TYA Newsletter 2013

ANNUAL NEWSLETTERYEAR 2013

E V E R Y C H I L D M A T T E R S

02Dear friends,

As I watch my children blossom into young adults, I am constantly reminded of the importance of nurturing our young and providing them with a solid foundation for growth. Every child deserves this opportunity regardless of their background and I’m glad that TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) has been serving children from needy families for the last 27 years.

With a growing pool of clients, 320 regular volunteers led by a staff team of five people,

reach out to some 410 children every week through TYA children’s club activities. Even more heartening is that some 90 of these volunteers are former clients who decided to pay it forward and are now very active volunteers at the respective clubs. Besides empowering the next generation, TYA is also committed to strengthening families. In the past year, TYA organised numerous family outings and bonding events such as Family Day at Bishan Park, a two-day and one-night Family Camp at East Coast Park and a Family Tour to Batam, to enable the children and their families to spend quality time together to bond and appreciate one another. It has been a great encouragement for me personally to hear of the positive changes taking place in the lives of our clients and their families.

Thank you for being a part of the TYA community! Your partnership has allowed us to impact the lives of these children and families. As we enter the New Year, we look forward to working with you – our volunteers and partners – to continue reaching those in need because EVERY CHILD MATTERS!

Eugene Seow Executive Director TOUCH Community Services

gREEtings fRom ExEcutivE diREctoREugEnE SEow

03Dear friends,

As we welcome 2014, and bid goodbye to 2013, I am truly thankful and humbled by the various opportunities presented in the past year to serve the community. I am also immensely encouraged by the great work performed at TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) which has allowed us to continually develop and sharpen our young children like arrows, making a positive impact in society.

This year kicked off on a high with most of our Primary Six children passing their PSLE; some of them doing even better than expected! To make things even sweeter, many of these young clients have also indicated interest in returning as volunteers after their graduation to continue the legacy of paying it forward and being a positive influence on their juniors.

It is a joy to see our children blossoming into promising youths and for that, we are grateful for the strong support of all our committed volunteers and partners, without whom, TYA would not have the venues and manpower to run its weekly programmes. With such continued support from the community, TYA now has more children’s clubs around the island and is able to extend its reach to even more needy families who require our support.

Thus, we would like to thank all of our volunteers who have made a difference in the lives of the children in TYA, meeting their educational, social and emotional needs. I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and partners whose generous support and contribution have allowed us to continually nurture the next generation. TYA looks forward to working together with you to develop and nurture our next generation for a brighter tomorrow!

Lawrence Tan Assistant Manager TOUCH Young Arrows

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08 Run & RAisin’ 10 voLuntEERs’tEAmBuiLding

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EvEnts

Lawrence TanJoy CheongJennifer GohMelvin LimSarah Soh

comPiLEd BYtYA stAff

Samantha WongAmelia Tan

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Charmaine CheeCharmaine TayChew Shi JunDaniel GanDaniel Wong Joshua Lee Judaxil SohJudy ChowKoh Xiao WoonNathaniel Tay Peh Chu Ming Sylvia SohTobie WeeTYA SupervisorsTYA Club Leaders

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PCL Printers Pte Ltd PRintEd BY

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Gwendolynn Lim

05 PAREnts’ nigHt

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81 parents gathered at Queenstown Community Centre for TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) Parents’ Night on 20 April 2013. Supported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and held for the third year running, this year’s theme was “Loving the Right Way”.

The event drew excited gasps from the crowd even before it officially started – each family that registeredgot the chance to take a Polaroid photograph which was given to them as a souvenir from the event!

After registration, parents and children were split into their respective groups for the night’s programme.The parents were then gifted with goodie bags upon being introduced to their respective group facilitators.

The programme commenced with a welcome speech by Mr Lawrence Tan, Assistant Manager of TYA,followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner. After the feast, a few rounds of light-hearted games were held to keep the parents entertained before the parenting talk.

Conducted by family life educator, Tonia Goh, the parenting talk offered parents pointers on effective discipline strategies crafted along the lines of correcting in love. Strategies such as “Connecting before Correcting”and “How to Impart Self-Discipline Skills to Your Children” were also shared. It was an interesting and interactive session which included many useful segments set aside for discussion and sharing. Many took away important pointers on how to convey love even whilst disciplining their children. At the end of the talk, parents were asked to write a love note to their children on coloured cards that were given to them. This was a new experiencefor many as they were not used to expressing themselves so openly. However, after receiving some prompters on what they could pen down, all of them swiftly took to writing the notes, eager to express their lovein a refreshing way.

Whilst parents attended the talk, their children were also occupied with meaningful activities. Organised by students from Tanjong Katong Secondary School, activities ranging from building towers with spaghettiand plasticine to writing love notes for their parents were conducted with the children as part of a values-driven programme.

As the event came to a close, both groups of children and parents gathered together again and exchanged the simple love notes they had written. It was an emotional moment for many, and a beautiful sight to behold.

Total Number Of Participants: 246

20 APRPAREnts’ nigHttobiE wEEQuEEnStown Community CEntRE

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The annual TOUCH Young Arrows Family Day saw over 260 children, parents and grandparents gatheredfor a time of fun and fellowship at Bishan Park on 1 June 2013.

This year’s theme was ‘Connecting in Love’, a follow-up from Parents’ Night held in April. Kampong games which helped to bridge inter-generational gaps between children, parents and grandparents were played - these games included chaptek, five stones, kuti kuti, marbles and hopscotch.

Older generations were pleased to pass down knowledge and the memory of such games, which functioned as poignant reminders of a nostalgic past.

Parents could be seen excitedly flaunting their expert chaptek or marble-throwing skills to their children, while grandparents shared their childhood stories and mischievous exploits with their grandchildren.

Each game had a learning point that was highlighted to the participants beforehand. To win a game of chaptek for instance, each family had to work together to keep the chaptek in the air for as long as possible, promoting the values of teamwork and enabling the building of chemistry among family members. Five stones was another popular highlight, with accompanying peals of hearty laughter from the on looking crowd that participated by cheering the teams on. The five stones represented the five Love Languages - Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch – and taught participants how to show their love in various ways. The players learnt of their own strengths and motivations, and how they could contribute to building intimate bonds with another family member.

An all-time favourite game, hopscotch, also brought back fond memories for older family members. The game features a ‘home’, or a starting point, that a player has to return to at the end of each round. Symbolically, it spoke of how home is where the family is, and though one may venture abroad, he or she should never forget his or her own roots.

Apart from bonding over old-school games from the ‘50s and ‘60s, participants were encouraged to don clothes that reflected a sense of connectedness within their family.

The heartwarming event ended with delicious apple pies and goodie bags sponsored by McDonald’sand the Ministry of Social and Family Development respectively, bringing much joy to the families.Hopefully, memories and experiences amassed from this event will stay with the families long after it is over, enabling family members to continue building stronger relationships with one another.


01 JunfAmiLY dAYJuDy CHowbiSHAn PARK

More than 170 children from the various TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) clubs around Singapore gathered at Tanjong Katong Secondary School (TKSS) from 16 to 19 June last year for four days of fun-filled and meaningful activities. The camp was made possible with the tireless leading, mentoring and caring of the children by some 130 dedicated volunteers.

Camp PLUS kicked off on a high note with high-energy mass games. In particular, the night activity, “Tower of Light”, was a unique experience of learning to work together in unity. The task was for all the campersto come together to complete a “tower” in unison using light sticks that they had to comb the school field for,all while escaping from tasked catchers.

The next day featured one of the most meaningful and memorable events of the camp: serving the community. The campers were shuttled out to eight nursing homes across the island where they spent time interacting with the elderly, bringing smiles to many of their faces. The elderly and children spent precious moments together engaging in interactive activities such as piecing jigsaw puzzles and learning to make paper flowers. To end the session, the children put up simple performances for the elderly and served them light refreshments, experiencing first-hand the joy of serving. It was truly a heartwarming sight.

Back in TKSS that night, the children attended a workshop that sought to teach them to be thankful for what they had. Through a series of videos, pictures, stories and activities, the children learnt about less-fortunate children living in poverty-stricken countries.

This encouraged the gaining of new perspectives and many children started to realise how privileged they were to be born in an environment like Singapore.

The haze threatened to derail the camp’s programme on the third day, but new plans and adjustments were quickly made to minimise disruptions. A fun Urban Hike at Changi Airport, instead of an outdoor one, was followed by a time of outdoor cooking when the haze level miraculously settled within the healthy range.

Later that evening, a wave of excitement filled the air as the final highlight of the camp approached:the campfire. An indescribable spirit of camping burst into life as the whole camp gathered in front of a blazing fire for a time of games, songs and cheers.

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Survival Camp, the four clans of campers performed mass dances from previous camps, bringing back fond memories and kindling a sense of nostalgia. The campfire came to a close with an emotional time of sharing and thanksgiving by both children and volunteers, with everyone feeling the warmth and love of friendships forged over the past few days.

It was truly a wonderful and memorable camp with countless stories to be told. The camp may have been tiring, but everyone took home with them much more than what they expected: great memories, new friendships,and the values of Patience, Love, Unity and Service, that hopefully will remain etched in their hearts for life.

17-19 JunsuRvivAL cAmPCHEw SHi JuntAnJong KAtong SEConDARy SCHool07


086 July 2013 was a memorable day for the staff, volunteers, clients and their families of TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA). Despite initial concerns of the haze, TYA’s annual fund-raising event, Run & Raisin’,was successfully held at Gardens by the Bay.

The event was a run-cum-carnival organised to raise funds for TYA children who are from low-income and/or single-parent families. Mr Sam Tan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs& Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Mayor of the Central Singapore District, graced this joyous occasion.

This year, the event attracted a record number of 2,675 runners who took part in three different race categories – including the new and immensely popular 2.2 kilometres Family Run. We witnesseda heartwarming sight as families bonded over the run, encouraging and cheering each other on throughout the race. Some parents, not wishing to miss out on an exhilarating time of family fun, even brought along strollers for their young ones to travel in.

In addition to the run, clients and members of the public were also treated to a series of exciting performances by the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Percussion Band and Sunday Avenue Crew at a carnival held in conjunction with the run. Magic shows and other singing performances also kept the crowd entertained. Students from Tanjong Katong Secondary School, Victoria Junior College, Bedok North Secondary School and Nanyang Technological University also contributed to Run & Raisin’ 2013 eitherby setting up game stalls at the carnival or volunteering as road marshals for the run.

This event would not have been possible without our dedicated team of volunteers and the immense generosity of the public. A total of $224,000 was raised to meet the needs of over 400 disadvantaged clients under TYA’s care. The committee of Run & Raisin’ 2013 would like to extend its sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, partners and members of the public who had helped in one wayor another. Thanks to your continual support, Run & Raisin’ is set to return in 2014! We hope to see you there again!

6 JuLRun & RAisin’CHARmAinE tAygARDEnS by tHE bAy

RunnERs Amount RAisEd foR tYA

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The bright and sunny afternoon of 25 August saw more than 100 TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) volunteers gathering at the Marina Barrage for TYA Volunteer’s Day.

The event which celebrates the volunteers’ service to the beneficiaries of TYA started off with an exciting round of Human Bingo where instead of numbers, each bingo sheet had statements related to TYA,such as “I have served in an afternoon club” and “I have volunteered with TYA for more than two years”.The objective of the game was to collect five signatures in a row from five different volunteers who had fulfilled those statements in their course of service with TYA.

The volunteers then broke up into their clusters for a time of kite flying and bonding through board games and food at the Green Roof of Marina Barrage.

It was a heartwarming sight as all the volunteers basked under the sun, engaging in both play and conversation over the tidbits they brought along. Those who had more experience in flying kites were more than willing to share their expertise with those who had never flown a kite before, even assistingto untangle fallen kites.

Each volunteer was also given a plain kite to decorate for the kite-design competition. Tobie Wee from Serangoon Club emerged the winner with his design of a tree in the shape of a hand, representing how fruitfulness stems from the effort put into sowing.

Though the programme was simple, it was the fellowship and bonding that made the event memorable and fun. Everyone went home with a smile and on a high after the immensely enjoyable time with each other. Indeed, beyond the programme, it was the volunteers that determined the success of the event.

25 AugvoLuntEERs’ tEAmBuiLdingDAniEl wongmARinA bARRAgE

A big thank you to all our volunteers for your hard work and dedication to TYA!Total Number Of Participants: 120

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Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s sports complex filled up with close to 500 enthusiastic children, family members and volunteers on 31 August 2013, all geared up for the annual TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) Games Day. The perfect weather marked the start of an exhilarating day of fun and friendly competition.

The Inter-Club Poison Ball Championships was the most highly anticipated event of the activity-filled day. All 17 TYA clubs took part in an intense display of determination, grit and team spirit which resulted in four clubs being left to battle it out in the semi-finals and finals to determine the overall champion.

The matches were held in front of the large crowd that attended the event, many of whom were avid supporters who cheered zealously for their clubs. As the crowd watched eagerly, eyes peeledin anticipation, the club that emerged victorious was none other than the fast and furious Clementi Club!

In a heartwarming show of remarkable and commendable sportsmanship, the other clubs, despite missing out on the title, were seen congratulating the champions with great joy and enthusiasm.Those who did not participate in Poison Ball were involved in other equally riveting games like Shake It Up, Miracle Catch and challenging obstacle courses.

The 8 x 50 metres Cluster Relay Race which included children, volunteers, parents and cluster heads, was yet another event the crowd looked forward to. It was an inspirational sight as runners fought back physical and mental exhaustion in a bid not only to out-run their fellow competitors, but also to further their own bests.

It was indeed a joyous occasion for the children, their families, as well as the volunteers. Fun, laughter, challenges and victories came together to give rise to a truly memorable day for all!

31 AuggAmEs dAYJuDAXil SoHngEE Ann PolytECHniC


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Aiming to strengthen familial bonds among our TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) children and their families, the TYA Family Camp 2013, themed ‘Treasure Island’ was held from 16 to 17 November at East Coast Park where 33 families gathered for a time of family fun. Pitching tents that they would retreat to at night, the families were reminded that their family members were truly the ‘treasure’ that they should seek to protect and cherish.

Upon their arrival, the families posed with interesting props and had their photos taken at a special photo booth. These photos were framed and given to the families as a memento to remind them of their time together at the camp.

The camp was then opened with a welcome speech by TYA Assistant Manager, Mr Lawrence Tan,on the 3 ‘C’s – Communication, Commitment and Care, to be reflected in their own families. This preceded a family barbeque which allowed families to bond with one another as they feasted and participated in leisure activities such as fishing or simply chatting amongst themselves and enjoying one another’s company.

To end the day, the families indulged in various games and activities which aimed to strengthentheir relationships through communication and a better understanding of one other,

Day Two began with breakfast by the beach and a Scavenger Hunt where the families scoured the beach for materials to build the strongest tower. The campsite was filled with laugher as the families brainstormed and discussed how to create the best structure which would outshine the many others. Next, the children and adults were divided into two groups where they decorated simple badges with unique designs as an exchange gift to their family members.

As the camp came to a close, the families expressed their appreciation for their loved ones and promised to continue nurturing and investing in kinship.After all, when times are tough, it’s our family that stands by us; our family members are truly the people whom we should treasure.

16-17 novfAmiLY cAmPKoH XiAo woonEASt CoASt PARK

13The annual TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) Family Tour has always been something that our clients and their families as well as our volunteers look forward to. This time round, the tour underwent a destination overhaul as we opted to visit the sunny island of Batam, Indonesia instead of our usual destination, Malaysia. Held from 13 to 15 December 2013, it saw some 300 people ferried across the sea to the well-loved tourist attraction.

Upon arrival at Batam, the families checked into Harmoni One Hotel before heading off for lunch at Sawagi, a restaurant famed for its local cuisine. After lunch, the families were brought to Ocarina, a water theme park. The huge pool designed for leisure and play, along with the water slide, were both immensely popularwith the children and many of the younger volunteers. For two and a half hours, everyone loosened up and had a splashing good time together, bonding within and across families.

After a long afternoon of running and splashing around, everyone was famished. Growling tummies were treated to a delectably delicious buffet dinner back at Harmoni One.

Shortly after dinner, Mr Lawrence Tan, Assistant Manager of TYA gave a short talk on the importance of family. He explored topics like family values and what truly constitutes a family. To round up an eventful day, the families were then entertained with a movie screening of the family-centred film Courageous.

The second day commenced with a painting activity that aimed to create opportunities for family-bonding. Families were encouraged to work together to paint their own family portraits and create their own individual family identities. Everyone also left their fingerprints on the TYA Family Tree – a poignant reminder that despite being individuals who come from different TYA clubs, all of them belong to the same tree and are one big TYA family!

After the morning’s activities, the families travelled to Nagoya Hill Mall to indulge in an afternoon of eatingand shopping. Spoilt for choice by the wide gamut of shops available, many families returned with their hands chockfull of shopping bags.

The evening featured a highly anticipated gala called “Hollywood Night” that kicked off with a bang. The lavish dinner event featured a grand opening that saw various volunteers and families dress up as popular movie characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Batman. Accompanied by a special live performance segment and various games organised to keep the crowd entertained, the energy levelin the ballroom was kept high and lasted throughout the entire night. Everyone had a wonderful time dining, taking photos and simply being entertained.

On the final day as the tour came to a close, tired but contented faces boarded the ferry set for home. The sight of noticeably tighter and more bonded families was enough assurance that despite the trip having only been held over a short span of three days, a world of a difference had been made to improving relationships among attending family members.


13-15 dEcnAtHAniEl tAy

fAmiLY touRbAtAm

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Inculcate positive values and build character qualities in our young.

Help our young develop thinking skills and a positive attitude towards learning.

Create a secure and conducive environment for cultivating healthy self-esteem and relationships.

Provide pastoral care and guidance for our young and their families.Foster a closer parent-child relationship.

ouR oBJEctivEs

One and a half hours of free tuition (mainly on English and Mathematics) One hour of group activities (eg. indoor/outdoor games, art and craft, themed talks, refreshment, area cleaning, journalling, etc)

TYA also organises family bonding activities and yearly events such as festive gatherings, Games Day, Survival Camp, etc. to boost family harmony and build up the children’s self-esteem.

ouR PRogRAmmE

toucH Young ARRoWs cLuBsClub lEADERSSingAPoRE

fAmiLiEs WE sERvELow-income familiesSingle-parent familiesDysfunctional families

Our mission is to nurture the young (children and teens) holistically and help them realise their potential by providing educational, social, emotional and mental support to them and their families.

ouR mission

At Bedok Club, we aim to develop our children holistically. By engaging them in a wide arrayof activities like arts and crafts, outdoor sports and academic coaching, we hope to encourage character formation as well as foster family cohesion. Through preparing our children for life’s challenges and cultivating in them sound values, we are working towards moulding them into dignified individuals who will contribute meaningfully to society.

We embrace diversity, an organisation ethos that is reflected in our team of volunteer warriors who come from a variety of backgrounds: they include civil servants, bank officers, studentsand many of our former TYA clients who have benefitted from the communal spirit of the club and desire to bless incoming batches in return.

There is never a dull moment at Bedok Club. Interesting characters abound in the formof our ambitious and often entertaining children – the school rugby captain, a potential world-class dancer-wrestler-comedian, a Disney princess wannabe and our very own “Goth Girl”who aspires to study in Raffles Girls School.

In addition, learning is made fun at Bedok Club. Recently, we organised a series of Mathematics and Science activities for our children and even a hands-on herb-planting session that encouraged them to care for the environment. We hope that such activities will go a long way towards shaping each and every one of them into potential world changers.

BEdok cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmbEDoK bungA mERAH RC CEntRE Club lEADERS: CHARmAinE CHEE, DAniEl lEE

Ang Mo Kio Club serves to bring love and care to our children. We aim to create an environment that consistently ensures every child feels loved and regarded.

Every Saturday morning, our arsenal of volunteers each spends an hour and a half tutoring our children in English and Mathematics. Conducted in small groups, these coaching sessions precede fun-filled activities that aim to instil important foundational values.

To further develop the character of our children, Ang Mo Kio Club has in place specific clubrules that are emphasised at all times: to develop a healthy habit of punctuality, respectthe volunteers, embrace positivity and interact respectfully with one another. As witnessed by the marked improvement in behaviour and attitudes of our children, this character-centred approach has truly inspired progressive growth and maturity among them.

In addition to a volunteer-initiated celebration, a special outing to Marine Life Park sponsored by Bank of America was organised in celebration of Children’s Day. Our children had a ballof a time. Ang Mo Kio Club also celebrated Mid Autumn Festival through an enjoyable culinary session that involved teaching the children how to make their own mooncakes.

Ang mo kio cLuB 9.15Am – 12.00PmmAyflowER PRimARy SCHool Club lEADERS: AnDRE CHong, AniSSA tAn, tEE ying SEAH

Bukit Merah Club took several new children under its wings this year, largely through the referral of our current clients. Mirroring the rise in our clients, our volunteer pool also increased exponentially. This has in turn allowed every child to receive one-to-one tutoring.

A significant number of new initiatives were launched in Bukit Merah Club over this past year. As some of our children hardly get to celebrate their birthdays with their families, we introduced monthly birthday celebrations that have gone a long way in making many of our children feel special and loved.

We also began conducting more home visits this year, interacting more extensively with the families of our young clients so as to establish better rapport with them. Following these visits, it is heartening that the parents have become more responsive and enthusiastic towards TYA events. We now see more active participation by both our young clients and their family members in TYA activities.

Events such as Games Day, Family Day and Family Camp have been key to strengthening familial bonds. In addition, the children particularly loved the adventurous nature of Survival Camp and the many opportunities they were provided with to forge friendships with children from other clubs.

Looking towards the future, Bukit Merah Club has recently embarked on a series of character development sessions initiated by TYA. These sessions aim to impart sound values to our young clients by engaging them in video sessions and craft activities. We also hope to start a reading programme for our children to spark their interest in reading from a young age.

Bukit mERAH cLuB 10.00Am – 12.00PmbuKit mERAH Community CEntRE Club lEADERS: mAggiE CHEn, timotHy KozAKi

Clementi Club regularly sees many former clients who are in their early to mid-20s come backin a spirit of volunteerism for a club they keep close to their hearts. These volunteers(who in their childhood years experienced the club’s programmes first-hand) often provide constructive feedback to improve the club’s existing programmes, forming great synergy with the rest of the volunteers.

Over the past year, our volunteers worked tirelessly to conceptualise and implement various programmes that sought to encourage our children to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Recognising that English is the key to unlocking efficient learning of other subjects such as Mathematics and Science, the club introduced a weekly English Grammar Clinic. Lesson plans under the Clinic were crafted by an MOE-trained English teacher with the support of volunteers possessing high proficiencies in the English language. It was observed that as the children began to enjoy English lessons more, it translated into a culture where more children started to taketo reading English novels.

In a bid to develop our children holistically, club activities did not only focus on assisting children with their academics. The Piano Appreciation Programme was one such activity. Proposed bya group of students from Hwa Chong Institution who conducted six elementary piano lessons with the children, the activity proved to be a huge success as it introduced both elements of fun and confidence-building to learning. So far, feedback from the children has been encouraging and we hope to continue improvingour programmes to benefit both our current and future clients.

cLEmEnti cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmtouCH ClEmEnti CHilD CARE CEntRE Club lEADERS: AnDy ng, CHERyl yEo, mARK toH

2013 was an eventful year for Eunos Club which achived second runner up at TYA Games Day. Several breakthroughs in the children’s growth were achieved and further served asan encouragement for the volunteers to do even better.

We also started to encourage the volunteers to share personal observations on howthe children in Eunos Club have been progressing. In addition, to improve the dynamics amongst volunteers, regular volunteer outings were organised to serve as platforms in fostering a greater synergy among the Eunos Club’s team of volunteers.

With special sponsored outings like a visit to Marine Life Park and a Christmas Party organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the children of Eunos Club have no doubt been greatly blessedand enriched.

Eunos Club is stronger and better today due to the contributions of our volunteers, sponsors and supporters, and we want to say a big “thank you” for that!

Eunos cLuB 10.00Am – 12.30PmEunoS CRESCEnt RC CEntRE Club lEADERS: AnDREw KHong, JuDAXil SoH, PEH CHu ming

Geylang Bahru Club occupies a shared venue with TOUCH Seniors Activity Centre and is run by 10 dedicated volunteers who coach about 25 children clients in our weekly tuition sessions.

Apart from our tuition programme, 2013 also saw the implementation of various new activities and games by the volunteers for our children in a bid to continue inculcating sound valuesand building team spirit in them. Captain’s Ball and board games were some of the popular games which worked to bond our children together and teach them values of teamworkand considerate play.

Geylang Bahru Club also had the privilege to participate in some sponsored outings which included a rare visit to the Marine Life Park in May and an enjoyable Amazing Race at Sentosa in September.

Here at Geylang Bahru Club, we consider it a great fortune that many families of our young clients have showed great enthusiasm and support in the club’s activities, as evident in the high turnout rates during TYA-wide events. It is most heart-warming to see that through such programmes and events, strong bonds have been and are being forged among our volunteers, children and their families, forming a great Kampong Spirit!

gEYLAng BAHRu cLuB 10.00Am – 12.30PmtouCH SEnioRS ACtivity CEntRE Club lEADERS: CHiA wEn JiA, JonAtHAn PAng, ng li JuAn

s i n g A P o R E

Location: Sembawang Zone “J” RCEstablished in 2010Children: 27

Woodlands club

Location: TOUCH Clementi Child CareEstablished in 1994Children: 22

clementi club

Location: Queenstown Community CentreEstablished in 2008Children: 23

Queenstown club

Location: PAP Ayer Rajah BranchEstablished in 2013Children: 35

teban gardens club

Location: Pioneer Primary SchoolEstablished in 2012Children: 26

Jurong West club

cHiLdREnS E R v E D

fAmiLiEsS E R v E D

in 2013TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) is a service of TOUCH Community Services, a not-for-profit charitable organisation officially registered in 1992, and a member of the National Council of Social Service. TOUCH is also the winner of the Outstanding Non-profit Organisation Award at the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2007.

TYA serves children aged six to 12 years old, from low-income and/or single-parent families through weekly programmes and year-round family bonding events, across 17 TYA Clubs in Singapore.

tYA

voLuntEERsREguLAR

cLiEnt-tuRnEd-voLuntEERs

Location: Chong Pang Zone “1” RCEstablished in 1998Children: 18

Yishun club

Location: Mayflower Primary SchoolEstablished in 2010Children: 32

Ang mo kio club

Location: PCF Tampines ChangkatEstablished in 2005Children: 27

tampines club

Location: Mountbatten Community CentreEstablished in 2005Children: 22

mountbatten club

Location: Marine Crescent Ville RCEstablished in 2007Children: 32

marine Parade club

Location: Bunga Merah RCEstablished in 2008Children: 14

Bedok club

Location: Eunos Crescent RCEstablished in 2012Children: 12

Eunos club

Location: TOUCH Seniors Activity CentreEstablished in 2012Children: 32

geylang Bahru club

Location: Bukit Merah Community CentreEstablished in 2009Children: 24

Bukit merah club

Location: TOUCH Young Arrows CentreEstablished in 2013Children: 14

Hougang 1 club

Location: Braddell Heights Zone “F” RCEstablished in 1997Children: 35

serangoon club

s i n g A P o R E

Location: TOUCH Young Arrows CentreEstablished in 2008Children: 16

Hougang 2 club

After a multiplication of the initial Hougang Club into two separate sessions, Hougang 1 Club (morning session) opened its doors on 3 March 2013, housing a company of impassioned volunteers striving for an organisation with far-reaching goals. Our aim is to provide a platform for every child to express him/herself, focusing on their growth beyond academics. In addition, we are also working towards creating lasting and intimate relationships within families by strengthening kinship ties between our young clients and their family members.

Our volunteers have been a tremendous blessing throughout the year – upholding the values of TYA in being exemplary role models for all youths and conscientiously guiding the children each week. Many children have improved academically and experienced breakthroughs with past problematic attitudes and behaviour. Witnessing the fruits of their weekly labour in the form of such improvements has really encouraged our volunteers, propelling them to desire to work even harder at guiding and enriching these children.

One such success story is of a Primary Three boy who used to be unable to focus during his tuition sessions. However, under the patient mentoring of the volunteer he was assigned to, one could see a remarkable growth in his emotional state of maturity by the end of the year. He now pays full attention during tuition time, exercises greater discernment, and is proving to be a role model to the other children his age.

We look forward to what the future has in store for Hougang 1 Club and towards the potential growth of our children!

HougAng 1 cLuB 10.00Am – 12.30PmtouCH young ARRowS CEntRE Club lEADERS: tAn guAng Rong, vERniCE HEng

Hougang Club originally started out in 2008 with 16 children and six volunteers. This year,we were blessed with an increasing pool of volunteers who graciously forked out time and effort to reach out to the heartland children. This provision made possible the multiplication of the club, forming both a morning and an afternoon session!

Hougang 2 Club (afternoon session) currently facilitates around 17 regular children and eight volunteers. Over the past year, thanks to our family of committed and experienced volunteers, we conducted food and craft making activities as well as small group teaching sessions.The immense sense of pride and satisfaction experienced in witnessing the birth of new friendships made among the children, along with their enthusiasm for club activities, is one that cannot be put into words.

At the TYA wide events, our children displayed an encouraging show of teamwork and sportsmanship. We witnessed how the children stuck together and rose up against challenges they were met with in this year’s Survival Camp. A heartwarming display of camaraderie was also seen in a decision made to join forces with Hougang 1 Club in the Annual Games Day Championship.

In order to place more emphasis on character development, Hougang 2 Club also recently introduced journall ing and a reward system. It is heartening to see that the childrenare progressively learning to respect and give in to one another.

We look forward in eager anticipation to an even more fruitful year in 2014!

HougAng 2 cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmtouCH young ARRowS CEntRE Club lEADERS: ng JiE ying, noRmAn lim

Started in 2012, Jurong West Club has been working to enrich the lives of children in its neighbourhood and welcomed a new batch of children as it entered its second year of operation.

In 2013, Jurong West Club was thrilled to introduce the unique “Habits of the Mind” sessions to its clients. These interactive sessions were conducted by teachers of Bukit Batok Secondary School who encouraged and inspired the children to develop a keennessfor learning.

Apart from academics, our young clients are also treated to weekly game session where they have fun, interact and bond with the other children and the volunteers. Such club activities provide the children with the opportunity to learn life and character values like sportsmanship, perseverance and discipline.

Says the father of 10-year-old Nabil and 12-year-old Raziq, “I have witnessed an improvement in the attitudes and academic results of my kids ever since they joined TYA. My kids are also more obedient and independent now. I really appreciate the staff and volunteers of TYA for making such a difference in our lives!”

JuRong WEst cLuB 10.00Am – 12.00PmPionEER PRimARy SCHool Club lEADERS: DAniEl CHEong, gAy PEiyu

2013 was a positive year for the 27 children and 18 volunteers of Marine Parade Clubas reflected by the club’s theme for the year – ‘Always Be Positive’ (AB+).

With fun-filled activities like Run & Raisin, Parents’ Night, Family Day, Family Camp, Games Day and Family Tour, Marine Parade Club remains an engaging place for both the volunteersand the children. We are extremely heartened and encouraged by the continued supportand enthusiasm of our young clients and their families.

On the academic front, Marine Parade Club launched a reading programme for Primary Oneand Two children during tuition sessions in 2013. This programme aims to improve our young clients’ command of English and their pronunciation through fun and engaging story-telling.

Over the years, many children have benefitted from Marine Parade Club’s tuition programmeand have since advanced to Secondary schools. We are particularly proud of our former client, Nur Hidayah Abdul Razak, who came back as a volunteer after graduating from Primary school to coach and guide her TYA juniors. Volunteers and former clients like Hidayah are instrumental in the implementation and execution of our club programmes. Their efforts and sincerity never fail to warm our hearts and spur us to do even better!

mARinE PARAdE cLuB 10.00Am – 12.30PmmARinE CRESCEnt villE RC Club lEADERS: HEng yingCHAo, nAtHAniEl tAy, tHomAS tAn

2013 was a year of change - Mountbatten Club saw the graduation of a number of Primary Six clients, of which a few decided to give back to the club by returning as TYA volunteers. In a bid to reach out to more disadvantaged children in Mountbatten, we also engaged in door-to-door flyer distribution at neighbouring HDB blocks to raise awareness about TYA and our services. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our volunteers and staff, our client numbers more than doubled within just a month!

In addition, we are grateful to have been blessed with many partnership opportunities last year. Some major events that were made possible with the help of various schools and corporations we partnered with were TYA’s Amazing Race at Sentosa, a rollerblading session and even an outing to S.E.A. Aquarium, the world’s largest South-East Asian aquarium.

We look forward to seeing our young clients grow in character and love under our care.

mountBAttEn cLuB 2.00Pm – 4.30PmmountbAttEn Community CEntRE Club lEADERS: CHRiS yEAn, linColn CHEng

2013 was a wonderful year for Queenstown Club. This year, the club focused on developingthe character of our young clients – apart from striving for academic excellence, we also wanted to impart good moral values to them, nurturing them into individuals with a heart for the society.

The children experienced much fun and joy even whilst studying during the academic year.We invited them and their families every festive season to take part in activities organised byTYA volunteers aimed at strengthening familial ties. Through such bonding sessions, we gotto know not only their parents but also the rest of their family members better.

Throughout the year, we collaborated with numerous institutions such as Raffles Girls’ School and Singapore Management University to plan holistic programmes for our young clients.These programmes served to equip them with important life skills such as leadership and team-building finesse. We tasted the fruits of our labour when most of our Primary Six students indicated interest in volunteering with us after their graduation.

Here’s to many more years of assisting youths to reach their fullest potential so that they canin turn contribute to the community!

QuEEnstoWn cLuB 10.00Am - 12.00PmQuEEnStown Community CEntRE Club lEADERS: JESSiCA lECK, lAwREnCE tEo

sERAngoon cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmbRADDEll HEigHtS zonE ‘f’ RC CEntRE Club lEADERS: ivAn CHEw, StEfAniE yEE

Serangoon Club aims to be a welcoming place where lasting friendships are forged and where everyone sees one another as family. A club that brims with warmth and fun, we exude our own distinct flavour, largely owing to diverse personalities and characters of the children under our care.

Over the past year, we were blessed with an influx of new young clients. Some of themwere extremely shy, but as the year progressed, it was truly a joy to see many of them come out of their shells, forging friendships with their peers and our volunteers.

It was also a blessing to have the support and sponsorships of various companies and organisations which made our many fun outings possible. One example was that of a Children’s Day outing sponsored by SAFRA, where the children had a fun-filled time working togetherto create their own handicraft pieces in addition to playing games and being treated to an array of old school snacks. The highlight of that outing was trying a new sport known as cup stacking! Even children who were usually seen slouched over their assessment books sat up straight, determined and ready to conquer the task at hand. It was delightful seeing how many prided themselves on overcoming a task that seemed daunting at first.

With an attendance of more than 20 children and 15 volunteers, Tampines Club has contributed significantly to TYA’s vision of moulding the young into adults of calibre. To ensure that the different learning needs of our children are met, three different academic tracks have been created to focus on specific areas of learning during our tuition sessions. One of them,the Reading Programme, has successfully increased the level of interest for reading among our lower Primary children.

Academics aside, we place equal if not more emphasis on character building. Activities conducted by the club are intentionally designed to teach our young clients positive values and strengthen their character. Further, debrief sessions are held at the end of each club activityto ensure that our children take home the right learning points and life lessons that these activities set out to impart.

In February, Bedok and Tampines Club jointly organised a cluster outing to the ‘Slide@T3’.The children interacted extensively with each other and had an exhilarating time racing down a three-storey slide. Additionally, in July last year, the children were treated to popcorn, balloon sculptures and a minion extravaganza at the movie screening of Despicable Me 2, kindly sponsored by Rockwell Automation. We are thankful for all the sponsored outings and programmes over the past year. They certainly brought much joy and provided many valuable learning experiences for our children.

tAmPinEs cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmPCf tAmPinES CHAngKAt Club lEADERS: AnDERS SoH, niColE SoH

Ever since its humble beginnings in April 2010, Woodlands Club has seen many of its clients graduate and return as volunteers to help the club with batches after them. It is a way for these former clients to continue keeping in touch with us, except from a different vantage point - learning what it means to mentor, teach, befriend and inspire in the same way they were mentored, taught, befriended and inspired.

During Hari Raya Puasa last year, these former clients were given the opportunity to plan an event in celebration of the festival. Receiving guidance from other more experienced volunteers, they came up with a fun-filled programme that included a line-up of games, a short but informative introduction to Hari Raya Puasa and a sumptuous Hari Raya feast. It was wonderful seeing them work together to rise up to the challenge of planning such a major event. Above all, it was even more heartening to witness how each and every one of them prided themselves on working hard for a cause they believed in.

Besides being blessed by volunteer-led events like TYA’s Hari Raya celebration, our young clients and their families were greatly blessed by the support from members of the community. The TYA families experienced much joy in attending TOUCH’s ‘Movie Nite’, where they feasted their eyes on the Disney animated film Frozen. This event saw many low-income families spending quality time together given that their tickets were sponsored by generous members of the public. We are also thankful for one of our sponsors, Senja-Cashew Community Centre, for taking our children out for a time of fun and giving them the opportunity to ride atop the Hippo Bus, touring the many scenic sites of Singapore.

WoodLAnds cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmSEmbAwAng zonE ‘J’ RC CEntRE Club lEADERS: DEnniS CAi, iSAbEl ng, JoSEPH lEE

Teban Gardens Club opened in March last year. Apart from our young clients who are ever eager and excited to learn, we are extremely thankful for our volunteers as well – their commitmentand dedication have truly helped to create a conducive environment for our children to playand learn in. Some of our volunteers have even gone the extra mile by taking time out of their busy schedules to coach our Primary Six children on weekday evenings to help them better prepare for their PSLE examinations.

We focus on building strong bonds between parents, children and volunteers. By conducting weekly play sessions for our children as well as organising celebrations during festive seasons such as the Mooncake Festival, we have created many opportunities for regular interaction between family members. The Mooncake Festival celebration for instance, saw many families enjoying themselves as they sampled different mooncake flavours and went on a walkaboutin the neighbourhood whilst admiring the traditional candle-lit lanterns they held in their hands.

We have been greatly encouraged by the high participation rates of our children and their families in many events such as Survival Camp, Run & Raisin and Games Day. Many have even expressed enthusiasm for upcoming TYA events.

As we advance into a new year, we are excited to see what 2014 has in store for us!

tEBAn gARdEns cLuB 10.00Am – 12.30PmPAP AyER RAJAH bRAnCH Club lEADERS: CRyStAl yong, EugEnE lAu

Yishun Club is thankful to be blessed with joyful and compassionate volunteers who are always ready to serve the children and families year after year. We’re also grateful for the early childhood educators in our volunteer pool who on top of teaching our young clients to build a strong learning foundation, have so willingly imparted invaluable teaching tips to the other volunteers.

Last year, we observed in Jia Le, a creative and enthusiastic K2 boy, a notable growth in his academic abilities due to the guidance and tutelage of our volunteer, Evonne, who often brought interesting games and cards to stimulate his learning. Besides introducing games to the mix, storybook-reading is also an activity we’ve established for the younger children, in order to cultivate a fondness for the English language. Such initiatives have sparked off an overall improvement in the mental and character development of our younger clients.

Not to be outdone, our Primary Six children also performed outstandingly! After their participation in Survival Camp and Camp Explorer, we have seen a change in the attitudes and behaviours of the Primary Six children. They have learnt to be responsible, compassionate, and have since taken on “big brother/sister” roles, readily volunteering their help around club. We are especially proud of Damian who used to be extremely shy but has since blossomed into a confident boy who is easily able to influence others with his positive attitude, openness, and easygoing ways.

We are also glad for the closer bonds forged and the trust developed in 2013 between our club and the families, which allow us to better serve their needs.

As we work together through 2014, we hope that all our children and their families, as well asour faithful volunteers will continue to grow in understanding and love, to be a tight-knit community.

YisHun cLuB 2.30Pm – 5.00PmCHong PAng zonE ‘1’ RC CEntRE Club lEADERS: AmEliA tAn, gARy ng

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“We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo,How about you, you, you?You can come too, too, too,We’re going to the zoo, zoo zoo!”

On the morning of 16 March 2013, 60 young people heeded the words of the song and gathered brightand early for the annual Youthphoria Escapade. Instead of the usual urban treks, they took to an explorationof the wildlife in Singapore, on a trek around the Singapore Zoo.

With their eyes fixed on the prize, five groups of teens trudged around the zoo in hopes of becoming the best points-finishers of the zoo trivia. Touring the animal kingdom, the youths sought out answers to trivia questions such as, “Why do male zebras smile?”, “Name the ‘ballerinas’ of the zoo” and “When and how did Singapore’s famous friendly Orangutan, Ah Meng, pass on?”. The quest for answers was clearly no easy feat as information boards found around the zoo rarely provided an outright solution and teammates were seen conducting friendly debates with one another over who possessed the better answers.

Additionally, groups were to carry out an assembly of tasks if they wanted to earn more points to gainan advantage over other competing teams. In true Youthphoria fashion, wacky tasks were thrown in, generating squeals of excitement not only from the groups themselves but from on-looking passers-by who were tickled pink as well. Teens entertained tourists with their rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus” in front of tram stops, stood on one leg pretending to camouflage among the flamingoes, hopped around like kangaroos at the “Down Under” kangaroo trail and even wrote and cheered to original versions of “Bears of the World Unite” – all in front of a Saturday zoo crowd.

Competition to emerge at the top was definitely stiff – teams even took to Instagram to “out-Owl” one another by posting photographs of themselves perched on logs and bins, staring into the distance.

But it was all in good fun and all teams made an effort to guard against displays of overly-competitive aggression. It was heartening to see that all participating teams were mature enough to comprehend that winning was secondary and that the primary purpose of the adventure trail was always about creating connectionsand bonds with one another during the journey. Everyone partook in the excitement, laughter, embarrassments and tiredness of the adventure, which amounted to shared growth. They learnt from and about one another, learnt to encourage and spur one another on and learnt to step outside their individual comfort zones.

True to the quote of that day, “you only live once”, every participant learnt to free their own inhibitions,embrace the day’s company and create memorable moments together.


16 mARYoutHPHoRiA EscAPAdECHARmAinE CHEESingAPoRE zoo

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“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” -Winston Churchill

Youth Bless 2013 saw a group of committee members embracing the spirit of giving when they took time off to serve the elderly in the neighbourhood of Mountbatten. As part of TYA’s line-up of community blessing events in 2013, a carnival was held on 17 August 2013 at Mountbatten Community Club (CC) where over 80 elderly residents turned up for a day of fun and interaction.

The carnival engaged the elderly through games, karaoke, handicraft sessions, and some of their other favourite pastimes. Weeks of sincere planning and hardwork certainly turned that afternoon intoa meaningful and fun-filled one.

In an impressive show of cooperation and team spirit, the youth volunteers got together before the event and had the venue set up and ready way before the scheduled commencement time.

When the elderly started to stream in, the youths split into groups and personally attended to every single one of them. Recognising the significance of their roles in making the elderly feel welcomed, the youths stepped out of their comfort zones to reach out to the elderly, striking up conversations with themto make them feel at home. It was heartwarming to see the youths interacting and laughing togetherwith the elderly, enjoying the time spent with one another. By putting smiles on the faces of the elderly,the youths themselves gained new perspectives about giving as well as newfound joy.

Youth Bless was indeed a rewarding experience for everyone. We are not only grateful for all the blessings we have received this year, but also for the privilege to bless others and the joy we have in turn received through giving. It is our hope that our youths will continue to grow in love, kindness and generosity.


17 AugYoutH BLEss - A YoutHPHoRiA communitY BLEssing

PEH CHu mingmountbAttEn CC

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It is said “It’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters.” So true indeed – many of our youths can attest to this, having completed Youthphoria Challenge 2013, comprising an overnight 32km walk and surviving on an average of two to three hours of sleep.

Every Youthphoria Challenge aims to challenge youths to go beyond their limits and achieve what they thought was the impossible. This year’s challenge was no different, with the long walk that started from Marine Parade Central on 18 October 2013, 8pm and ended at Pasir Ris Park on 19 October 2013, 2pm.

It was a special event, as it was the first time that the graduating Primary Six children could join in, as well as a firstfor many of the teens. The night started out with 46 youths and 12 volunteers gathering together for a round ofice-breakers for group members to get to know each other, as well as mass games at East Coast Parkto warm up.

As groups started walking towards the next checkpoint, droplets of water soon turned into a downpour - everyone scrambled to put on their ponchos and seek shelter. Thankfully, a temporary tentage had been set-up nearby and it provided for a cosy time as partipants huddled together for some refreshments and games. It certainly rained but our spirits were not dampened! Soon after, the four groups set off to continue their journey and eventually reached the challenging Changi Coastal stretch which seemed like an endless road for many. It was a challenge to maintain a positive mindset of moving forward when the physical body was so tired. Emotions ran high through the night with blisters, pain, perspiration and tears.

“Come on; keep moving…You can do it... Don’t stop!” This was also a heart-warming time where we saw many of the teens rise up to help take charge as group leaders – helping out with the younger ones, rising above their own struggles to spur group members on, motivating those that were struggling to move forward with numerous words of affirmation and encouragement. For some, their energy levels never seemed to die down.

As the groups reached their resting point at Changi Beach, it was hardly an effort to go to sleep once the tired bodies touched the ground, never mind the absence of sleeping bags and sounds of the aeroplanes flying above. As dawn broke, the early-risers managed to capture beautiful photos of the sunrise with numerous fun shots on Instagram.

The day started with basic stretches led by seasoned exercise enthusiast, Ivan Chew, and a water parade to ensure everyone was sufficiently hydrated. As participants trudged their way to the end-point, groups oohed and ahhed at the scenic way along the Changi boardwalk, and looked out for bird species uncommonly seen in Singapore. Words of encouragement from passing cyclists and cold drinks at rest-points kept participants going too.

Finally, the end was in sight! At Pasir Ris Park, groups rushed to be the first to complete the mini-obstacle course of knocking down a pyramid of cans and untying a web of knots to open a box containing the mystery finisher prize. The youths also relished the McDonald’s meal and refreshing cold fizzy drink before ending the day.

Kudos to all Youthphorians who had finished the walk, who kept calm and persevered on.


18-19 octYoutHPHoRiA cHALLEngESylviA SoHEASt CoASt PARK to PASiR RiS PARK

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In celebration of the festive season, the Youthphoria committee organised an event, Christmas Chill-Out,for its teenagers. Held on 19 December 2013 at TOUCH Community Theatre, it provided the youthsa chance to partake in a great time of bonding!

The event kicked off with an enjoyable session of board games. Engrossed in all-time favourite games such as ‘Monopoly’, ‘Saboteur’ and ‘The Game of Life’, the youths illuminated the theatre with their joyful countenances. Excited chatter later mellowed into contented smiles when hungry stomachs were greeted with a sumptuous pizza feast.

Even more fun and laughter awaited the crowd as the event advanced into a special movie-screening of Home Alone. This was followed by a short trivia quiz about the movie which solicited enthusiastic responses from the youths who were eager to answer the challenging questions posed to them.

The event ended off with a Christmas gift exchange. It was a heartwarming sight as the youths clearlytook home something other than mere memories of fun and play –the joy of blessing others.

The final Youthphoria event of the year truly ended 2013 on a high note – it was a gathering that not only brought about joy and laughter to the youth, but also one that provided them the opportunity to meet new people and in the process, make lasting friendships with each other.


18 dEccHRistmAs cHiLL-outDAniEl gAntouCH Community tHEAtRE

For Primary Six students, adapting to a new environment when advancing to secondary school can often be a daunting challenge. With more expectations placed on them, this is also the phase where they get the opportunity to develop themselves holistically and nurture their talents. The annual Camp Explorer aims to expose these graduating Primary Six children to the rigour and demands of secondary school life, as well as prepare them thoroughly for the exciting journey ahead.

This year, Camp Explorer was held at Hougang Secondary School where more than 40 graduating Primary Six children participatedin the diverse range of activities. Joining in the fun and adventure were more than 40 teen volunteers who facilitated the learningof the campers.

Camp Explorer 2013 started off with “CCA Exploration” – giving the children an opportunity to try their hands at various co-curricular activities (CCA) offered in secondary schools . Uniformed groups, sports and games as well as clubs and societies were represented, with the CCA booths being set up all around the school. The “Water Expedition” in the field was up next as the clans battled it out to outdo each other. Inevitably, all the campers and almost all the volunteers got drenched as they played to their heart’s content. Though there was only one winning clan, the campers were all smiles as they proceeded to wash up. The day concluded with the “Learning Expedition” where different hands-on activities were set up at each Subject Station to pique the campers’ interest in secondary school subjects.

A total of nine different Subject Stations, such as Design & Technology, Chemistry and Geography, were represented. These activities not only shed light on some of the basic content of each subject,it also served to guide the campers to make more informed subject choices in the future.

Day Two started off with a morning workout where the campers sweated it out in a “Captain’s Ball Tournament”. Amidst the competitive spirit, the tournament was marked by sportsmanship and teamwork. The value of resilience was highlighted in the next activity where the campers had to carry and pass chairs to each other from one end to the other whilst having many restrictions placed on them. Breaking any of the restrictions would require them to restart.

Despite the tough challenge under the scorching sun, none of the clans gave up and all eventually completed the task. Another experience-based activity was “Peer Pressure” where the campers were allowed to feel and identify peer pressure.

It concluded with a presentation and discussion on dealing with peer pressure, with the focus on the possible peer influences facedduring their transition to secondary school. “Too Close Too Soon”,a relationship workshop, was also organised for the campers.

The aim of the workshop was to allow them to better understand the relationship process as well as set healthy boundaries with the opposite gender.

19-21 novcAmP ExPLoRERJoSHuA lEEHougAng SEConDARy SCHool30

Finally, “Explorer Challenge” sent the campers on a mini “Amazing Race” to complete a flag-off station, a crossword station, and six other stations around the school.

Each station was designed to put the campers’ wits and teamwork to the test. Coming in first would put them in the best position for the final challenge of gathering food items represented by post-its. Rounding off the entire day was the much anticipated barbeque. Additional food was given to the clans who gathered more post-it slips during the “Explorer Challenge”. Many campers took the golden opportunity to learn how to cook and start a fire, while others danced gleefully to the music. The night ended with a movie screening of “Facing the Giants”, each with their takeaways.

The final day was filled with appreciative smiles and laughter as each camper received letters of encouragement from the volunteers. A short session on Cyber Wellness followed to further educate the campers on the dangers lurking on and offline. To wrap up the camp, each camper penned down their goals and expectations in a Letter to Myself. This letter would be mailed back to them at the end of Secondary One in hopes of spurring them on to greater heights.

While both volunteers and campers bid their farewells, the friendships forged during the camp will be greatly valued in the years to come as the campers transit into the stage of adolescence.


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5000 RUNNERS ALL FOR ONE CAUSE

EMPOWERING 411 CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOMEAND/OR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES

Categories: 2.4 KM, 5 KM, 10KMDate: 5 July 2014Time: 7 AMVenue: Silver Garden, Gardens by the Bay

Visit www.tyarunandraisin.com for more information.

RUN & RAISIN’ 2014

EMPOWERING 411 CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOMEAND/OR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES

CONTACT USThe work of TOUCH Young Arrows can only be possible with the committed

support of our volunteers and donors. If you would like to join usas a volunteer, or contribute through giving, you can reach us at:

AddREssBlk 162 Bukit Merah Central #05-3545, S150162

PHonE6317 9988

WEBsitEwww.touch.org.sg/touch_young_arrows

[email protected]

TYA Newsletter 2013

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