The activities for children brought together at the Singapore Zoo yesterday included arts and crafts, face-painting and story-telling. The activities culminated in a concert based on an original production by the CHIJ (Kellock) pupils. -- PHOTO: BT

IT was an afternoon of "wild" fun, all in the name of a good cause.

Yesterday, The Business Times, CHIJ (Kellock) and The Arts House organised a community event - Children for Children - which brought together 250 CHIJ (Kellock) students and 1,000 underprivileged children for an afternoon of fun at the Singapore Zoo, dubbed "Into the Wild".

Children for Children took place a day before Children's Day, which also happens to be BT's 33rd anniversary.

"It's called Children for Children because we have the children of CHIJ (Kellock) playing host to 1,000 underprivileged children, and together they help to raise funds for other needy children supported by The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund," said Alvin Tay, Editor of BT.

Sam Tan, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, was the guest of honour. Jennie Chua, chairman of the board of directors for The Arts House, also attended.

"Just seeing a smile on a deserving child on this special day simply melts one's heart," said Colin Goh, general manager of The Arts House.

Ten-year-old Muhd Khaizuran, who was clearly excited about the prospect of spending the afternoon at the zoo, came prepared with his hat to brave the sun.

"There's a lot of activities and I want to see the animals. I like the monkeys and the chipmunks especially," he enthused.

Each child was also given a goodie bag as well as a disposable camera, which was put to good use as the children snapped pictures of their favourite animals.

The afternoon of activities - which included face-painting, art and craft as well as story-telling - culminated in a concert based on an original production by the CHIJ (Kellock) pupils.

"There is something quite simple yet special when we see a child 'reaching out' to help another child," pointed out CHIJ (Kellock) principal Clara Lim-Tan.

"I like children and I like helping the community," said Sri Kalyani, 10, a student at CHIJ (Kellock), when asked why she decided to be a part of Children for Children.

The commendable selflessness displayed by the children clearly rubbed off on the adults too. A group of 20 to 30 parents volunteered to help out at the event, as did some 100 staff members from CHIJ (Kellock).