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RAS conducts training session for officers from National Environment Agency North West Regional Office (NEA NWRO) Following the launch of “CLEAN Toilets @ North West” programme in June last year, NWRO officers have been actively on the ground, promoting our Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) to F&B owners and operators. Their hard work has been rewarded with the most number of coffeeshops, restaurants and foodcourts certified as Happy Toilets in the North West region of Singapore. As an act of appreciation for their strong support, RAS conducted a complimentary training session for the officers on 11th June at the NWRO office. The officers were provided handy information on the different judging criteria of the HTP 3, 4 and 5-star standards followed by a practical session to reinforce their understanding of the different standards so as to better promote the HTP. The NWRO session was similar to the training of our Volunteer Eco-Assessors (VEAs) whereby VEAs are trained to conduct mystery HTP audits, promote the HTP and educate their peers about clean restrooms. From April 2010 to March 2011, RAS is targeting to train 500 VEAs which will include HTP owners, operators, cleaning contractors, school operation managers, teachers and students. Our long-term plan is to train a group of VEAs not only to assess HTP restrooms but also any restrooms so as to better collaborate with the NEA in its restroom inspections. Since 2008, RAS has trained a total of about 30 CEAs and 90 VEAs.

RAS trains more Eco-Assessors With more owners and operators participating in our Happy Toilet Programme (HTP), RAS trained a new pool of Certified Eco-Assessors (CEAs) and Volunteer Eco-Assessors (VEAs) on 5th March and 13th March respectively. CEAs play a vital role in the sustainability of clean public toilets given that they work closely with us to certify public toilets under the HTP. In addition, CEAs advise the owners and operators on how to improve the standard of restrooms under their purview. RAS has recently revised its selection criteria for its CEA to first join as VEAs and conduct at least 10 mystery audits for restrooms under the HTP before progressing to become CEAs. Apart from conducting mystery audits, VEAs also educate their peers about clean restrooms. Employees of our HTP clients are also invited by RAS to be trained as VEAs so as to take greater ownership of their Happy Toilets. VEAs will play a vital role in our school and public education programme this year by assessing school toilets and educating toilet users at F&B establishments. The first CEA training session was conducted in November 2008 while the first VEA training session was conducted in August 2008. Since 2008, RAS has trained a total of about 30 CEAs and 90 VEAs. RAS aims to train another 10 CEAs and 60 VEAs this year.

RAS conducts first Volunteer Eco-Assessor (VEA) training session for Koufu staff After conducting successive VEA training sessions for grassroots leaders from the North West Community Development Council (CDC) and officers from the National Parks Board (NParks) last year, RAS expanded its profile of VEAs to include F&B staff by conducting the first training session for staff of Koufu on 26th August. 15 staff comprising mostly of supervisors and managers from various food outlets, attended the 3-hour training session at their main office in Woodlands. Koufu, one of the most established local food court and coffeeshop operators, has displayed its commitment to offer quality toilets by not only sending their staff for our VEA training but also having about 50 toilets from its 25 food outlets to be certify as 4 or 5-star Happy Toilets by the end of November. They will also become the first food court operator to offer 5-star toilets. Its founder, Mr Pang, also expressed his interest to participate in our Happy Toilet Programme to certify their office toilets as Happy Toilets when he met us during the training session.

RAS trains new pool of Eco-Assessors To cater for the growing demand for our HTP, RAS trained a new pool of Certified Eco-Assessors (CEAs) and Volunteer Eco-Assessors (VEAs) on 4th March and 11th March respectively. Two of our RAS staff members involved in the training sessions really enjoyed the entire experience. With the generosity of the North West Community Development Council (NWCDC), we were provided with a venue to train our new pool of CEAs on 4-5 March. In total, seven people were trained. They comprised of four females recruited with the kind assistance from NWCDC, two females from North East CDC and a male volunteer from RAS. Our staff witnessed the passion and a fantastic level of commitment and participation in them. The two-day training session consisting of both theoretical and practical lessons, ended well with some of the CEAs already starting their toilet audits. So far, we have trained a total of 28 CEAs. Following the successful run of VEA training sessions for officers from the National Parks Board (NParks) in October last year, NParks were back in action by sending a new batch of 12 officers to attend a two-hour training session held at the East Coast Park Visitors' Centre on 11 March. The two-hour training session consisting of both theoretical and practical lessons, also included a sharing session on some challenges faced in maintaining toilets located in parks. We hope that the commitment and participation of NParks will drive more organisations to emulate their initiative. So far, we have trained a total of 64 VEAs.

RAS conducts first Certified Eco-Assessor (CEA) training session The first Certified Eco-Assessor (CEA) training was conducted on the 10th and 11th November at the JTC Summit for seven participants from the South West Community Development Council (CDC) and 1 brave soul from Central CDC. CEAs play a vital role in the sustainability of clean public toilets for years to come given that they work closely with the Restroom Association (Singapore) (RAS) to certify public toilets under the Happy Toilet Program (HTP). In addition, CEAs advise the restroom owners on how to improve the standard of restrooms under their purview. CEAs are hired on an assignment basis and they have to submit a report to RAS after each restroom audit. They have to do a minimum of 50 audits per year to renew their licence. To prepare the eight trainees for their future roles, they had to attend a classroom segment on the first day where they learned about essential restroom knowledge. On the second day, they had to undergo practical training to familiarise themselves with the process of conducting an audit. In order to ensure that the trainees were equipped with the necessary expertise, they had to sit for a written assessment at the end of the first day and go through an individual oral test at the end of the second day. They are currently serving as Probationary CEAs after passing the test. They will become full-fledged CEAs after successfully completing five restroom audits with a mentor. [View pictures here]

RAS conducts training of Volunteer Eco-Assessors (VEAs) from National Parks Board The second Volunteer Eco-Assessor (VEA) training was conducted for officers from the National Parks Board (NParks). An unexpected 18 participants attended the 2 hour training held at the East Coat Park Visitors' Centre on the 22nd October this year. The VEAs were schooled in basic restroom knowledge and they also had their hand at auditing the restrooms located nearby using the Happy Toilet Self-assessment Checklist. With NParks as the first organisation to join our VEA program, the movement for clean public restrooms was given a shot in the arm as these VEAs can also share their newly acquired knowledge with their peers at NParks. The commitment and participation of NParks will drive more organisations emulating their initiative. [View pictures here]

Recruitment drive for female Certified Eco-Assessors in partnership with the Womens' Development Secretariat The Womens' Development Secretariat has been instrumental in supporting the initiative by RAS to create flexi-jobs for mothers and seniors. Members of the public signed up to be trained as the pioneer batch of Certified Eco-Assessors (CEAs). This recruitment event took place on 30th September 2008 at NTUC Centre. A second recruitment was conducted on 13th October 2008. Key qualities we looked for included a passion for clean toilets as well as a commitment to act. [View pictures here]

RAS conducts pioneer Volunteer Eco-Assessor training session at Ulu Pandan Community Club Mr Ronson Zhang conducted the first Volunteer Eco-Assessor (VEA) training for grassroots leaders from the North West CDC on 30th August 2008. The 2 hour session was co-organised by the NEA North West Regional Office and attracted an enthusiastic 20 participants. The purpose was to train ambassadors of clean restrooms within the North West district so that they can educate their peers and promote the Happy Toilet Program to toilet owners. In addition, these VEAs highlight the state of public restrooms to the Restroom Association. They also advise errant toilet operators on the necessary corrective measures to adopt. Participants were educated on what constitutes a 'clean restroom' through a theory lesson following which they got to have a go at assessing a public restroom in an on-site practical component based on the Self-Assessment Checklist.

Standards

RAS achieves another milestone in its Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) RAS's constant effort and perseverance in promoting its Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) have paid off with the first showroom coming onboard the HTP. RAS has assessed the restrooms of the Borneo Motors Showroom at Leng Kee Road and Borneo Motors is committed to undergoing renovations to its restrooms to meet our five-star rating after the assessment. In April, RAS also broke new ground in its HTP with the maiden participation of the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and four SingHealth Polyclinics. HPB is the first government office building with all of its 63 toilets rated as Happy Toilets. It is also the first time that polyclinics are coming on board. The Hawkers Department of the National Environment Agency (NEA) has also displayed its commitment to the provision of quality restrooms by participating in our HTP for three years. 68 restrooms of the 25 Market and Food Centres is either renewing its HTP certification or participating in the HTP for the first time. The assessment has commenced and patrons to the 25 Market and Food Centres will not only get to savour delicacies but also soon enjoy a pleasant restroom experience. Apart from the 25 Market and Food Centres managed by the NEA, 20 others managed by the Town Councils have also participated in our HTP. So far, a total of 106 restrooms have been rated as Happy Toilets.

RAS achieves milestone in its Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) RAS has broken new ground in its efforts towards HTP acquiring two new partners, the first being a government office building, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and four SingHealth Polyclinics. They now bear the certification and status of being Happy Toilets. RAS assessed those toilets in March and visitors to the HPB building and SingHealth Polyclinics will soon be comforted knowing that the HTP plaques displayed at the various toilet entrances (by the end of April), signifies that their restrooms are safe and of a high standard. This also means the HTP has successfully extended its reach to the healthcare sector i.e. hospitals and polyclinics where high level of hygiene and sanitation standards have always been emphasised. Two hospitals namely the Institute of Mental Health and the Alexandra Hospital also joined our HTP in July and October respectively last year. Besides the healthcare sector, HTP participation for other sectors has also risen owing to the support rendered by the National Environment Agency (NEA). NEA's North West Regional Office organised a HTP introductory talk for toilet owners and operators of coffeeshops, immigration checkpoints, MRT stations, parks, restaurants and shopping centres in the North West district on 28th January. The owners and operators were provided handy information on the difference in standards of the 3, 4 and 5-star ratings within HTP followed by a toilet tour to reinforce their understanding of HTP. It is indeed encouraging that some 100 new Happy Toilets - including HPB Building and SingHealth Polyclinics - will surface in April.

RAS awards Happy Toilet certification to all the toilets of 888 Plaza RAS is collaborating with The National Environment Agency North West Regional Office (NWRO), North West Community Development Council (NWCDC) and North West Grassroots organisations (GROs) to target toilet cleanliness in the North West District. A district wide CLEAN Toilets @ North West programme was launched on 7th June at 888 Plaza located at Woodlands Drive 50. The programme aims to raise awareness and the standard of cleanliness and hygiene of public toilets by targeting users, owners and cleaners. The foodshops within Woodlands Constituency also aim to have 50% of its toilets to be awarded Happy Toilets by end of 2009 and 100% by end June 2010. Aside from having all its ten toilets successfully achieving our 4-star rating, 888 Plaza in Woodlands also became the first neighbourhood centre to have 4-star rated Happy Toilets. The Chairman of the Woodlands Citizens' Consultative Committee commented that the 4-star Happy Toilet has two added features than the Singapore's Ok Toilet namely special delights and user-friendly facilities. In the coming months, RAS will be conducting talks to owners to encourage owners to come onboard the CLEAN Toilets @ North West programme and advising owners to improve the condition of toilets to aid them in achieving the Happy Toilet certification. [View TV news here]

RAS introduces its Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) to grassroots leaders The National Environment Agency's North East Regional Office (NEA NERO) and the North East Community Development Council held its 5th Environmental Health Regional Workshop for Grassroots Leaders and Dengue Prevention Volunteer Groups at the Tampines Central Community Complex on 28th March. The 3-hour workshop included presentations from Mr Howard Shaw, Executive Director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) who shared with the audience on the Singapore Green 2050 initiative. Ms Ann Phua, Director of the Hemispheres Foundation also provided examples on how we can reduce our carbon footprint. Ms Susan Pereira from RAS was also invited to share tips on how to keep our public toilets clean and about our HTP. The workshop was followed by a panel discussion with Mr Sin Boon Ann, MP for Tampines GRC and Advisor to Tampines Central GROs, Mr Martin Nathan, Head of NEA NERO, Ms Phua and Ms Pereira. Panel discussions included topics about the reasons and justifications of charging 10 cents for tissue paper at coffeeshops, what makes a 3-star Happy Toilet, efforts in educating foreigners about the Singapore toilet culture and others. Mr Sin concluded that it is important for all participants to adopt ways of keeping the Earth clean and healthy. [View pictures here]

First National Environment Agency (NEA) Regional Office toilets to be certified as Happy Toilets Following the successful run of the Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) talk at NEA's Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) on 7th August 2008 with more than 50 participants from the northwest region of Singapore, the NWRO displayed its commitment on the HTP by having their toilets to be certified as Happy Toilets on 24th October 2008 during its gathering. Our President, Ms Tan Puay Hoon was also invited to their gathering to give a speech and present our HTP plaque to NWRO. NWRO also unveiled their Happy Toilet Pledge to encourage its staff to commit to the following: Flush the toilet after use Keep floor and countertop dry Keep toilet seat clean [View pictures here]

RAS conducts Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) talk at NEA's Northwest Regional Office The talk held at NEA NW RO on 7 Aug 2008 was a resounding success. More than 50 participants from the northwest region of Singapore attended the HTP workshop. Basically a workshop to encourage toilet owners to participate in Happy Toilet Programme, RAS also educated them on toilet designs, cleanliness standards and user behaviour. After the talk, participants were grouped into their various categories, such as management, cleaning supervisors and grassroots (which represented the public). Problems faced by each group were brought up and RAS, meandered through the problems by offering valued suggestions and solutions to counter the problems. Last but not least, a visit to the toilets at NEA NW RO gave the participants hands-on experience on the duties and responsibilities of toilets assessors. Freshening Industries Pte Ltd sponsored the doorgifts with sample packs of Zappy Boy Antiseptic Wipes, Toilet Seat Cleaners and Insect Repellent Wipes. [View pictures here]