A Clean & Green Dream for South West

On 27 November 2010, "A Litter-free Dream for a Big, Clean South West" organised by NEA (SWRO) and South West CDC was launched at the South West Clean & Green Carnival at the ITE College West (Chua Chu Kang Campus).

This year-long programme will see at least 1,000 students from 25 schools help fulfil a litter-free dream for South West and needy children. Each participating school will adopt a litter-prone area where youths tend to congregate and conduct two litter-free outreach activities. For every student on board, $5 will be donated to the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) which provides financial support to children from low-income families entering kindergarten. Each participating school will also receive funding to set up litter-free corners in their campus to reach out to other students, stressing on the importance of being socially responsible. To date, more than 3,000 students from 18 schools in South West have signed up for the programme.

(From left to right) Mr Andrew Tan, CEO (NEA); Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Adviser to Boon Lay GROs; Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West district; Mr Gan Kim Yong, Guest of Honour and Minister for Manpower; Mr Ang Mong Seng, BBM, Adviser to Bukit Gombak GROs; Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Adviser to Keat Hong GROS and Mr Jeffery Davis, Manufacturing Director (ExxonMobil) launched 'A Litter-Free Dream for a Big Clean South West' at South West Clean & Green Carnival.

A group of 30 ITE students together with 39 ExxonMobil staff and their families, conducted the litter-free walk from Teck Whye LRT station to Teck Whye Shopping Centre early in the morning. Besides walking around wearing eye-catching litter-bin billboards, they also picked up litter along the way.

A team of ITE students and ExxonMobil staff all set for Litter-free Walk at Teck Whye estate

"Piece Up Our Dream for a Clean & Green South West" – a mega 1000-piece jigsaw mural was the other main highlight of the event this year. Each jigsaw piece signifies the residents' pledge towards a clean and green South West community. GOH Mr Gan and Mayor Dr Khor kick-started the pledge by placing the title "Piece Up Our Dream for a Clean & Green South West."

(Left) GOH Mr Gan Kim Yong putting up the jigsaw piece on the "Piece Up Our Dream for a Clean & Green South West" Mural. (Right) The completed jigsaw mural

Aside from the interactive exhibitions, there were also interesting workshops which aim to inspire our residents to adopt a clean and green lifestyle. Students from Boon Lay Garden Primary School and ITE College West showcased how we can recycle drink cartons and plastic bottles into wallets and pencil holders. Students from Teck Whye Primary School also taught us how to make our own insect repellent. These and many other hands-on workshops educated guests and residents and they learned how beautiful and usable products can be created out of ordinary materials that otherwise would have been discarded as waste.

(Left) Tour of the exhibition by GOH, Mayor and invited guests. (Right) GOH Mr Gan Kim Yong and Mayor Dr Amy Khor making mosquito repellent pouches at a Clean & Green Workshop by Teck Whye Primary School.

The carnival ended with of all of us looking forward to make our clean and green dream a reality!