SINGAPORE – After his friends organised a surprise birthday party for him, Aarav Malik, now 19, was inspired to do the same for others.
In 2024, he started Expedition Joy, to organise birthday parties every quarter for disadvantaged youth and the elderly at partner organisations.
These include The Salvation Army and Singapore Red Cross.
Sponsored by the Temasek Foundation OSCAR Fund and private donor Ferns & Philo, the initiative celebrates residents whose birthdays fall in the preceding quarter.
Parties are held at venues such as Gracehaven Children’s Home and are organised with the help of volunteers.
This was one of 11 groups featured at the Festival of Deeds by Kids, an event meant to connect socially minded youth.
Others include Project Phoenix, which teaches latchkey children simple magic tricks to boost their confidence and build public-speaking skills.
The children put up a performance at the festival on June 5, which was organised by Little But Loud, a ground-up initiative.
During the event, Little But Loud launched a new platform for social initiatives driven by youth, to help sustain efforts that often start in school but lose momentum once their founders graduate.
In the coming year, the Network of Deeds by Kids plans to engage over 150 youth, with members receiving mentorship, training and opportunities to work together.
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