Moving forward and New Beginnings – this was the theme of this year’s Charity Arts Night (CAN).

First held in 2019, CAN is a student-led event that celebrates the relationship between arts and service at SJI International, raising funds for a chosen cause by auctioning off pieces produced by our very own Arts students.

The CAN team postponed last year’s supposed event to this year, hoping to host a live event on campus. However, due to the fluctuating COVID-19 measures, the event was officially called off, and the team had to go back to the drawing board.

“We were eventually told that a live event would not be possible due to the recurrence of COVID-19 cases,” said IB Art student Megan, who is also the main organiser of this year’s CAN. “Instead, we organised a week-long event with the theme of Moving Forward and New Beginnings. During this week, students were able to enjoy a range of artworks spanning various media produced by our very own SJI International artists, each showing their unique interpretations of hope.”

Their chosen beneficiary was Today is the Day Singapore (TITDS), a long-time service partner of our school. The organisation provides opportunities for children affected by the Fukushima Daiichi accident to enrol in a programme to visit Singapore called Miracle Kutchie, to relieve their trauma from the disaster. The children visit our school throughout their stay in Singapore, and our students host workshops for them on campus.

The programme has been put to a halt since the onslaught of the pandemic, hence why the CAN team chose TITDS to benefit from all the event proceeds.

“As someone passionate about both the arts and service, I see CAN as a fantastic opportunity that not only allows artists to share their works with a greater audience but also to use their skills to support an important cause. It is also my advocacy to encourage service-learning rooted in one’s passions, and CAN is a prime example of this,” Megan said. 

Despite being in her senior year and juggling the demands of the rigorous IB Diploma Programme, Megan and her team didn’t back down.

“I personally believe that true dedication to service should not stop even when one faces persistent challenges... Moreover,  although the pandemic has made it increasingly difficult to push through with the project, I also knew that during these trying times, the CAN team should work even harder to ensure that this year’s beneficiaries receive the help they need. Besides, giving a new and brighter beginning to the children affected by the Fukushima Incident is always worth going the extra mile for,” she further shared.

As the live auction event was cancelled, the funds they have raised so far were just from one of their mini-events leading up to CAN – a wishing tree photo booth they set up during MADDD (Music, Art, Dance, Drama, Design) Week earlier this year.

To know more about CAN’s chosen beneficiary or make a direct donation to TITDS, visit https://todayistheday-singapore.org/.