BTA’s Projects & Programmes

A) Talentime for Schools (1963 – 1975)

The BTA, under the dynamic leadership, unwavering and total dedication of its first few presidents embarked upon a series of highly ambitious fund raising projects to start and perpetuate the BTA Scholarship Fund. Most notable amongst these projects was the ‘Talentime For Schools’ which had a remarkably successful run from 1963 to 1975. Students would turn up in droves and in hundreds to support their favourites through auditions, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Grand Finals. That it was widely supported by the schools and the youths of our country was a testimony to the weeks and months of painstaking, hard and sustained work put in by the Executive and SubCommittees. The fulfilment of this project was also due to the generous and unstinting support given by our sponsors, M/s Nestle from 1963 to 1972 and M/s Titles Dental & Photo Supply from 1973 to 1975.

Along with the ‘Talentime For Schools’, the BTA had also successfully staged the popular “Peep Pop Shows” and “Variety Shows” at the then National Theatre. These were tremendously supported by the public at large and contributed in no small measure, to the promotion and growth of local musical talent in the Sixties and Seventies.

In the late Seventies, with the emergence of the drug culture and its association with long hair and pop music, the Talentime project was discontinued.

B) Fundraising Activities

In recent years, the BTA has been carrying mini fundraising efforts such as raffle draws and auctions to raise funds for its programmes and activities.

C) BTA Mentorship Programme

In 2011, the BTA EXCO had started work on setting a mentorship programme to support the growth and development of needy students in Assumption English School, Assumption Pathway School and Boys’ Town Home. Through this initiative, the BTA had hoped to nurture and cultivate a pool of alumni who were able to come back and contribute to Boys’ Town in a meaningful and enriching way. In tandem with this effort, the BTA successfully applied for IPC status by setting up the BTA Charity Fund that allows for tax exemption for donations received. The BTA Mentorship Programme was launched in 2012 with funding support from Lien Foundation and more than 200 students from the 3 Boys’ Town components had benefitted from the programme that was carried out over the years; 2012 – 2016.

BTA Members’ Activities

The BTA does not exist for itself. It also caters to the recreational and social needs as well as sporting pursuits which are organised for the benefit of its members and their families. These include fishing expeditions, tours to West Malaysia, outings at holiday camps, Bowling Tournaments, playing Father Christmas to underprivileged children and celebrating feast days or farewells with the Brothers. In addition, the BTA annually award book prizes to members’ children who have shown outstanding results in the school examinations.

In 2009, we organised a Fellowship cum Bro Emmanuel’s birthday celebration amongst the components of Boys’ Town viz Boys’ Town Home, Assumption English School and Assumption Pathway School. This was taken in response to the many new staff of the BT components who were not aware of the actual mission of the Gabrielite Schools and the roles and functions of the BTA.

In 2010 and 2015, we used the occasions of BTA’s 50th and 55th Anniversaries to raise funds for both the general and scholarship funds, reconnect back with our members and recruit new members.

For 2018, the BTA co-organised a Homecoming dinner on 16 Nov 2018 where both alumni and their ex-teachers had the opportunity to reconnect and rejoice in the recently upgraded premises of the school.

BTA Scholarship Fund

The BTA started to realize its charitable objectives by offering scholarships to poor and deserving pupils as well as other scholastic projects of Boys’ Town from 1964. To date, $237,226 has been expended from the Scholarship Fund. As recognition of our contributions to Boys’ Town, the Brothers of St Gabriel here in Singapore, in 1984, appointed the President of the Alumni to be a member of the Board of Management of the Schools of the Brothers of St Gabriel. With the formation of separate Boards for the respective schools, we were also invited to sit on the Management Committees of both Assumption English School and Assumption Pathway School. A member of the Alumni also sits on the Board of Boys’ Town Home.