700 children play and learn at sports day event

The children taking part in the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society's sports day event learnt about racial and religious harmony as well as playing physical sports.
The children taking part in the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society's sports day event learnt about racial and religious harmony as well as playing physical sports. PHOTO: THYE HUA KWAN MORAL SOCIETY

While most school sports days focus solely on physical activity, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THK) weaved the themes of racial and religious harmony into its annual Child Care and Student Care Sports Day yesterday.

Seven hundred children, aged from four to 12, from the society's three childcare centres and three student centres took part in the event at MacPherson Community Club. The children participated in a mass exercise adapted from a Health Promotion Board workout, as well as races and competitions.

Participants were also able to visit the Harmony Truck, a roving exhibition on racial and religious harmony mounted in a truck currently parked at MacPherson CC.

The truck contains kiosks featuring the cultures of the four main ethnic groups in Singapore, a history of the racial riots in the 1960s and details of Inter Religious Organisations in Singapore.

Said financial consultant Michelle Wong, 29, whose sons attend one of THK's centres: "I think my kids learnt a lot from the truck because it shows photos of the race riots, which reminds them that we have to continue this peace and harmony."

Noting that the peace was "hard earned", guest of honour Tin Pei Ling, the MP for MacPherson, said: "So I think it is important that our young get a good understanding about what happened, why it is important and why we should continue to preserve this harmony."

Aleysa John

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 04, 2016, with the headline 700 children play and learn at sports day event. Subscribe