SINGAPORE - Housewife Marina Mohamad's five children, aged nine to 14, have been hoping to visit KidZania Singapore in Sentosa Island for the past three months but the entrance ticket of $58 per child was just too expensive.
On Monday (March 12), Madam Marina and three of her younger children were treated to a fun day out at the 81,000 sq ft interactive indoor theme park.
They were among 250 less privileged children and their parents who took part in over 60 fun role-playing activities, taking on roles such as pizza chefs, photographers and fire-fighters.
The event is part of Sentosa Gives 2018, a community outreach programme organised by Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), which oversees the management of Sentosa Island.
The programme caters to children aged seven to 12.
Madam Marina, 40, said her husband is the sole breadwinner of the family, earning about $2,800 per month as a self-employed lorry driver who provides delivery services.
All her children are recipients of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Financial Assistance Scheme. They have only ever been to Sentosa twice previously - and both times on sponsored tickets.
Over 1,500 less privileged children and their families will get to enjoy the Sentosa experience during the March holidays for free. These beneficiaries from 29 social services organisations will have access to popular attractions like Skyline Luge Sentosa and Madame Tussauds Singapore.
Sentosa Gives first started in 2011. More than 100 staff volunteers and island partner hosts are involved in the week-long event.
Volunteer James Fong of SDC said they just wanted the children to have fun.
"I feel it is important to give back to society," added the 40-year-old senior assistant director of finance.
Madam Marina said she was thrilled to attend the event with her family.
"It is not an opportunity we get all the time," she added.
