Indian Muslim Social Service Association `s Bishan Team held its very first, one of its kind, Family Fun Day where it hosted a Carnival cum Sports Fiesta. This event was held at the Bishan Active Park on 18 October 2015, Sunday from 10am till 3pm. It was jointly organised by IMSSA and Bishan North CC`s MAEC and IAEC. Our supporting partners were Masjid Al-Muttaqin Mosque, Mendaki, Sinda, People`s Association`s Family Life Champion and Bishan Neighbourhood Police Centre.
Our Guest of Honour for the event was Bishan North`s Grassroots Adviser Mrs. Josephine Teo (Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Transport and Foreign Affairs) As part of IMSSA’s Family Development Programme, we conduct family oriented events annually.
Following last year’s success at our Year End Fiesta 2014,this year we decided to conduct the Family Fun Day at a larger scale. Nearly 800 participants of which 500 children & youths and 300 adults joined us at the event. A total of 820 tickets were sold at $5 each. The ticket consisted of entry to a wide range of fun-filled activities across 18 booths for boys and girls. About 50 children from lower-income families who receive the annual bursary from The Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) were given complimentary tickets to join us at the event. 30% of the 50 participants also come from the Social Assistant Recipients who used to seek financial assistance from the CC
Through this Family Fun Day event, we created various opportunities for family-bonding activities, create platform to groom students to take ownership of the responsibilities assigned and engage students in fun-filled activities and create a good bonding among their peers.
The booths at the event hosted carnival games from Beat the minute, Ball in the hole, Spin and win, Ring toss, Fish and darts to intellectual games like Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader and Answer Aim Achieve that provoked the minds of the young children and their parents. A range of sports activities too such as Cricket, Soccer and Volleyball too were caught in action at the fields of Bishan Active Park. Kids were also involved with their family members in pre-registered Amazing Race and Parent/Sibling-Child Badminton Challenge. For Amazing Race, the children had exciting station games which consisted of the Sack race, Moving on up, Tug of war, Who is the wet mummy?, Pop them all and Hoola hoopa ring. To cater to their sweet tooth, participants too patronised the Ice- cream, Snacks & Dessert, Stack and Drizzle, Pop-corn and Candy floss booths. The inflatable Adult- friendly Bouncy Castle served as a focal point where the kids revolved around it bouncing and jumping for hours.
Indeed this Family Fun Day had played a crucial role in strengthening old and forging new bonds and bringing more members of the community together regardless of race. This event too gave opportunities to many pupils, as young as ten years old, to take on responsibilities, mend and serve customers at their booths. Indeed this aimed to hone pupils’ skills of servitude and kindness in hosting the people around them. This was also an excellent platform for pupils’ to showcase their talents and skills. For example, participants had their hands adorned in Henna by our very own talented child Henna artist! Participants could also learn different styles on how to tie Hijab and the skill of Flower tying.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all students an mentors who had put their heart and soul towards preparing this event and making our first attempt a success, in Allah (s.w.t)`s will.
Jazakallah Khairan.
