School’s back, but playtime isn’t over thanks to the annual Raikan Ilmu@Heartlands 2025, back with more buzz and new activities to keep the edutainment spirit going. This free family-friendly festival will take place between 19th-20th July at SAFRA Choa Chu Kang, and 26th-27th July at Northpoint City.
From policeman uniform tryouts and VR aircraft simulations to community batik painting, here’s what went down during the event’s launch at Our Tampines Hub, giving you an idea of what to expect at their showcases in the West and South.
“Raikan Ilmu” means “Celebrating knowledge” in Malay, and that’s made possible thanks to the slew of learning opportunities available, with 49 activities in total across the various activations. This year’s edition even features 1 extra pavilion as compared to Raikan Ilmu@Heartlands 2024, bringing the total to 5 different pavilions:
Other than gaining knowledge, the activities also allow you to gain “stars” – which you can use later to redeem some rewards. The more stars you rack up, the bigger the prize. Some cool rewards to gun for are things like a multi-cable charger, magnet card holder, and even a Raikan Ilmu tote bag. Simply scan the QR code and you’re good to go.
With the number of activities available, it’s natural to feel peckish in the middle of collecting all those stars. Not to worry, as every Raikan Ilmu activation has a free snack station, where you can refuel with treats like popcorn and burgers. Now, let’s dive into the activities you can get up to:
It’s not every day that you get the chance to try out cutting-edge tech, which is found in abundance here at the Future of Learning Pavilion. Over at the Aeroviation booth, strap on the VR goggles to be transported right to the airport runway, where you’ll gently marshal an aircraft to safety.
Just like last year’s edition, you can also act as the pilot and take the wheel yourself to land the aircraft under the guidance of licensed pilots.
It isn’t an understatement to say that podcasts are shaping up to be of the key media formats of the future, and you can experience them firsthand at Berita Harian’s experiential booth. Pop on the headphones, test out the mic, and engage in some playful banter with your buddy like you’re hosting your own show.
As a multicultural society, racial harmony is key to our community. And what better way to reflect that than through community art. At the Kamal Arts booth within the Creative Arts & Culture Pavilion, you’ll get to paint alongside others on a shared canvas.
“Reduce, reuse, recycle” was a common phrase that was drilled into our heads as kids, but what does it look like IRL? Over at the Sustainability and Environment Pavillion, you’ll be taught everything you need to know about the environment, from eco-friendly DIY projects to urban farming workshops.
What caught our eye most was the PlastifySG station, where plastic waste gets recycled into a fully usable item in under a minute. Feed the plastic waste into the Instant Recycling Machine and press as hard as you can to start the process.
The end result is a fully functional carabiner clip that can hold up to 6kg of items. Talk about punching above your weight!
Health is wealth, but you won’t have to spend a single cent trying out the wealth of health checks available here at the Health & Wellness Pavilion. Here, the booths use a mix of advanced technology to test out your wellbeing, all for free. For starters, the body composition analysis by SATA CommHealth not only tells but also teaches you about health metrics like BMI and muscle mass.
We all know that other than physical health, mental well-being is just as, if not more, important. Get in touch with your emotions through Art Therapists’ Association’s therapeutic art workshop, led by trained therapists.
Let’s be real. As kids, many of us dreamt of becoming police or army personnel. Live out that childhood dream of yours over at the Singapore Police Force and MINDEF booths, where you can suit up in official uniforms and walk around like you’re in Crimewatch.
On a more practical level, you can also equip yourself with the knowledge on the latest scam trends of today. After all, prevention is better than cure. There’ll be a scam awareness game to test your street smarts and see if you’re ahead of the curve.
With so many career options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Not to worry, just swing by the Career and Personal Development Pavilion to start sussing out your future career path, even if you’re still in school. After all, it never hurts to be prepared.
Looking for a job is one thing, but landing it is something different altogether. Fortunately, you can sharpen up your interview chops at the NTUC Employment & Employability Institute booth, which utilises an AI chatbot simulator. Plus, it even gives you constructive feedback on your answers, allowing you to know exactly how you can improve.
If you attended Raikan Ilmu @Heartlands last year, you’d know how fun learning can be when done in the right environment. If you haven’t, now is the time to find out.
From 19th-20th July, they’ll be at SAFRA Choa Chu Kang, and from 26th-27th July, you can find them at Northpoint City. The Northpoint City will also host the Career Upgrading and Employability (CUE) Fair from 23rd to 25th July. It features a wide range of job opportunities and career guidance, suitable for every stage of your professional journey.
The booths and activities themselves may vary across the 2 locations, so be sure to check the Mendaki website linked below before you head down. Of course, the event is free for people of all races and ages to enter and participate. After all, celebrating knowledge is way more exciting when you do it with some company.
Admission: Free
Venues & dates: SAFRA Choa Chu Kang 19th-20th Jul | CUE Fair at Northpoint City 23rd-25th Jul | Northpoint City 26th-27th Jul
Time: 10am-8pm
This post was brought to you by Yayasan Mendaki.
Photography by Alvin Wong.
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