RECYCLE RED!

Recycle Red! is a Chinese New Year sustainability initiative by The Bettering Branch, seeking to promote sustainable & eco-conscious habits during Chinese New Year by partnering with Geneco to bring Red Packets Recycling bins to Schools.

Since 2025, we have partnered with 30 schools (including almost all Pre-U schools in Singapore excluding specialised independent schools) to...
- Divert approx. 428,667 red packets from landfills (assuming 1 red packet weighs 3g - total 1286KG collected)
- Avoid about 1543.2kg of CO2 emissions (using a CO2 factor of ~1.2kg CO2 per kg of recycled paper)
- Save ~9,002 litres of water (recycled fibres require significantly less water per tonne, assuming ~7 litres per kg)

We thank Milo, Project Acai, Geneco and all our partners for making Recycle Red! a success thus far! See you in 2027!

Recycle Red! volunteer team Recycle Red! red packet recycling at a partner school Recycle Red! volunteers with collected red packets Recycle Red! recycling drive in a school campus Recycle Red! at Victoria Junior College 2025 Recycle Red! at Yishun Innova Junior College

THE BETTERING RUN

The Bettering Run is our annual community run in support of (YOU)ths becoming better versions of themselves through Health & Sustainability. What began as a 3.5KM run in partnership with Canberra Community Club in 2025 has grown into a recurring initiative! In 2026, we partnered with Pasir Ris Central Community Club and expanded to a 4.5KM route, taking runners from PAssion Wave to Vidacity, a repurposed primary school and sustainability-focused innovation hub.

From 200 participants in our first year to nearly 400 in 2026, The Bettering Run continues to grow! We are grateful to our Guests-of-Honour — Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Member of Parliament for Canberra (Sembawang GRC) in 2025, and Ms Indranee Rajah, Second Minister of National Development and Finance in 2026 — for their support.

The Bettering Run strives to be a zero waste event by opting out of traditional stage & tentages (2026), digitalising vouchers and stamp cards, sourcing secondhand decorations and reusing everything!

The Bettering Run 2025 runners and volunteers The Bettering Run 2025 participants The Bettering Run 2025 event scene The Bettering Run 2025 group
The Bettering Run 2026 at Pasir Ris Haute Glu at The Bettering Run 2026 Participants at The Bettering Run 2026 Runners at The Bettering Run 2026

THE GUIDING LIGHTS: ACADEMIC TUTORING FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLERS

The Guiding Lights is a collective of weekly academic tutoring, mentorship and befriending programmes across Singapore, started by The Bettering Branch to aid the social & cognitive development of primary schoolers.

Each project is attached to one centre and named after 'Guiding Lights' as we hope to be the beacons, lighthouses and pharos' for the kids!

Beginning with our pilot project/centre, Project Lighthouse in partnership with Sunshine Club Student Care Centre (near Bedok MRT) in 2025, we have now expanded and scaled to include 2 new centres/projects in 2026!
- Project Beacon for Pearl Care Centre (near Riviera/Coral Edge LRT)
- Project Pharos for Super Talent Student Care (near Punggol MRT)

As of our last count, over 80 academic tutoring sessions have been conducted across all three projects/centres since 2025!

Project Lighthouse tutoring session at Sunshine Club Student Care Centre Project Lighthouse tutoring worksheet Project Beacon tutoring session at Pearl Care Centre

FOOD DELIVERY TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS & FAMILIES

We partner with Bethesda Care Services to organise food delivery sessions to homebound seniors & families in the East! These sessions also involve wellbeing check-ins with the families & allows them access to nutrition despite physical immobility or sensory impairments (Vision/Hearing).

Volunteers on a food delivery session, June 2025 Volunteers delivering food to homebound seniors Food delivery volunteers with Bethesda Care Services Food delivery volunteer group photo

SUSTAINABLE SINGAPORE GALLERY FLAGSHIP EVENT

We work with Mastereign and the Sustainable Singapore Gallery to facilitate tours inside the gallery and conduct eco-friendly activities for the public during flagship events: Earth Day 2026, Tides of Tomorrow Festival 2025, Reimagine 2025, National Day 2025 & 2026

Sustainable Singapore Gallery flagship event, photo 1 Sustainable Singapore Gallery flagship event, photo 2 Sustainable Singapore Gallery flagship event, photo 3 Sustainable Singapore Gallery flagship event, photo 4 Sustainable Singapore Gallery event, June 2025 Team sharing about sustainable energy at the Sustainable Singapore Gallery

MONTHLY COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS

We organise monthly community clean ups to do our part to keep Singapore green & clean.

But our clean ups aren't just a way for youths to help protect our coasts, they also serve as a third space to destress in nature + meet new friends from different schools, supporting youth mental health.
- From curated playlists while cleaning to mini games like 'which team can fill their first bucket the fastest', we keep things at our cleanups fun and never dull!

During our cleanups, we borrow tongs and buckets from the National Environment Agency (NEA)'s Cleanpod. We are grateful to NEA for sharing their resources with us!

Volunteers at a beach cleanup Pasir Ris Beach Cleanup Group Photo: Over 60 Volunteers! 3 volunteers cleaning the beach diligently
Beach cleanup from August 2026

Cleanup from 10th March 2024

East Coast Park July 2026 cleanup, sorting recyclables

Sorted out, to be recycled, from the trash we collected!

Volunteers at the July 2026 beach cleanup

Cleanup from 26 July 2026

PROGRAMMES FOR MIGRANT DOMESTIC WORKERS

We work with Brahm Centre to assist with their OMEGA (Oasis for Mindful Enrichment, Growth, and Advancement) program for Migrant Domestic Workers. The programs focus on both conducting activities to boost wellbeing and mental wellness education for Migrant Domestic Workers.

Wellbeing activity for migrant domestic workers, photo 1 Wellbeing activity for migrant domestic workers, photo 2 Wellbeing activity for migrant domestic workers, photo 3 Wellbeing activity for migrant domestic workers, photo 4 Wellbeing activity for migrant domestic workers, photo 5 Wellbeing activity for migrant domestic workers, photo 6

WAVES OF HOPE MENTAL HEALTH CARNIVAL

We worked with Ascending Hope Community Services to organise their 10th Anniversary mental wellness carnival, promoting mental wellness and active aging for seniors!

Waves of Hope mental wellness carnival, photo 1 Waves of Hope mental wellness carnival, photo 2

APSN Student Care Centre Excursions

Our volunteers accompany children with special needs (aged 7 to 14) from the student care centre at APSN (Association for Persons with Special Needs) for their excursions! Together, we have visited The Floor is Lava @ Changi Airport, Hay Dairies Goat Farm & Taoz Pottery studio.

Unfortunately, we are unable to share any photos to maintain the privacy of the children.

ARTS & CRAFTS WITH KIDS

We organise arts & crafts workshops for kids to help develop their motor skills & creativity, as well as provide them an afternoon of fun and learning!

Our workshops always try to incorporate elements of sustainability because we believe eco-friendly habits start young!

Arts and crafts workshop with kids Arts and crafts workshop with kids, June 2025 Sticker making with kids Kids crafting at an arts and crafts workshop Activities with kids at a workshop Slime making with kids

STREET SALES FUNDRAISER

We collaborated with Project Joey to help fundraise for SHINE Children & Care Services by selling crochet flowers, coasters and ribbon flowers to the public. We raised more than 2.5K together!

Project Joey street sales fundraiser Project Joey and The Bettering Branch sales collaboration

SENIOR LUNCHEONS

We organise and conduct activities for seniors during Fengshan Community Club’s Saturday Senior Luncheons!
Some activities include...
- Designing mini canvas bags (Canvas is preferred material for the environment due to its ability to biodegrade!)
- Designing Fridge Magnets
- Bingo sessions
- Making DIY pen holders using recycled plastic bottles & yarn

We often try to integrate sustainable practices/use eco-friendly materials in these activities because we believe sustainability should be practiced anywhere, anytime!

Seniors luncheon arts activity, April 2026 Seniors luncheon at Fengshan Community Club, 2025 Seniors luncheon activity, March 2025 Seniors luncheon at Fengshan Seniors luncheon group photo, March 2026 Seniors luncheon, June 2025

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

We partner with Social Service Agencies to help out with their community outreach, ensuring the wellbeing of at-risk communities in Singapore.

Community outreach in collaboration with Brahm Centre The Bettering Branch team at a community outreach event

SENIOR BEFRIENDING SESSIONS

We work with Active Aging Centres, Elderly Nursing Homes and communities to organise activities where our youth volunteers befriend seniors through games and intergenerational conversations.

Nanyang Poly and Yishun Innova students chatting with a senior Senior befriending at Bright Hill Evergreen Home Playing games with seniors

Activities with Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

Our volunteers engage with Persons with Disabilities & their caregivers through a variety of activities including Board Games, Bowling, Boccia and more!

Unfortunately, we are unable to share any photos to maintain the privacy of the PwDs.

FLEA MARKET FUNDRAISER

We conducted fundraising, selling preloved items like books & clothes in an effort to promote sustainability and a circular economy at the Sembawang GRC National Day Observance Ceremony & Fun walk!

All funds collected went to The Bettering Branch's future activities.

Flea market fundraiser stall with preloved items Volunteers at the flea market fundraiser

BONUS! COLLABORATION WITH BYTEPENGUIN

We collaborated with BytePenguin, a fellow youth-led initiative that helps charities build websites, in 2025 to bring this website to life! We are incredibly grateful to everyone on the BytePenguin Team who has contributed their time, skills and effort to helping us build this site. Our core team has since taken over maintenance of the site.

The BytePenguin team

YOUTH4YOUTH TALKS

We share more about The Bettering Branch's story, how youths can make an impact & the importance of empathy in today's society.

Raean Cheong gives a talk to a lecture theatre of 200+ students


Speaking to students about how The Bettering Branch came to be, how students could start their own social impact initiatives and what it means to make a meaningful impact on society as a student.

Raean Cheong speaking to students at PLMGS (200+ students)


Sharing with secondary school students how The Bettering Branch organised The Bettering Run, a zero-waste logistics community event, despite never having done anything similar before, and early failures when building The Bettering Branch.

CLIMATE ADVOCACY & EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

We head to events all across the nation to spread the word about specific climate issues and how individuals can take action against it.

Raean Cheong and Carissa Sim at Singapore's locally hosted event in support of Global Fashion Revolution Week spreading awareness about fashion sustainability in Singapore


At The Wasteless Utopia, an event held in conjunction with Global Fashion Revolution Week, we were invited to share more about Fashion Sustainability Policies in Singapore (or rather the lack of them!!!) with the public. Additionally, to tie in with the “Think Globally, Act Locally” theme for 2025, we also shared about how Singapore's Sustainability Policies compared with the UK, US & EU.

The Bettering Branch Team Raean Cheong, Carissa Sim and Belinda Koh spreading awareness to the public about the 2026 Year of Climate Adaptation.


In Support of Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability & the Environment's Go Green Movement, we were invited to the Youth4Climate Festival to share more about Climate Adaptation, the 3 key pillars in Singapore, Singapore's first National Adaptation Plan + climate policies (& how they compare to our SEA neighbours).

Raean Cheong and Carissa Sim share with the public more about sustainable energy and Singapore's role in the green transition as a small country at the Sustainable Singapore Gallery


At the Sustainable Singapore Gallery Flagship Event, our team researched sustainable energy policies to break down and share with the public! In particular, we spoke about how Singapore contributes to the global sustainable energy scene with its unique energy policies due to its export-dependent economy & small land size.

SCHOOL OUTREACH

We visit schools to share with students more about The Bettering Branch's story, our opportunities and more!
Send us an email at thebetteringbranch@gmail.com if you want us to visit your school!

Founding members Kwan Hweesan and Thun Soe conducting outreach at Jurong Pioneer Junior College Green Bazaar The Bettering Branch Team at TMJC's VIA Fair/TM Connects Conducting outreach at Victoria Junior College's Values In Action Fair

VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Our outreach goes beyond Singapore's borders! We collaborated with Pangea Kids Burbank from California, USA to create an informative Instagram post in order to raise awareness for the current health, human rights and human trafficking concerns in Vietnam. We also did an interview with Seedshift, a youth project supported by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education, to support their programs.

INFOGRAPHIC POSTS ON INSTAGRAM

As part of our mission to empower youths with empathy through education, we post bite-sized educational infographic posts on social & environmental issues.