In collaboration with Ang Mo Kio Town Council, Teck Ghee Primary School came alive with a community spirit as 222 Primary 4 students joined 24 dedicated teachers and parent volunteers for a meaningful outreach programme on 26 June 2024. 

With bright smiles and informative posters in hand, these young ambassadors took to the streets to provide residents with valuable tips on reducing food waste and keeping the neighbourhood clean.

Jerome Lim said: “I told the residents that making a shopping list instead of shopping indiscriminately can help prevent food waste.” Iryan Firman added: “Buying only what we need also helps to reduce food waste. Many people in other countries do not have a lot of resources, so we should not waste food and buy unnecessary things.” 

When Lee Yiting knew she would be distributing posters to residents, she was a little nervous. She was particularly worried about talking to the elderly residents, as she feared they might scold her. However, after participating in the outreach programme, she found that the elderly were very friendly. “I realised that I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and I also learnt to be a more confident communicator,” she said.

Teacher Mr Edmund Lim said that involving the students in such an initiative helped them to connect with the wider community beyond their school. “I am particularly proud to see some of our less confident students step out of their comfort zone and gain the courage to talk to residents," he said. 

He highlighted that the posters on estate cleanliness and food waste reduction were creatively designed by the school's Environmental Club. The food waste reduction poster includes a shopping list, while the estate cleanliness poster includes infographics on bagging rubbish to prevent rodent infestation and advising residents to stop high-rise littering. 

The students also wrote scripts and filmed their own videos to share tips with residents on these topics. Watch the Estate Cleanliness Starts With You and Say No to Food Waste videos.

Apart from distributing educational posters, the students also rolled up their sleeves for a litter-picking activity. Jared Tan participated in the activity for the first time and found it fun. He discovered the importance of keeping litter with him until he can dispose of it properly. "I will also tell my family and friends about the importance of not littering," he said. 

Teacher Ms Lim Xiao Wei shared that this was the second time they had worked with Ang Mo Kio Town Council on such an initiative. She said: "We want our students to learn the value of giving back to the community and how to be responsible citizens." She added that through the litter-picking activity, the students became more aware of the amount of litter in the estate and developed a deeper appreciation for keeping their surroundings clean. 

[Chinese]

德义小学与宏茂桥市镇理事会合作，安排四年级学生参加社区外展活动，培养他们的社会责任感。他们在邻里捡拾垃圾，以及沿家挨户派发宣传海报，向居民讲解如何减少食物浪费和维持社区清洁。

[Malay]

Murid-murid dari Sekolah Rendah Teck Ghee telah menyertai sebuah program mendekati masyarakat bagi meningkatkan tanggungjawab sosial dan penglibatan masyarakat mereka. Mereka telah mengutip sampah di kejiranan dan berkunjung dari pintu ke pintu untuk mengedarkan risalah yang memberi penduduk tip berguna untuk mengurangkan sisa makanan dan menjaga kebersihan kejiranan.

[Tamil]

டெக் கீ தொடக்கப்பள்ளி மாணவர்கள் தங்களது சமூகப் பொறுப்புணர்வையும் ஈடுபாட்டையும் வளர்க்கும் திட்டத்தில் பங்கெடுத்தனர். அவர்கள் அக்கம்பக்க வட்டாரத்தில் கிடந்த குப்பைகளை அகற்றியதோடு, வீடு வீடாகச் சென்று உணவுக் கழிவைக் குறைக்கவும் அக்கம்பக்கத்தைத் தூய்மையாக வைத்திருக்கவும் வழிகாட்டும் சுவரொட்டிகளைக் குடியிருப்பாளர்களிடம் கொடுத்தனர்.

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