Exploring Mindfulness and Community: SIMBB’s Kong Meng San Temple Tour

Exploring Mindfulness and Community: SIMBB’s Kong Meng San Temple Tour

Exploring Mindfulness and Community: SIMBB’s Kong Meng San Temple Tour

The SIM Buddhist Bhavana (SIMBB) 19th Committee kicked off its term with its first event, a temple tour at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery on 17 August 2026. Designed to introduce students to the monastery and Buddhist practices, the event brought participants together for an afternoon of exploration, learning, and bonding.

The day began with icebreakers such as Two Truths and One Lie and a Hobby Guessing Challenge, giving participants a fun and relaxed way to get to know one another. This was followed by a guided temple tour, where participants explored significant areas around the monastery and learnt more about their meaning and connection to Buddhist teachings.

Putting their newfound knowledge to the test, participants then took on the Temple Run Challenge. Working in teams, they navigated the monastery to locate different landmarks, encouraging teamwork, communication, and plenty of friendly competition.

The day concluded with a Dhamma Talk by Venerable Chuan Sheng, who shared about the impermanent nature of life and the importance of maintaining a positive and mindful mindset when facing challenges. Participants also took part in a short meditation session before ending the day over a light meal at the Zen Café.

As the first event organised by the 19th Committee, the temple tour provided a meaningful start to the new term, giving students the opportunity to discover more about Buddhist practices, form new friendships, and experience mindfulness in an engaging and welcoming environment.

Stay connected with us

“Little Hearts, Big Love”: UOBSC’s Valentine’s Outreach for Children and Migrant Workers

“Little Hearts, Big Love”: UOBSC’s Valentine’s Outreach for Children and Migrant Workers

“Little Hearts, Big Love”: UOBSC’s Valentine’s Outreach for Children and Migrant Workers

What does love look like beyond romance? For the SIM-UOB Student Council (UOBSC), it meant bringing together students, preschoolers, and migrant workers through acts of kindness, gratitude, and compassion.

As part of UOBSC’s annual charity programme, the Valentine’s-themed initiative aimed to both support migrant workers and nurture empathy in younger generations through a meaningful two-part outreach programme.

The initiative began with preparations by UOBSC members, who designed thank-you cards, packed welfare items, and planned activities for the outreach. These efforts reflected the council’s commitment to creating a thoughtful and impactful experience for all participants.

In the first part of the programme, UOBSC members conducted interactive storytelling and games with kindergarten 2 children from Little Skool-House at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Through these activities, the children learned about gratitude, empathy, and the contributions of migrant workers in Singapore. The session ended with the children creating heartfelt handmade cards to express their appreciation.

The club also continued its focus on compassion through initiatives such as Generations in Creation at Punggol Nursing Home, where members spent time with elderly residents through games, activities, and shared meals.

These cards were later included in Carepacks distributed to migrant workers in the second part of the outreach. In collaboration with ItsRainingRaincoats, UOBSC prepared care packs containing daily essentials and nutritious snacks to support the workers’ well-being.

Both preschoolers and UOBSC members took part in separate distribution sessions, where they had the opportunity to personally thank migrant workers for their contributions. Through these interactions, the initiative sought not only to provide practical support, but also to create meaningful moments of connection and recognition.

Overall, the outreach impacted over 100 migrant workers and involved 37 preschool participants, strengthening community compassion across different generations and backgrounds.

More importantly, the initiative served as a reminder that love goes beyond Valentine’s Day, it is a value rooted in kindness, empathy, and shared humanity that can be practiced throughout the year.

Stay connected with us

A Year of Connection, Compassion, and Growth with SIM Buddhist Society

A Year of Connection, Compassion, and Growth with SIM Buddhist Society

A Year of Connection, Compassion, and Growth with SIM Buddhist Society

Over the past academic year, the SIM Buddhist Society (SIMBB) organized a meaningful series of activities that brought members together through friendship, mindfulness, volunteering, and personal growth.

The year began with the Vesak Day Volunteering Event at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, where members collaborated with other university Buddhist societies to assist the public with lantern-folding activities. The event encouraged compassion while strengthening bonds across Buddhist communities in Singapore.

SIMBB also organised bonding and sharing sessions such as “Balance in Every Step”, where members reflected on the Buddhist concept of the middle way through interactive games and discussions led by spiritual advisor Sister Sujata. This was followed by the club’s Welcoming Party, which featured bonding activities and a temple tour that helped members build stronger friendships within the community.

Beyond spiritual learning, members attended workshops such as “Purposeful Connection in a Noisy World”, where they learned communication and presentation skills that can be applied in both personal and professional settings.

The club also continued its focus on compassion through initiatives such as Generations in Creation at Punggol Nursing Home, where members spent time with elderly residents through games, activities, and shared meals.

Other highlights included a temple tour collaboration with Fo Guang Shan and NUS Buddhist Society, as well as a fun-filled bonding game night that allowed members to relax and connect with one another.

The year concluded with AGM 2026, marking the transition from the 18th Committee to the 19th Committee while celebrating the meaningful memories, friendships, and experiences shared throughout the year.

Through its various activities, SIMBB continues to foster a welcoming community where members can practice compassion, strengthen relationships, and grow together both personally and spiritually.

Stay connected with us

SIM Boxing: Building Strength, Discipline, and Community Through the Sweet Science

SIM Boxing: Building Strength, Discipline, and Community Through the Sweet Science

SIM Boxing: Building Strength, Discipline, and Community Through the Sweet Science

Since its establishment in 2025, SIM Boxing Club has been steadily building a passionate and welcoming boxing community within SIM. Open to students of all experience levels, the club provides an inclusive space for both complete beginners taking their first steps into boxing and individuals looking to sharpen their skills in a more structured environment.

With boxing continuing to grow in global popularity—through legendary icons such as Muhammad Ali, modern champions like Naoya Inoue, and the rise of influencer boxing—the sport has captured the attention of a new generation of athletes and fans alike. SIM Boxing Club offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the “sweet science” while balancing fitness, discipline, and enjoyment.

Under the guidance of experienced trainers, members train in a safe, structured, and supportive environment designed to develop both technical skills and personal growth. Sessions focus on building strong boxing fundamentals, including proper punching techniques, defensive movements such as slips and weaves, and effective footwork.

Beyond the physical aspect of the sport, members also cultivate valuable life skills such as perseverance, resilience, discipline, and teamwork. At its core, boxing is not just about throwing punches, it is about strategy, self-control, and embracing the philosophy of “to hit and not get hit.”

Whether students are looking to stay active, challenge themselves, or simply try something new, SIM Boxing Club provides a welcoming platform to learn, grow, and be part of a supportive sporting community.

Stay connected with us

Training with a Champion: A Story of Inspiration, Collaboration, and Growth

Training with a Champion: A Story of Inspiration, Collaboration, and Growth

Training with a Champion: A Story of Inspiration, Collaboration, and Growth

What began as a collaboration idea soon became a defining moment for the SIM Taekwondo community, one that brought students face-to-face with excellence at the highest level.

On 19 March, SIM Taekwondo Club welcomed two-time Olympic gold medalist Panipak Wongpattanakit, fondly known as “Tennis”, alongside Thai national athlete Ramnarong Sawekwiharee, for a special training session held right here at SIM.

For many student-athletes, this was more than just a training, it was a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of the world’s best. On the mats, participants experienced firsthand the techniques, discipline, and mindset required to compete at the highest level of taekwondo. Beyond physical skills, the session offered valuable insights into the dedication and mental resilience needed to succeed in elite sport.

The experience extended beyond SIM, bringing together athletes from institutions such as Nanyang Technological University and Nanyang Polytechnic. This created a vibrant and collaborative training environment, one that reflected the unity and shared passion within Singapore’s taekwondo community.

Behind this meaningful experience was a strong collaboration between SIM TKD and the SIM Content Marketing team, who worked closely to capture and share this moment with the wider student body. What resulted was not just a training session, but a powerful story, one that inspires students to think bigger, train harder, and push further in their own journeys.

More importantly, it serves as a reminder that opportunities to connect with greatness can happen right within our own community, when passion meets collaboration.

To experience the full story, highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments, check out the collaboration post here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXgixUvCaiu/?img_index=1&igsh=MTVuNnB3MWFuaW9jZQ%3D%3D

Stay connected with us

Under Neon Lights: A Night of Culture, Community and Connection

Under Neon Lights: A Night of Culture, Community and Connection

Under Neon Lights: A Night of Culture, Community and Connection

Neon lights and vibrant performances set the tone as the International Students Network brought SIM’s international student community together for Neon Night 2025 – a celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. Each performance reflected the diversity within ISN.

INMIX (International Multicultural MIX) brought the international spirit of ISN to life through a journey across cultures, weaving together diverse dance styles into a single, unified performance.

The choreography moved from the vibrant energy of Mexican dance to the grace of Taiwanese movements, before concluding with a shared piece inspired by La La Land — symbolising unity, collaboration, and the joy of dancing together.

We wanted the performance to reflect a journey of cultures, where different styles come together as one. While the centre-stage setup challenged us to be more intentional with every movement, it pushed us to grow creatively and connect more deeply as a team.

Tradition met modern expression through MCSIM (Malaysian Community SIM), as the powerful rhythms of the 24 Festival Drums were reimagined with neon-inspired visuals and contemporary lighting.

The performance showcased how cultural heritage can evolve, embracing modern influences while staying rooted in tradition.

Inspired by the Neon Night theme, we wanted a futuristic, cyberpunk feel built around a clock concept — combining traditional 24 Festival Drums with lighting effects and fluorescent drumsticks to bring the idea of time to life.

Beyond the stage, the journey was just as meaningful. MYSIM (Myanmar SIM) shared that the experience was “a heartfelt cultural piece with a unique touch,” shaped by teamwork, sincerity, and a shared sense of pride in representing their culture.

This year’s performance was a heartfelt tribute to Burmese culture, created with sincerity and a unique creative touch.

 

Navigating a centre-stage setup and new formations came with challenges, but they pushed us to adapt, grow, and come together as one to deliver a meaningful and immersive experience.

More than a themed showcase, ISN Neon Night 2025 reflected what ISN stands for – a welcoming space where students from different backgrounds come together to celebrate diversity and build meaningful connections.

Stay connected with us