On 18 December 2020, ARC Children’s Centre was filled with joy and laughter at its annual Christmas party. Organised by City Developments Limited (CDL)’s employee volunteering platform City Sunshine Club (CSC), the first-of-its-kind hybrid event saw over 20 children attending in person alongside CDL Group General Manager Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, Group Chief Strategy Officer Mr Kwek Eik Sheng and seven CSC volunteers. Due to social distancing considerations, the other 15 staff volunteers joined virtually via Zoom.
care
CDL Group Chief Strategy Officer Mr Kwek Eik Sheng (standing, far left), CDL Group General Manager Mr Chia Ngiang Hong (standing, 3rd from right) and CSC volunteers (in blue) celebrated Christmas with the kids at ARC Children’s Centre.
The Zoom meeting was projected onto a large screen in each room at ARC Children’s Centre, so that the kids could have a clear view of everyone for the games and activities.
The children also had to socially distance themselves and were split into two separate rooms, with on-site CSC volunteers facilitating several interactive activities between them and the online volunteers.
The party included exciting games such as Pictionary, where the children guessed festive-themed items drawn by the virtual volunteers on a Zoom whiteboard. Ranging from Christmas trees and angels to cookies and reindeers, the game of Pictionary was thoroughly enjoyed by all the children and volunteers.
Mr Kwek (left) and Mr Chia also “flexed” their artistic skills with the Pictionary game.
The children also played Treasure Hunt with the volunteers, which involved identifying specific objects the online volunteers were holding. For example, for a Treasure Hunt clue “blue T-shirt”, the children had to identify which of the virtual volunteers were holding a blue T-shirt in the sea of Zoom windows. Other rounds included pens, books and mugs.
The fun-filled party concluded with a rousing Christmas carolling finale, where the children and volunteers sang Christmas songs together with various props, such as “Christmas bells” and “Christmas heart pens”, adding a magical touch to the activity. Online volunteers also joined the carolling, singing and waving their props along with the kids.
The children raised their hands with excitement and readiness to find the objects “hidden” among the online volunteers in the Treasure Hunt.
Mr Chia and Mr Kwek handed out Christmas presents, before the children sang “We Are One - Child 4 Child” that warmed everyone's heart at the end of the festive celebration.
