It all began in the 60s, in a time when most families lived in villages called “kampongs” and children playing out in the open was a common scene. On rainy days, “longkangs” (the Malay word for drains) surrounding the kampongs would be flooded with water and schools of tiny fishes would swim in them. Filled with curiosity, excitement and a spirit for friendly competition, children would bring empt
y jam bottles to see who catches the highest number of fishes. As time went by and more and more kampongs were demolished to make way for urban redevelopment, this favourite hobby of many children quickly became forgotten. This inspired us with an idea to allow today’s generation of children to relive the fun and excitement of longkang fishing, and at the same time, to develop their thinking and creative skills. Since 1997, we have brought more than a decade of fun and enjoyment to many pre-school and primary school students. Through our hands-on outdoor learning activities, we have helped students widen their knowledge and improve their creative thinking as they strategise how to catch the fishes in our custom-built longkangs with just a small net and a bucket. Working together with schools, we are able to plan and conduct learning journeys that
are related to the school’s requirements. Here at Pasir Ris Kids’ Kampong, our children of today can experience the fun that our older folks have enjoyed in the past - and yet pick up critical life skills and experiences that can never be taught in textbooks or through computer games.
