Secondary 1 student, Nurfasha Elaisyah Bte Md Khairul, and resident sitting side by side, working on the mosaic.
By Joshua Raynen Lim
To celebrate SG60 and Go Green SG 2025, students from Beatty Secondary School partnered with residents of Toa Payoh West to create something special: Peranakan-inspired mosaics stitched from upcycled school uniforms. But the real beauty wasn’t just in the artwork – it was in the shared journey of learning, leading, and connecting.
Stitching Generations Together
The heart of the project began with a lesson in sewing, led by the Circular Classroom – a local initiative focused on sustainability education through creative reuse and repair. Students, some of whom had never threaded a needle before, were taught how to sew using scraps from old school uniforms. Through this process, they were also introduced to key principles of the circular economy: reusing rather than discarding, repairing instead of replacing, and rethinking how waste can be given new life.
Soon after, it was the students’ turn to take the lead, a shift that built confidence and agency. They guided Toa Payoh West residents through the process of stitching their own mosaics.
It was more than a workshop – it was a bonding session, where generations came together with a shared purpose, and students gained a new outlook on waste management. “Now I think twice before throwing clothes away,” shared Secondary 1 student Gian Zi Han. “I want to donate them or give them new purpose.”
In one corner of the room, a student was seen gently guiding an elderly resident to cut up fabric. It captured a quiet moment of trust and patience – a student listening, teaching, and building bridges between generations.
Sisters, April Lee (left) and Suet Leng Lee (right), working on their mosaics.
Two participants from Toa Payoh West, April Lee and Lee Suet Leng, reflected on how meaningful the experience was. “We haven’t sewn in over 20 years,” April said. “This hands-on experience, especially with the students, really brought back memories and created new ones.” her sister, Suet Leng, added.
Leadership in Action
Beatty Secondary School’s Principal, Harman Johll (right) is learning to sew with a member of The Circular Classroom (middle) and a participant (left).
Even Beatty Secondary School’s Principal, Harman Johll, joined in, stitching his own piece and chatting with participants.
“To me, the measure of success is when students see that what they do in school can transfer to the community as social impacts,” said Mr Johll. “That’s when learning becomes real.”
As Singapore looks to the next 60 years, this stands as a reminder, when generations learn and create together, they can stitch new futures – sustainable, united, and full of pride.
