherphen Liang 16S72

From 17th July to 24th July 2016, Team Singapore competed in the 2nd International History Olympiad. Organized by the International History Bee and Bowl, the 2016 edition was held at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in Oahu, Hawaii.

Five Hwa Chong students – Hou Boyang (15A14), Michael Liu (15S6B), Tang Zhen Yang (16A14), Wang Di (16A14) and Kenneth Sugiarto (16A15) – represented the nation in the Varsity category. They achieved laudable results, helping the Singaporean delegation clinch an overall 10th place at the Olympiad. Boyang and Zhen Yang were also the most

highly ranked Team Singapore participants in the Varsity category, ranking 6th and 10th globally respectively.

Yet, behind each great achievement is a formidable challenge, and their stellar results were not obtained without difficulty. The odds were stacked against the Hwa Chong participants as the members possessed less competitive experience. In fact, while most of them had participated in fewer than two competitions, the vast majority of their competitors boasted experience in numerous history competitions.

EXPLORATION66

2 3

4

1 The team with Mr. Ian Ong (Education Consultant / History)2 With fellow competitors and history enthusiasts from other countries

3 After one of the daily medal ceremonies4 Learning about the historical significance of Diamond Head

1

However, even as the pressure of participating in an international competition mounted, the team managed to keep its cool. Between competitions, reading up on historical affairs served as a means to expand upon their interests while easing the tension. Besides “reading widely and regularly,” Boyang remembered the lengths that the team had went to in order to “learn certain competition strategies and techniques” from veteran competitors.

Equally important too was the passion that the students had in history. Having been interested in history from a young age, Boyang for instance often invests personal time in watching history-related television shows and playing historically-based computer games. He was motivated to participate in the International History Olympiad as it was a rare opportunity to participate in a history-related competition

at an international and competitive level, and meet fellow history competitors from all over the world.

Boyang advised those aspiring to participate in the International History Olympiad to read a diverse range of materials consistently to avoid the last-minute cramming of information. He also shared his hope for more emphasis to be placed on history in the education system so that more people would be interested in this enriching and exciting field.

The team would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Hon Chiew Weng (Principal), teacher-in-charge Mr. Ian Ong (Education Consultant / History), their tutors and the Humanities and Current Affairs Society (HACAS) 15/16 and 16/17 History Wing Heads for their support and encouragement.

SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE AT THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGy SyMPOSIUM FOR yOUTHS

Low Kang Siang Raphael 17S6G

The Science and Technology Symposium for Youths (STSY) is a week-long event organized annually by an alliance of four schools: Hwa Chong Institution; Chung Ling High School in Penang, Malaysia; Bugil Academy in Cheonan, Korea; and the High School Affiliated to Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. The 2016 edition was hosted by the High School Affiliated to Xi’an Jiaotong University. Guided by the theme “Technology creates the future and innovation changes life,” participants discussed and evaluated the effects of technology on life.

Through project presentations, participants learnt more about the research conducted by their overseas peers, and were exposed to various topics as well as new applications of scientific concepts that improve our daily lives. The Singaporean team, for instance, presented on the bioactive properties of honey and the application of mathematics in the popular computer game Angry Birds. The Malaysian representatives meanwhile showcased a banana and bamboo water filter as well as a study on the insect-repelling properties of caffeine, whereas the Korean team designed an application to facilitate queueing systems. Our Chinese

EXPLORATION68

2

3

4

1 Getting to know each other 2 Hwa Chong participants presenting their projects

3 visiting a local laboratory 4 Learning more about China's rich history

1

hosts showed us how to construct a multi-functional cleaning stick and a smart pen. It was indeed a fruitful exchange of ideas. Participants also had the opportunity to visit local laboratories, where they learnt about the use of advanced technologies and modern equipment for scientific research.

Participants also went on trips to iconic locations such as the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. These trips provided eye-opening and enriching experiences for students. The sites served as portals that took students back in time to China’s numerous formative periods, and gave the students a much deeper understanding of China’s history and culture. Finally, the event ended with an amazing array of cultural performances put up by the various participating schools – truly a testament to the multi-faceted interests and talents of the STSY attendees!

The STSY has greatly facilitated exchange between students from different countries, which in turn enabled the making of new friends, the strengthening of current friendships and the sharing of scientific ideas. Research today is often driven by international collaboration and the STSY has sown the seeds for future collaboration among the scientists of tomorrow. Who knows what inventions these friendships might bring in the future?

Overall, the STSY has provided students with an invaluable and unforgettable experience. We very much look forward to the next conference in Penang, Malaysia!

一年一度的“中国—亚细安青少年文化交流节”从

8月6日至11日在西安举行。各国都派出国内顶尖学府的

学生参与其盛，可说是极为难得，意义非凡的国际性交

流平台。在新中友好协会的大力促成下，华中10名学生

有幸参与今年的交流节，展开为期六天的西安行。

抵步第一天，我们就有机会品尝陕西小吃凉皮。这

种起源于唐代的食物是西北地区的特色美食，在潮湿闷

郑欣怡 16S72

EXPLORATION70

2 3

4

1 亚细安各国青少年代表一起出游，结下美好的友情

2 越南代表翩翩起舞，表现民族舞蹈的柔美

色彩缤纷的文化交流节

热的三伏天里吃上一大碗，那香辣透心、鲜美凉爽的感

觉，让人觉得天下美味不过如此！当晚，我们也参加了

由中国人民对外友好协会精心准备的欢迎晚会，见识了

他们承办大型活动的能力和热情的待客之道。

西安是历史名城，下来几天，在主办方的安排下，

我们参观了不少景点。在陕西历史博物馆，我们看到珍

贵的出土文物，对中国古代文明有了更深一层的了解。

壮观的法门寺则让我们认识佛教文化，寺内每一尊佛

像都是用铜铸造，再镶上真金，法相庄严，令人心生敬

畏之情。人们常说，到西安一定得去兵马俑和华清池。

我们行程的第五天便到了这两处。兵马俑的雄伟气势与

华清池如画的风景，让我们流连忘返。由于同行的一些

代表团听不懂中文，便由通晓双语的新加坡同学充当翻

译，这让我们切身感受“语言是打开世界之窗，沟通人

际关系之桥梁”这个说法。

第三晚的文化汇演是此次交流节的亮点。各国代表

都准备了精彩节目，有舞蹈、话剧、乐器和歌唱等，水

平非常高。表演者无不落力呈献，给观众带来完美的文

化体验。让我印象最深的是菲律宾代表团的演出。他们

的服装绚丽，乐器组合也很特殊，有吉他、西洋长笛、

小提琴、中提琴和菲律宾传统筝琴。乐器的巧妙使用使

歌曲富有层次感，三个女高音的演绎非常到位，观众虽

然听不懂歌词的含义，却被歌声感染了。对我而言，这

种新颖的表达方式很值得学习，它让人对传统音乐萌生

兴趣。此外，越南代表的传统舞蹈也很别致，他们在服

装上下了很大心思。越南的国花是莲花，粉色的裙子就

像美丽的花瓣包着舞蹈员窈窕的身姿。她们一手握着莲

花，另一手则摆动着莲叶，让人目不转睛，陶醉其中。

整晚，台下不停地发出欢呼和掌声，烘托出温馨

友好的浓烈气氛。虽然各国代表团的才艺水平都很高，

可是新加坡代表团的最独特了。我们拍了一个介绍新

加坡景色的视频，并做了简单的讲解，由几位女生穿上

具民族风的服装载歌载舞，充分展现出我国的多元文化

和国际大都会的特色，一举两得。代表之一的王祉恩

（16S72）受访时说道：“我觉得这次的行程让我获益

不浅，得以结识来自不同国家的朋友，对他们的文化有

更深一层的认识。不仅如此，通过参观历史遗址和博物

馆，我还学到不少中国历史和文化的宝贵知识，真正领

悟到读万卷书，行万里路的重要性。”

1

3 在舞蹈中融入拉面的动作，让人倍感亲切

4 王德华（16A10）在西安市青少年宫和乒乓球队教练过招

西安是十三朝的古都，历史悠久，古迹累累，文物

众多。在这次大开眼界的旅程中，有三个地方让我留下

特别深刻的印象。

钟鼓楼

气势磅礴的钟楼与鼓楼相隔不远，鼓楼位于回民街

旁，钟楼则立于一个十字路口的中心。向导带领我们上

二楼，详细讲解了两座楼的历史与特色。建于明朝洪武

王德华 16A10

EXPLORATION72

2 3

1 丝绸之路展览馆让参观者全方位体验这条古老商道的伟大文明

2 走进兵马俑一号坑，顿时如置身于千军万马的古战场

3 华清宫中的芙蓉榭四周一片绿意，环境十分清幽

1

走一趟 历史文化之旅

年间，鼓楼与钟楼的建筑方法非常特殊，没有使用到一

根钉子，而是采取了凹凸结合、相互支撑的榫卯结构。

陕西一带地震频繁，钟鼓楼之所以没有倒塌，全归功于

此，充分展现了古代建筑师的过人智慧与创新精神，令

现代人赞叹。夜里，我们再次经过钟楼，闪耀的灯光给

它带来另一番风姿，在雄壮的气势中增添了几许柔情。

兵马俑

兵马俑出土于西安市临潼区，堪称“世界第八大

奇迹”，也是世界十大古墓之一，吸引了慕名而来的各

方观光客。兵马俑分三个坑，踏入一号展览区时，首先

感受的就是规模极为庞大。游人倚着栏杆拍照，相当拥

挤。另外两个坑相比起来，规模较小，但精彩不逊于一

号坑。眼前的陶俑，个个雕工细腻，栩栩如生，展现了

古代工匠精湛的工艺水平。在馆中，我们也看到保存完

好的青铜剑，剑刃寒光闪闪。这要归功于“铬盐氧化”

的处理法。据知德国和美国是迟至1937年和1950才发

明此技术，并申请了专利。然而，早在春秋战国时期，

老祖先已掌握了此工艺，可见兵马俑不仅是艺术的奇

迹，更是人类科技的见证。

华清宫

华清宫南依骊山，北临渭水，是一座皇家园林。

这里山秀水清，华清宫建筑婉丽端庄，是宝贵的文化遗

产。这里作为古代帝王的离宫和游览地已有三千多年的

历史。周、秦、汉、隋、唐等历代帝王都在这里修建过

行宫别苑，以资游幸。到了唐朝，这里变成中国四大美

女之一杨贵妃沐浴的地方，记述了她与唐明皇的爱情故

事。“烽火戏诸侯”的典故也出自于此地，不禁让人琢

磨此地究竟见证了多少浪漫的爱情。1936年发生“西安

事变”时，蒋介石曾被活捉于此，为这爱情圣地留下了

政治斗争的痕迹。

这次的交流活动，对参加本次文化交流节的各国代

表来说，不仅是与不同国家同龄人之间的友情交流，也

是跨越时空和古代文明及华夏先民之间的精神交流。

Student Councillors whipping up the enthusiasm of the crowd

2016 MID-AUTUMN FESTIvAL (MAF) CELEBRATIONS

Sweet mooncakes complemented with freshly-brewed tea and a kaleidoscope of lights, songs, dances and cheers. On the evening of 10th September 2016, the 43rd Students’ Council delivered a stunning audio-visual spectacle, continuing Hwa Chong’s tradition of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with gusto. The theme this year <<明月情·華中緣>> symbolises the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a reunion under the full moon, where we celebrate the treasured relationships forged in Hwa Chong.

A truly unforgettable night, this year’s MAF reignited the Hwa Chong spirit, bringing the Hwa Chong family together for a magical evening. We present here a photographic summary of 2016 MAF.

Ng Xin Lin 16S69, Lee Yueyu 16S6P, Lim Shi Huan 16S73, Ma Si Cheng 16S73

SPOTLIGHT74

Enthralling music from the Chinese Orchestra

SODACHE (Song, Dance, Cheer) – a tradition that links all Hwa Chongians Water fountains and a fiery outline of the Jade Rabbit

The magical Grand Light-Up

A captivating wushu performance

A GEMSTONE OF HOPE

Kenneth Wu Rong Jie 17S6D

“Project Edelstein: The Gemstone Project” was conceived in 2016 to assist the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) in promoting its cause. The group consisted of Yin Kai Sheng Ashton (17S60), Kenneth Tan Zhe Kai (17S61), Jonas Gng Rui Sheng (17S69), Joel Wong Hong Kiat (17S78) and myself (17S6D). The Core Organising Team also included our College seniors and students from other schools.

1

2 3

SERvICE LEARNING PROJECT SPECIAL76

the importance of effective communication. Aside from the fact that effective communication is needed for any project to succeed, we also soon realised that any mistakes arising from miscommunication might reflect badly on not just Project Edelstein, but BDMP as an organization too.

All of us are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and the bone marrow patients through this project. We aim to better ourselves and improve the project in 2017, moving one step closer to our final goal: a society where bone marrow patients can fully receive the support that they need.

Project Edelstein: The Gemstone Project was awarded the O2

Award for Community Spirit at the 2016 Projects Competition. The

Award is given to groups which best demonstrate the values of

community spirit and dedication toward a social cause.

Project Edelstein was also commended by Citi-YMCA Youth For

Causes (YFC), which awarded it:

• theYFCDistinctionAward(giventothemostoutstandingteams

in recognition of their efforts and impact made on their various

beneficiaries),

• theYFCBestVolunteerMobilizationAward(giventotheproject

with the most effective large-scale volunteer management

system, and who mobilized the most number of volunteers), and

• theYFCBestPublicOutreachAward(giventotheprojectwith

the most effective and extensive public outreach.

These awards were conferred to 4 Hwa Chong College students,

who represented the project’s Core Organizing Team.

1 A show of support for the BMDP2 All ready for a flash mob

BMDP is a non-profit organisation responsible for building and managing Singapore’s only registry of potential bone marrow donors. Their work is of utmost importance; every day, six Singaporeans are diagnosed with blood-related diseases, and there is a mere 1 in 20,000 chance that a bone marrow match will be found. Unfortunately, the number of donor sign-ups tends to be low due to widespread misconceptions regarding bone marrow donation. In addition, BMDP also does not receive governmental funding and needs to raise three million dollars every year to continue its operations.

We were thus motivated to come up with effective solutions to alleviate the bone marrow crisis in Singapore. After deliberating with BMDP on how we could best address the issue, we decided to focus our efforts on raising awareness and funds, and increasing the number of donors.

In just six months, our team organised multiple events – such as street sales, a concert, donor drives, school camps and even a flash mob – to raise funds and recruit donors. We knew that to reach out to members of the public successfully, we had to find a myriad of creative ways to engage them. Such creativity was present in our various social media outreach efforts and street publicity initiatives too, where we strove to correct misunderstandings regarding bone marrow donation.

It was not easy juggling our various academic and non-academic commitments with Project Edelstein, but we were determined to do our part and promote bone marrow donation. The process was an enriching one too, as we learnt about

3 Busking to raise awareness4 Showing our love for bone marrow patients

4

Live with passion and lead with compassion – Hwa Chong’s vision is embodied by the thousands of students who walk through its gates.

Serving our community is an integral part of the Hwa Chongian experience, and many Hwa Chongians engage in projects every year to do

their bid to contribute their society. In this section, we look at six teams whose efforts were recognised in 2016.

K1NDLING

THE SPARK OF EMPATHy

Ryan Chee Choon Hoe 17S68

2016 was unlike any other year for us. It was a year filled with obstacles but also great satisfaction, as the five of us persevered on our mission: to bring joy and laughter to the less privileged who live amongst us. Our group comprised Chen Zirui (17A11), Pei Chengyi (17S6B), Wang Ming Chuan (17S6C), Jin Yihao Eric (17S71) and myself (17S68). Our vision was to see a change in the way the public perceives the disabled. About 4% of Singaporeans are disabled, and we do not wish for them to be seen by others as merely a number or a statistic. We hope for them to be seen as equal members of society as well.

SERvICE LEARNING PROJECT SPECIAL78

1

2

between the beneficiaries and the rest of the public. Many of our volunteers and participants have grown to better understand the disabled. All of us, no matter who we may be, have our own hopes and dreams. All of us want to be loved and to be given the opportunity to contribute back to our society.

We were also heartened when we were informed by HWA’s Ms. Vasantha Thevi (Executive, Fundraising) about how the beneficiaries had enjoyed the activities that we had prepared, and how they had gained confidence as well. Their encouragement spurred us on to work harder, and strengthened our determination to further think of ways to reach out to this oft-neglected segment of our community. Our journey has served as a reminder that despite their circumstances, the disabled are no different from anybody else; they have their own stories to share and legacies to leave behind too. They have the capability to contribute.

And we, Project K1ndling, recognize that.

Project K1ndling was awarded the O2 Award for Community Spirit

at the 2016 Projects Competition.

1 A heart-to-heart conversation 2 Making new friends

Spurred by the belief that a single spark of emotion, once kindled, can light up the fire of love and compassion, our team chose the name Project K1ndling (pronounced “keen-dling”). We thus embarked to ignite this spark and make Singapore a more inclusive society.

We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA) and help organise the 2016 edition of Wheel, Walk or Jog. This is a meaningful event where HWA members and members of the public travelled along a route together in a sign of unity and mutual support. Activities such as interaction sessions, a primary school talk and a barbeque party were also initiated to foster closer bonds

4

3

3 Participating in a group activity4 The organising team

Ng Wei 17A10, Wei Yongxi 17S7F

Project Reinvigorate started from a visit to the Institute of Mental Health. The four of us – Gu Bo (17S7J), Zhou Jiyuan (17S7F) and ourselves (Ng Wei and Wei Yongxi) – realized that the patients can often live dull and confined lives in the ward. We wanted to brighten up their lives and raise society’s awareness of depression.

We faced numerous challenges formulating our ideas and turning them into reality, but we persevered because we knew the value of what we wanted to do. Eventually, Project Reinvigorate took off, and we visited the wards weekly to interact with the patients. We conducted art therapy sessions, and, most memorably, even brought the patients out to the garden. While this might not appear to be a significant achievement, one must consider the fact that it was the first time many of these patients had left their wards in a while.

SERvICE LEARNING PROJECT SPECIAL80

REINvIGORATING

THE LIvES AROUND US1

1 The Organising Team celebrating a well-received exhibition with a *SCAPE staff member2 Making sure everything works smoothly3 With a staff member from the Institute of Mental Health

Through drawing, crafting and discussing the meaning behind the pictures, we forged closer relationships with these patients. As trust grew, the patients opened up to us, and shared with us their stories and experiences. We decided that the public would benefit from knowing these stories – this was a crucial first step in establishing an empathetic connection between them and the patients.

Our group therefore held a mobile art exhibition around Singapore to raise awareness of depression and those suffering from it. Through the showcasing of artworks from both patients and Hwa Chong students, we managed to bring these patients’ stories to about 7,000 Singaporeans. These stories were opportunities for the public to gain a deeper understanding of the tribulations those with depression face, and appreciate why their acceptance of those suffering from depression is crucial.

In a stressful society like Singapore, depression is a common and serious condition. Patients with depression often face social stigma because there is a lack of awareness and acceptance of depression among the public and even the patients themselves. We hope that our project can help contribute to the building of a more inclusive society. Of course, this process is not something that can be completed overnight, and we hope to keep pushing out new and sustainable initiatives to tackle the stigma that those fighting depression face. They need our support and love, not discrimination and prejudice.

3

2

We would like to thank the school for their support of our project, as well as our mentor Ms. Ng Kia Hui (Education Consultant / Chinese Language) for guiding us along this wonderful journey.

Project Reinvigorate was awarded the O2 Award for Community

Spirit at the 2016 Projects Competition.

Calvin Chen You Jia 16S63, Ellie Lew Yi Ting 16S75

While some may think that fashion is superfluous, others see it as an opportunity to express their individuality through what they wear. For the Organising Team of Project Indefinite: Couture for Charity, fashion is an innovative way to raise funds and awareness for their beneficiary, Mother and Child Project (MnCP). The Organising Team comprised Beatrice Kanika Techawatanasuk (14A14), Lum Shun Yi, Richelle (14A14), Isabella Eleanor Nubari (14A15), Tan Yi Ying (14A15) and Lee Theng, Claudia (14S6C).

SERvICE LEARNING PROJECT SPECIAL82

COMPASSION THROUGH FASHION

1

1 Models for the Charity Fashion Show pose for a photo after the event 2 volunteers at the Charity Fashion Show’s photo booth

3

4

2

3 Accessories from Mother and Child Project for the Charity Fashion Show4 The logo for Project Indefinite's Charity Fashion Show

Together with the MnCP – which outsources sewing contracts to disadvantaged mothers and children to promote their self-sufficiency – Project Indefinite touched the lives of these families. The team invited volunteers to learn basic sewing skills at workshops conducted by the beneficiaries. Under the latter’s guidance, volunteers designed and produced their own garments, which were later featured in a lookbook compiled by the team. This culminated in a fashion show organised by Project Indefinite, which raised funds through the sale of tickets and lookbooks.

Employing the school’s philosophy of “win-win”, the team had marketed their project to volunteers as a means of contributing to a worthy cause by doing something they are passionate about. They also recruited photographers and designers, providing them with a platform to share their work. Team leader Isabella shared, “We wanted this to be an avenue for volunteers to explore their creative side, pick up technical skills and think about fashion as a tool of empowerment.”

Isabella admitted that it was not an easy feat for the Organising Team, which underwent eight months of hard work to prepare for the project. Throughout their SL journey, the team struggled with several adversities, the first being the lack of publicity for the beneficiary. Moreover, their zero-cost policy meant that the money raised was not used to offset project expenditure, but instead went directly to the beneficiary. However, by engaging with different sponsors, and leveraging on different avenues to create recognition for their cause, the team was able to overcome such challenges.

To juniors striving to make a positive change, Isabella has the following advice: “Be dedicated to see things through, and be flexible when plans need to change for the better.”

The team would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to their volunteers, tutors, the project’s sponsors, and their beneficiary, who worked closely with them throughout the nine-month journey. They would also like to thank their mentor Dr. Richard Worrall for his constant support.

Project Indefinite 2015: Couture for Charity was awarded the Lim

Nai Tian Community Service Team Award for the Most Innovative

Service Learning Project at the 2016 Awards Presentation Day.

This Award is conferred to the team that uses original approaches

such as employing creative outreach to raise public awareness for

its beneficiary/issue, works innovatively on the principles of social

entrepreneurship and achieves the objectives of the project with

exceptional effect.

Yeo Teng Wei (16A15) & Leong Say Kiat, Conan (16S6A)

Creativity takes courage… and maybe a little cardboard, for the team behind the Service Learning Project Creasonaid. This project’s Organizing Team members were Ng Aik Yang (14A10), Neo Qi Xun, Xavier (14S62), Zhang Xiaomenghan (Simon) (15S65), Jeremy Nicholas Teo (15S66) and Bryan Lim Jin Kai (15S7C).

SERvICE LEARNING PROJECT SPECIAL84

SERvING THE COMMUNITy THROUGH CARDBOARD CRAFT

1

1 volunteers from Hwa Chong Institution and the Singapore Korean International School2 Bonding over the cardboard games

3

4

2

3 A participant demonstrating his game to the facilitator4 A close-up view of one of the children's arcade game

The inspiration behind Creasionaid came from a viral YouTube video called Caine’s Arcade, in which an American 9-year-old boy created arcade games out of recycled materials. Creasionaid adapted this principle for this project, organising similar events for children from Pertapis Children’s Home, the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), the Tak Sun School of Hong Kong (TSSHK) and the Singapore Korean International School (SKIS).

These children had the opportunity to design, plan and construct arcade games from cardboard and other recycled materials. Not only were they given a platform to express their creativity, but they could also train their teamwork and problem-solving skills as they learned to collaborate with others. A ‘Carnival’ was also hosted for the children to promote, host and facilitate their games, and they learnt entrepreneurship skills in the process.

From the very beginning, leader Aik Yang and his team recognised the significant role of volunteers as the foundation for the entire project, and emphasized the importance of facilitators whom the children can “learn from and put their trust in.” It was thus important to first create strong bonds among the volunteers, who were from Hwa Chong Institution and the Singapore Korean International School, so that they could work together as one cohesive whole. The team took pains to create a programme that did just that. Their hard work certainly paid off, with volunteers from both schools effectively co-creating events.

Aik Yang recalled that near the end of the event, a “paint war” spontaneously erupted. Children and volunteers alike ran around the hall with paint on their hands, in a playful game of tag-with-paint, a fun moment of “spontaneous joy.” He noted that this was perhaps a mark of how closely bonded the children were to the volunteers, a testament to the team’s successful volunteer training.

Looking back at the team’s journey, Aik Yang shared that “the best way to do something is to simply do it. We learn as we make progress, and as we embrace and reframe failure in order to recreate even better programmes.”

The team would like to thank their mentor Mr. Edwin Lim (Senior Teacher / Project Work), and the principals, teachers and children from the various organizations for their support.

Creasionaid was awarded the Lim Nai Tian Community Service

TeamAward for theBestVolunteerManagement Service Learning

Project at the 2016 Awards Presentation Day. This Award is awarded

to the team that has an effective volunteer training programme,

demonstrates efficiency in its deployment of volunteers, and is able

to forge strong bonds among volunteers as they strove towards a

common goal.

Tan Yan Rong, Eilun 16A12, Koh Jin Ian 16A15

An exciting scene of a bull-fight, the light unburdened sound of the Lusheng (a reed-pipe wind instrument) and a spectacular performance of festive cultural dancing – such was the scene of the Miao people’s Guzang Festival, a New Year’s celebration that occurs only once every 13 years. While such a scene, tucked away in the depths of the mountains of Leishan in China’s Guizhou, may be foreign to Singaporeans, the Mountain Voices team sought to bring the folktales of the ethnic Miao community from the depths of China to our books, our libraries and our society. The Organizing Team comprised Kwek Lixuan (14A12), Kok Cheng Hui, Faith (14S70), Veronique Yue (14S73) and Chan Yi An (14S7G).

SERvICE LEARNING PROJECT SPECIAL86

BROADCASTING THE MIAO’S MOUNTAIN vOICES

1

1 Illustrations from the book 2 Enchanting reading sessions at Bukit Merah Public Library

4

2

3 The group's book VoicesoftheMiao4 Waxing lyrical about the Miao culture in both English and Chinese

Originally part of the Global Classroom Programme in Nanyang Girls’ High School, the project had its humble beginnings with a brave ambition – to collect the rich cultural stories of the Miao people. To achieve this, the team first stayed in the Miao village. While learning simple Miao phrases and integrating into the community to fish with bare hands and cultivate crops might be easy, communicating in the Miao language proved challenging. Nevertheless, the team is grateful to the Miao people’s hospitality and friendliness that allowed them to connect despite the language barriers.

Just as the Miao people had enchanted the group with their stories, the team did the same too. They raised funds to produce a children’s book containing a collection of the stories that they had collected. Through their collaboration with the National Library Board, the team presented these stories to children at interactive storytelling sessions. The Chinese stories were told in English, and Miao instruments, accessories and costumes were deftly used to bring the stories to life. These sessions gave the children a window into the rich and exciting Miao culture that exists hundreds of kilometres away from them. The book was given to children at these sessions too.

The team would like to convey their gratitude to the National Library Board, their project mentors Mr. Nah Wee Keong (Senior Consultant / Student Development) and Ms. Michelle Lim (former

3

Education Consultant / Economics), as well as Ms. Karen Ong, Mdm Yang Yan and the original Global Classroom team in Nanyang Girls’ High School. Lastly, the team would like to thank the Miao villagers in China, whose friendliness and openness allowed them to experience the sights, sounds and beauty of the Miao culture, without which the project would not have been conceived.

MountainVoiceswasawardedtheLimNaiTianCommunityService

Team Award for the Best Public Outreach Service Learning Project

at the 2016 Awards Presentation Day. This Award is awarded to

the team that makes a great impact on the beneficiary in terms of

outreach to the public, employs effective strategies to elicit feedback

from the public, and ensures the sustainability of the project.