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RAS features its Happy Toilets at the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) myENV mobile app

In May upon the request from NEA, RAS was delighted to share its Happy Toilet locations for the latest myENV edition to showcase Happy Toilets islandwide. RAS first conceptualised and launched an online map locator of Happy Toilets called the LOO (Let’s Observe Ourselves) Map in 2009 in its bid to encourage more Happy Toilet participation. Apart from locating the Happy Toilets, users can also view photos of Happy Toilets on the map.

In 2012, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) approached RAS and the LOO (Let’s Observe Ourselves) Connect was developed. It uses the OneMap plug-in which allows the public to locate Happy Toilets and also acts as a toilet feedback channel for the public to provide comments by either adding new locations or posting comments on existing locations. Apart from Happy Toilets, schools on board the Sustaining Toilets As Restrooms (STAR) Awards Programme are also featured. Users can also post disgusting toilet locations. A year later in 2013, RAS also released its LOO Connect Android mobile app. RAS is looking at developing the iOS app probably by the end of this year.

RAS engages the help of Dunman High students to raise funds through Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes (YFC) 2014

A team called SuperBowls consisting of four passionate Dunman High students displayed their strong commitment to raise funds for RAS to appreciate the unsung heroes - restroom cleaning attendants. In the midst of their busy Continual Assessment period, the students sacrifice some of their revision time to organise a carnival at the United Square shopping mall. SuperBowls cited a quote from Edward Everett Hale, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can". SuperBowls elaborated and said: “Our group greatly believes in this quote and we want to show our outmost appreciation to the cleaners in Singapore. They have always been behind the scenes and have been contributing to our nation's image of a clean and green garden city, yet many a times their efforts have not been recognised. Thus, we would like to thank them and encourage more people to recognise their efforts.”

At the launch of the carnival, RAS Honorary Secretary Mr Ho Chee Kit presented grocery vouchers to 34 cleaning attendants working at the United Square. Mr Ho said: “We all know without the hard work put in by our fellow attendants, clean toilets will soon become history. Since they cannot afford to stop working, we too cannot stop acting responsibly and graciously to keep the toilets clean. We wish to highlight the crucial role played by our fellow attendants and urge the public to be considerate and respectful to them. The public can also go the extra mile by making donations to help them cope with rising living costs.” The public can support this noble cause by making a minimum donation of $10 online at SG Gives, a secured charity donation portal and tax deduction is available for all donations.

RAS participates in ComChest Heartstrings Walk (CHSW) 2014 and Dairy Farm Singapore Group (DFSG) Mega Community Event

RAS participated in both events for the first time in its bid to raise public awareness on the need to better appreciate cleaning attendants. Two of our partners namely Adkel and Nicae Trading & Industrial Supplies were present to attract more visitors to our booth. Adkel showcased its economical bidets fitted with specialized nozzles that spray a jet stream of water with a simple turn of a knob while Nicae provided live demonstrations about its coating technology that would create a thin protective film enabling surfaces of sanitary ware to be cleaned easily.

The DFSG event on 19th July was organised in partnership with North East Community Development Council and the National Environment Agency, to bring together residents from North East district to celebrate a day of eco-sustainability and community bonding. The ComChest Heartstrings Walk 2014 on 3rd August was organised to embrace the spirit of the Care & Share Movement and supports it by garnering even greater participation and involvement from all in the community.

Promoting racial harmony and the environment; the Unity way

RAS staff always look forward to school audits as they get the chance to see the beautifully decorated washrooms and the creative input from students. Once such school that always has exceeded this expectation is Unity Primary school. A previous LOO (Let’s Observe Ourselves) Awards winner, Unity Primary School has grown and proven to be a great benchmark for other schools. In just a short number of years, students at Unity Primary have added colour and vibrancy to their washrooms. Each washroom has beautifully painted walls that denote a theme that serves to remind students about life’s valuable lessons.

Some of these themes include messages about racial harmony and safeguarding the environment. With the support of the Principal and the excellent facilitation of the teachers, this level of “unity” demonstrated by the school has seen students carefully plan and decorate their washrooms while also checking them for any problems, thus providing feedback to the management. RAS salutes the achievements of Unity Primary School and always looks forward to each year’s audit at the school knowing full well that a high standard is anticipated and exceeded.

”Two schools” of thought – some useful ideas for decorating your school washroom

Are you wracking your brain but coming up short on ideas to beautify your washroom? Do you want to paint those walls but are not allowed to do so? Fear not as RAS would like to introduce two great ideas that have been inspired by the efforts of Admiralty Secondary School and Bukit View Primary School.

Admiralty Secondary students used wooden boards of various sizes to paint on and stick posters with various messages. These boards were decorated and mounted onto the walls to serve as ‘notice boards’ to engage all users of the washrooms. These boards can be reused if students wish to redesign or update their decorations the following year.

Bukit View Primary pupils designed flowers and posters using recycled material to add colour to their washrooms. Using coloured paper, plastic bottles and pebbles, the pupils designed makeshift flower pots that were placed along sink tops and posters that sought to recognize the cleaners of the school. Hopefully these two schools and others have provided some consideration when you are thinking of ways to decorate your washroom.

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