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Walking humbly for MethodistWalk 2023

from Methodist Message: May 2023

from Methodist Message: May 2023, page 39

Christ continues to write my l...

Students, teachers, parents and alumni of Methodist schools and Methodist church members gathered at AngloChinese School (Independent) bright and early on 25 March, a Saturday morning, for MethodistWalk 2023. The return of this biennial fundraising event, following the pandemic-wrought three-year hiatus, was welcomed by more than 4,000 participants. Organised by the Methodist Schools' Foundation (MSF), Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing graced this year's fundraising walk.

Themed "Walk Humbly with God", a total of $1.087 million* in donations and funds was raised for MethodistWalk 2023. The funds will go towards supporting the work and enrichment programmes in all 15 Methodist schools. In particular, they also help the schools provide the necessary financial assistance and bursaries to needy students. This year, a new initiative to raise additional funds drew more attention and participants—a first-ever Sustainability Bazaar with stalls run by students, selling pre-loved items ranging from apparel to books to sporting equipment.

The Environment Committee at Methodist Girls' School (MGS) has an annual collection of pre-loved clothes and accessories that are sold at their MGS Thrift Shop, which started two years ago. The genesis of the thrift shop to give pre-loved clothes and accessories a new lease of use was as important as the message the students wished to drive home: the impact of waste generated by fast fashion and consumerism on the environment. This year, they not only brought the MGS Thrift Shop to MethodistWalk 2023, but also got to spread their message and raise funds for a worthy cause.

Left: Bishop Dr Gordon Wong looking on at how the shell of the gong gong (common sea snail found in the waters surrounding Bintan) has been given a new lease of life as a whistle

Middle: Education Minister Chan Chun Sing speaking with student stall owners at MethodistWalk’s first-ever Sustainability Bazaar

Right: Rev Tay Kay Leong (4th from left) with participants from Kampong Kapor Methodist Church

Sale of our pre-loved items from the MGS stall went very well at the MethodistWalk. We were happy to see students from the different schools browsing through the selection. We had made a conscious effort to select and bring down items that we thought would appeal to our fellow students in the Primary and Secondary schools. We hope that through this initiative, our peers have gotten a deeper appreciation of pre-loved items and found some treasures from our stall to take home!

Sammi

Geylang Methodist School (Primary) probably had the cleanest stall on the grounds that day—they sold self-made orange peel detergent! Not just these, but also planting kits and gong gong whistles. Run by the Primary 6 student leaders, this activity is part of their community service to the Chen Su Lan Home.

Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) took another slant on sustainability by focusing on recycling. With the help of the Green Captains of the Primary 6 classes, the students decided to share the gift of reading by selling pre-loved and new books donated by fellow students.

The event traditionally sees primary school students complete a 2 km walk while secondary school students manage a 4 km route. Group walks among various alumni friends and church groups are a common, and heartening, sight as well. Kelvin Seah, a small group leader from Kampong Kapor Methodist Church, sums it up well, "We made MethodistWalk a small group event so that we could bond as brothers in Christ and support this worthy cause after the pandemic."