Months of preparation and a two-week-long fundraising effort, put together by almost 2,700 NUS students, culminated in a showcase of 14 energetic performances at the NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) Rag & Flag Day 2024 held on 10 August.

Themed “Back to Our Roots”, signifying the importance of understanding and embracing the core value of instilling the spirit of giving and receiving in all participants, NUS students demonstrated the true spirit of giving, coming together as one to raise over S$212,000 for 15 social service agencies from Community Chest through generous donations from members of the public and corporate partners.

Held since 1958, NUSSU Rag & Flag Day is a long-held annual university tradition where students and staff rally together to give back to society. The event takes place in two segments, firstly Flag Day, where NUS students head out into the community with tin cans to seek donations in aid of the beneficiaries from members of the public. The charity effort comes together in a finale at Rag (Receiving and Giving) Day, where students stage spectacular performances in a show of appreciation to donors for their invaluable support.

In the last 15 years, NUS students have raised more than close to S$4.6 million in donations in aid of local beneficiaries through the annual NUSSU Rag and Flag events.

Double the effort, double the heart

In a slight detour from tradition, this year’s event saw not just one, but two Flag Days where NUS students from different colleges, faculties, schools, and hostels traversed across 60 locations in Singapore on two Saturdays, 27 July and 3 August 2024, to canvass for flag donations from members of the public.

“Flag day has been a very exciting and meaningful opportunity for me to interact with the public who has kindly donated,” said Gianna Sun, a second-year undergraduate from the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Many fundraising efforts these days are online, but Flag Day remains a valuable opportunity for us to meet and thank those who donate in person,” she added.

From the Central Business District to the heartlands, the collective effort of NUS students across the two days raised a heartwarming amount of nearly S$58,340, which will contribute to the good work by various social services agencies in Singapore.

Giving their all in gratitude
As the sun’s arc peaked over NUS University Town Green where the event was held, a palpable buzz filled in the air as the spectators, along with supporters and peers, gathered to watch and cheer for the performers as they pulled off nifty dance moves onstage in their hand-crafted costumes complete with eye-catching floats and props.

There was no lack of creativity and innovation as well with the materials used by the students in creating and constructing the elaborately decorated floats and intricate costumes. Various ideas were implemented to reduce waste and prolong the lifespan of base materials. This included the recycling of fabric and materials, such as, cardboard and wood, and the use of tapioca starch glue.

At NUS Computing, students elevated a wire mesh with small pieces of wood to create a piece of equipment that would enable them to save water and reduce the production of liquid waste during the painting process. With this contraption, paint debris was wiped off the mesh, enabling students to clean paint brushes without having to change or add more paint thinner, and removing the need for a constant flow of running water for cleaning.

About 280 student performers, supported by nearly 1,100 backstage crew who prepared and coordinated the performances and floats, took to the stage in 14 energetic finale performances to thank the public for their donations. Gracing the event were the Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who officiated the opening of the finale, joined by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, and NUSSU President Mr Huang Ziwei.

For Mr Huang Ziwei, President of the 45th Executive Committee of NUSSU, watching the NUSSU Rag & Flag Day 2024 take shape and come into fruition has been an especially meaningful experience. “NUSSU Rag & Flag stands as one of NUS' most lively traditions, bringing together the community to celebrate our university's heritage while fostering a culture of giving. With our theme 'Back to Our Roots,' this year's event emphasises the core values of generosity and unity, as students showcase performances and engage in fundraising to support the Community Chest, reminding us all of the power of collective effort and compassion,” he said.

“By returning to these roots, we aim to inspire every participant to continue the spirit of giving and receiving, strengthening our bond with the community and highlighting the enduring impact of charity,” he added.

Winners of NUSSU Rag & Flag Day 2024

Every year, the line-up of Rag Day performances is awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze award prizes. Here are the winners.

Gold

• School of Business
• Faculty of Law
• Kent Ridge Hall and Sheares Hall (KRaSheares)
• Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

Silver

• Faculty of Dentistry
• King Edward Hall and Pioneer House (KExPH)
• School of Computing
• Faculty of Science
• Raffles Hall

Bronze

• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Society
• College of Design and Engineering
• Eusoff Hall
• Temasek Hall

Overall Champion: School of Business

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This story first appeared in NUSNews on 10 August 2024. See the press release on NUSSU Rag & Flag 2024 here.