Friend of Singa 2012

Tale of kindness in the playground wins contest

By Ng Kai Ling, The Straits Times, 7 Nov 2012

THEY were tales of generosity to touch the heart. And all were written by students keen to encourage graciousness towards others.

Nanyang Girls' High School won the Singapore Kindness Movement's story writing contest after its students penned a tale about animals that learnt how to get along in the playground.

Seventeen schools took part in the Write for Kindness competition, which was held for the first time this year as part of the movement's Friend of Singa campaign.

Since its revamp in 2009, the campaign no longer recognises acts of kindness by individual students. Instead, young people have to spend six months working on projects that promote kindness and graciousness in their schools.

This year's campaign attracted 144 schools, eight more than last year. Three special education schools - Towner Gardens School, Canossian School and St Clare School for Special Education - took part for the first time, and were each recognised for their kindness projects.

Students at Towner Gardens School put on a skit during assembly to show gracious acts such as giving up a seat on the train. The classes also helped to make a giant heart-shaped "get well soon" card for an ill schoolmate.

Teacher Wu Han Yiin said the project became an extension of the curriculum: "The topic of empathy ties in with what we are doing in school... Through the skits, the students learnt what is the appropriate behaviour in different scenarios."

Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower, gave out 33 awards yesterday. He said: "Regardless of whether you win an award today, your involvement and dedication to this project is testament to your commitment in spreading kindness."