On 4 January 2009, City Harvest Church (CHC) played host to a milestone event for the South West Community Development Council (CDC). The annual charity recycling program, known as Charitable Recycling 2009 @ South West saw its first official collaboration between several key religious organizations.
Besides South West CDC, other participants for this year include CHC, the South West Mosque Cluster, and the Singapore Soka Association. This joint effort proves that with a common cause, different faiths can work together harmoniously on a common platform, for a great cause.
The church’s worship venues became centers for the public and church members alike to contribute their recyclables, such as clothes and newspapers. These materials would then be converted to funds that will go toward helping ITE students from low income families. The program provides much-needed financial assistance to more than 600 such students in attaining course notes, stationery, and uniforms for the new academic year of 2009.
The event was graced by Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of the South West District and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Besides thanking the different organizations for doing their part in raising funds for the ITE students, Dr Khor noted that “the charity recycling event also offers a practical yet unique opportunity for the inter-faith organizations and their worshippers to work together, thereby strengthening inter-religious and inter-racial harmony and understanding.”
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| PHOTOS: Daniel Poh |
This unique combination proved to be a winning one, as the target of S$60,000 was achieved, with snaking queues still waiting to contribute their “treasures” for a good cause. If the success of the day’s event is anything to go by, “going green” and making a difference is easy when each one puts in their effort to achieve a common goal.
