In an uncertain world with many problems, Singaporeans must help each other: SM Lee

More than 1,000 residents showed up at Ci Yuan Community Club, where Ci Yuan Day’s main event was held, themed “Celebrating a Caring and Inclusive Community”.

Residents played games designed to raise awareness for persons with disabilities. In one booth, participants tried sorting expired food while wearing blurred-vision goggles to simulate living with visual impairment. Another booth challenged them to convey a food order without speech, to understand the barriers faced by those with speech or hearing difficulties.

SM Lee said he was happy to see the young and the old gathering at the event. “That’s what makes a community,” he said.

Under the GRC’s annual flagship Bag-to-School programme, 79 children received $50 in mock currency to “buy” stationery at a mock marketplace.

They earned the “money” at game booths run by student volunteers from Bowen Secondary School and ITE College Central, before using it to make “purchases” with their parents’ guidance.

The activity is designed to teach financial literacy and decision-making skills to Kindergarten 2 and primary school pupils from lower-income families living in the area.

The initiative was launched in 2018 to support K2 children in their transition to Primary 1 by providing them with school bags filled with essential supplies. Since 2025, the programme has expanded to include primary school pupils preparing for school.

Children under the programme continued to receive the school bags. They also got a LEGO set, meant to reinforce the connection between learning and play.

SM Lee cited findings from the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, that ranked Singapore’s 15-year-olds first in the world for reading, and second for mathematics and science. “We will make sure you have the opportunity… to grow, and to excel,” he said.

Bowen Secondary student Ng Leyi, who planned and ran game booths for the Bag-to-School children, said the experience was fun and satisfying.

The Sec 3 student worked with three other students to set up booths for the kids to learn to identify recyclable items, to form words using letters, and to match job roles to their job descriptions.

Ng is part of the Ci Yuan Mentorship Programme, which allows upper secondary, ITE, junior college and polytechnic students to learn from mentors through workshops, leadership talks, and organising community events.

The 15-year-old also volunteers with the AWWA Special Student Care Centre under a tie-up with her school which brings modified sports like “balloon badminton” to students with special needs.

“Volunteering is very fulfilling and fun. You get to meet a lot of new people with different backgrounds,” she said.