“Small World, Big Hearts”, an event held for underprivileged and special needs kids, drew 600 participants to the Singapore Flyer on 25 October 2008. It proved a night of fun, laughter and great memories for the children and their family members.
The event was organized by 35 individuals from various walks of life who were single-minded in creating a world of opportunities for the community, supported by 300 volunteers. City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA) were among the many Voluntary Welfare Organizations who was invited to the event. The main beneficiaries for this event were the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Community Chest. The event was graced by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC.
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| PHOTOS: Desmond Tan |
The highlights of the evening were the ride on the Singapore Flyer, the carnival at the Sky Deck and the performances at the Greek Theatre. From as early as 5pm, volunteers were helping to register, issue gift bags and boarding passes to the children and their families. While waiting for their turn on the Flyer, they enjoyed themselves at the carnival at the Sky Deck where they took photographs with famous cartoon characters from Disney and Nickelodeon, jumped on the giant bouncy castle, visited the games stall and watched balloon-sculpting and magic shows.
Over at the Greek Theatre, the children had a rollicking time watching the circus and magic shows and hand bell performances of popular tunes from children shows, like Cinderella and Mary Poppins.
At dinner time, volunteers tirelessly shuttled back and forth from the food station to make sure every participant had their meal. The night drew to a close at 8.30 p.m. with a fireworks display and the release of balloons, each containing the wish of a child.
Given the blissful expressions on the children’s faces, the organizers had succeeded in achieving their goal of giving the children an opportunity to develop new friendships, enjoy extraordinary activities, increase their self-esteem, and most importantly, have a wonderful time.
