| Bringing
cheer to little ones |
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| It’s
party time - the children were
treated to nearly two hours of
pure entertainment at MacDonalds. |
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The eighteenth of December 2003 was a
fun-filled day for the children of Hariprasad
Childcare Centre and a meaningful day for
some public officers.
Eighteen big-hearted officers from the
Ministry of National Development (MND)
volunteered to take the little ones on an outing to
the Qian Hu Fish Farm and also arranged for a
party at MacDonalds.
In addition to sponsoring the cost of the fish
farm tour package and paying for lunch at
MacDonalds, the MND officers raised an additional
$553 for the Centre.
On the morning of the outing, the volunteers went
to the childcare centre located in Ang Mo Kio to
pick up the children and teachers. From there, they
made their way to Qian Hu Fish Farm situated near
Yio Chu Kang.
Upon reaching their destination, they went
on a guided tour of the fish farm. The first highlight
was longkang (drain) fishing, where the children
used nets to catch tiny fish from longkangs. This
was reminiscent of the old days when a favourite
past-time was longkang fishing.
The children, who could hardly contain their
excitement, darted from one longkang to another
to catch the fish while the volunteers ran after
them to ensure their safety. Those who did not
manage to catch any fish did not leave empty-handed
as the fish farm gave each child a bag of
fish, a small plastic tank and a net.
After the outdoor activity, everyone proceeded
to MacDonalds where the children were treated
to nearly two hours of pure entertainment in the
form of a lunch-cum-party celebration. Delight
was written all over the children’s faces as they
played games and had fun while they ate.
Towards the end of the party, the children
expressed their gratitude to the MND volunteers
by singing a thank-you song. The simple gesture
undoubtedly touched the hearts of the volunteers.
As they made their return trip to the office
after sending the children
back to the Centre,
many of the MND volunteers felt a sense of
accomplishment despite feeling fatigue. They felt
that although it was only a half-day affair, the
outing had brought much cheer to the children
from needy families. It was certainly an
unforgettable and meaningful experience for the
MND volunteers. |
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| By Winnie
Lee, MND HQ |
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