Boys to men

When the scouts in Singapore realized they didn't have enough funds to send their first overseas contingent to Sydney in 1952, they set out to raise money the old-fashioned way - by working for it. They spent a week doing odd jobs and from then on, Job Week became an annual affair for these young men, to have a taste of working with their hands.

Based on 'Bob-A-Job' Week launched in Britain in 1948, Job Week in Singapore saw scouts take on weeding of gardens, baby sitting, cleaning bicycles and washing cars, and any other tasks assigned to them.

In 1957, as seen in the photos, scouts are working at the Chief Minister's Office in Assembly House. Nearly 6,000 scouts and cubs took part that year, and raised about S$10,000 for the building of a new scout headquarters at Clemenceau Avenue.