Yrc 20 issuu

Issue 20 /

SGD 7.50 ISSN: 2010- 1376

He Said, She Said

Are We Forgetful of the Past?

YRC Investigates Old and New Singapore

YAC CORE 101

Remembering the Past, Today

2 Featured Stories Inspirations for Writing

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers

YRC TEAM Managing Editor/Publisher Catherine Khoo Editor Carlo Venson Peña Circulation Executive

Christina Del Mundo Designer

Lim Soo Yong Editorial Assistants Natalya Thangamany, Brian Lee Editorial Advisory Board

Catherine Khoo, Vijay Chandran, Noel Chia Contributors

Alicia Boo, Paulina Lee, John Mark, Mike Mallari Illustrators

Adeline Lim, Natalya Thangamany YAC Core Contributors

Kenrick Lam, Lee Tat Wei, Theresa Ellsworth, Ron Yap, Woon Kaiqin, Fiona Tan For advertising and sales enquiries

6336 8985 Education Subscription Agents

ILoveReading.SG 9007 8361 Emit Asia 6372 0330 Email: info@youngreaderclub.sg Website: www.youngreaderclub.sg All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Call 6336-8985 for back issues.

Printed in Singapore by SC International Pte Ltd on Lumisilk Matte Arte Paper Cover and additional photos by

Carlo Venson Peña

There is a certain stillness in the air recently that tells you that something exciting and exhilarating is about to happen. We’ve just finished the Young Author Awards, and now the table is set for yet another opportunity to scour the region for the best budding authors of the upcoming generation.

The YRC joins in this quest to emphasise that Kids Can Write, and what they impart to the world is slowly changing the landscape of Asian literature for children, only this time, it is the children themselves who are re-shaping the way they tell the stories, as seen from their own eyes.

On the lighter side, as the rest of Singapore prepares for the upcoming celebration of its National Day, the magazine also celebrates new milestones for this year. On top of a new look and a new branding for YRC, there is a full array of articles that are sure to catch your attention. For starters, there is Professions, that features admirable individuals who pursue their careers with passion and fervour; the revamped He Said, She Said of Singapore Insights; and Pet Pals, which will surely delight pet owners and those thinking of owning a new pet.

Your favourite tenet columns are still as informative as ever, such as YRC Investigates, Core 101 and Parents Ask Teens Answer, as well as a special three-page spread on the old and new Singapore in Different Strokes. Couple these with the Featured Stories and you have a fully-packed issue that pays homage to the past and looks head-on to the future of Asian literature.

Happy reading!

is published by Experiences & Experiments Books Pte Ltd 442A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427655 Issue 20

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YRC Investigates

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23

Professions

53 Pet Pals

features 8

Featured Author: Sharon Skariah After winning the Young Author Awards in 2012, young author Sharon Skariah had things looking up for her. Now in Polytechnic, she plans to become part of the business world as a CEO who writes on the side. Know more about Sharon and her quest to make her own niché in this issue of YRC!

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The Goblet of Diamond by Yen Zhi Yi Corrine and her sister were adopted by a wealthy couple after their parents died. They thought everything would be perfect, but one day, everything changed. Their stepmother was placed in a trance, cursed by Lecellvis, the master of darkness who wanted the girls to find him a goblet and a diamond. If they could not do this by the twelfth stroke of midnight on the twelfth of December, they too would be cursed. Can they find the goblet of diamond before time runs out?

28 Professions

Opening yet a new chapter in YRC magazine is this two-page feature on people and their amazing

passion for their craft. In this issue, meet the Fabulous Baker Boy and his delectable treats!

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He Said, She Said Two teens from each side of the spectrum share their thoughts about being teens and being aware of important issues in this breakthrough column that starts this issue in YRC!

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Pet Pals Former YRC health columnist Paulina Lee takes on the wild side, as she features favourite pets, their peeves, and how we can properly maintain them as our lovable companions.

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Email From Korea Beaming with radiance and smiles, read Email From’s first of a two-part feature on Korea, featuring teens living in and outside Korea. Discover how their lives, communities and school are shaped by their own culture, their environment and the people they interact with.

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ANTHOLOGY 101 Veteran author and editor Catherine Khoo has launched a new book about becoming the woman that she is now, and the potential that each girl has.

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The Adventures of Shu Parl and Wu Wu the Tiger by Yeoh Sheyuan Neptune and Venus aliens attack Tigerland. Shu Parl, Stu Parl, Gu Parl, the Piyos and the Special Tigers try to stop them. Will they succeed in defending Tigerland, or will they fail?

national education 23

YRC Investigates: Old Singapore Take a trip down memory lane and look at how Singapore has been shaped and re-shaped by everything it has gone through in half a century’s worth of development, landscaping and burgeoning economy, that now accounts for Singapore as a bastion of commerce, the arts and culture.

CORE 101

27 He Said,

She Said

48 I Can Write

So Can You

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Parents Ask, Teens Answer Wary about how your teens are imbibing age-old tradition and values? Fret not; you are not alone. How do parents help in building a solid value structure for their teens without sacrificing a teen’s right to choose what is good for him? Read and share your thoughts!

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I Can Write, So Can You Veteran author and editor Catherine Khoo takes you on another writing journey that leaves you inspired to write snippets of your own sojourns.

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Breaking Boundaries: D.O.T. A Singaporean discovers more than just beautiful sights and sounds in a trip to India, and realises where her real passion lies: helping other women to become more independent and self-sufficient. Discover the Daughters of Tomorrow in this special feature on the plight of young girls and mothers.

66 Resources

The YRC is more than just a magazine. It’s a useful tool for learning better English

comprehension and writing for both primary and secondary students. Tap these useful

guide questions for your next group discussion in class or at the student study area, which

are coupled with resource sheets available for schools and parents!

inspirations 40

Different Strokes YRC Magazine pays homage to Singapore’s ever changing landscape in this three-page spread that spans half a century.

CORE 101: Teens’ Voice As one of Asia’s most established countries, both economically and culturally, how are youths reshaping the face of Singapore for the coming years? Are what they are doing now enough to sustain Singapore’s thriving commerce and bustling culture? Our CORE 101 contributors share their thoughts!

43 History as a Teacher by Woon Kaiqin, Canberra Secondary School 64

Today is Tomorrow by Fiona Tan, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

CORE 101: Points of Views Singapore has come far in more ways than one. Being one of Asia’s most stable markets, and the most diverse in terms of land area, the country has definitely made a mark in the global scene in terms of business, leisure, investment and culture. Amidst all these, do the youths today still have a sense of history and respect for how Singapore transformed itself from a once lowly fishing village to a bastion of commerce, sustainability and financial stability it is today?

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Retracing the Journey of a Thousand Miles by Lee Tat Wei, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

YRC Magazine recognises the talents of our regular contributors and writers. For article, illustration and photo contributions, please contact the Editor at info@ youngreaderclub.sg or call 6336.8985.

Adeline Lim Educator / Illustrator What Adeline did for this issue: Featured Stories Adeline Lim is an illustrator, designer and visual artists educator who is currently residing in Singapore.

Experienced in both physical and digital mediums, Adeline has worked as a layout artist for magazines, as well as a broad range of illustrated work in ink, watercolour paints and digital collage for children’s stories.

Ron Yap YAC Core Member, Zhong Hua Secondary School What Ron did for this issue: He Said, She Said As a budding writer, Ron started his stint with the Young Author Scheme, becoming a merit prize winner in the Young Author Awards.

Now at 16, Ron aspires to be a travelling author, in pursuit of his ultimate inspiration to write his bestseller.

Paulina Lee Student, University of Adelaide What Paula did for this issue: Pet Pals Pursuing a degree in health sciences in Australia, Paulina was once the health columnist for YRC magazine. Now all grown up, she spends most of her time on her studies and in documenting her travels.

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Ee Chonghui Student, National Junior College What Chonghui did for this issue: CORE101 Online Herself a merit winner in the Young Author Awards when she was still in primary school, Chonghui is now currently contributing to YRC magazine and pursuing her studies at the National Junior College.

Kenrick Lam Student, AngloChinese School International What Kenrick did for this issue: Parents Ask, Teens Answer The most senior of the YAC Core, Kenrick is a romantic at heart and an objective writer by training. He won second prize in the 2007 Maybank Young Author Awards and has been writing for the magazine since its inception in 2010.

Theresa Ellsworth Student, Singapore American School What Theresa did for this issue: He Said, She Said Even before winning a merit prize in the 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 Yo u n g Author Awards, Theresa has shared her writing dexterity to YRC in snippets of contributions that underline her love for writing and her dream of becoming a published author in the future.

Lee Tat Wei Student, Anglo-Chinese School Independent What Tat Wei did for this issue: CORE 101 A senior member of the YAC Core, Tat Wei wrote his first book of 27,000 words when he was 11. Now in secondary school, Tat Wei is a football goal keeper at school, but is just as hard-hitting as a columnist for the magazine.

Woon Kaiqin Student, Canberra Secondary School What Kaiqin did for this issue: CORE 101 A finalist in the 2012/13 Young Author Aw a rd s , K a i q i n i s currently a student in Canberra Secondary School, pursuing her dreams of becoming a published author.

Fiona Tan Student, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School What Fiona did for this issue: Core 101 As a merit awardee in the Young Author Awards, Fiona wrote her first story under the Young Author Scheme when she was in Primary 5. Now in SCGS, she writes feisty commentary for the magazine.

Ruth Kan Content Strategist, Youth, Focus on the Family What Ruth did for this issue: Parents Ask, Teens Answer As the Youth Specialist with Focus on the Family Singapore, Ruth has been involved in the development of No Apologies and It’s UnComplicated p ro g r a m , a n d h a s been interviewed by the media on relationships and sexuality issues. A vibrant and passionate individual, she also regularly speaks to young people and has inspired more than four thousand students from secondary and tertiary institutions in the past six years.

At YRC Magazine, we ensure that stories are kept at their most original form, yet there are times that content is abridged to suit the magazine’s readership. Stories featured in YRC Magazine are abridged as necessary, to fit page constraints. The YRC is a literary magazine that conforms to the reading palate of 10-16 year olds.

Once a story is featured in the magazine, it is at the discretion of the editor to copyedit articles to a certain extent, to suit the target audience.

The views and opinions of the contributors do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of YRC magazine and its staff.

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YRC Magazine welcomes your comments, suggestions, and anything that you wish to share with us!

Here are letters we received from students like you. Send yours to info@ youngreaderclub.sg or snail mail it to our address!

The Young Reader Club magazine’s contents are good enough to immerse me in reading.

I like the YRC as it has good, descriptive words and phrases that can be used in compositions to score higher marks! I am happy to read different stories that people write in it, while learning from them how to write a story that immerses people in learning.

Phoebe Lim, 12 Chonfu Primary School

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Featured Author ...Young writers of today

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Interview by Natalya Thangamany Photos by Carlo Pe単a

PROFILE

Yen Zhi Yi, 13 Magic & Fantasy

Nanyang Girls’ High School Hi readers! I’m Zhi Yi from Nanyang Girls’ High School. I started writing when I was introduced to the Young Author Scheme and just simply fell in love with it. My story, “The Goblet of Diamond”, was inspired by various fantasy books, one of which is named “Stage Fright.” As it was my first time writing a full-length story of 3,000 words, I had difficulties because English writing was not my forte. I have a tip for all writers: read books by Anthony Horowitz, Chris Ryan and Sophie McKenzie! Their books will inspire your writing!

The Goblet of Diamond Written in Pri 4 at Corporation Primary School

At the Orphanage Hi, I’m Kaleen, and this is my pal, Corinne. We’ve kept a secret between the both of us and let me reveal it to you, but don’t be big-mouthed and spread this secret around! Ever since Corinne and I were sent to an orphanage in Perth, Australia after both of our parents passed away due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Toronto, Canada.

The orphanage was like an imaginary hostel that we can stay in forever, with playgrounds to play in, our own air-conditioned ward with a big cozy bed, play rooms with lots of our favorites like computers, toys and movies to watch, and also some classrooms for us to study in. On a day at the orphanage, Ms Fedora, the person-in-charge of the orphanage, announced that there will be visitors today who will adopt one of the orphans. We started jumping with joy with the other orphans.

“They will adopt me, of course! I’m the prettiest at the orphanage!” one of the orphans, Marie, boasted herself with her head

Illustrations by Adeline Lim

rising up high.

“You ugly duckling! I’m prettier than you and as smart as Albert Einstein!” Jennie, another boastful orphan swanked.

I heard them arguing nonstop; one said a sentence, another talked back with ten sentences. While the other orphans were busy gossiping with their big mouths, discussing and quarrelling amongst themselves about who’s going to be adopted, Corinne and I were settling ourselves in the corner of the room, watching from the window as we relaxed.

“Who do you think will be adopted?” I asked Corinne as I leaned against the window.

“It will either be Laurence, the smarty boy or Tammie, always the kindest pupil in this class,” replied Corinne as she began to close her twinkling and hazel brown eyes to relax.

Joining a New Family Minutes felt like hours. After about an hour, Ms Fedora and her visitors finally

Due to the length of the story, YRC has created an abridged version of the story. Catch the full story at www. youngreaderclub.sg. under Resources.

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...Understanding how the world works

n

ea ingapor S g n u Yo other with M

By Natalya Thangamany With additional reporting

by Brian Lee

NATIONAL EDUCATION

YRC Investigates

Singap orea Familyn

Old Singapore Several months ago, my family and I made a visit to my grandfather’s house in Fidelio Street– an event taking place once in a blue moon. My grandfather, who is ninety years old, lives in an old yellow brick house with a small empty backyard and a towering rambutan tree at the entrance.

Inside, the house has remained the same over the past seventy years with its antique furniture, mosaic-tiled floors and aged photographs on the table, a reminder of my younger days when my visits were more frequent and my grandfather more mobile and younger.

As that little yellow brick house and its trademark rambutan tree grew smaller as we drove back into modern society afterwards, it raised a thought: What had Singapore truly grown into throughout my grandfather’s life? When I reach my senior years, what will Singapore have become? And when my grandfather passes on, will what was left of his life experiences be left in the Singapore of the future?

Young Indian Cyclist

re Market

Old Singapo

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Professions

...Understanding how the world works Interview by: Natalya Thangamany

Filling the Tummy With Goodness Juwanda Hassim, Cook

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He Said, She Said The Voices of Teens Today...

YRC Magazine welcomes CORE members Theresa Ellsworth and Ron Yap in their new tandem column that looks at issues from the perspectives of young men and women.

In this issue, they look at whether the youths today still have a sense of history and respect for how Singapore transformed itself and how it will sustain its innovative means in the future.

Ron Yap

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Theresa Ellsworth

Pet pals

Text and Pictures by Paulina Lee F E AT U R E S

NE UI A

S RD

OF REC

O

BOO K

S

G

...Understanding how the world works

G

uinea Pigs are considered a smaller version of rabbits but a bigger version of a hamster. They can grow to approximately a kilogram for both males and females. Columnist Paulina Lee takes them headon with this pilot column for YRC.

feeding

bathing

I personally have two little guinea pigs that I have had for over a year. It is important to understand about the little piggies’ habits and needs before plunging into getting one or two for yourself. I myself learnt from the internet and books about the pigs before I got my very first pig! Always remember that breeding them would be very bad for their health and also there are many other pigs available in adoption agencies that are unwanted, and if you truly love them, you should consider getting one from adoption agencies such as the SPCA.

Feeding

bondi

Guinea pigs need to be given a very large area to run and exercise in. Where I got my pigs, the shop owner actually said they could just be placed in a box! It would be very cruel to do that because pigs are inquisitive by nature and are curious about everything around them therefore having a large cage would do that job. It is important to know that piggies do have a pungent smell to their poop and urine. To minimise the smell, changing their bedding every other day would be essential.

ng

Housing

Guinea Pigs need to be given fresh hay everyday and also fresh pellet. They need the hay to chew on the entire day and night to help them keep their teeth from growing too long and hurting themselves. I give Issue 20

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By Lee Tat Wei, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

ey

Retracing theJourn

s

of a Thousand Mile

“Singapore – from Third world to First”. It’s a phrase we often hear in patriotic contexts, that seeks to emphasise how much our country has evolved since being first discovered by Stamford Raffles back in the 19th century. This pride is constantly being instilled in every student as they go through National Education (NE) – but in our modern world, do we even know anything more about our history other than how we should be “proud” of our nation?

In this fast-paced world, we rarely have the time to look past Singapore’s current advancements, from the core of the nation– to back when we were simply a fishing village, named after a lion an Indonesian prince saw.

Have we lost touch with our roots? Are we simply looking at Singapore as if she was a beautiful nation born out of a history long forgotten?

In my opinion, yes; our society is moving forward too fast for the memories of our history to catch up. Current society forces the new generation to have a global mindset and a global perspective; youths nowadays have more knowledge about current affairs and things going on around the world. It is hence arguably true that due to this globalisation, the newer generation of Singaporeans has become disinterested or are slowly losing touch with Singapore’s history.

What happened in the past is after all

in the past, isn’t it? Due to this mindset, and a priority placed on appreciating other cultures around the world, the emphasis on our own history has been lessened, and as a result, youths tend to not know or not truly understand Singapore’s history and the path to our current status as First World. Even if our country’s history may not be as rich or lengthy as, let’s say, feudal China, but the fact that it is on this soil that we live is reason enough that we should know about Singapore’s history and her endeavours.

A lot of times, we only study the important parts of Singapore’s history. The Japanese Occupation; the Maria Hertogh Riots; the race riots; merger and separation with Malaysia– these were all pivotal moments in Singapore’s history. It changed the foundation of which the nation is built on, but other than some of these events that we learn in our humanities curriculum, what else do we know Issue 20

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I N S P I R AT I O N S

CORE 101... Points of View

F E AT U R E S

Email from...

Korea YRC Magazine presents a twopart feature on Korea, with two different emails from two Koreans living in and outside Singapore, in our Email From.

NAME: Jung-a Kim

AGE: 18 Years Old

HOMETOWN: Ulsan, South Korea INTEREST/HOBBIES: Reading books, Writing, Poetry, Watching movies and Listening to KPop music

Living in Korea In Korea, I live currently in Gyeongju City. As a student, I chose to stay in the same city where my school is because it’s a very popular traditional city. Gyeongju is a mix of innovative IT systems fused with the traditional taste of Korean architecture. Each building outside is a blend of metal, wood, bricks, and cement.

But in the inside most buildings have hightechnology facilities, innovative systems and state-of-the-art equipment.

I really like the blend of innovation that the traditional Korean culture is undergoing.

We preserve our own culture yet we take the lead in Information Technology (IT) field.

In Gyeongju, we have the “Chalburi Pang,” a famous bread in Korea that originated in our city. Chalburi Pang is soft bread filled with red beans.

Gyeongju City is also popular because of the man-made lake built by the Korean government to attract tourists from around the globe; the man-made lake is called “Bomun Lake.” It is surrounded by cherry blossoms that blooms beautifully during spring time.

There are traditional restaurants near the lake too. The view is really captivating!

Loving Korea I like living in my country because of the peace and serenity that I experience and the balanced way of life that we have. In Korea, people work hard and yet we enjoy quality time with our family members and friends. We protect nature, thus we have rich natural resources developed into beautiful tourist places. Our country has four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Thus, we have different fashion styles for different seasons. The values of our country are also good– we respect the elderly people; we love our family; we value traditions. These are the reasons why I like living in my country.

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Different Strokes ...A picture paints a thousand words

Old photos by SC Chang New photos by Mike Mallari

Present 2013

Rooftop view of Marine Parade

1972 40

Singapore is known for its changing skyline and fastpaced lifestyle. But how different was old Singapore from the new? Browse through this three-page feature and find out how much has changed throughout the years.

Aerial view of reclaimed land at Marine Parade

By Woon Kaiqin, Canberra Secondary School

I N S P I R AT I O N S

CORE 101... Teens’ Voice

History as a Teacher History

is truly important in shaping the future of our society, Singapore. In fact, many of our strict laws, regulations and guidelines that we abide today are products of lesson learnt from past events.

As many mistakes were made in the past, our society strives to rise above the turmoil and avoid falling in again. Take for example, the infamous 1964 Racial Riots that we have all heard our teachers drone on and on in class during either History or Social Studies lessons. It was a series of riots that took place in Singapore during two separate periods in July and September, between Malay and Chinese groups. In the end, 36 people were killed and 556 were left injured. From that point onward, Singapore learnt a valuable lesson on the importance of securing racial harmony.

That is how we learn.

Experience it all and change what is wrong. History, on the other side, might sometimes not be relevant to our current circumstances. Actions undertaken in the past are heavily influenced by the events proceeding at that time. However as

unpredictable as the future might be, there is a high chance that our society will be experiencing a different condition.

Anything goes, by whatever means, nothing is out of bounds. After all, all is fair in love and war. Therefore our actions in the future might differ greatly from the past, and with that, there is no point dwelling

on history.

Yet history also provides us with a Issue 20

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NATIONAL EDUCATION

Parents Ask, Teens Answer ...Linking teens and parents together

The youth sometimes detaches themselves from the rest of the world, but even more so troubling is when they detach themselves from their roots.

Mr Muhamed from Bukit Batok asks: My teen has always been respectful of his elders and of his tradition. Recently though, he has been having second thoughts about following several timetested traditions and values, saying that times have changed and so should people. How do I impress on him the same values and traditions my parents passed on to me, without sounding too oblivious of what his present values are?

Our new resident counsellor, Ruth Kan, responds to the enquiry. When kids enter the teen years, she says, they often begin pulling away from their parents and their values while simultaneously connecting and identifying more closely with their peers. This process is usually accompanied by a quest for new ways to express their

individuality and assert their personal preferences. Psychologists call this separation and individuation. Not only is it completely normal, but it’s also an important stage for a teen’s journey into maturity.

According to Ruth, our questionsender’s teen is probably going through this stage. Instead of being upset and forcing him to follow those traditions, she says it is important for parents to maintain a strong relationship with the teen and keep the lines of communication open. Our counsellor quotes the words of youth expert Josh McDowell, “Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.”

Hence, Ruth says, parents must make it their priority to find out the teen’s point of view. Parents should ask teens questions and allow them to speak their mind without reacting to it. Parents must let their teens know that you respect their opinion even though parents might not agree with them.

This way, Ruth adds, teens will know that their parents are on their side and they will Issue 20

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I Can Write, So Can You

by Catherine Khoo

How do you write about your childhood escapades? How do you write so that the details come alive in your reader’s mind? Here is an extract from Catherine Khoo’s latest book which gives you a sense of writing for a purpose.

Look within yourself.

The answers are inside you!

Can’t remember when I started lacking in confidence. Could have started when I was ten and played truant. Hey, it wasn’t my fault.

I didn’t do my corrections and decided not to admit it to my English teacher as she was always picking on me. The next day, I was sick and did not attend school. When I returned to school, Anna, my closest friend, blurted, “Die… Mrs Anderson found out it was you who didn’t pass up your corrections. You are going to get it!”

I was terrified. Tell a ten-year-old that her teacher is going to “get you” and she gets all sorts of wild ideas. Will I get sent out of class? Will she tear my exercise book and 48

throw it out of the window? I didn’t know what to do. The assembly bell was about to ring. I let go my satchel and walked out of the hall. I walked down the stairs, hoping not to bump into Mrs Anderson on the way down.

My mind was focused on the fact that I had done something really wrong and I was going to be very seriously reprimanded in front of all my classmates. By a teacher who I felt didn’t like me. Who always picked on me in class.

As I started running my Young Author Scheme in schools, I would find out that some of the teachers I’ve worked with were like Mrs Anderson. They meant well but with a class of 30 students, they would only notice the very

Full article on www.youngreaderclub.sg

...Learning without borders

Self-sufficiency For A Life Of Dignity Part 2 father behind bars. She is at the orphanage for security reasons, because her father’s family is out to get her for revenge.

D.O.T. Founder and social entrepreneur Carrie Tan continues her sojourn of helping young girls and women in India who discovered true empowerment and independence from the shackles of poverty.

Some of the new case stories we heard while we were there were heart-breaking.

There is a new girl at the orphanage– she was 18 years old and she came through Child’s Line– a hotline number to rescue and support victims of child marriage. This young girl was being forced into a marriage by her uncle after her parents passed away. Her uncle had ill intentions to usurp the assets left behind to her and was trying to get rid of her.

Another child, Kavitha, was a 12-month old baby who just arrived a few months ago. Her maternal grandfather brought her because her mother had died of suspected murder by her own husband, and the man was threatening to kill the baby girl too. All this so that he would be free to remarry and receive another sum of dowry. Such is the seeming cruelty of the dowry system.

Peerambhi, another 18-year-old girl lives at the orphanage with her two younger sisters.

She witnessed her father killing her mother, and she testified in court, which put her

Such are the plights and circumstances that commonly befall girls and women in India.

Being economically self-sufficient is the first step to a dignified life for these women. Being able to support them financially alleviates their dependency on others, and their v u l n e r a b i l i t y.

Emotionally and psychologically, only when they start believing in themselves can they start questioning the conditions they are subjected to.

Only when they have a sense of dignity and confidence can they speak up against, and walk away from a family or life situation that oppresses and abuses them. It’s the first step in the long journey, the fruits of which may only bear in the next generation.

However, it’s a step that I have committed to Issue 20

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NATIONAL EDUCATION

Breaking Boundaries

Sheyuan Yeo, 13 Hwa Chong Institution Animal Tales

I am Sheyuan Yeo, currently a Secondary 1 student in Hwa Chong Institution. I started the hobby of writing at the age of nine, but at that time I was not very unique nor good.

However, since Primary 4, I have been continuously reading stories to obtain ideas, and my compositions have then been recognised by my English Language teachers. My story was inspired by my friend, when we shared ‘stories’ of our soft toys, Shu Parl the Duck and Wu Wu the Tiger. The story I have written comprises of those childhood made-up stories.

The Adventures of Shu Parl the Duck and Wu Wu the Tiger Written in Pri 5 at Boon Lay Garden Primary School

Chapter One Shu Parl put on his furry winter hat. He was wearing a pair of woolen gloves. He curled into the oversized puffy red sweater he was wearing. He also wore a yellow jacket. He was flying in a rocket that blasted off from Piyoland. Piyoland was a giant planet created by a star explosion. The main species in Piyoland were the Piyos.

The Piyos were elite because they were immortal. They were also fluffier than normal ducks on Earth. Even though they appeared to have fur, they actually had feathers. The Piyos were semicircular in shape. Piyos were extremely witty and had developed many types of technologies, including aerospace technology. The Piyos were all siblings. A Piyo was born whenever a Piyoland cloud lays an egg, which breaks on the ground upon impact, immediately releasing a Piyo. The three best-known Piyos in Piyoland were Gu Parl the king, Shu Parl the adventurer, and Stu Parl the inventor.

On the rocket next to Shu Parl was Wu

Illustrations by Adeline Lim

Wu, the Tigerland king. Wu Wu was wearing a tight pair of blue and black striped pants. He also wore a plain yellow shirt.

Tigerland was a planet also created in a star explosion. The main species in Tigerland were the Special Tigers. Special Tigers were elite tigers that were immortal. They loved practical jokes. They were the most humorous creatures in the universe. Like the Piyos, they were clever and created very cool technology. Unlike normal tigers which just eat and sleep, Special Tigers used their time more productively, such as converting junkyard items into wonderful inventions. Wu Wu was a Special Tiger.

Aliens swarmed around the rocket.

Two kinds of aliens. Neptune Aliens and Venus Aliens. They knew that Tigerland had a lot of fuel which they urgently need to sustain their civilisation. The trade between the aliens and Tigerland did not work out as Tigerland also needed a lot of fuel just as much. The aliens were also looking for a rare metal called Tigermetal which could only be found in the heart of Tigerland.

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F E AT U R E S

PROFILE

M A tiger can eat up to 400 hamburgers in a night (that’s around 45kg of meat)!

Tigers are ferocious large cats that roam the forests of Asia and Africa as well as the tundra of Russia.

The Siberian tiger is the heaviest of all subspecies, with adult males weighing almost 225kg or more, while the Sumatran tiger is the lightest, with females at around 90kg.

Tigers are territorial by nature, and usually spray urine mixed with scent gland secretions to mark their territory. They can also scratch on tree trunks to mark their territories.

Here are a few other quirky facts about tigers:

M A tiger’s paw prints are called pug marks.

M Tiger cubs are born blind.

M A tiger’s tail can grow up to

a metre long!

M A tiger’s stripes are like a p e r s o n ’s f i n g e r p r i n t s : no two are alike.

Issue 20

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F E AT U R E S

STORY TRIVIA

M Tigers can see in the dark six times better than humans– and they see in colour too! This is due to an adaptation of their eyes which bounces back light into their retina.

CORE 101... Teens’ Voice

By Fiona Tan, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

Today is Tomorrow

I agree that people today still do appreciate and show gratitude towards our forefathers in older generations. Many have lived through the past decades and can recall the hardships and sacrifices made for Singapore during the nation-building era. Even for those who are fortunate enough not to have suffered in that generation, they are generally able to empathise with the trials and tribulations of the period. Youths today are not totally detached from the tumultuous journey that Singapore undertook. In school and at home, the national education curriculum educates students and enriches their notions and views about nation-building.

Singapore indeed has come far. A leading financial hub and commercial centre, Singapore has reported healthy growth and achieved budget surpluses for many years.

With a high per capita income, the population enjoys high standards of living and material wealth.

While Singapore prides itself on these achievements, it attributes these successes not only to good leadership but more importantly, to a hardworking nation– a quality our forefathers have passed down to 64

us. Scenes depicting elderly ‘Samsui’ women, bent-back ‘coolies,’ and factory and production workers continue to be sources of inspiration for local drama and TV serials. We witness the perseverance in their dogged pursuit of a better life and we are inspired to carry on those values. This is the kind of esteem and respect that we hold for the forefathers.

Singapore is not just an apathetic and unfeeling nation. Some people used to think that Singaporeans were not concerned about the country, the way it was run and the policies that were made. They had no interest whatsoever in the politics and governance as long as they had well-paying jobs. This, fortunately, has since changed, with a significant transformation observed in the last general election.

Many more people voiced out their views on a myriad of topics and starting from this year, the Singapore conversations have been generating many constructive feedback, some of which were translated into policies by the government. For example, commuters now

Get that

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Wwhen

you cat these stories ch

e in th Club r e d a e R g n You magazine!

Am I Really Who I Am? by Nur Eva Alisha When Japanese soldiers attacked Singapore, the only way for Ah Mei and Ah Teck to save Mei Lin, their little princess, was to give her up to a Malay family. Melati grew up as a Malay girl, not knowing her true identity until she experienced many encounters related to everything Chinese. She was puzzled until one day she found a shoebox which held many clues. Catch this riveting story that became a part of a best-selling anthology series!

Wandering Souls by Theresa Ellsworth A project depicting the process leading up to a main event is pointless when it simply makes a person feel guilty for choosing the wrong direction. The thing is, it always feels like it is one person’s fault. One wrong decision, and the whole game is over. There is no turning back in real life; everything is a ripple effect. Read this award-winning piece in the next YRC.

P LU S O U R N O T-T O - B E - M I S S E D C O LU M N S A N D DEPARTMENTS: National Education * Singapore Insights * YRC Investigates * CORE 101 * Email From * Breaking Boundaries * Inspirations

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