Let the Stars Shine! Students from APSN Singapore Special Education School Convey Inclusiveness and Hope Through Art

On September 25, 2025, the music and dance gala "LET THE STARS SHINE" carefully organized by APSN Singapore Special Education School kicked off warmly at the Indoor Garden of Jinshangyuan in Beijing. Nearly a hundred distinguished guests were invited to attend, witnessing the touching moment when a group of special students shone brightly through art.

Joint Support: A Warm Gathering Prepared "in a Hurry"

At the beginning of the gala, Filiz, Vice President of Jinshang Group, stated, "APSN's important mission of providing education, skills and opportunities for people with special needs is highly aligned with Jinshang Group's philosophy, and we deeply respect and fully support this mission."

William Ding, Co-founder of Starry Singapore and Singapore Bistro, emotionally shared the story behind the preparation of the event. "We only received the invitation to prepare for this event a week ago. This gala is not the achievement of a single individual, but the result of the convergence of many caring forces. Everyone's trust and efforts are the strongest recognition of the children's abilities."

Message from the Ambassador: Building an Inclusive Society with Education as a Bridge

Peter Chan, Singapore's Ambassador to China, made a special trip to the event from the airport and expressed his emphasis on this cross-cultural exchange activity with sincere words. He said that the trip of students from APSN Singapore Special Education School to Beijing is not only an art performance, but also a "construction of a cultural bridge".

"These children came to Beijing with their love for art and passion for life. Every movement and every song they made conveys the achievements of Singapore's special education and enhances the understanding and friendship between the people of China and Singapore," Ambassador Peter Chan mentioned. Singapore has always been committed to promoting the development of special education, and hopes that through such exchange activities, more people will pay attention to the growth of special groups. "As Mr. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore, said, 'It's not "I first", but "we first". The progress of society requires the participation of every individual. Only by helping every person realize their value can we jointly build a more inclusive society.'"

Sharing by the Principal: The "Progressive Growth Path" of Special Students from Campus to Society

"Entering a special education school is never the end of a child's growth, but the starting point of their pursuit of dreams," Ms. Angela Lee, Principal of APSN Chaoyang School, briefly introduced the "full-stage education path" designed by APSN for students with mild intellectual disabilities in her speech.

It is reported that APSN was founded in 1976 and focuses on providing special education, vocational training and employment support for people with mild intellectual disabilities. The two primary schools under its umbrella lay a solid foundation for students in reading, writing and arithmetic. After graduating at the age of 12, students enter two secondary schools, which focus on vocational education, and students can obtain Singapore's WSQ certification. After the age of 16, students receive targeted vocational training to prepare for entering the workplace. "The curriculum will be continuously updated to ensure smooth connection between various stages and adapt to the growth needs of students."

Ms. Angela Lee revealed that currently, more than 85% of students can enter the open job market after graduation, and some can even further their studies in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) of Singapore, polytechnics and even universities. Most of these students work in industries such as hotels, catering, retail and landscaping, and employers praise them for being "serious, focused and having solid skills". In addition, in response to Singapore's aging population trend, the school also trains students in elderly care skills to help them realize their value in more fields.

Art Performance: Writing a "Story of Starlight" with Songs and Dances

In the core part of the evening - the art performance, student representatives from APSN Chaoyang Branch, a Singaporean special education institution, successively performed four carefully arranged songs, conveying emotions and strength with their clear voices. The opening song "Why We Sing" is like a "musical manifesto", expressing the children's love for singing. After the song, prolonged applause broke out on the scene, and many guests stood up to cheer spontaneously.

Subsequently, "Camel and Donkey" conveyed the truth that "love, encouragement and faith can overcome challenges" with its lively melody; "Proud of You" was full of recognition for oneself, peers and life, and every line of singing was full of vitality; the last song "Home" pushed the emotion to a climax and many people quietly wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes.

After the choir session, Li Chuang and Zhang Zhenhao successively gave piano performances. The gentle melody and delicate emotions quieted the scene in an instant, and the guests were immersed in the melodious piano sound, feeling the healing power brought by music.

Later, the children performed two wonderful dances, "Singapura Beat" and "Get Groovy". Integrating elements of Chinese, Malay and Indian songs, the dances vividly demonstrated the cultural integration of Singapore's multi-ethnic society through the combination of traditional dance styles and modern rhythms. The dynamic rhythm and playful movements showed the lively and cheerful side of the children. The guests on site also danced with the children to the rhythm, turning the entire indoor garden into a sea of joy.

As the dance performance came to an end, the gala officially concluded. At the end of the event, Ms. Angela Lee appealed to more enterprises and social forces to pay attention to the growth of special students and provide them with more opportunities for study, work and life.

This "LET THE STARS SHINE" gala is not only a display of APSN's special education achievements, but also a beneficial attempt for educational exchange between China and Singapore in the field of special education, injecting new impetus into promoting the social inclusion of special groups.