Art by dyslexic children brighten i Light Singapore 2025
They worked with ultraviolet markers with glow-in-the-dark ink. A thousand bamboo sticks – which each span more than 1 m in length – were then strung together to light up the Bridge of 1,000 Dreams.
On May 10, hundreds of children gathered at South Beach for this initiative. The bridge is one of the displays at i Light Singapore 2025, a light art festival that is sponsored by UOB.
About 60 of the children were beneficiaries from the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), a long-time community partner of UOB. The bank organised the art workshop.
One such beneficiary was 11-year-old Primary 6 student Selina Grace Goh, who previously faced criticisms from her peers for being a slow learner. After attending DAS classes in Primary 4, her learning began to improve significantly, and she has become more confident.
On her bamboo stick, Goh drew a paintbrush and palette to show her passion for art. She has always liked art because it is a creative outlet that allows her to express herself, and it keeps her calm.
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Selina Grace Goh (left) with Leonard Tan, head of group corporate social responsibility at UOB; she has drawn on her bamboo stick a paintbrush and palette to show her passion for art. PHOTO: UOB
The 1,000 bamboo sticks each have different drawings and symbolise Singapore's shared growth, noted UOB. This is in conjunction with UOB's 90th anniversary and SG60.
The bamboo sticks are decorated using ultraviolet markers with glow-in-the-dark ink. PHOTO: UOB
Leonard Tan, head of group corporate social responsibility at UOB, said: 'In this activity, the children get to share their dreams and aspirations for Singapore – and for themselves as well. The interesting and fun thing for them is that they can be proud of their artwork being displayed at Cavenagh Bridge at i Light, and they can bring their family and friends to come and enjoy this piece of public art.'
After i Light is over, they will be able to take the bamboo sticks home to keep as mementos. The festival features 17 light installations in total, with Bridge of 1,000 Dreams as one of its new exhibits.
UOB's giving-back efforts are focused on children, art and education. 'Being future-oriented, children are a key focus group. And with that, we want to enhance their lives – especially those from underserved communities – and level them up through programmes and experiences in education and art,' Tan added.
Earlier in May, UOB launched its first Learning Playzone at The Artground to teach financial literacy skills to kids through role-playing activities and art.
The bank also currently supports Fresh, a programme run by charity Children's Wishing Well, in which UOB volunteers bring groups of children to the supermarket to learn about budgeting and nutrition twice a month. Each child is paired with a volunteer and given S$50 for the shopping experience.
i Light Singapore 2025 runs nightly till Jun 21 while Bridge of 1,000 Dreams will extend until Jul 20.
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AsiaOne
09-08-2025
- AsiaOne
Call sign 'Tiny', vibes massive - this C-130 pilot is flying for more than just the mission, Lifestyle News
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CNA
07-08-2025
- CNA
Relive each of Singapore's 60 years of independence in 60-second clips
SINGAPORE: This year, Singapore turns 60. Amid the flurry of SG60 activities, promotions and events, CNA invites you to take a step back and walk down memory lane. Called "60 years in 60 seconds", we've dug deep into Mediacorp's video archives going through six decades of footage, and have put together sixty 60-second clips that sum up each year in Singapore's history since independence. It begins with 1965, the year Singapore separated from Malaysia and became an independent, sovereign nation with a population of about 1.9 million people. It was the year Singaporeans watched the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew tearing up on national television, speaking candidly at a press conference over a "moment of anguish" about the separation. And then 1966 was the year of Singapore's first National Day Parade, and when the first ICs and passports were issued. The year after that saw another meaningful milestone, and 900 Singaporean sons were called up to enlist in the first National Service intake. The first Singapore dollars were issued this year as well. Many fun facts pepper the entire series of minute-long clips, which were produced by CNA's current affairs team. Did you know, for example, that: Singapore changed its time zone in 1982 Before the 1980s, the National Pledge was recited with the right hand raised instead of a clenched fist over the heart The Esplanade wasn't intentionally designed to look like a pair of durians Each clip in the SG60 series is built around a simple question: What was Singapore like in that year? You'll find as you dive into each year, there is a key event and important milestones that contributed to nation-building. These include the launch of the MRT, colour TV, cashless payment and the year Singapore gave out the keys to its millionth HDB flat. If you were born before 1965, or grew up in the early years, we hope you'll enjoy reliving the sights and sounds of life in Singapore back then. And if you were born much later, it's illuminating to discover what it was like when it all began. Playlists of the 60 clips are available on TikTok and YouTube, and you can also watch the collection of videos on those platforms and on Instagram through the hashtag #SG60CNA. Do share your own memories of these years on your social accounts with the hashtag #SG60CNA.
AsiaOne
03-08-2025
- AsiaOne
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With Singapore turning 60 this year, much of the attention has understandably been on the tangible things — think SG60-specific collections or the slew of exciting events to attend. While that's all well and good, perhaps there's value in pausing for a moment of introspection. Singapore's upcoming birthday had me asking myself: "What really makes us quintessentially Singaporean?" When more than 3 million citizens share just over 735 sq km of land, it's inevitable that we'd develop certain shared habits, experiences and peculiarities. Just to make this exercise more interesting, I've decided to steer clear of Singaporeans' love for food. So don't expect any chicken rice or kaya toast nostalgia here. Instead, let's explore the idiosyncrasies, objects and lived experiences that define us as Singaporeans. First milestone: Primary school (Singapore version) Let's do this chronologically and start at the beginning — our early school years. 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You know your partner is serious about the relationship when they begin asking questions such as: "Wanna BTO?" Planning for a flat before planning for a wedding ceremony is a uniquely Singaporean experience. From studying the many BTO site launches to balloting results and joining Telegram groups with your future neighbours — it's a long journey that's oddly bonding. And all this happens before you even collect the keys to your first home. Only in Singapore, right? Third milestone: Navigating nosy in-laws When committing to your life partner, it isn't just a union of two. Whether you like it or not, extended families (in whatever capacity) will likely be part of this new chapter of life. This small army of new relatives brings with them questions and unsolicited advice aplenty, for every festive occasion — regardless of race, language or religion. Whether it's visiting the in-laws for Hari Raya or enjoying a hotpot during Chinese New Year, it isn't only the food that'll be grilled. 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When work gets too stressful or life starts to feel a tad too mundane, this calls for a quick weekend getaway to Johor Bahru (JB). JB holds a certain allure for many locals, especially when it comes to enjoying a range of attractions, food or a relaxing massage. Being Singaporeans, we'll likely still grumble about the traffic jam at the Causeway. But does that stop us from making the trip? Probably not. [[nid:719562]] amierul@
