Come and be enthralled by Australian writer Jon Doust as he recount stories that he always tells himself! Let Jon inspire your children to remember their own stories and write their own tales.

Experience SoH’s unique methods at their Open House Carnival on 11 March 2012! For more information, please contact SOH at 6777 9771 or email openhouse@skoolofhappiness.com.

“I want the right to succeed here, on my own terms. This is where I was born. This is my country, not theirs and I’m investing in it!”, so the young actors echo in the upcoming original production Home.

Revolving around the lives of three households, Home explores the increasingly common struggle of Singaporeans who need to build a home while being scarcely able to own one.

This paradox is articulated by a group of young performers of the Young Actors Academy, a youth theatre group started in March 2011. The actors, most of who are from low-income families, receive their theatre training which is supported by The Business Times Budding Artists Fund at The Little Arts Academy.

Vishnucharan Naidu, 16, who plays Lavin Raj in this original play, said, “In our maiden production, we hope to address the concept of home by sharing some of our own stories with our audiences.” Carefully crafted from real experiences and life stories of family and friends who have gone through, is going through or will be going through the very same situation, they hope that this production will surface the values of what makes a home and what our youths would like to build in Singapore as “Home”.

Shahanaaz bte Mohd Taufik, 15, who plays Sandra Lavin, said, “We have gained a fair amount of knowledge and experience through the making of this play. It is our hope that we can make this a success and continue to stage plays that impact those who watch it. We wish to stretch our abilities and passion for drama to its limits to convey messages from the hearts of people. We are on a continuous journey to improve ourselves, in order to do these messages justice.”

Said Ms Adelina Ong, the producer and director of the original Home production held in December 2011 at The Arts House: “The Young Actors Academy consists of a rare breed. Raw but multi-talented, diligent and highly motivated youths who not only act, but also devise their own scripts and believe that theatre can help to inspire people and give them a sense of hope. They represent the kind of artists that The Little Arts Academy wants to groom – socially-conscious individuals who are hungry for learning, dedicated to the craft and committed to giving back to the society that has helped to nurture their growth.”

This production of HOME will be re-staged at 15minutes café in LASALLE College of the Arts. The group managed to raise $9,760 at the first staging of Home and needs to raise another $21,000 to perform in New York in December 2012.

“We hope for your support in our project. Let us embark on this journey together,” says Siti Haleymatul Jannah Binte Jamal.

This re-staging will be directed by Zarrah Katrina Aloba, a third year student of LASALLE College of the Arts, Faculty of Performing Arts (Theatre & Performance).

Tickets can be obtained through The Arts House box office at 6332 6919 or at tickets@toph.com.sg. Ticket prices are $22 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens and all tickets are inclusive of one drink and a $2 ticketing fee.

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The Business Times Budding Artists Fund

The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) was initiated by The Old Parliament House Limited and adopted by The Business Times in 2005. BT BAF originated from a conviction that no child with strong interest and potential in the arts should be denied the opportunity to develop his or her talents due to a lack of financial resources. Since 2005, the BT BAF has reached out to more than 8,000 disadvantaged children between the ages of five and 19 years through a variety of programmes including a systematic arts education programme, arts camps, workshops, and signature performance events.

Beneficiaries of BT BAF are trained primarily at the Little Arts Academy (LAA), set up in 2008 at POMO, to provide a sustained and systematic education in the Arts. The multidisciplinary curriculum covers Music, Dance, Theatre, Multimedia, Culinary Arts and Visual Arts and a key feature of the programming is the opportunity for beneficiaries to stage public performances.

$30 (students) and $20 (seniors)

Keppel Nights 50% Subsidy:$15.00 (Retail price: $30.00)
Applicable for phone booking at (65) 6332 6919 or over-the-counter only.

What happened to the good old days where owning a home was not a financial liability?
If the Singapore Dream is to take on the debt of home ownership then I would rather wake up…

In this production, the young actors draw from their own personal struggles and experiences to create the work. Many of them come from broken families, struggling with financial difficulties and trying at the same time to find acceptance and belonging in this place that they want to call Home. Devised and written by the young actors of The Young Actors Academy, let their stories of Home move you: bittersweet, hopeful or darkly funny, they reveal a fighting spirit that seeks to make Singapore the home they envision.

As one character states, “I want the right to succeed here, on my own terms. This is where I was born. This is my country, not theirs and I’m investing in it!”

The funds raised from this production will go towards a trip to New York as they have been invited to participate in the annual Summer ShakeUp 2012, a Shakespeare festival organised by The Public Theatre, New York.  They need to raise $30k to make this dream a reality.

Presenting The Young Actors Academy

To wonder is to think, ponder, and be curious about something, anything. Indeed, a simple thought of wonder can spark the beginning of learning.  It is this awe and curiosity that triggered the start of the artworks presented by the young artists of The Little Arts Academy at their first group exhibition. Their ideas may have begun as dreams, but it is their steadfastness to their beliefs that makes their dreams come true. Wonder: Art in our Dreams exhibits the array of possibilities that can be fulfilled and signifies the beginning of their journey as young, curious and inquisitive artists.

An evil scientist has hypnotised all the teachers and turned them into Robozoids! Robozoids turn little children into robots who can excel at many things but are, otherwise, soulless machines.  Come and save Lola, a sweet 7-year-old girl, from being turned into a robot by dancing, acting, painting and making music with us in this interactive, experiential performance for the whole family! Not The Pressure Cooker is a production to celebrate the third anniversary of The Little Arts Academy, the outreach and education initiative of The Arts House.

A $15/pax donation to The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, while not compulsory, is recommended.

To RSVP for Sunday’s performance, please contact Susan at enquirieslaa@toph.com.sg or call 6513 3013.

In light of the Hari Raya Haji holiday on 6 November (Sun), most of the lessons at LAA will be suspended on 5 November (Sat). We will advise you again on the dates of the make up lessons.

However, the following rehearsals for upcoming rehearsals will continue as per normal on 5 November:

Looking for a guitar course for your child during the school holidays? Look no further! Guitarra Play!, Singapore’s specialist guitar school is proud to present their Guitar Odyssey Program, a group guitar course who teaches children and teenagers to play the world’s most popular instrument. Students will learn to make music with the guitar and learn about different musical cultures of the world. Definitely a great way to have fun and make friends during the holidays!

6 sessions: Wednesdays (2 Nov – 14 Dec)

$100 per participant

Call Guitarra Play! at 81630125 or email us at enquiries@guitarra-play.com.sg to sign up now!

Check us out at http://www.guitarra-play.com.sg

Come join us in our kidsREAD@LAA as we promote the love of reading among children.

kidsREAD is an effort by the National Library Board (NLB) to promote the love of reading and cultivate good reading habits among all young Singaporeans, in particular children from low-income families. The target audience of kidsREAD is children between the ages of 4 and 9, regardless of race or religion.

The objectives of kidsREAD are:

• To leverage on the strengths of various partners to create a reading programme for all children between the ages of 4 and 9 in Singapore.
• To promote the love of reading and cultivate good reading habits among all young Singaporeans, in particular, children from low-income families.
• To provide an avenue for children from various races to interact from an early age.
• To help enhance the quality of life of the children and their families.

This programme is open to all Singaporean and PR children aged 4 to 8 with monthly household income below $3500. If your child fulfils the criteria and you’d like him or her to participate in kidsREAD, please send us the completed child registration form which can be downloaded here: kidsREAD Child Registration Form1.

If you’d like to sign up to be a volunteer facilitator for kidsREAD, please send us the completed volunteer form which can be downloaded here: kidsread Volunteer Form

For more informatino, please call LAA at 6513 3013 or email enquirieslaa@toph.com.sg.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Largest Ever Number of Children Participating In Fourth Edition of Children for Children

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 | 8am – 6pm

Singapore, 20 September 2011 – The fourth edition of Children for Children at Resorts World Sentosa promises to be bigger, better and more exciting for 1,400 children from low-income families who have accepted the invitation to participate in this annual community event on Children’s Day (7 October, 2011).

With an overwhelming response from 73 out of a total of 173 primary schools in Singapore participating in this year’s Children for Children, this is the largest ever gathering for the event since its inception in 2008.

This event, jointly organised by The Arts House, The Business Times and CHIJ (Kellock), is also a fundraiser for ChildAid, an annual children’s charity concert organised by Singapore Press Holdings. Proceeds from ChildAid will benefit The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF).

Mr Alvin Tay, editor of The Business Times and chairman of The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF), says, “This community event is organised as part of BT’s 35^th Anniversary celebrations.  We sincerely thank our generous donors who have helped us raise $240,000 so far.  This will enable us to reach out to even more children with financial difficulties and, as importantly, offer them hope and maybe even some happiness.”

Immersing in this year’s theme of ImaginAction, the participants will embark on an exciting journey to discover the beauty of Dreaming, Daring and Doing, so as to bring about transformative change in self and other. The children will take part in arts activities comprising face painting, furry art, balloon sculpting, badge making and origami at the yet-to-be-opened Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium (MEMA), and watch a series of performances at the Coliseum, all specially prepared by their young hosts from CHIJ (Kellock), before proceeding to the Universal Studios Singapore, where they could enjoy, to their hearts’ content, rides at the popular theme park.

Mrs Clara Lim-Tan, principal of CHIJ (Kellock), says, “Over these last 4 years, Children’s Day has taken on quite a different meaning for pupils at CHIJ (Kellock). They no longer view it as just another school holiday. Rather, our pupils now look forward to Children’s Day as they associate it with the significance of the day as an opportunity and platform to do something special and meaningful for others, particularly children from less privileged backgrounds. Children for Children continues to be a powerful reminder that we are never too young to make a difference. It challenges us to dream up ideas and fresh ways of creating and leading positive change around us and in the process, inspire others to do the same. We are delighted to be working once again with our strategic partners The Business Times and The Arts House to make this year’s event a truly joyful and memorable one for all involved.”

Says Mr Robin Goh, Assistant Director of Communications of Resorts World Sentosa, of this year’s event: “We are honoured to partner The Business Times Budding Artists Fund as the venue for Children for Children 2011.  This year, the organisers pulled out all the stops and hope to wow the kids with an exciting line-up of activities.  Resorts World Sentosa is delighted to welcome these kids as our first guests to the Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium even before it officially opens to the public, in addition to the region’s most exciting theme park, Universal Studios Singapore, which the kids will also be visiting.  Since 2008, on our journey of giving, we have been privileged to have reached out to over 2,500 underprivileged kids, youths and social workers.  This meaningful ride has enriched us as a socially responsible corporate citizen and we hope to continue to inspire lives and making a difference for the community.”

With more than 100 corporate volunteers from Great Eastern Holdings Limited, Agape Group Holdings and The Arts House stepping in to ensure that the young guests have the most memorable Children’s day, Children for Children 2011 encapsulates the virtuous cycle of giving and sharing between the larger community and the underprivileged shared by BT BAF.

Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education, will be the guest-of-honour for the event.

For more information on BT BAF, please visit www.baf.sg or contact us at enquirieslaa@toph.com.sg.

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The Business Times Budding Artists Fund

Launched by The Old Parliament House Ltd (a not-for-profit enterprise committed to enriching lives through arts and cultural initiatives) and adopted by The Business Times in 2005, The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) originated from a conviction that no child with strong interest and potential in the arts should be deprived of the opportunity to develop his or her talents due to a lack of financial resources. The BT BAF encourages the development of creativity amongst the young and is critical in providing opportunities for disadvantaged children to discover hidden artistic talents and to develop their self-worth. Since 2005, the BT BAF has reached out to more than 7,000 disadvantaged children between the ages of five and 12 years through a variety of programmes comprising arts camps, workshops, and signature performance events. From 1 October 2010, the BT BAF has extended its reach to economically disadvantaged youths who are between 13 and 19 years of age. For more information on BT BAF, please visit www.baf.sg.

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Resorts World

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore’s first integrated resort is located on the resort island of Sentosa.  Spanning 49 hectares, the resort has welcomed over 15 million visitors since it opened in January 2010. RWS is home to the region’s first-and-only Universal Studios theme park, a casino, luxurious accommodation in four unique hotels, the Resorts World Convention Center, celebrity chef restaurants as well as specialty retail outlets. The resort also offers entertainment ranging from its resident theatrical circus spectacular Voyage de la Vie, to public attractions such as the Crane Dance and the Lake of Dreams.  Resorts World Sentosa is currently developing the second phase of the Resort.  Upon completion, RWS will open the Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium, the Marine Life Park, a destination spa and two additional hotels. Resorts World Sentosa is wholly owned by Genting Singapore, a company of the Genting Group.

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CHIJ (Kellock)

Established in 1964, CHIJ (Kellock) is an established all-girls’ government-aided primary school and the youngest of the 11 CHIJ schools in Singapore. The school’s vision of “A Globally-Minded Community with a Passion to Learn, Lead and Make a Difference” encapsulates its commitment toward providing a holistic education for its pupils, where each child can develop her potential to the fullest. Placing high priority on the learning and well-being of its pupils, the school aims to cultivate 21^st century learners with a global perspective – learners who are confident, creative and connected. It provides opportunities for them to grow and develop into concerned citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

MEDIA KIT

Volunteers

To ensure that the participants will have a fun-filled day, a total of 325 volunteers have stepped in to help at the event. A breakdown of their roles is as follow:

Donation in kind

The following corporations have donated in kind to Children for Children 2011.

Great Eastern Holdings Limited

• 1900 bottled water

Gardenia Foods (S) Pte Ltd.

• 634 pieces of custard buns
• 1266 buns at special rates

MLA Special Events

• Stage backdrop

Packing Day at CHIJ (Kellock) on 20 September 2011