Celebrating Community Love with LOT [CNY Edition]

In a heartwarming celebration of Chinese New Year, Little Olive Tree Bukit Arang welcomed 24 seniors from Presbyterian Eldercare @ Potong Pasir AAC (Care) for a special intergenerational bonding event. This marked the first time the preschool hosted an event bringing together children, parents, and seniors in a shared space of learning, creativity, and festive cheer!

The seniors arrived at 9:45 AM, greeted by a gathering of 11 parents and 36 children eager to extend their festive wishes to one another. The children joyfully moved through the hall, saying “Gong Xi Gong Xi” to each senior and giving them their biggest smiles.

The celebration kicked off with a group exercise session led by Tricia from AAC that got everyone up on their feet. This was followed by a Chinese New Year song performed by the K1 and K2 children, adding a lively and festive spirit to the gathering.

The highlight of the event was an art & craft session, where children and seniors partnered to paint and decorate traditional Chinese fans. Each senior was paired with a child, fostering one-on-one interaction, creativity, and teamwork.

Throughout the session, seniors shared stories and laughter with their young partners, while the children eagerly assisted in painting and decorating. Parents also engaged with the seniors, adding to the community spirit of the event.

This interaction is a beautiful reflection of our mission to community outreach, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful relationships and enriching lives through shared experiences. By bringing together different generations, the event showcased values of loving one another, teaching the children the significance of respect and empathy.

Further guided by our educational mission of truth, beauty, and goodness, the event created an environment where children learned the truth about honoring the seniors, witnessed the beauty of intergenerational connections, and experienced the goodness of giving and receiving through loving one another. The collaborative art session was a powerful demonstration of kindness and compassion, reflecting the values at the heart of our educational philosophy.

"It was very meaningful to have such an event. Both the elderly and children enjoyed the activities, especially the interaction during fan painting." - Zeng Geng, K2 Parent

"It was the first time we invited people from the community into our centre, and it was heartening to see the seniors’ faces light up as they interacted with the children. The children were kind and helpful to their elderly partners, making it a special moment for all." - Gae, K2 Teacher

"It was so fun because of the painting! I helped a Grandma and Grandpa." - Natalie, K2 Student

Through our commitment to community outreach and values-based learning, we hope to host more community-driven initiatives, strengthening bonds between generations and enriching the lives of both young and old. This is the power of love, compassion, and shared experiences, paving the way for a more connected and caring community.