The Sustainable Christmas Market 2024 was more than a festive event. It was a heartwarming celebration of community, environmental and social sustainability and the spirit of giving. Held at South Beach on 16 and 17 November, the fundraiser, spearheaded by Mrs Eunice Yeo of the Peace of Art, raised more than $370,000 for the Singapore Red Cross' (SRC) Young Hearts programme. This empowers children from vulnerable backgrounds to surmount life's challenges and achieve their full potential. 

Event Highlights

Featuring over 150 booths, more than 30 performances, and 30 workshops across six thematic zones, the Sustainable Christmas Market 2024, in its third iteration, showcased Singapore's vibrant culture and commitment to environmental and social sustainability, and a celebration of the 'Kampung Spirit'. It had interwoven the tapestry of our rich Kampung heritage steeped in traditions with modern sustainability as it championed green living in aid of children from less privileged families. Ms Denise Phua, Mayor of Central Singapore District, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour at the opening ceremony on 16 November while Mr Vikram Nair, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC graced the closing ceremony on 17 November.

Mrs Yeo kicked off the event with a welcome address, this was followed by a speech by Singapore Red Cross Secretary General / CEO, Mr Benjamin William, and a speech by Ms Phua, Mayor of Central Singapore District. 

Sustainability in Action

Sustainable Christmas Market 2024 was a community-driven, ground-up initiative that rallied the support of over 250 stakeholders from various sectors. It exemplified Singapore's commitment to sustainability and the community. The event leveraged upcycled and reused materials such as discarded pallets, and GITI tyres for the set-up. Attendees were encouraged to bring their own bags to generate zero waste. Composting and recycling sites were designated for waste. These collective efforts mitigated the environmental impact.  

Spanning 50,000 square feet at South Beach, the Sustainable Christmas Market 2024 was segmented into different zones; Kampung Kitchen and Green Marketplace, KIDSforKIDS Village & Carnival, Active Earth Challenge, Generations for Green Exhibitions, and Changemakers Lab & Kampung Christmas Portraits. 

Shopping for a Good Cause

The Sustainable Christmas Market 2024 was a bustling hive of activity. People from all walks of life gathered in solidarity for a good cause. 

Proceeds of the event were channelled to provide academic support, enrichment activities and mentorship to the children and youth of the SRC's Young Hearts programme, many of whom live in challenging circumstances. The contributions of patrons, sponsors, and supporters uplift the lives of young children, enabling them to navigate intergenerational vulnerability, unleash their full potential and advance in life. The Sustainable Christmas Market was targeted at amplifying the visibility and reach of Young Hearts, to champion its expansion by supporting more children and youth in the community.  

There was something for everyone; from beauty and well-being products to homeware, from knick-knacks to books, from plants to pastries, patrons were poring over the items on display at the booths, piqued by curiosity at the varied offerings that captured their attention or tugged at their heartstrings. Staying true to its theme, The Sustainable Christmas Market 2024, a carbon-neutral event, provided a platform to chart a greener future with eco-friendly products that blended the wisdom of the past with the innovations of today, and sustainable food and conscious activities for a good cause. The torrential rain in the afternoons over the weekend did little to dampen the patrons' spirits.

Some stalls were helmed by children, providing a platform for young children to become compassionate changemakers who run their businesses to fundraise for less privileged children of SRC's Young Hearts programme. They leveraged their creativity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and youth in need.

Sustainable Workshops

Besides the signature bazaar, the Sustainable Christmas Market featured specially curated workshops. Patrons engaged in hands-on activities that unleashed their artistic or patisserie flair, creating handicrafts from scratch, weaving Christmas wreaths, baking festive gastronomical delights for their families, or exercising to burn calories. 

Showcasing their Talents for a Good Cause

Throughout the weekend, 24 teams of local talents took the stage with their music, dance and cultural performances, enthralling the audience with their melodious vocals, musical inclinations, and dexterous and well-choreographed dance moves. Dim Sum Dollies presented a specially curated act and participated in a Dunkin' Dollies charity dunk tank. Some of the performers included Barreworks Ballet, D'Gymnastique Academy, Jessica Music School, and Victoria Chorale.

Celebrity host, actor, and model, Mr Paul Foster, engaged the patrons with his charismatic persona as the Master of Ceremonies at the event. Local influencers Tjin Lee, Andrea Chong, and Patrick Grove lent their popularity to canvass for support for the Sustainable Christmas Market. 

Singapore Red Cross would like to thank Ms Eunice Yeo of Peace of Art for championing The Sustainable Christmas Market 2024 to fundraise for the SRC's Young Hearts Programme, all the stallholders for their tireless contributions, the sponsors, patrons, donors, and supporters for uplifting the lives of young children and youth in our community. 

Photos by James Tan, Lai Wei Song, Allan Tee, Vu Nguyen and Tay Han Yang, volunteer photographers