“Auntie, save the earth, love the earth, it is more than just a sphere!” A group of Tzu Chi Great Love PreSchool students, hot on their mission to spread awareness of recycling, tell members of the public. (Photo by Nichelle Chan)
“There’s another down there, I’m picking it up!”
“Let’s go find (litter)!”
The chirpy voices of children could be heard in the busy Chong Pang Market; under the lead of their teacher, the K1 and K2 classes of five- and six-year-olds walked over to the venue to carry out their “mission”.
Children’s Day, which falls on 1st October, is usually a day where the little ones get to enjoy themselves and have fun, but the Tzu Chi Great Love PreSchool has a special way of celebrating this event. On 4 October 2016, the PreSchool organized a beach cleaning and litter picking activity for its students. The little ones got to go outdoors and engage in earth loving activities, as well as help spread the word to go green. Through allowing the young children to contribute their efforts instead of receiving presents, the PreSchool hopes that they will realize that being able to give is more fortunate than receiving.
Adults Go Green Too
A few days before the event, teachers had shared some basic knowledge of recycling with their students, such as why recycling is important, how one can carry out recycling, and even explained the human actions that are causing damage to the earth. The students too, drew up simple posters with slogans like “The Earth is Sick,” “Let’s Cure the Earth,” and “Love the Earth,” to remind everyone of the earth’s deteriorating condition.
“Why must we recycle?” asked Zhang Wen Hui, teacher of a class of six-year-olds. All the little children replied in unison, “Because Mother Earth is sick!” In addition, they offered another explanation based on what they had learnt from the teacher and their own observations in daily life: “Littering everywhere, (and) adults smoking!”
Before the trip to the Chong Pang market and the Sembawang Park, the teachers gathered their students and briefed them. Zhang said that as that semester’s curriculum was based on recycling as its central theme, therefore the field trips were incorporated into the Children’s Day programme, giving the students an opportunity to interact with the community, thus building up their confidence.
She added, “By helping to pick up litter and promote environmentalism, they learn that Children’s Day is not just about eating, drinking, and having fun; they learn to give and to care for others and the world at large.”
The children were divided into two groups by their teacher ‒ one group was tasked to pick up litter and the other, to promote green living. The latter group was accompanied by Tzu Chi volunteers and a teacher. With a placard containing a green slogan hung around their necks, the kids told passers-by shyly: “Uncle, Auntie, use reusable bags and less plastic bags. Together, we can recycle!”
The narrow alley was crowded with little children, their teacher and volunteers; though they could not help obstructing the way for passers-by, they also attracted much interest. Many of the passers-by stood around to watch, their curiosity piqued by the words and actions of the children.
“Big sister, do you want to do recycling?” one of the students asked a young lady who was doing her shopping. “You’re so cute, I will definitely recycle!” came the amused reply. Though many of the passers-by did not respond, the majority of them smiled in return. Some store owners were not very enthusiastic about their presence and indicated that they did not wish to be disturbed as they were running a business.
The shopkeeper of a clothing store, Xie Wen Xin, who was surrounded by the children on their mission said that their childish, innocent smiles made their message more persuasive. Shop assistant Lin Kai Ling cheerfully revealed that they would recycle the transparent plastic bags used to wrap clothing. Some customers would return the bags to them and they would reuse them again. When she goes shopping, she would bring along a knapsack to contain her items, which was not only convenient, but safe and kind to the environment as well.
The Earth’s Gardeners Get Busy
Over at the other end, there were also Tzu Chi Great Love PreSchool students who were busily picking up litter, armed with tongs on their right and plastic bags on their left. They gleefully picked up trash that they spotted lying on the ground, displaying a happiness akin to receiving a present.
“There’s one there, I’m picking it up!”
The chirpy exclamations of Tzu Chi’s little “cleaners” could be heard amidst the bustling atmosphere in the Chong Pang market.
The three- and four-year-olds from the N1 and N2 classes, too, had plenty to occupy themselves that day. Accompanied by teachers and Tzu Chi volunteers, they headed for Sembawang Park to pick litter. Though it was a hot and humid day, they were full of zest as they scouted for litter on the beach and at the park grounds. Holding on to the hand of their teacher or volunteers, together they worked to remove trash from the environment.
Around noon, the different groups began streaming back into the PreSchool for a much-deserved rest and to share their experiences. Though many said that it was hard work, that it made them tired, hot and very thirsty, there were also those who expressed happiness that what they did helped to make the earth clean. The innocent replies brought much smiles to the faces of the teachers and volunteers.
In celebrating Children’s Day thus uniquely, the seeds of loving the earth have been planted in the hearts of the little children. PreSchool student Tu Yu En said, “Littering has made Mother Earth ill. We must remove the litter and let the earth recover. If the earth disappears, we won’t have a home!” Her words brought home the stark reminder that, to recycle is to benefit ourselves and mankind.
PreSchool Principal Audrey Koh briefing her students before they set off to engage in green activities. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
With earth-friendly slogans hung around their necks, the PreSchool students make their way in an orderly manner to the Chong Pang market under the lead of Tzu Chi volunteers. (Photo by Nichelle Chan)
The children happily giving stickers to members of the public who agree to engage in recycling. (Photo by Nichelle Chan)
Everybody has a part to play in keeping our environment clean ‒ a kindergarten student carefully picking up trash with tongs. (Photo by Nichelle Chan)
Armed with tongs and plastic bags, the students busily help clean up the beach. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Little children hard at work under the hot sun (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Under the lead of their teachers and volunteers, students present the recycling mnemonic to members of the public as they spread awareness of going green. (Photo by Nichelle Chan)
After the day’s activities, the students returned to the PreSchool for a rest and to share their experiences. (Photo by Nichelle Chan)
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