Spreading Love, Neighbourliness To Migrant Workers

Values in Action and IBDP Creativity, Activity, Service Project

In June 2020, the once-empty campus on Champions Way adjacent to Singapore Sports School came to life. About 350 foreign workers now reside on the premises formerly occupied by Innova Junior College as a result of the government’s effort to provide temporary accommodation the migrants.

Sports School student-athletes and staff seized the opportunity to extend a little neighbourliness to the new residents on Champions Way. On 7 August 2020, student-athletes from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme delivered care packs containing food and notes of appreciation for the workers.

The care packs was an initiative by the IBDP student-athletes who “came across multiple news articles covering the issues faced by our very own migrant workers and felt that we should do something to help them,” said IBDP Year 5 netballer Cheryl Wee.

“Although we are only students and cannot help them financially nor physically, we understood how stressful it must be to be in their situation right now. We felt that it is important to give back to these people who have been working hard all these years and contributed to Singapore’s development.”

Through an internal fundraiser, the IB student-athletes collected food and daily necessities, as well as cash funds to purchase additional items for the gift packs. Also included in the bags were a handcrafted picture frame made by the student-athlete body during the 7 August National Day celebrations. Each worker also received an appreciation note penned by student-athletes as part of the school-wide Values in Action activity. The initiative by the IBDP student-athletes contributes to a Creativity, activity, service (CAS) component which encourages experiential learning through service of others.

“I'm grateful to have this opportunity show my gratitude to the migrant workers. Whenever I pass by them on the streets, I will nod my head to acknowledge them out of respect and also to say a silent ‘hello’. However, this is the first time I can do something for them and say ‘thank you’,” said Secondary 3 footballer Muhammad ‘Rauf Mohamed Erwan. ‘Rauf and Secondary 4 bowler Colleen Pee designed a picture each to accompany the photo frames which their peers made using ice cream sticks and rubber bands, before decorating them with stickers and drawings.

“When I saw the picture I had designed being placed into the photo frames my schoolmates had created, I was honoured to be able to contribute to the school's efforts, and I hope the migrant workers like the gift that we made for them.”

“This gift donation project symbolises hope and appreciation. These tokens may be small in comparison to their sacrifices and hardships they have faced, but I hope that through this, we get to show how much we Singaporeans treasure their work and welcome them into our community,” said Cheryl.