Hope and heartbreak in ChildAid’s 20th edition
The annual charity musical by BT and ST raises more than S$2 million with a poignant tale of ambition, resilience and imagination
DREAMS and disappointment are two sides of the same coin – but with imagination, determination and a little luck, you might just tip the odds in your favour. That was the unexpectedly profound message of ChildAid 2024, the annual charity showcase co-organised by The Business Times and The Straits Times to raise funds for socially disadvantaged children.
Marking its 20th edition, ChildAid delivered a stirring performance at the Esplanade, weaving the themes of hope, dreams and the bittersweet realities of life into its narrative.
The original fantasy musical is centred on a fictional Dream Emporium, where a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) system is tasked with making children’s dreams come true. The catch? Only half of all dreams can be fulfilled, while the rest are deemed “impossible” and are discarded.
Enter Felix, played by the charismatic 14-year-old Ren Nakao. As the Dream Emporium’s newest recruit, Felix is undeterred by the system’s cold logic. Determined to rewrite the rules, he tinkers with the AI, risking the entire system’s operation to boost the success rate of dreams. His efforts pay off, raising the odds to an inspiring 83 per cent.
For the show’s finale, 83 children stood on stage singing the original anthem Believe in Dreams Again composed by co-creative director Amni Musfirah, the chorus filling the hall with hope and optimism.
The story is written and directed by rising theatre star Krish Natarajan, who drew inspiration from ChildAid’s own history. Since its inception in 2005, the fundraiser has raised more than S$30 million for the BT Budding Artists Fund and the ST School Pocket Money Fund, making tangible differences in the dreams and lives of disadvantaged children.
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This year alone, the event added S$2,083,430 to its remarkable tally, with support from major sponsors including UOB, TTJ Design and Engineering, and Mohamed Abdul Jaleel of MES Group. The show was produced by NoonTalk Media.
Gracing the event was President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who took to the stage together with SPH Media chief executive officer Chan Yeng Kit to applaud the young performers for their role in the compassionate endeavour.
In the programme booklet’s foreword, BT editor Chen Huifen reflected on the concert’s enduring legacy, calling it “proof of the remarkable impact we can make when we unite for a good cause”.
Among the standout performances was a captivating rendition of Vivaldi’s Summer from The Four Seasons, delivered by violinist Travis Wong and pianist Jessie Meng, whose dramatic interplay drew cheers and applause across all three shows on Nov 29 and 30. The concert also featured original compositions by Electone player Yee Hong Shyan and pianist Jared Wong, showcasing the breadth of young talent.
In a poignant finale, visually impaired singer Nur Anisah Daaniys Sufian took centre stage, embodying the event’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Her sweet, soaring voice left an indelible mark, reminding the audience that dreams, no matter how improbable, are worth believing in.
Donations are open until the end of December. Those who wish to donate can visit: https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/childaid2024
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