A Day of Games, Laughter and Giving Back at Geylang East

A Report by CYS Global Remit Digital Media Marketing Team

Saturday mornings at CYS usually start a little later.

But on 29 August, the team was already up and about by 9am, ready for a different kind of weekend activity.

As part of CYS’ bi-quarterly CSR initiative, the team headed down to NTUC Health Nursing Home (Geylang East) for a carnival-style day filled with games, karaoke, colouring, bingo, ice cream and plenty of laughter.

The mission was simple: spend the day with the beneficiaries, have some fun, and hopefully leave everyone with a few happy memories.

Let the Games Begin!

After gathering in the morning, CYS volunteers quickly got into position. Some took on the role of befrienders while others manned the various carnival booths.

With around 40 beneficiaries taking part in two waves, the venue soon became a lively little carnival.

The first group of 20 beneficiaries arrived and went straight into game mode.

There was Colour Catch, where participants had to put their throwing skills to the test by aiming balls into the right holes. Then came the Stick Stack Challenge, requiring plenty of patience and a steady hand to pick up a stack of sticks without disturbing the others.

The Cup Pull Challenge brought another kind of challenge. Participants had to pull cups towards themselves using the provided setup—without letting them fall off the table.

And those were just some of the games available.

The best part was seeing everyone getting increasingly competitive, cheering each other on and celebrating every successful attempt. The volunteers may have been running the booths, but before long, they were just as invested in the games as the participants.

Six Colours to Victory

There was also a little reward system to keep everyone going.

Every time a beneficiary successfully completed a booth, they received a colourful ice cream stick. The objective? Collect all six different colours.

Once all six were collected, they could exchange them for a coupon to redeem snacks from the snack booth.

It turned the carnival into a mini treasure hunt, with everyone keeping an eye out for the colours they still needed.

From Carnival to Karaoke

Once the first wave completed the carnival, the fun continued in another room.

The beneficiaries were treated to karaoke, bingo and colouring activities, giving everyone a chance to relax and enjoy themselves at their own pace.

While the first group was singing, colouring and playing bingo, the second wave of beneficiaries was already making its way down to the carnival.

And just like that, the games started all over again.

Different faces, same energy.

The CYS volunteers found themselves repeating instructions, cheering on participants and sharing plenty of laughs throughout the day.

Ending the Day on a Sweet Note

After the activities came to an end, everyone gathered for a closing speech and words of appreciation.

But there was one final surprise.

CYS had prepared additional goodie bags for the beneficiaries, giving everyone something to bring home after a morning of games and activities.

It was a simple gesture, but a fitting way to close a meaningful day.

What started at 9am with volunteers taking their assigned positions ended with plenty of smiles, conversations and new memories.

For the CYS team, it was more than just a Saturday spent volunteering. It was an opportunity to step away from the usual work routine, connect with the community and enjoy some genuine moments of laughter and joy together.

Giving Back, Together

CSR is not always about making grand gestures. Sometimes, it is simply about showing up, spending time with others and making someone's day a little brighter.

At CYS, we believe that giving back is part of being a responsible member of the community. Through our ongoing CSR initiatives, the team continues to find meaningful ways to contribute, connect and make a positive difference.

CYS continues to believe in building more than connections across borders. We believe in building stronger connections within the communities around us.

And sometimes, the best way to do that is with a few games, a microphone, a good laugh—and plenty of ice cream sticks.