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Republic Polytechnic (RP) in conjunction with TOUCH
Silent Club, a charitable organization, held its
first charity carnival and soccer league in RP’s
premises on 19th October 2003 (Sunday). The event
comprised of a series of competitive street soccer
and futsal played by various invited teams and a
flea market-style bazaar carnival hosting a chain
of brightly colored designer push carts. This event
was held specially to raise funds for the deaf community
supported by TOUCH Silent Club. This club offers
free tuition, sign language courses, job placement
services, counseling services, and a variety of recreational
and social activities for the Deaf children and adults.
The competitive soccer league was one of the main
attractions of the charity event. The soccer players
couldn’t have asked for a better weather to
kick-start its charity soccer league. The atmosphere
on that day was perfect, sunny and breezy. 16 elite
teams from Kaki Bukit Centre, Balestier Football
Dudes, Pioneer Electronics, SBS transit, Republic
Polytechnic and Silent Strikers (TOUCH Silent Club)
were all set and ready to compete for the street
soccer and Futsal challenge shields. Even before
the scheduled kick-off at 9 am, there was already
a huge crowd of spectators to ‘book’ favorable
spots that provided shade as well as a clear view
of the fast and furious action that was something
not to be missed.
Cheers could be heard from afar after 4 hours of
intense competition. Majority of support went to
the home team-our very own Republic Polytechnic’s
guy soccer team. They did not disappoint by emerging
the champions after winning many hard-fought matches.
RP’s Girls and Staff team also did RP proud
in the various friendly matches.
Along with the soccer competition was the familiar
hip-hop music from RP’s school band and soothing
orchestra pieces from RP’s Chorale. Both the
choir and the band put up excellent performances
and provided an exciting festive mood to the soccer
and carnival event. There was also a ‘live’ session
of song-dedicating from one of the student clubs.
This musical dedication is definitely a must for
lovebirds!
The other main attraction was the charity carnival
that involved students from all 9 major clubs from
RP. This is the first time that all the student clubs
in RP have come together to combine efforts for a
charitable cause. The different clubs were involved
in various ways to raise funds such as doing henna
painting, making own games and handicraft, selling
food, drinks, consignment, donated and sponsored
items.
Students involved were busily transporting the goods
and equipment from the school premises to the venue
of the bazaar since 8 am. Others were occupied with
decorating the push carts with items they could lay
their hands on. Some more enthusiastic ones even
stayed back in campus the night before to ensure
everything was ready for the next morning. By around
8.55 am, all the goods were neatly and nicely displayed
in the pushcarts to welcome the customers.
People started streaming in to the carnival at around
9.10 am. The campuses’ strategic location also
helped in increasing the number of people who came.
As we were directly opposite a church, as well as
a stone’s throw away from town, the bazaar
indeed captured the attention of many on-lookers
as well as church-goers. People from the public walking
by also came into the premise to satisfy their curiosity
too. They were not disappointed too as proven by
the fact that many of them exchanged their cash for
our coupons and bought items which they could not
bear to leave without.
Staff from RP also came down to support the students
at the bazaar. Many of them were soccer enthusiasts
who were here to see a good game of kicking around
and competing with other teams as well. Others simply
brought along their families and did their parts
to lend their support to the bazaar. It also provided
them with a golden opportunity to have a family-outing,
as most parents are working professionals and could
hardly spend time with their loved ones. Students
who were not involved in the bazaar also came down
to lend their moral support to their peers. In sum,
RP’s joint effort from the staff and students
raised an amount of $3, 126.13 for the deaf community.
The carnival ended around 3.30 in the afternoon.
The students were visibly tired, but nothing could
hide the fact that they had meaningfully and thoroughly
enjoyed the day, got to know more friends, and became
closely-bonded to their peers through the hours they
spent together. The remembrances of the day still
lives on in the memories of the people who were present
at the bazaar.
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