The spirit of the season shone brightly at Orchard Central on 27 November as two children from the Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts Programme took center stage at the Heart & Soul Christmas Tree light-up. 10 year old Zikri* and 11 year old Shafira* led the countdown marking a meaningful moment filled with hope.
They were joined by founder of Peace of Art SG and Sustainable Markets SG Mrs Eunice Yeo, Chief Librarian & Chief Innovation Officer of the National Library Board Mr Gene Tan and actor and founder of Grail Skin Lawrence Wong.
Lighting the Tree, Lighting the Future
Embracing the theme of “Lighting the Tree, Lighting the Future”, the Christmas Tree Light-up ceremony was dedicated to the children of the Young Hearts Programme and is part of the 60 Lights, One Future (60 Lights) Campaign.
The 60 Lights campaign unites 60 dedicated individuals—known as the 'Lights'—each committed to raising $6,000. This contribution ensures a child from the YH Programme receives a full year of academic and social support. The campaign aims to raise a total of $360,000.
The Tree of Light & Soul is constructed from 60 resin-coated wooden panels, with each panel symbolising one ‘Light’ supporting the campaign. Each panel is inscribed with well-wishes for the children. The tree will form part of the Heart & Soul’s SG60 Experience, an immersive journey through Singapore's past, present, and future.
Key Highlights and Remarks
The event commenced with opening remarks from Mrs Eunice Yeo, who shared that the 60 Lights movement was directly inspired by the Young Hearts programme and that the event symbolises the community’s care and support in supporting the children in their education and life.
“Being here at Heart and Soul represents the past, present and future of Singapore, this is our way of saying that we care for you, we love you and we are here for you,” Mrs Eunice Yeo said.
Photo: Founder of Peace of Art SG and Sustainable Markets SG Mrs Eunice Yeo speaking about how the 60 Lights movement was inspired by the Young Hearts programme
This was followed by Mr. Gene Tan sharing his appreciation for the Young Hearts Programme, the Peace of Art community, the 60 Lights, and the volunteers. He then elaborated on the vision behind the exhibition, stating that Heart and Soul was designed to promote not just an individual future, but a collective future for all, encouraging attendees to leave the showcase happy about the future they create for each other.
Following the addresses, Mrs Eunice Yeo and Mr Gene Tan commenced the countdown and tree illumination with Lawrence Wong, and 2 of the Young Heart children Zikri and Shafira.
Photo: Chief Librarian & Chief Innovation Officer of the National Library Board Mr Gene Tan sharing about the vision behind the Heart and Soul exhibition.
Gifts for Hope
After the tree was lit up, local actor Lawrence Wong kick-started the next segment, Gifts for Hope, by sharing how small acts of care can change lives. Prior to the ceremony, he went to Sketchers with children from the Young Hearts Programme to personally select new shoes with them. He shared that the shoes were not just a necessity but also symbolised the support and new beginnings the children received, allowing them the opportunity to 'run far in life'.
“You’ll never walk your life alone; you’ll always have us and you’ll always have your friends and family around you. There will always be people with you,” Lawrence Wong added, addressing the children.
Photo: Local actor and founder of Grail Skin Lawrence Wong presenting a pair of Skeechers shoes to a young boy from the Young Hearts Programme
Photo: Three children from the Young Hearts programme sharing their thoughts after receiving Skeechers shoes from local actor and founder of Grail Skin Lawrence Wong. Pictured together in the photo is event emcee Lauren Fleur Yeo (far left).
The Gifts for Hope initiative received three other contributions which were presented to the children as well:
- The Baby Central Back-to-School Kit, presented by Ms Loh Tann Ling, Director of Baby Central, seeks to encourage growth in the children’s learning journey.
- The SōngHè Family Hamper, presented by Mr Jerry Ng, Managing Director of Tong Seng Produce, hopes to bring warmth and nourishment to the home of each child.
- The Zappy Care Hamper, presented by Ms Moh Yan Ting, CEO of Zappy, aims to support each child’s health, hygiene, and protection.
Photo: Ms Loh Tann Ling, Director of Baby Central presenting Baby Central Back-to-School Kit to the children from the Young Hearts Programme. Pictured together in the photo is event emcee Lauren Fleur Yeo (far left).
Photo: Mr Jerry Ng, Managing Director of Tong Seng Produce presenting SōngHè Family Hamper to the children from the Young Hearts Programme
Photo: Ms Moh Yan Ting, CEO of Zappy presenting Zappy Care Hamper, to the children from the Young Hearts Programme. Pictured together in the photo is event emcee Lauren Fleur Yeo (far left).
Anecdotes from the Young Hearts
Beyond the gifts, the true impact of the event was visible in the stories of the Young Hearts themselves.
When asked about this favourite part of the event, Zikri, who was one of the children involved in the countdown, shared that helping to light the Tree of Light & Soul was a highlight for him.
"I was initially nervous doing the countdown, but seeing everyone do the countdown together made me less scared. I'm happy to do it again in the future," said Zikri.
Zikri also enjoyed trying on shoes at Skechers and hopes to use them to play floorball. The fourth of five children in his family, Zikri dreams of becoming a policeman when he grows up because he enjoys helping others. Grateful to the Young Hearts Programme for helping him make more friends, he hopes to go on more excursions with Young Hearts next year. He is also appreciative of the teachers in the programme for allowing him to enjoy what he studies more.
This sentiment was echoed by his fellow peer, Winston*. The 11-year-old, who joined the Young Hearts Programme in 2019, was grateful for the help and support provided by his teachers in the programme, which helped him perform better in school, especially in Science.
Winston shared that he enjoys the activities planned in the programme, as well as the kind teachers and interesting places they visit. Winston, who also had the opportunity to go on stage during the event, said the experience helped him overcome his anxiety and gain confidence. With the support of the programme and the 60 Lights campaign, Winston hopes to learn more about news reporting and aspires to be a journalist when he grows up.
Photo: Children from the Young Hearts Programme and some of the 60 Lights gathering together for a picture after the Tree of Light and Soul was illuminated.
Following the light-up, guests were guided to tour the SG60 Heart & Soul Experience and take reflective selfies at the Tree of Light, bringing the ceremony to a close.
A huge thank you to all the volunteers, staff, and donors for making the Christmas Tree Light Up a success.
*Names have been changed to protect the children’s identities
How You Can Contribute to the Campaign
The Tree of Light and Soul will be at Orchard Central Level 1 (in front of Uniqlo ) till end January 2026.
Be part of something bigger this season of giving and join us in supporting this cause:
- Take a picture with the “The Light in You Mirror” display
- Share your post with the hashtag #60LightsOneFuture and tag @peace.of.art.sg & @sustainablemarkets.sg on Instagram
- City Developments Limited will match a $6 donation to the SRC Young Hearts Programme!
Your support provides vital guidance and encouragement for children like Shafira, Zikir and Winston to thrive!
100% of the donations will be donated to the Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts Programme.
Donate to light a child's future
Photos by Billy Wong, volunteer photogapher