Sharing sessions with corporate professionals and foreign postgraduates

At a workshop organised by the National Environment Agency, a group of about 20 corporate professionals, who were nominated as Corporate Environment Champions (ECs), were presented with information about available RAS programmes that they can participate in. The ECs are nominated representatives from the corporate sector who champion pro-environment activities in their companies. RAS was also invited to a similar workshop for the first time in October last year.

RAS was invited by the Asian International College as one of the guest speakers to share with a group of 15 postgraduates in the Master of Infrastructure programme. The postgraduates from India were on a one-week study trip in Singapore as part of the programme to see the latest developments in the region. Given the fact that one of the reasons for girls in India not furthering their studies is due to the inadequacy of proper restroom facilities in schools, RAS was invited to share the importance of good restroom design with the visiting postgraduates.

Sharing sessions with delegates and volunteers

A group of visiting Bruneian delegates comprising of government officers, non government organisation (NGO) representatives, youths and corporate representatives, were presented with information about key RAS programmes implemented for restroom owners, cleaners and users. RAS was scheduled for the first presentation ahead of the Singapore Environment Council and Panasonic, who are also close partners of the NEA. A Q&A and networking session was organised after the presentations.

As one of the close partners of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) in their Singapore Cares (SG Cares) initiative, RAS was invited to share its key programmes and available volunteering activities with new volunteers at the NVPC's monthly volunteer orientation. Since December last year, RAS has been recruiting volunteers for its LOO (Let's Observe Ourselves) @ Heartlands activities via the SG Cares. The SG Cares was set up as a platform for volunteers seeking short-term and flexible volunteering opportunities that match their interest, availability and location.

Launch of +ACT (Positive Action for the Care of Toilets) campaign

ITE College East launched its +ACT (Positive Action for the Care of Toilets) campaign on 24th May for the first time with RAS coming onboard to conduct a 'Hygiene Awareness & Social Etiquette' talk for the ITE students. RAS also set up its Learning Pavilion at the campus together with the +ACT photo exhibition which displayed current state of toilets at the campus. Before the launch, RAS had shared tips with ITE on projects and activities which its student ambassadors can effectively undertake and embark on.

The two-year campaign, which was officially launched by Mr Eden Liew, Principal of the college, aimed to heighten awareness amongst the students to act positively in caring for the restroom environment. It was launched to address the perennial problems faced by the college over the years in rectifying numerous incidents of its toilet facilities damaged and dirtied by acts of vandalism and inconsideration respectively. During the two-year period, catchy slogans and colourful collaterals such as educational posters, stickers and banners will be strategically displayed to remind students to act responsibly.

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Talk and training sessions for logistic personnel

On 24th and 25th May, RAS conducted three talk and training sessions for a total of about 60 employees from the SKF Logistics Services for the first time. Two sessions were conducted in English and the other in Chinese to better cater to the language preference of the participants. The session consisted of two sections namely a talk and training. The talk covered topics on social graciousness, restroom etiquette and hygiene practices while the training equipped participants with useful knowledge and practical skills to inspect the restroom cleanliness based on a checklist used for the assessment of Happy Toilets.

Apart from the talk and training, participants also completed our annual survey on restroom cleanliness. After the sessions, educational posters were also distributed to SKF for display in its restrooms to reinforce the topics covered during the talk. RAS is pleased to see participants from the logistics profession coming in as a new addition to our existing list of diversified participants from the facilities management, construction food and beverage profession.

Filming of French-German TV programme

A French journalist from ARTE, a French-German TV channel, invited RAS to be featured in a daily programme about the environment called "GlobalMag". The feature aimed to showcase about the protection of the environment and cleanliness in Singapore and RAS was invited for its active role in promoting better restrooms in Singapore. A segment of the programme includes an interview session with Mr John Loh, our key person for the Happy Toilet Programme, about the Happy Toilet assessment. A tour of 5-star Happy Toilets and a school talk was also conducted.

Owing to the strong support from two toilet owners and a school, the filming was scheduled on 13th April. It commenced at a 5-star Happy Toilet of the Mayflower Market & Food Centre in Ang Mo Kio where John conducted a Happy Toilet assessment. After which the camera crew was treated to a live assembly talk session conducted for students by Mr Sanjay Balan, our key person for the school education programme, at the Dunman High School. The filming wrapped up at the Night Safari where the crew was invited to tour the 5-star Happy Toilet which was also the award recipient of the Best Happy Toilet of the Year 2010. The feature is slated to be broadcasted in September.

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Launch of Sustaining Toilets As Restrooms (STAR) Awards Programme

Since September last year, RAS had been partnering with the NWCDC and NEA's North West Regional Office (NWRO) to approach Primary and Secondary schools in the Northwest district. 16 schools were approached and recruited for the new school programme - Sustaining Toilets As Restrooms (STAR) @ North West. Of the 16 participating schools, 9 were awarded Gold with 2 achieving Silver and remaining 5 meeting the minimum Bronze certification. A formal launch of the programme was facilitated by Northland Primary School on 27th January 2011. Mayor of North West District, Dr Teo Ho Pin graced the event as its Guest-of-Honour and spoke on the importance of clean restrooms and good restroom etiquette.

NWCDC and NWRO have committed its support for a further 10 schools to participate in this new programme. RAS also reached an agreement with the South West CDC to endorse its STAR Awards programme for schools within its district. With the CDC on board, RAS is currently recruiting schools for assembly programmes and workshops with the aim of achieving similar success experienced with the STAR @ North West programme. RAS hopes to see more schools from other districts coming forth to participate in this new programme.

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Environmental Education Advisor (EEA) Networking Sessions

The Restroom Association Singapore (RAS) was invited to give a talk and set up a booth at the National Environment Agency's EEA networking session on 19th and 26th February 2011. At both venues (Nanyang Girls High and Zhangde Primary), RAS staff was given the opportunity to address over 200 educators and share with them about its new school education programme as well as other community initiatives. At the booth, RAS was given the opportunity to mingle with educators and provide a clearer picture as to the details of the STAR Awards programme.

The EEA Networking Session is a platform for EEAs from primary to pre-tertiary level to network, share best practices on environment education, and find out the new and exciting environment initiatives that NEA and its partners are rolling out for the year ahead. After its participation at the EEA Networking Session, RAS has received calls from 6 schools so far indicating their commitment to start the programme in their schools and pledging to provide clean restrooms for their pupils. RAS looks forward to hearing from and working with more EEAs.