Issue 16 / SGD 7.50 ISSN: 2010- 1376

Emilyn Foong“Life is different out there!”

Email From Great Britain

What the Coming Year Means To Me

Health & Lifestyle

Understanding Probiotics

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers

3 Awesome StoriesTo Jumpstart Your Writing Resolutions

YRC InvestigatesSingapore’s Cultural Landscape

Parents Ask, Teens AnswerResolving Our Promises

54 Issue 16

54 Issue 16

Managing Editor/Publisher Catherine Khoo

Editor Carlo Venson Peña

Circulation Manager Nannette Cruz

Designer Lim Soo Yong

Editorial Assistants Natalya Thangamany, Jessica Grummett

Editorial Advisory Board Catherine Khoo, Vijay Chandran, Noel Chia

Contributors Jimmy Lee, Alicia Boo, Paulina Lee, Jeannette Xavier, Rodin Rod.

Illustrators James John Andres, Adeline Lim

YAC Core Contributors Kenrick Lam, Dejoy Shastikk Kumaran, Theresa Ellsworth, Ron Yap

For advertising and sales enquiries 6336 8985

Education Subscription Agent EmitAsia 6372 0330

Email: info@youngreaderclub.sgWebsite: www.youngreaderclub.sg

All rights reserved. No part of this publica-tion may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Call 6336-8985 for back issues.

Printed in Singapore by SC International Pte Ltd on Lumisilk Matte Arte Paper

Cover and additional photos by Carlo Venson Peña

is published byExperiences & Experiments Pte Ltd

442A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427655

TEAM

Time flies like a distant memory that harbours in the heart. A few more clicks and we’re done with 2012 and heralding yet another year.

This year has been tumultuous to many: natural calamities and man-made accidents and scandals; the European financial crises; and global meltdowns. But 2012 was not just a year of disdain; it was also a year of triumph: the London Olympics; a new Mars mission; a fresh batch of winners for the Young Author Awards; more libraries with the Young Author Club sessions; and new faces in YRC Magazine.

The year was a learning journey in every sense, with our magazine evolving throughout the year, seeing it being used in more schools and slowly being recognised as a premier reading supplement for EL classes in Singapore. Soon, we intend to see more of YRC all across Southeast Asia as we venture into distributing the magazine in countries around Singapore.

This issue sees these changes and opportunities as our resolutions for the coming year. Read through the Featured Stories of Shastikk Kumaran’s War and Peace, Rachel Lee’s Across the Universe, and Josh Lim’s Dragon Heroes, and you’ll know what we mean. Browse through the pages of I Can Write, So Can You and Resources to get more out of the experience.

Catch a glimpse of what’s happening among teens in Parents Ask, Teens Answer, and see how lives are being changed in Breaking Boundaries, featuring the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore. Favourites like Singapore Insights and YRC Investigates, also make a splash for this issue.

In all, this is an issue worth reflecting on, as we close 2012 and open a new chapter for 2013. We enjoin you, dear readers, to come and take the ride with us, as we see bigger, brighter horizons for YRC Magazine in the coming year.

Happy reading!

32 Issue 16

f e a t u r e s

H Y O U N G A U T H O R S H

6 Featured Author: Emilyn Foong Now all grown up and taking her diploma in digital animation, Young Author Awards 2010/11 third prize winner Emilyn Foong faces a new set of challenges that tests her resolution as a person and as an author.

9 War and Peace by Dejoy Shastikk Kumaran The 20th century is ravaged by two of the most devastating wars ever in history. In the Second World War, a young aspiring runner applies as a soldier. The record-holder for the Under-18 100m sprint, he thinks that he can break the world’s sprint record. But after he is severely injured by artillery fire, he wonders if he can break the record. Read on to find out!

19 Across the Universe by Rachel Lee Kiran’s father just got a promotion. She would be happy for him, if they didn’t have to move halfway across the world, to Cupertino, California. Then the school musical beckons and Kiran realises that she can show Stratford Elementary School what Kiran Lee, aged eleven and three quarters, can do. Will she get through to the bullies in her school?

29 The Dragon Heroes by Josh Lim An army of battle dragons were sent to help the humans fight the dinosaurs. There they met the King and more of the battle unfolds. Who would win the battle? Read on to find out!

d e p a r t m e n t s

H E D U C A T I O N H

37 Matters of Perplexity Jason Phan is a philosophy assistant lecturer who likes talking about life’s little proclivities. Read this new column and see how the simple things in life are actually quite complex too.

39 YRC Investigates: Singapore’s Changing Cultural Landscape Although multicultural to begin with, Singapore is now seeing itself as a melting pot of even more cultures. How is the island-nation coping with the changing cultural landscape and further enriching itself in the process?

45 Singapore Insights Three people, three lives, three insights on one country’s education system and beyond. See why Singapore is on the verge of a paradigm shift.

9

20

19

39

37

32 Issue 16

51 Email From Britain Feisty and outgoing, a young lad from Britain shares his life at home, school and community in his town in the UK and how he plans to stay resolute to his dreams in the coming year.

53 Parents Ask, Teens Answer As teens grow older, they become more resolute about decisions that they make, regardless of the repercussions or rewards these decisions may incur. How can parents help their teens decide better? Find out here!

56 EUREKA! Ideas That Changed the World Entrepreneurs have a different way of seeing the world. Read on how these global brands have survived the test of time and the critical consumers.

64 Health: Probiotics, What’s the Fuss? There is new research that indicates the advantages of probiotics in food that we take. What is the fuss about pro- and prebiotics? Read on to find out!

68 Resources The YRC is more than just a magazine. It’s a useful tool for learning better English comprehension and writing. Tap these useful guide questions for your next group discussion in class or at the student study area.

H SCRIBBLES H

4 Contributors The YRC is not made in a day, and neither would it be complete without our contributors. Keen to submit stuff to YRC? Learn how you can be part of the magazine here!

5 Letter to the Editor What do our readers say about the magazine? Do you have thoughts to share as well? Tell us here!

62 TOP 10 Resolutions for 2013 We make them every year, but here’s a list of other stuff you might be forgetting.

H INSPIRATIONS H

49 Different Strokes A new photographer contributes to YRC Magazine and shares how he sees the world through his lens.

60 Breaking Boundaries In tandem with the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore, the column takes a whole new light on cerebral palsy and stories behind it..

64

Mr. Shirota, you’re the first person ever to succeed in strenghtening and culturing lactobacilli! Let’s name this the Shirota strain.

Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota

Later, it was named Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota.

49

51

56

54 Issue 16

Adeline Lim Educator / IllustratorWhat Adeline did for this issue: Featured StoriesAdeline Lim is an Illustrator, Designer and Visual Artists Educator currently residing in Singapore. Experienced in both physical and digital mediums, Adeline has worked as a layout artist for magazines, as well as covered a broad range of illustrated work in ink, watercolour paints and digital collage for children’s stories.

James John Andres Graphic Designer / IllustratorWhat James did for this issue: Featured StoriesAn avid fan of K-Pop and a budding photographer, James was once part of a student news organisation as its senior graphics editor. A computer science major, he previously worked as a software engineer in an MNC. He is currently a graphic artist for a magazine distributed around Asia.

Alicia Boo CounsellorWhat Alicia did for this issue: Parents Ask, Teens AnswerAs a counsellor for Focus on the Family, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to “help families thrive at every stage and phase of life,” Alicia handles high-risk teenagers from broken and disenfranchised families. She has been with the organisation both as full-time officer and as counsellor for more than 4 years.

Ron Yap YAC Core Member, Zhong Hua Secondary SchoolWhat Ron did for this issue: Parents Ask, Teens AnswerAs a budding writer, Ron started his stint with the Young Author Scheme, becoming a merit prize winner in the Young Author Awards. Now at 15, Ron aspires to be a travelling author, in pursuit of his ultimate inspiration to write his bestseller.

Jessica Grummett Editorial Assistant / InternWhat Jessica did for this issue: Health, Email From, Top TenHaving just finished her Masters in Creative Writing, Jessica is currently in Singapore under internship with Janus Education Services, the education arm of the magazine. Graduating from Newcastle University in the UK, Jessica hails from Garforth, a town within the City of Leeds.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

YRC Magazine recognises the talents of our regular contributors and writers. For article, illustration and photo contributions, please contact the Editor at info@youngreaderclub.sg or call 6336.8985.

54 Issue 16

Editor: Strong words! Thanks, Ambriesh for sharing your thoughts. You get a copy of the Aliens & Angels Anthology and a $10 voucher from our sponsors and the YRC Team. You may claim your gifts at the YRC Office, 442A Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427655. Please call 6336-8985 and look for the Circulations Manager.

Young contributor Ambriesh comes back

to YRC magazine to share his thoughts

about the environment and how we can all

make a new resolution to save the planet.

Dear Editor,I w o u l d l i k e t o s h a r e a f e w t h o u g h t s a b o u t t h e r e c e n t p r o b l e m o f t h r o w i n g t r a s h f r o m H D B s . Fo r m e , t h i s h a s b e c o m e a v e r y s e r i o u s i s s u e . W h i l e w e c a n n o t p u t a n e n d t o t h i s i m m e d i a t e l y , o u r l i t t l e e f f o r t s t o e d u c a t e t h e p e o p l e a b o u t t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f p o l l u t i n g   t h e e nv i ro n m e nt c a n wa k e

t h e a w a r e n e s s o f “c l e a n a n d g r e e n ” i n millions of hearts. R e c e n t l y I c a m e a c r o s s p o s t e r s

a n d n e w s l e t t e r s i s s u e d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e p u b l i c t o k e e p t h e i r s u r r o u n d i n g s c l e a n . I n c i d e n t s r e l a t i n g t o t h r o w i n g g a r b a g e f r o m t h e k i t c h e n w i n d o w s a n d b e d r o o m w i n d o w s r e s u l t e d i n t h e c h o c k i n g o f d r a i n p i p e s a n d t h e s p r e a d i n g o f d e n g u e . S e v e r a l m e a s u r e s h a v e b e e n t a k e n by t h e M i n i s t r y o f E nv i ro n m e nt to curb this serious problem. W h i l e t h e r e a r e a n n o u n c e m e n t s f o r a c l e a n a n d g r e e n t o w n , t h e r e a r e e q u a l l y a n u m b e r o f c o m p l a i n t s a b o u t p e o p l e w h o m i s b e h a v e . S o m e i n c o n s i d e r a t e p e o p l e d o n o t b o t h e r a b o u t t h e t y p e o f g a r b a g e t h e y

l e t o u t . O i l f r o m t h e p i c k l e s , r e m a i n s o f f o o d , h a l f - e a t e n c h i c k e n w i n g s , u s e d a n d s m e l l y d i a p e r s , b u t t s o f c i g a r s , w i p e d t i s s u e s a n d n a p k i n s a n d r o t t e n f r u i t s a r e s o m e o f t h e d e b r i s found around our neighbourhood most of the time.

Ambriesh Karthik

76 Issue 16

Featured Author...Young writers of today Meeting Emilyn

98 Issue 16

P R O F I L E

Dejoy Shastikk Kumaran, 12 St Hilda’s Primary School

Hi! I am Dejoy Shastikk Kumaran. I love writing because it helps me to use my creative juices and well, it helps me with my English. I study at St Hilda’s Primary School and I love to go on holiday, such as to India. My ambition in life is to become a soccer player for Manchester United! (I will still continue writing though...)

War and Peace2nd Prize Winner, Young Author Awards 2011-12 Written in Primary 5 at St Hilda’s Primary School Illustrations by James John Andres

Hea

rtw

arm

ers

Prologue

As Raymond Jones’ eyelids desperately struggled to close, he ‘pushed’ them back up, knowing that he might not live if he allowed them to close.

As he continued trying to open his eyelids completely, dreams and visions of achieving his goal of running the 100m sprint in 9.18 seconds flashed in his head. How-ever, Raymond knew that he would never fulfill his life-long dream. His doctors told him, when they were inspecting him, that he would remain a cripple forever. With only one emotion - sorrow - Raymond’s parents and Jeremy, Raymond’s best friend, heard the ultimate verdict on his life.

Raymond could have cried when the doctors told him that he could not even walk as his limbs could break. Not only this, as he would not be discharged from the hospital for another five years. To Raymond, it was like the doctors had just given him a life sentence in jail. He would not be able to run! As he heard the end of the fateful verdict, Raymond let his eyes close and fainted...

Winning a Prestigious Race in England

Raymond was not a typical eighteen-year-old boy. He was one of the best athletes in England. There were many sporting aspi-rations that the country had laid on him. He was at the top of his game in soccer, tennis, badminton, and last but not least, running. Being equally amazing at all these sports, Raymond could have become professional in any one of them. However, as the son of the famous runner, Carl Lewis, he felt it his duty to continue his father’s legacy; and that determination showed.

He was one of the fastest runners in the world, having broken the Under-18 sprint record with an amazing time of 10.16 sec-onds. He had won the bulk of the races in Britain. One of the few remaining races that he was yet to win was a prestigious race in his county. Even though he had not won that race for three years, he was still hopeful that he would win one day.

It was a sunny day in Surrey, Raymond’s village. He went to the Celtic Boys School, a

1110 Issue 16

his sleep. When his father heard of the im-pending situation, he said that he would go to the enlisting centre as fast as he could. He changed and followed Raymond to the Sur-rey Police Station to enlist as a soldier. Whilst he and his father made their way to the enlist-ing center located in the heart of Raymond’s village, Raymond wondered what would happen to them in the war.

Enlisting for the War; Meeting Jeremy Baker

Fifteen minutes later, both father and son had arrived at the police centre to enlist as soldiers for the BAF in the war. At the enlisting centre, Raymond let his father do the registra-tion for both Raymond and himself whilst he wandered around the police centre. He was able to do this as the police officers had not learnt that a soldier could not enlist for an-other person because the person could then escape, they had not adjusted to the fact that the war had started. As Raymond wandered around the packed police centre filled with

men enlisting for the war, he met another boy about his age. He decided to talk to him.

“Do you like wars? Are you enthusiastic that we are going to fight the Germans in the war?” Raymond asked.

“Yes and yes. Definitely. Wars are my favourite subject by large. I want to take a course on war and human conflict in univer-sity when I grow up, but this might change as we are being called up for war! Appar-ently, the commander of France was right– it was only a twenty-year armistice,” the boy replied.

“Why on Earth do you like wars such as this one? What good are they, these wars?” Raymond asked.

“Wars help England win land, dumbo! We always triumph against our enemies such as France in the olden days and Ger-many in the present times. Wars also serve as a reminder to them that the British flags fly high. I used to dream that Jeremy Baker would one day fly the British flag high and kill millions of Germans in the war. Ger-mans, in my opinion, are inhumane to tor-ture people so cruelly, as seen in World War

2322 Issue 16

P R O F I L E

Rachel Lee, 13

Rachel Lee was born and lives in Singapore with her parents, two mad brothers, a big white rabbit and eighteen hamsters. She didn’t realise her writing abilities until she continually scored the highest marks for compositions in Primary Four. The inspiration for this book was from a true story – Rachel immigrated to Cu-pertino when she was three.

Across the Universe Written in Primary 4 at CHIJ St Nicholas School Illustrations by Adeline Lim

Hea

rtw

arm

ers

Chapter 1

It’s dinner time. Mum and Dad chomp their food slowly. My sister Kimberly (Kim for short, aged 12) is tickling me (Kiran, aged 11) and is causing water to squirt out of my nose. Suddenly Mum and Dad stand up, clear their throats and say, “Girls, your father just got a promotion and so we’re moving.”

“Where to?” I demand.Dad clears his throat again, “Across the

Pacific Ocean,” he says, “To California,” he and Mum sit down.

Kim and I stand up, protesting loudly and say stubbornly, “We’re not going. We’re NOT leaving our friends!”

“Well, it’s your choice,” Dad says quiet-ly, “We’re leaving in six weeks and not com-ing back for three years.”

He and Mum leave the dining room, as Kim and I stare helplessly at each other.

Chapter 2

I wait until the last day to break the news to my friends. I choose the lesson before re-

cess, Miss Chow’s. Then I can cry during re-cess.

I rush through my words, “Everyone, I’m moving.”

“Big deal,” someone says.“To Cupertino. In California.”Aha. I’ve got their attention now.“Why?” forty-one voices chorus at once

(Well, not at EXACTLY the same time but you know what I mean).

“My dad’s working there,” I reply.“Oh……” forty-one voices chorus at

once. “We’ll miss you, Kiran!” Renee, my best

friend since Primary Two, shouts.“I’ll miss you too,” I say, choking up.I run out of the class and see just who I

was looking for: Kim. “I was just going to look for you!” we say

simultaneously.We burst into tears.Right on cue, the recess bell rings and

we run to the nearest bathroom.Ten minutes and a small roll of toilet pa-

per later, our tears have dried. My friend Jes-sica and Kim’s friend, Joey, come in. Joey and Kim smuggle some food from the canteen while Jessica comforts me.

2524 Issue 16

2928 Issue 16

Mag

ic &

Fan

tasy

P R O F I L E

Josh Lim, 11 Catholic High School Primary

I am a cheerful and sociable person. My reading range is extremely wide, so you can say that I am a bookworm. I read adventure, fantasy, thriller, mysteries, humourous stories, but amongst all my favourites, it is fantasy that I like the most because the ideas are sometimes crazy– and that’s what makes the story exciting. That is exactly why I wrote “The Dragon Heroes”, a fantasy story. I love animals, so I was inspired to write a story about animals and how the good would triumph over evil as many stories that I have read had this element. I am presently busy preparing for my PSLE. My hobbies include reading, playing board games and exercis-ing. I take pride in being a school prefect and I hope to become a veterinarian.

The Dragon Heroes Written in Primary 4 at Catholic High School (Primary) Illustrations by Adeline Lim

Dragons and Their Planet

In the Zeus Galaxy, there were three planets. The biggest planet was Estorian. Es-torian was green, blue and white and was teeming with life– it was the land of drag-ons. Etosphia was the smallest plant among the three– the land of the zombies– and was clouded by a layer of dust and stones. Exsopia was the planet of the dinosaurs which was at the farthest end of the Zeus Galaxy. The oxygen and heat levels had been decreasing; plants were dying and the plan-et was becoming bitter cold. It was not the place for the dinosaurs anymore.

On the planet Estorian lived a power-ful army of courageous battle dragons and their families. Estorian was a lively place with amusement parks and cinemas for the drag-ons to watch and play. The sun in Estorian al-ways sparkled, the sky was always clear and tall trees that lined the roads shimmered in silvery green. Rare species of magical blooms that grew in all seasons in the nature parks would heal the dragons of any injuries. The battle dragons wore mega huge armours pro-

tected by force fields. The dragons also had swords, guns, cannons and fiery breath.

A humongous gold-plated sign that was carved with these words: “Welcome to Esto-rian! Life Begins Here!” hung in space above the landing pods for the spaceships. That was the greeting to any visitor to the planet Es-torian.

It was legendary in the planet of Estori-an that two hundred Estrain years ago, there was a brave dragon that fell in love with a human girl and stayed on Earth to live with her till the end of his time. Their descend-ents were now living among the humans on planet Earth.

So, the humans on Earth were known to the dragons as humadids. Humadids to the dragons were people with two eyes, two legs, two hands but no wings. Although the dragons could see Earth where the humans lived, the humans could not see their planet. The planet Estorian had a powerful invis-ible and invincible force field powered by 50 invisible generators and 100 invincible generators. This resulted in a planet that was invisible to intruders and had protected their planet from attacks for the past fifty Estrian

3130 Issue 16

3736 Issue 16

Tommy and Xiao Ling are childhood friends. They have shared many joys and sorrows, becoming closer through their experiences. But now they face a different challenge to their staunch relationship, which threatens to shake the foundations of their tight bond.

It all happened when someone asked Tommy what the secret of friendship is. Naturally, he thought of Xiao Ling and why their friendship has flourished. He then shared his view with Xiao Ling, who found it thoroughly unacceptable. They simply could not agree on this matter.

Tommy records in his diary:I recently told my best friend the hard

truth about our friendship: I have been using her to serve my own interests. It is only because of Xiao Ling’s usefulness that I take her as a friend at all.

She shocked me by being furious at this revelation; I must say I did not expect her rage. She claimed it is fine that we use strangers for selfish reasons, so long as we fairly reward them. Certain relationships are simply for mutual benefit – that is fair. I heartily agreed with her on this. For example, my tuition teacher and I share a relationship

YRC magazine opens a new series about ordinary life. In each issue, we will enquire into a familiar aspect of everyday living and see if we truly understand it. No easy answers are forthcoming, and there is nothing wrong with being

perplexed on the way to understanding.

based on a win-win situation: I receive her careful attention, while she gets a handy sum of money.

The problem is Xiao Ling does not believe deep friendship is based on that same idea. She therefore asked me, with her intense gaze: “Would you throw away our friendship if I were no longer useful to you?”

I could have replied but it seemed insensitive then. Instead, I responded with another question: why does she value friendship? It was a little amusing to see her stumble over that. In the end, all she could say was: ‘Because you make me happy.’

Ha! If so, am I not simply a tool for her happiness? How is that any different from my view? Xiao Ling says there has to be a better answer. I doubt it.

Puzzle 1: The Hard Truth About Friendship?

Matters of PerplexityOf minds and hearts... By Jason Phan

3938 Issue 16

SINGAPORE’S

What does ‘culture’ mean to you? Every time you travel overseas to a new

country, does what you see fascinate you and fill you with curiosity about that

country? Perhaps there is something unique and exciting in trying the food,

meeting the people and visiting historical sites of a faraway land. Travelling

overseas is something you look forward to in the holidays.

YRC Investigates ...Understanding how the world works

Text by Natalya Thangamany Young Author Contributors: Lee Tat Wei, Dejoy Shastikk Kumaran

Full version of the article can be found at www.youngreaderclub.sg

4544 Issue 16

Singapore Insights ...Three people. Three lives. One Singapore.

I n a wo r l d w h e re change is constant and global thinking is the way to go, h o w d o y o u stay resolute to t h e d e c i s i o n s y o u m a k e i n your life?

In this issue, fol low the exploits of our three contributors as they l o o k i n t o r e s o l u t i o n s f o r 2 0 1 3 and how to stick with them!

4948 Issue 16

Different Strokes...A picture paints a thousand words

Phot

o by

Rod

in R

od

How do you paint your resolutions of freedom

for yourself and others?

5150 Issue 16

Email from... England

Jack & school friend in their

school uniforms

This

is ho

w I

look

!

1 6 - y e a r - o l d J a c k l i v e s i n L e e d s , a n o r t h e r n c i t y o f E n g l a n d . Y R C t a l k s t o J a c k a b o u t h i s e v e r y d a y l i f e a s a Br i t ish teenager in this year-end issue.

J Describe your typical day.I usually get up at 7.00 a.m. get dressed,

have breakfast etc. then go to college. Depending on my timetable I’ll get home around mid-afternoon. I then go straight to the gym for a few hours, before coming home for my evening meal. And after that, I usually go on my computer for an hour or two before going to bed. I have a part-time job working for a tree surgeon, so on a Saturday morning I get up for work at 8.00 a.m. and work until roughly lunchtime, depending on what hours I have. I spend my spare time on a weekend socialising with my friends.

J How important is education to you?I feel that my education is a series of

milestones I need to accomplish to get to the next stage. I am currently studying towards my A Levels in college which I need to achieve in order to go to university. This will then give me a basis from which to begin my career (though I am not certain what I want to do yet). Due to this I feel like education plays a vital part in my future, despite the fact that I don’t enjoy it 100% of the time.

J How important are family and friends to you?

I come from a family of six. I have three sisters and a Mum and Dad. My family is very important to me; they are always there to support me and we often go on family trips to the coast and go on holidays together. I think it’s a good thing that my family and I are so closely-knit; we have lots of traditions and it’s nice to always have somebody there. My friends are also very important to me; I have a large circle of friends which consists of both males and females. My close friends have the same hobbies as me, such as going to the gym. We spend a lot of time together every day and have a lot in common.

J What sort of foods do you eat?My family and I eat a range of foods, not

just traditional English dishes like fish & chips or pies! We often eat pasta dishes like spaghetti bolognaise and lasagna; we also eat curry dishes a lot, often freshly prepared by my dad! My Mum does the majority of cooking in my house, although on a weekend I usually cook my own meals and make my own breakfast and lunch most days. As a family we rarely eat out, only on special occasions, but when we do, we more often than not go to an Indian restaurant

Jack Grummett

Age:16

School: Garforth Community

College

Town: Garforth, Leeds, UK

Hobbies: Playing on the computer;

Socialising with friends; Exercising

and working out in the gym

Our

Nei

ghbo

urho

od

5352 Issue 16

In Search

of

Freedom

T i m e a n d a g a i n , t e e n s a r e c o n s t a n t l y i n search of freedom t o m a k e t h e i r o w n c h o i c e s . I n this ever growing w o r l d , t h e y a r e f a c e d w i t h m a ny o p t i o n s i n d e e d : s o m e l e a d i n g them to greatness while others lead t h e m a s t r a y . H o w d o p a r e n t s m a k e s u r e t h e i r children make the right choices?

Parents Ask, Teens Answer...Linking teens and parents together

5756 Issue 16

YAKULT

In 1930, a strain of lactobacilli that is beneficial to people’s health was successfully strengthened and cultured. This strain of bacteria was Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota. The heartfelt desire of Dr. Minoru Shirota, the company’s founder, to make as many people as possible healthy resulted in Yakult being brought to the market in 1935.Although there are many cultured milk drinks, Yakult is the only one marketed in 32 countries and regions around the world. About 30 million bottles are now sold globally every day (as of June 2011). By the way, do you know why the Yakult bottle is narrow in the middle? Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY RYUJI FUJII

I’ve got it!

Because Minoru did well in school, and at the recommendation of his father, he aspired to become a doctor.

EUREKA! ...Ideas that changed the world

I’d like a Yakult.

The Ina Valley region is poor, and many children die of such diseases as dysentery. I want to study medicine and prevent such diseases.

LactobacilliIn 1899, Minoru Shirota was born in Iida City, Nagano, Japan. Paper wholesale and silk farming, which were the Shirota family’s businesses, made his family well-off, but the villages in the Ina Valley suffered from poverty due to severe natural conditions.

Irregular eating habits and stress

can make us prone to illnesses.

They say lactobacilli

are effective for boosting immunity.

Yakult contains the

live beneficial bacteria

Lactobacillus casei

strain Shirota.

6160 Issue 16

Breaking Boundaries...Learning without borders

Wouldn’t it be fun to kick that ball? I always ask myself that question whenever I see a ball on the ground or when I watch my friends from the football team practice playing in the field, or when they participate in a football competition for school. Sometimes I will feel sad, at times I will feel frustrated. All boys love football, including myself. I have tried to play football with my friends but it was very difficult, especially when I tried to save goals, tried to kick the ball for a goal, or even try to prevent an opponent from scoring a goal. All these would be the clincher to either winning or losing a game. For every footballer, scoring a goal is like a feeling of

pure ecstasy, like being a player in the national team. Unfortunately, this is but a dream, since I use a four-legged walking frame with wheels, called a Kaye-Walker.

I have cerebral palsy. This condition affects my mobility and movements. Many of us cannot walk independently, and have to use a walking aid, like my Kaye-Walker, to help us move around. I have a classmate who also has cerebral palsy, and who enjoyed playing football when he was little, but has stopped since. He shared with me that whenever he wanted to kick the ball to the right, it would go to the side or bounce

6564 Issue 16

I Can Write, So Can Youby Catherine Khoo

Lives,DestiniesHe was only nine when he decided he had no

freedom to study about his own motherland. In Qinghai in East Tibet, he was cloistered together with 18 others his own age. He had to wake up at 4:00 in the morning, just to make the three-hour trek to his school. School was just the caked mud, with sticks to learn writing. All they studied was the Chinese language.

Ignored by his teacher, ostracized by his classmates as he came from a minority, Tenzin decided he would make the dangerous trek to Dharamsala, India, to be with his Tibetan countrymen. So he packed two shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shoes and took the cheapest bus fare to Lhasa. Five hundred renminbi, about S$100 was all he had. When he reached Lhasa after four days, he slept the night in a monastery. Then he looked for a job. He had to fill his stomach. He found work in a restaurant. No pay but he had food. He worked from 9:00 to 9:00 washing dishes.

After a month, he decided it was time to cross through Nepal to get to Dharamsala. He, together with 22 other Tibetans, travelled close to 32 days, across the Gobi desert, through the Himalayan base camp. No amount of words could describe the intense cold he felt. His one dream of reaching Dharamsala alive kept him going. The wind and the snow hardened his resolve. They travelled under the cover of night, sleeping when they could. Night hid them from the guards who patrolled the mountains, who would shoot on-sight any Tibetan who dared brave the mountains to seek refuge in  India. Tenzin could hear the incessant howling of the wind, the silence of the vast stark white mountains adding to his loneliness. The llamas who travelled with him were kind enough to let him sleep in between them, which offered him a little respite from the biting cold.

Tenzin’s story will be one of the stor ies told in my upcoming book, Ordinary Lives. Extraordinary Struggles. As he sits with me in a little cafe in Dharamsala, telling

Five Friends

Children of the Tibetan Children’s Village

Life Must Go OnBy Josabelle Wong Abigail gets a serious blood disorder, leukaemia. “What on earth is Leukaemia? Why must I get it? Will I get well? Will I die? What will happen if I die?” Follow Abigail on her adventure as she tries to answer these questions in her mind and deals with her illness and tries to beat it, while leading a normal life like other children.

The Lost Twin Utapu RuinsBy Kristian Lee PinadaIt all begins when a “perfect” holiday has gone wrong when the notorious Bailey twins go along with a classmate and their plane crashes, where the kids are the only survivors! Follow them on the adventure of their lives?

A Night in the CemeteryBy Shawn TanA story about a man who spends a night in a cemetery, he ends up being chased by the undead who have risen from their graves. Will he survive the ordeal? You need to read it to find out!

Plus your not-be-missed columns and departments!Health Matters * Parents Ask, Teens Answer * Singapore Insights * YRC Investigates Singapore’s Arts Scene * new columns coming up in 2013!

It’s that time again when we

reflect on the closing year and

look forward to the new. So what is in store for you in 2013? YRC Mag-

azine is bringing you new columns, better inter-action, and more fun

while you learn along the way!