Get into the season of goodwill by being a part of Giving Week in Singapore, which is running until 5 December. This amazing initiative is a national movement that encourages us all to give a little back: it’s never too early to encourage our kids to be charitable and we love that this series of fun events motivates us all to donate, volunteer and fundraise across the Little Red Dot to help try and make a difference. Jump into a kayak and help clean up the waters around our shorelines, head to a bake sale and feast on muffins, cakes and quiches whipped up by some special bakers, or even join a parkour workshop to raise funds for a school in Cambodia. We’ve found five picks the whole family can get on board with during #givingweeksg.
1. Knit a beanie for a baby in Nepal
Make some new friends while picking up a new skill when you join this worthy workshop where you’ll be knitting beanies for babies affected by the recent earthquake in Nepal. Many families have tragically been left homeless and unprotected from the harsh winter elements across Nepal, and although the beanies may seem small, they will go a huge way in helping tiny tots try and stay warm. Journey Nepal will be bringing the beanies directly to the bubbas in need, all you need to do is knit, knit, knit! Get the whole family involved in this one and see who comes up with the snazziest beanie of all!
When: 4 December, 4.30-7pm
Where: Naiise, The Cathay
Price: Free
www.givingweek.sg
2. Clean up Singapore’s waterways in a kayak!
Singapore is infamous for its shiny streets and whistle-clean reputation, but sadly our waterways could do with some TLC. Kiddos age two and above can get in on the clean-up act by jumping into a kayak (with a grown-up!) and joining the Waterways Watch Society to rid the waters of the unsightly rubbish that has made its way into our rivers and reservoirs. The paddle journey will visit various shorelines at the Sports Hub, Gardens by the Bay and near the Singapore Flyer to sort out the litter hotspots and learn more about how trash travels and impacts on our environment.
When: 4 December, 8.30-11.30am
Where: Waterways Watch Society, 4876 Beach Road, Singapore 199587 (below Merdeka Bridge/Nicol Highway)
Price: $50 per person (payment by cash or cheque to WWS)
www.givingweek.sg
3. Turn your old magazines into an electrical appliance!
If, like us, you have mountains of old mags lying around and are never entirely sure what to do with them, then the Lighten Up workshop will brighten your day. All you need is a little ingenuity, a dash of creativity and, voila, you’ll have yourself a new bedside table lamp! This one’s suitable for all family members, and we think there will be smiles lighting up the room for sure when the kiddos manage to turn an old mineral bottle and some magazine pages into a working light.
When: 3 December, 11am-5pm
Where: Tanjong Pagar Community Centre, 101 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089774
Price: $2 per lamp (lighting components included)
www.givingweek.sg
4. Learn parkour for a good cause
We are always on the lookout for new sports and activities for our energetic kids, so we are totally on board with this cool parkour workshop that everyone in the family can try. Learn how to jump, climb and vault over objects that stand in your way (the husband?), and help raise money for the Seametrey Children’s Village, a school in Cambodia, at the same time.
When: 5 December, 7-8pm
Where: Clarke Quay
Price: $15 per person (to be donated to Seametrey Children’s Village)
www.givingweek.sg
5. Get your Christmas Bakes at the Flour Power Bake Sale
Pick up some festive treats at the Flour Bake Christmas Bake Sale, where special chefs will be whipping up a delicious selection of muffins, quiches, cakes and tarts. Flour Power is a social enterprise bakery that trains people with special needs to progress from their training kitchens into the commercial F&B world. All proceeds from the sale will go back into helping continue this fab initiative.
When: 2-4 December, 10am-9pm
Where: Hougang Mall, Second Floor
www.givingweek.sg