Keming Primary School
Bukit Batok, Singapore
May 2013
Merlion Wayfarer was recently invited to preview the Green Carpet Awards 2013.
Organized by the World Marketing Group, and supported by National Geographic Explorer and the National Parks Board, the Green Carpet Awards (GCA) is an award ceremony recognizing the nature photography and journalistic work of young explorers from schools all over Singapore. It is sponsored by Nikon Singapore to engage and inspire students in primary and secondary schools about the environment and how pollution affects it greatly. Mrs. Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, former Minister of State for the Ministry of Community Development Youth & Sports, and Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment & Water Resources, had graced the event as the guest-of-honour for 2011, and 2012 respectively.
Through photojournalism, GCA aims to:
- Educate by nurturing the next generation of environmentally-conscious leaders through programmes organised in partnerships with the private (Nikon, National Geographic Explorer) and public (National Parks Board) sectors
- Engage by mobilizing the public in achieving a greener future through a series of exhibitions and road shows for student advocates to lobby for a change in perspectives and attitudes
- Empower by providing the platform for students to reverse their social roles, and lead the community on a renewed charge for a greener lifestyle
“I always think that children are wiser and more perceptive than adults because they see the world without preconceptions and prejudices, and thus would be able to point out what adults have always taken for granted and overlooked. Children can be our best teachers, they deserve a voice and that’s why we have the grandest platform in the Green Carpet Awards to help children deliver their voices to Singapore.”
- Jim Huang, GCA Organizing Committee Chairman
- Jim Huang, GCA Organizing Committee Chairman
A Site Visit
At Keming Primary School, Merlion Wayfarer got to speak to Tng Qian Hui and Mithunashree, 2 of the 5 nominees from Keming, who shared their inspirations on their photos. Situated in scenic Bukit Batok, Keming has a comprehensive English curriculum that weaves in pictorial and photo-journalistic components, together with excursions like the Underwater World in Sentosa and nature trails in Singapore.
Merlion Wayfarer was also pleased to hear that for the first time, there was a nomination from APSN (Tanglin), a special needs school. On her visit to Sungei Buloh, Siti Aisyah captured a moving scene with a flock of birds flying past her.
More Information
All top 20 GCA nominees will be exhibiting their photography works at Gardens by the Bay on 29-30 June 2013, and lead members of the public on an adventure trail themselves. The public exhibition will also be held at Cheng San Community Club in Ang Mo Kio on 13 July 2013.
The glamorous award event will take place on 06 July 2013 at Nanyang Polytechnic with a 1,000 strong audience who will witness the birth of the top green advocates who will be dressed in their finest as they are recognized on stage.
More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer Goes Green's Picasa at :
Sources
- "Green Carpet Awards 2013 Surprises Top 20 Student Nominees at Schools with Glamorous Hollywood Fanfare" (31 May 2013). Media Release, Green Carpet Awards 2013.
- "Nominated Entries 2013" (28 May 2013). Green Carpet Awards.
