Foreword by Chairperson Ariann Khoo (26S06B), Raffles Press ’26

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. If you find yourself pondering over which CE01 to join, or wondering how, as students, we can impact the larger community beyond RI, I was once in your shoes. At a glance, service learning seems vague– something abstractly good but difficult to picture in practice. 

But these CE01 student-initiated projects prove otherwise– not that service learning is easy, but that it is actionable. With a heart for the community and genuine effort, it is possible to leave an imprint.

This is precisely what this year’s special edition theme, With Love, RI, seeks to capture: an appreciation of the ripple effect one can have beyond the biodiversity pond here in Raffles, a collection of letters (or stories) that show how it is possible to touch the lives of others tangibly, one life at a time.

Be it through simple moments of connection with children—such as Project Enjo, which fosters appreciation of STEAM—to efforts aimed at reviving the youth dialect community through Raffles Dialects, or bonding with the elderly through activities like mahjong under Project HongZhong. Beyond the borders of age, some initiatives seek to bridge communities in meaningful ways: reducing “nature illiteracy” through Naturalia, or Oopsie Daisy which promotes mental well-being through horticulture activities at IMH.

This edition explores the many ways Rafflesians engage with communities beyond our own, challenging the tendency towards NIMBYism and the often overlooked assumption that impact must always be large-scale for it to be deemed meaningful. It is an attempt to spotlight the often unseen and quiet forms of service by our students, especially those grounded in care. These are not only a magnifying glass into the behind-the-scenes of our seemingly mundane school life, but also a reminder of the many hands that make these ripples of love possible.

Lastly, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to these articles– these articles would not have been possible without every single student, mentor, organisation, and even you, our readers. Hopefully, while reading these stories, you will discover something new about the student-initiated projects here in RI, and come to see service learning in a different light.

With Love, 

Raffles Press ‘26