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| PHOTOS: Albert Tan |
The cast of Fish Ball Ping Pong does its bit for charity.
More than just capable actors, the children from YoungTalents’ proved themselves to be generous givers as well.
As part of their “Kids Give Back Too” project, the cast from the recent YoungTalents musical production Fish Ball Ping Pong (2009) presented Dahrul Ihsan Orphanage with a check of S$2,000 from the proceeds of their ticket sales.
They also participated in a makeover project at the orphanage on Dec. 7, 2009, where more than 20 members of the cast, age 10 and above, were involved in painting and transforming the blank walls of the orphanage’s study rooms into works of art.
While these children are without a doubt adept performers, painting rooms was a different challenge altogether. Cast member Natasha Lim said, “Even though it requires a lot of patience to wait for the paint to dry, we knew that our hard work would benefit the children at the orphanage, so the time and effort spent was all worth it.”
YoungTalents is a talent development program that offers a platform for children to cultivate positive self-esteem and confidence through the creative arts, while serving the community by bringing creative arts to the less fortunate. YoungTalents is just one of the many programs offered by K.I.T.E (Kids in Total Embrace)—a department of City Harvest Social Services Association that is dedicated to helping children and their families. Other children-centered programs offered by K.I.T.E. include Smartkids Tuition Program as well as excursions and visitations.
On Dec. 17, 2009, the cast, including those with special needs, returned to Dahrul Ihsan to share the joy of Christmas with the 51 children housed at the orphanage. The two groups of children with starkly different backgrounds mingled together in fun and games.
Campus Superstar 2009 finalist, Rachel Lim, who was one of the main leads in Fish Ball Ping Pong, performed a song item for the children. Then, much to everyone’s delight, three of the children from the orphanage presented a special item for the YoungTalents team in appreciation of their efforts. The cast was then given a tour of the orphanage and got to see the paintings they had created during their previous visit.
Vivien Ong, a student from St. Margaret’s Secondary School, remarked that “it was rewarding to see that the orphanage had put up our paintings. I had fun interacting with the children too!”
Through these visits, the children from both groups learned what it means to interact and accept people of different backgrounds, regardless of religion, race or social status—a value that would take them far along in life.
