Children returning home with loads of gifts and memories.
On 29 November 2024, the graduation ceremony of the "Kidz Hideout", an after-school programme was held at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. This event marked the end of a two-year growth journey for twelve Primary 5 students from North View Primary School.
Apart from the students, their family members and school representatives, the graduation ceremony was also graced by Mr Derrick Goh Soon He, Member of Parliament of Nee Soon GRC, and Mr Low Swee Seh, CEO of Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore).
The ceremony was hosted by two graduating students, who exhibited calm and steady stage demeanours. Both confidently shared their experiences in the Kidz Hideout programme. One of them fondly recounted, “Every Wednesday and Friday, we would go to the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre for three hours. From group school-work tutorials to personal space, from the importance of healthy eating to understanding cognitive processes, we gained a lot of knowledge. We also played various games together.”
The other student host said emotionally, "Although today is our graduation, we can still get together at school, to continue studying and playing. We can also return to the Youth Centre after school or during holidays."
Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) CEO, Low Swee Seh (centre) presented souvenirs to Nee Soon GRC MP, Derrick Goh Soon He (second from right) and representatives from North View Primary School.
Since 2022, the Kidz Hideout programme, jointly organised by Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre and North View Primary School, aims to help students grow holistically through after-school activity support.
This group of students joined the programme during their Primary 4 year in 2023. Every Wednesday and Friday at Kidz Hideout, they would participate in various activities, such as tug-of-war in the park, visiting the elderly in nursing homes, exploring different careers, trying out art therapy, playing dodgeball and football etc. With this graduation, the students are about to advance to Primary 6 and will focus on preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
This group of students joined the programme during their Primary 4 year in 2023 and participated in various enrichment activities every Wednesday and Friday.
Guided toward a promising future with community support and growth
The graduation ceremony began with the students serving tea to their teachers to show their sincere appreciation. Subsequently, each student was presented with a very meaningful “stay home quilt”. The quilts were hand-sewn by volunteers and filled with expressions of blessings from the students, volunteers and staff, symbolising the warm bonds formed over the past two years. The Youth Centre also prepared a membership card for each student to signify their successful graduation. With the cards, the students can access the various activities at the Youth Centre, continuing their friendship, learning and growth.
At the beginning of the graduation ceremony, the students served tea to express their gratitude to their teachers.
Sharifah Faizah, Youth Outreach Officer in charge of the Kidz Hideout programme, reflected on the students’ development, saying, "In the past two years, we have created many beautiful memories together. Each of them has not only grown taller, but more importantly, has shown great progress. This cannot be achieved without the efforts of the community.”
Sharifah also announced during the graduation ceremony that the Youth Centre will launch a Drop-in Centre exclusively for Kidz Hideout alumni in February 2025. The space will feature study areas, games and snack corners, recreating the warm atmosphere of “Kidz Hideout”.
Sharifah, the Youth Outreach Officer in charge of the Kidz Hideout programme, shared her experiences with students in the past two years.
Sharifah also expressed special appreciation to North View Primary School, praising the school's emphasis on students' social, emotional and mental health, which laid the foundation for their holistic development.
Mr Derrick Goh, Grassroots Adviser to Nee Soon Link GROs, said in his speech, "I am very happy to see the students graduating from the 'Kidz Hideout' to continue another journey to learn new things, make new friends, and embrace new possibilities." As the day before the graduation ceremony was Thanksgiving Day, Mr Derrick Goh was delighted to participate in this ceremony, which was also about gratitude and mutual growth, thus jointly shape a better Yishun community.
After the graduation ceremony, the students were eager to show off their unique stay home quilt to their family members and volunteers.
Moving forward into the future fueled by nourishment for the soul
Parents who attended the ceremony said that their children were always full of anticipations; and had gained greatly from the programme.
Kimberly Desker, one of the parents, was proud that her daughter became more positive after joining “Kidz Hideout”. She recalled, “When my daughter first joined in Primary 4, she could not wait for the ‘Kidz Hideout’ day to come. She enjoyed the various outdoor activities very much. She once performed at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. This year, my daughter also enjoyed challenging herself in playing football. At this place, she becomes more active."
Another parent, Nooraini, who is busy with work, is deeply delighted by her child's love for the "Kidz Hideout" activities.
"My daughter always says that she learned a lot here. I work from 8am to 8pm, but whenever we have time to chat, she shares with me the activities at ‘Kidz Hideout’." Nooraini also revealed that her daughter is a reticent girl and didn't talk much, but she made many new friends in the programme.
Group photo of the volunteers of the "Kidz Hideout" and the Youth Centre staff. Fourth from the right is volunteer Sia Lai Peng.
Mrs Theva, a representative of North View Primary School, said that the Kidz Hideout programme has brought great changes in the students. They have become more confident and better at self-management. Some who were quieter have become better in interacting and communicating with others.
"The bond with the students has grown over these past two years, but now that they have graduated, I am really reluctant to let them leave.” Sia Lai Peng, a volunteer who has often accompanied the children, said emotionally, "In the past two years, I have seen them becoming more proactive. They took initiatives to tidy up the tables and chairs and sweep the floor after each activity. I think every child is great in their own way, with strengths that we can all see."
This batch of "Kidz Hideout" students has been a success. It is our hope that this group of primary school students can turn the values and knowledge they have learned into resources for growth. The Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre will also continue with this effort and accompany more children in the after-school programme.
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