On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Raffles Ecological Literacy
(Eco-Lit) Programme
Congratulations to Raffles Leadership Institute (RLI) on the 10th anniversary of the Ecological Literacy (Eco-Lit) Programme! For 10 years, the Eco-Lit Programme has provided students with the opportunity to explore the outdoors and gain a deep understanding of the rich biodiversity in our natural environment. Many students have benefitted from this programme by developing their sense of wonder and curiosity about nature, and sharing these learnings in books for the benefit of their peers.
To-date, 22 children’s story books on our environment have been published under Eco-Lit, written and drawn by students from Raffles Institution. These books feature animals found in Singapore, making them relatable and relevant to our young readers. This year, the students are publishing three more books –
Crisis in the Crabital, The Sea Slug Who Could Cook, and
No Nest Like Home.
This programme has been valuable on many fronts. First, it promotes Singapore’s biodiversity and heritage to our young. Our pre-school and primary school children have learnt much from reading about our local biodiversity through these books. Second, our young writers and illustrators are able to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the environment through their research. In fact, past participants in the programme have gone on to study and work in fields related to the environment, and some have become strong advocates for our natural environment.
This need for ecological literacy must be nurtured from a tender age especially as we work towards a more sustainable future. I hope parents, too, will take time to read through these books with their children. The Eco-Lit series of books are available at our public libraries and now online too, giving everyone with access to the internet to read and learn about the beauty of Singapore’s natural environment.
My deepest appreciation to our young authors and illustrators, as well as our educators and mentors for coming together to co-create this valuable picture book series over the last decade.
Mr Desmond Lee
Minister for National Development
Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration
Message by Mr Frederick Yeo, Principal of Raffles Institution
This year 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Raffles Ecological Literacy (Eco-Lit) Programme’s Book Project Initiative. Raffles Institution would like to thank Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, for supporting this year’s Eco-Lit storybook launch with his congratulatory message to our students, in conjunction with the 10th anniversary.
Since its inception in 2010, successive batches of passionate Eco-Lit Rafflesians have been involved in the annual Book Project exploring the multifaceted aspects of Singapore’s rich biodiversity and sharing our amazing local flora and fauna with children through creative storybooks. To ensure the authenticity of the environmental narratives in the storybooks, our students had immersed themselves in an experiential journey of learning and discovery, through field trips to nature hotspots across Singapore, engaging nature enthusiasts and experts on various topics of environmental interests, and embarking on overseas study trips to deepen their understanding of environmental conservation in other communities. They also self-learnt storybook illustration techniques and the crafting of children narratives, so that important environmental messages could be effectively communicated through their storybooks. The product of their laudable effort - Eco-Lit storybooks for children that are presented in a humorous and creative way, yet undergirded by important messages of environmental conservation.
At the Eco-Lit storybook launch each year, the team comprising current students and alumni would collaborate with the National Library Board (NLB) in organising storytelling sessions and craft activities for children. Past book launch titles, such as
You Been to Ubin?, The Adventures of Max and Ritchie, Monkey Business, I Will Be Clean, and
Little Backyard Tales of MacRitchie, had all evoked warm memories of places in Singapore some of us might sometimes take for granted.
Due to COVID-19 this year, a physical launch is not possible. Notwithstanding this, the school is pleased to commend and support our Eco-Lit students in the e-launch of this year’s storybook titles -
No Nest Like Home, Crisis in the Crabital and
The Sea Slug Who Could Cook. Through the e-launch, our 2020 batch of Eco-Lit students have demonstrated their steadfast commitment in ensuring that important messages of environmental conservation continue to reach as many children as possible, regardless of the challenges of COVID-19. These storybooks will be gifted to all primary schools in Singapore; copies will also be made available at the children’s section of the National Library. We hope the children will enjoy reading the storybooks and the accompanying illustrations.
Mr Frederick Yeo
Principal
Raffles Institution
The Students' Eco Lit Journey (2019-2020):