Kids' big dreams for S'pore in 2065

As Singapore edges closer to 50, children here are already dreaming big about what to expect when the country turns 100.

Robot librarians, machines that print clothes and a community that can share its belongings with no fear of theft are some of the things they have in mind.

The ideas came from a four-day creative writing workshop in which 100 children aged seven to 12 were asked for their vision of Singapore in 2065.

The pupils went to public libraries and the Singapore Discovery Centre for ideas, and attended sessions by local writers.

The workshop is part of the POSB Passion KidsWrite Campaign, organised by POSB, the People's Association (PA) and the National Library Board.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong, speaking at the launch of the campaign at Boon Lay Community Centre yesterday, said: "Adults may be limited by experience, but children have boundless imagination, which can be inspirational."

Organisers are targeting all 187 primary schools, to get as many pupils as possible to document their vision for Singapore.

Said POSB head Derrick Goh: "We hope that those who have attended the workshop can go back and ask their classmates to do the same thing."

The entries can be posted on a KidsWrite portal online and the best ones will go into a SG50 commemorative book, to be launched on Sept 13.

More workshops are in the offing. If children wish for a kinder Singapore, for instance, they could be shown how to plan small-scale kindness campaigns in their communities.

The POSB Passion Kids Fund will set aside $1 million over two years for such workshops.

Rivervale Primary's Henry Yap, 12, hopes that robot librarians will materialise. "They can sort out books faster, and have an ultra-fast system to put them back onto shelves. It's more efficient."

Xavier Cheong, 11, from Teck Ghee Primary, envisions anti-gravity playgrounds, so that "everyone can experience space travel".

Mr Wong said: "All children have dreams. Singapore must continue to be a place where these dreams can become reality."

kashc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 12, 2015.
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