CELEBRATING 42 YEARS OF NATIONHOOD WITH A BIG HEART

This year, you can soak up the celebratory National Day atmosphere from as early as 18 Jul.

Some 13 events have been planned for the six-week National Day Festival, which will run on till 26 Aug. The events will be organised with themes like Independence and Nationhood, Fun and Entertainment, Culture and Heritage, Sports and Fitness, and Community and Identity, thus ensuring that there is something for everyone.

Organised in conjunction with the National Day Parade (NDP), the festival will allow for greater public involvement in the National Day festivities.

"The festival will reach out to larger segments of our population, getting them engaged," said Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Liong Yuen Ming, Chairman of the Celebrations Committee.

As Singaporeans celebrate our nation's 42nd birthday, the less privileged in society will not be forgotten.

To be held on 18 Aug, the Marina Bay Challenge, which includes Challenge your Limit (CurL) @ Marina Bay and Paddles @ Marina Bay events, will include participants from various charity organisations.

Organised by the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Welfare Services Club, Project CurL will see undergraduates pairing up with beneficiaries from 150 charities in a 500-metre dragon boat race down the Singapore River.

Ms Aveline Chiok, Chairperson of NTU Welfare Services Club, said: "Project CurL embraces the less fortunate in society."

"We are taking up this whole idea of Singapore being a City of Possibilities by involving the less fortunate in this project. We are a community that embraces diversity," she added.

In the same spirit, Paddles @ Marina Bay will see more than 400 canoeists, comprising volunteers and charity beneficiaries navigating down Kallang River to the floating platform at Marina Bay.

Besides cultivating camaraderie among team members, this kayaking expedition, jointly organised by the Pasir Ris-Elias Community Club (CC), the People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM) and the PA Water-Venture (WV), seeks to achieve a larger goal.

Ms Lina Chong, a youth volunteer with the PAYM and Chairperson of Pasir Ris-Elias CC Youth and Executive Committee, explained: "We would like to be an inclusive society, so we are trying to bring in the community, the volunteer welfare organisations, and the beneficiaries to let them have a taste of kayaking."

As we celebrate our country's birthday this August, let us also embrace the idea of giving and sharing - giving the gift of friendship and sharing the joys of our nation's achievements with the less fortunate.