Work and life have provided me with opportunities to witness the incredible potential of the young, and yet each time I come across a new opportunity, I am amazed to witness it all over again. I find myself drawn to the incredible potential of the human spirit and to the contagious enthusiasm that people display, especially when inspired. And so for the 6thconsecutive year, I cancelled every other appointment, and rushed to be part of Design For Change, Singapore’s Be The Change Celebration (BTC). This event was held on the sunny morning of 12thNovember 2018.
For those who haven’t heard of it before, DESIGN FOR CHANGE is the largest global movement that gives the children opportunity of expressing their ideas for a better world. Oh, and they don’t stop at just expressing their ideas, they put it in to action too. This global movement has inspired thousands of children to discover that change is possible and that they can lead and inspire this change themselves.
BTC 2018 was held at an auditorium at the SMU campus. As I stood at the bottom of this auditorium, I witnessed the beaming faces of students from 26 schools. In them I saw the future and I am glad to say that the future looks to be in good hands. I also saw the caretakers of this future, the teachers and the parents who were proud to have accompanied these young change makers.
As the emcees cheerfully navigated us through the programme, the enthusiastic crowd chanted encouragements, played interactive games, joined the flash dance and some of them confidently marched up on the stage to receive awards.
It was celebratory indeed! These students from various schools in Singapore had followed the Design Thinking process to make a difference to the world around them. Overall, 17 schools presented their projects.
Though every attempt needs applause and every child is a hero, here are few of the projects that were chosen by the jury.
School Project
| South View Primary School | Making A Difference with the SPCA |
| Holy Innocents Primary School | Stars in Action (Project Smile to Children’s Home) |
| Yio Chu Kang Primary School | Blind spot |
| Global Indian International School | Beat Plastic Pollution |
| Keming Primary School | See Well & Don’t Fall |
| ANDERSON SECONDARY SCHOOL | Our Upcycling Project: “Transform trash to treasures” |
| WESTWOOD SECONDARY SCHOOL | Virtual Reality: Balik Kampung Project (Back to Good Old Days) |
| WESTWOOD SECONDARY SCHOOL | Eco Flowering Filtration Pot System |
| Overseas Family School | Windows to education: Social Entrepreneurship project for underprivileged children in Nepal |
| Riverside Secondary School | A Conversation with Migrant Workers |
| TANGLIN SECONDARY SCHOOL | Tackling Gender Stereotyping in the Classroom |
I was duly infected by the enthusiasm that was palpable in the auditorium that day. Many congratulations to DFC Founder, Madhu Verma and the team for another successful event! This incredible event shall return next year with the belief that we can be the change that we want to see in this world. This volunteer shall return too. Till then, keep believing in a better world!
Yours truly with Madhu Verma (Founder, DFC, Singapore & Founder, SoCh in Action)
