About 20 student librarians from Raffles Institution added some colour to the building that houses the Handicaps Welfare Association in Whampoa yesterday.

They spent three hours painting a mural featuring hearts, hands and clover leaves.

The librarians were part of a 2,000-strong Raffles contingent that fanned out across the island to bowl, play games or just talk with members of various welfare groups.

The activities were part of the school's Community Day, held to mark its 185th anniversary.

Students from several clubs took part in community service projects under the guidance of the school's Interact Club.

Club president Lim Zong Yi, 16, said: 'We hope that the other groups will take follow-up action and adopt the voluntary welfare organisations. Maybe every holiday they can go help spice up the place.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 21, 2008