By Joshua Raynen Lim
Students from Raffles Institution, Bowen Secondary School, North Vista Secondary School, Sengkang Secondary School, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School and Xinmin Secondary School, joined forces for a beach clean-up at Changi Beach Park in support of Go Green SG.
The initiative was supported by Green Nudge, a local enterprise that advocates for sustainability through education and community engagement. Before the clean-up began, Green Nudge briefed the students on common types of litter found on the beach and explained how litter can hurt our environment and harm wildlife.
Mohamad Shafi, from Bowen Secondary, was ready to do his part. “I think it’s important to protect and care for the environment. If it’s not us, then who will do it?”
Facing the Big Tasks Together
The beach cleanup was not without challenges: At one point, a group of students huddled around a tangled mass of marine debris. Sweat clung to their brows as they crouched low, hands and fingers sore from pulling. Every yank and tug took coordination, effort, and persistence to dislodge the debris from the sand.
Students demonstrating teamwork as they remove a large plastic bottle.
Elsewhere on the beach, another team of students gathered to remove a plastic bottle that was half-buried. Bit by bit, the students worked in tandem to dislodge the stuck bottle.
These moments captured the spirit of the day – that real change happens when people work together. Ang Yi Xiang Brandon, from Xinmin Secondary, said seeing everyone pitching in to remove litter helped him realise that more can be achieved when working together.
More Than a Clean-Up
This beach clean-up was not a one-off event. It was part of a broader boarding programme by Raffles Institution to mould students into proactive citizens through instilling environmental stewardship in their students. “Schools should have a vested interest [in this matter] so they can make more considerate and thoughtful decisions.” Ruth Ong Wei Lin, Raffles Institution Boarding Mentor, said.
Through the support of Green Nudge and the collaboration between schools, this beach clean-up became a living classroom – where teamwork, civic and environmental responsibility were taught through real-world action.
By the end of the day, Changi Beach Park was visibly cleaner. But the bigger transformation happened within the students themselves. Keith Ang from North Vista Secondary, hoped that this activity would inspire more to join the environmental movement. “I think we can inspire others by sharing our experience and showing them that it is actually easy and fun to Go Green!” Events like this are the heart of Go Green SG 2025.
Changi Beach Park is cleaner today, thanks to these students. But more importantly, Singapore is stronger because of the values they embody.
