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RAS introduces new
LOO (Let’s Observe Ourselves) Kidz award category under its LOO
Awards
With RAS reaching out to more than 100 primary
schools since the launch of its STAR (Sustaining Toilets As Restrooms) Awards
Programme in 2011, commendable students who were actively involved in
executing related projects should not go unnoticed. Though the existing
Individual category of the LOO Awards  includes students, there has not been
any nominations. After seeking feedback from school stakeholders, it is
timely we introduce a new LOO Kidz category specifically for primary
students since we have already built up a vast network of primary schools
over the five-year period.
The LOO Awards was first initiated in
2009 to acknowledge organisations and
individuals who have contributed to helping Singapore achieve a world
recognised standard of toilet cleanliness. The LOO Awards is also in line
with the last of the four pronged approach of the LOO Campaign which
was launched in 2008. Since 2009, more than 130 owners, operators,
schools, cleaning companies, cleaning attendants and individuals have
clinched the award. Apart from receiving plaques, the cleaning attendants
were also presented with public-donated grocery vouchers to help them
cope with rising living costs.
[Nominate Now]
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RAS conducts first preschool activity under its Happy Toilets
@ Preschools Programme
With preschools participating in our newly-launched Happy Toilets @
Preschools Programme (HTPP) last year, this year will see these
preschools renewing their participation with us. Last year, through
games, songs and rhymes, interactive talks were conducted for
preschoolers to help them develop a better understanding of toilet
hygiene, handwashing, germs and infectious diseases such as Hand Foot and
Mouth Disease. After the hygiene talks for preschoolers last year,
activities will follow suit this year to further reinforce the importance
of proper toilet hygiene and the right steps of handwashing.
 On 8th June, RAS conducted its first activity for preschoolers
from Sunflower Preschool @ Punggol Field Walk. Preschoolers were led to
the toilets to first look at a "clean" toilet bowl which was
covered with dried stains. The stains were not visible under normal
fluorescent lightings. Preschoolers were thrilled to see the stains lighting
up under the UV light after the normal lightings were switched off. The
importance of proper handwashing was then intensively shared with the
preschoolers to educate them that toilets were always the best hiding
place for germs and therefore proper handwashing was essential. The
preschoolers were then given proper guidance on the steps of handwashing
prior to washing their hands. This was followed by an inspection to
ensure none of their hands lit up under the UV light after handwashing.
Preschoolers were finally rewarded with the HTPP logo thumbs-up stickers
for successfully completing the handwashing activity. We foresee more new
preschools seeing the value of HTPP and actively come forth to
participate actively.
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RAS participates
in Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes (YFC) 2016
In February, as part of their service learning
project, four passionate Nan Chiau High students approached RAS to
express their strong interest of helping our beneficiaries – low-wage
cleaning attendants. RAS took the opportunity to invite them to
participate in the Citi-YMCA YFC
2016 to raise funds for the cleaning attendants. At
the YFC selection interview session, the students formed a team by the name of “Operation
Umbaka” and presented their proposal of organising a series of fundraising
activities, such as street sales and a family event to further raise
public awareness to the judges.
 Besides
fundraising, the team went the extra mile to rope in other classmates to
undergo a training session on restroom cleaning conducted by the RAS on
27th May so as to better prepare all of them for the actual restroom
cleaning at Serangoon Garden Market and Chomp Chomp Food Centre from 20th
to 21st June. This is part of their efforts of developing a better understanding
on the job scope of cleaning attendants so as to enable them to share
their stories with others. The team was among 100 teams selected at the interview session. 73 Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs)
including RAS were approved by the YFC Secretariat to participate in the
YFC this year. Participating VWOs need to be conferred with a valid
Institute of Public Character (IPC) status as well.
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RAS supports
30 Hour Famine Camp organised by World Vision Singapore
World Vision Singapore (WVS), organiser
of the 30 Hour Famine Camp, approached RAS for partnership opportunities
in January long before the camp was held from 10th to 11th June. The camp
encompassed community service activities for camp participants who were
all youths, to roll up their sleeves and perform tasks that would enable
them to better experience the predicament of living in poverty so as to
readily lend a helping hand to the destitute. Restroom cleaning was
conceived as one of the activities by WVS.
 The restroom cleaning activity
on 11th June at two hawker centres namely Serangoon
Garden Market and Chomp Chomp Food Centre served as an important
platform for WVS to educate camp participants about the often overlooked
challenges faced by low-wage cleaning attendants who had to perform arduous
work daily to maintain public cleanliness and cope with rising living
costs amid low salaries. As a supporter, RAS was invited to the closing ceremony
of the Famine Camp on 11th June in the afternoon to mark the end of the
30-hour fast with prize presentations to outstanding groups, and
performances by young artists, including special items by Otgon, the
talented WVS’ beneficiary from Mongolia’s award-winning Blue
Sky Choir.
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