Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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RAS clinches Silent Heroes Awards 2016

The Restroom Association (Singapore) says it is proud to have won the Silent Heroes Awards 2016 for the Exponents of Environment Category - the first environmental organisation to clinch the Award, which recognises those who, while being actively involved in environmental efforts and positively making a significant impact on Singapore's society, have largely remained invisible or unrecognised for their efforts.

According to the judging criteria, RAS was selected for its consistent work and success in environment-driven initiatives and its multi-faceted involvement including awareness, fund-raising and education. RAS was also selected for its active role in working with government bodies and institutions to improve policies.

RAS has not gained any significant prior-recognition or awards for such efforts since it was founded in 1998.

Going into its third year, the Silent Heroes Awards was launched by Guest-of-Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary for the Education and Trade and Industry and Mayor of South West CDC.

"It is indeed a privilege for the RAS to receive the Silent Heroes Award," says Ms Tan Puay Hoon, RAS president. "Since founded in 1998, RAS has been working tirelessly... Undaunted by many challenges, we achieved many milestones and launched flagship programmes such as our public toilet-rating Happy Toilet Programme which recently welcomed another tourist attraction - Merlion Park - in its programme.

"Coincidentally, since 2009, RAS also made numerous efforts to recognise many silent or unsung heroes including cleaning attendants with the introduction of the LOO (Let's Observe Ourselves) Awards and presentation of grocery vouchers to cleaning attendants at exhibitions and carnivals.

"Our recognition approach has resonated well with students and for the second time as part of the Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes initiative, a group of Nan Chiau High students raised funds for RAS and organised a carnival not only to educate the public to appreciate the cleaning attendants but also present vouchers and gifts to the attendants.

"Besides reaching out to the public, we also reached out to the preschool sector by setting up a Happy Toilets @ Preschools Programme (HTPP) booth with our partners Adsec Singapore and Universal Sovereign at the Pre-school Environmental Education Advisor (EEA) Networking Session organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA). RAS received great support with more than 20 preschools signing up for the HTPP at the event. Since the launch of the HTTP last year, we have seen a rising trend in preschool participations in less than two years and we strongly believe we are not far from reaching our milestone of 100 preschools by the end of this year.

E: [email protected]
W: www.toilet.org.sg

13th October 2016