Friday 12 October 2012

Gan Eng Seng Primary Pupils 'Pay It Forward' to mark school's anniversary

By Melissa Lim, The Straits Times, 11 Oct 2012

PASSERS-BY in Bukit Merah Central broke into surprised smiles yesterday when Primary 1 pupils Tania Tan and Lee Pei Wen approached them with printed leaflets and asked them to stop animal abuse.

The pair, from Gan Eng Seng Primary, were doing this as part of Pay It Forward, a 10-hour community service programme to commemorate the school's 10th anniversary.

Pupils from all levels went around the neighbourhood cleaning hawker centres, performing song-and-dance items for the elderly and collecting newspapers for recycling, among other activities.

"Many of our pupils come from humble homes, and they have received community support and help," said school principal Aw Ai Ling. "So we're working together with the community to teach them how to appreciate what they have."

She added that about a third of the 1,535 pupils in her school receive financial assistance.

Primary 5 pupil Gwendalyn Yap, who spent close to an hour clearing tables and picking up litter at a hawker centre, said: "I've learnt that no matter how young we are, we can make a difference in our community."

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