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RAS promotes its Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) with
help from the National Environment Agency (NEA)
After
the first Happy
Toilet Seminar organised at the Environment Building
for various organisations in March, RAS has been working closely with the
NEA to reach out to owners and operators of food & beverage (F&B)
outlets. More than five briefings have been organised at NEA Regional
Offices to share  more
HTP information to those who did not attend the seminar in March. Companies
offering restroom products and services were also invited to some of
these briefings to provide innovative solutions.
With
the strong support from NEA, we are pleased to see a twofold increase in
the number of F&B outlets participating in HTP. There are currently about
60 F&B outlets participating in HTP as compared to about 30 last year.
12 more new F&B outlets have also confirmed its participation. This
excludes 40 market and food centres currently under the HTP. The HTP is a
grading system that certifies toilets with a 3, 4 or 5 star rating and
its certificate is renewable every year.
[More
Details]
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RAS recruits
Volunteer Eco-Assessors (VEAs) via MediaCorp Radio Capital 958
Upon
the request from a Capital 958 journalist, RAS met up with the journalist
at a Chang Cheng Mee Wah (CCMW) coffeeshop in Bukit Batok on 12th August
to perform an actual Happy Toilet assessment of its toilet to determine its
rating. Eventually, the toilet was certified with a four-star rating.
During the assessment, the journalist was provided with basic information
on the procedures of assessing the toilets such as the checking of  signages,
taps, flushing sensors, door locks, lightings, etc.
The
journalist also conducted an interview session with RAS President Ms Tan Puay
Hoon. Ms Tan elaborated on the details of our Happy Toilet Programme (HTP)
and the roles of VEAs such as the conducting of at least 2 Happy Toilet
mystery checks a year. She also mentioned about the ease and flexibility
of volunteering as Eco-Assessors to offer feedback to RAS when they
happen to visit any Happy Toilets. Since 2008, RAS has trained about 100
VEAs from the public. After training, VEAs provide feedback to RAS via an
online checklist if
they happen to visit any Happy Toilets that fail to meet required
standards. More VEAs are needed to help ensure that the quality standards
of Happy Toilets are constantly met.
[More Details]
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RAS conducts
first training session for hospital
Following
two training sessions conducted for logistic personnel in May, RAS was
invited by a hospital, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), for the
first time, to conduct training session for its managing agent. Ten
participants, consisting of managers, supervisors and team leaders, went
on a restroom journey with the RAS trainer at IMH. Participants were equipped
with useful knowledge and practical skills of inspecting restroom
cleanliness based on the same checklist used by the VEAs.
 The complimentary training session
was conducted for IMH as an act of appreciation to their active Happy
Toilet participation. RAS is pleased to see participants from the
healthcare profession coming in as a new addition to the existing list of
diversified participants from the facilities management, construction,
logistics and food & beverage profession.
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RAS shares its
key programmes with delegates and volunteers
A
group of visiting Bruneian delegates comprising of government officers, non
government organisation (NGO) representatives, youths and corporate
representatives, were presented with information about key RAS programmes
implemented for restroom owners, cleaners and users. RAS was scheduled
for the first presentation ahead of the Singapore Environment Council and
Panasonic, who are also close partners of the NEA. A Q&A and
networking  session
was organised after the presentations.
As one of the close partners of the National Volunteer &
Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) in their Singapore
Cares (SG Cares) initiative, RAS was invited to share its key
programmes and available volunteering activities with new volunteers at
the NVPC’s monthly volunteer orientation. Since December last year,
RAS has been recruiting volunteers for its LOO (Let’s Observe
Ourselves) @ Heartlands activities via the SG Cares. The SG Cares was
set up as a platform for volunteers seeking short-term and flexible
volunteering opportunities that match their interest, availability and
location.
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RAS participates
in Zhenghua Primary School’s Open House & Bukit Panjang
Community Racial Harmony Day
Following
a successful partnership in the previous year, RAS was once again invited
to participate in Zhenghua
Primary School’s
Open House. The school collaborated with RAS to put up an Outreach
Exhibition during the Open House. This exhibition sought to project the
school’s efforts in inculcating in students best practices about
toilet hygiene and etiquette and promote the cleanliness of public
toilets to all Zhenghua stakeholders.
Visitors
to the booth including the event’s Guest of Honour, Mayor for
Northwest CDC, Dr. Teo Ho Pin, were given a tour of the beautiful art
work created by the pupils and an impromptu lesson in restroom hygiene.
Visitors were also given souvenirs for participating in the tour but more
importantly they left with a stronger understanding of Zhenghua
Primary’s desire and  hardwork
in maintaining their STAR rated restrooms and communicating the need for
restroom cleanliness and social graciousness. On a side note, we also
participated in Qihua Primary School’s pre-school Open House event
in August. RAS looks forward to more community events with Zhenghua
Primary and other schools.
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