Singapore, 23 August 2012 – While youth their age are scrambling to get on the Dean's List in school and land jobs in top firms, five undergraduates from the Singapore Management University (SMU) are slowly ticking off their ‘To Dos' from life's bucket list; one of them being to write a book.
The students – Clive Lim, 23; Desiree Chua, 21; and 20-year-old Carylyne Chan, Rachel Koh and Kimberly Loo – who are all from SMU's Lee Kong Chian School of Business, conceptualised and produced the entire book on their own, spurred on by the spirit to do something meaningful for the community. Entitled Past > Present >> Future, the book is a compilation of bucket lists from individuals who have overcome their own personal challenges to live their dreams. In addition to Special Olympian Salihin bin Sinai, the students have also managed to get Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, as well as SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer to pen down inspirational quotes that aim to inspire youth to live life to the fullest.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, whose message in the book encourages youth to enjoy what they do and put their full energy into it, will be launching the book officially at the Li Ka Shing Library in SMU on Tuesday, 28 Aug 2012. Individuals who have contributed to the book will also be present at the launch, as a celebration of the students' efforts over the past 10 months.
Second-year business student, Clive, who spearheaded the project, said: “Writing a book has always been on our bucket list. The process of compiling the book wasn't easy as we had to juggle between school and scheduling interviews. Though we encountered many hiccups along the way, we're all grateful that we managed to pull through and complete the project on time.”
Giving back to the community
The students managed to turn their dream into reality with help from Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC). Under the CDC's Mayor's Imagine Fund, which promotes active citizenry and youth volunteerism, the students received $5,000 in funding for their project. Not content with merely crossing an item off their bucket list, Clive and his team are donating all proceeds from the sales of the book towards Hougang Care Centre, a rehabilitation centre which provides mental health services.
“We are grateful for the funding from Central Singapore CDC and felt strongly that our project will be more meaningful if we could also give back to the community. It did not take a lot of time for us to unanimously decide that we would produce a book to inspire youth, and at the same time donate proceeds from the sales of the book to a beneficiary. The community service ethos is part and parcel of the SMU education and innate in every SMU student's DNA; it is also one of the key motivations behind our decision to write this book,” said Clive.
The team has published 1,000 copies of Past > Present >> Future and released an e-book version as well. The e-book retails at $7.90, while the hard copy is priced at $17.90. Youth below the age of 25 will be able to purchase the book at a special discounted price of $14.90. Interested parties may purchase a copy of the book from Kinokuniya bookstores island-wide, or place an order online at http://tiny.cc/pastpresentfuture .
About Central Singapore Community Development Council
Lying at the heart of Singapore, the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) serves more than 975,000 residents living in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan-Toa Payoh, Moulmein-Kallang and Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), and Whampoa, Radin Mas and Sengkang West Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).
The CDC envisions a self-reliant, vibrant and inclusive Central Singapore District. It works in close partnership with schools, voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), grassroots organisations (GROs), government and commercial agencies to fulfil its mission of assisting the needy, bonding the people and connecting the community.
For more information, please visit http://www.centralsingaporecdc.org.sg .
About Central Singapore Mayor's Imagine Fund
Central Singapore CDC's Mayor's Imagine Fund was launched in 2002 to promote active citizenry among residents and enable community partners to undertake community-related initiatives and projects benefiting residents of Central Singapore District. Funding for projects is available up to 80 per cent of the total project cost or maximum of $5,000 for projects that benefit residents of Central Singapore District.
Jointly issued by SMU and Central Singapore Community Development Council'