Engaging children with arts and crafts

Singapore

SCHOOL is out, and to keep children occupied, charity arts organisation The RICE Company Limited (TRCL) has partnered with the Zhenghua Citizens' Consultative Committee to give out surprise packs to more than 250 children.

Adviser to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC GROs (Zhenghua) Edward Chia said: "We are delighted to partner the good people at TRCL to bless our children from low-resource families."

"It can be challenging to keep our kids meaningfully engaged during this period," he said, referring to the children from low-resource families or those with parents in essential services and may need help to take care of their children.

The initiative, called #Engage 3.0, hopes to occupy the children with meaningful activities to do indoors, especially in view of the heightened alert measures. The surprise packs contain materials for craft projects they can do.

The children's completed works will then be showcased on social media to highlight their effort and creativity.

#Engage 3.0 will reach out to those in the Zhenghua community, and to student care centres in five primary schools in the Bukit Panjang town - Beacon Primary, Greenridge Primary, West Spring Primary, West View Primary and Zhenghua Primary Schools.

Lynne Kok, a spokesperson for TRCL, said: "We want to give the children something to look forward to during the school holidays when they are not encouraged to go outdoors."

Additionally, TRCL hopes that these activities will inspire confidence in the children, aged six to 12, as they discover new skills and experience a sense of achievement.

The craft packs will also include "nutritious meals" for the children, according to Mr Chia.

While Singaporean Internet company Sea Limited is the main donor for #Engage 3.0, the public can also donate to the programme.

This is the third instalment of the organisation's on-going #Engage initiative, which started last year during the circuit breaker to engage vulnerable children and youth in the community.

Their previous projects served nearly 1,000 school children who participated in arts, culture and lifestyle activities held in school, with a focus to engage the under-served children and youth,

Mr Chia added: "Together as a Zhenghua family, we hope our children will stay creative, resilient and resourceful! This is our way of caring and nurturing as a community."

#Engage 3.0 will run for the duration of the holidays, until June 24, and the craft-snack packs will be distributed every Tuesday and Thursday.

To make a donation, visit https://www.giving.sg/the_rice_company/engage3.0