Year-end holidays are usually for resting, binge-watching, and sleeping in. But for the SmolBoss, it is also the season to finally chase a passion project, the kind that starts at home and somehow grows into something bigger.
This time, it began with Benjamin’s cardboard creations. At home, cardboard never stays as cardboard for long. With tape, scissors, and lots of imagination, Benjamin turns “recycled” into “ready to play”. One day, as Elizabeth watched another game come to life, the two of them looked at each other and thought: what if we brought these games out of the house and into the community?
Not for kids. For seniors.
Elizabeth went to St Luke’s ElderCare Centre for a site recce. She walked around, observed the space and imagined where the games could be set up. When she came back, the excitement turned real. This wasn’t going to be just a fun holiday idea. It was going to be a proper mini carnival, designed by kids, built with recycled materials, and shared with seniors.
So the planning began.
The two SmolBosses gathered their friends from three different schools. Suddenly, it wasn’t just Elizabeth and Benjamin anymore. It was a real team. There were meetings in person, meetings online, and lots of moments editing a live Google Doc together. The kids pitched ideas, refined activities, and wrote a full bilingual MC script in English and Chinese so every senior could enjoy the opening game show together.
And then came the goodie bags. The kids didn’t want to give “random snacks” just because it’s a carnival. They wanted the goodies to feel thoughtful. Somewhere along the way, a small moment stayed with them. In a past encounter, they noticed some seniors using toothbrushes that were old and frayed, yet they had not switched to a new one.
That was why Elizabeth reached out to Sheng Siong, a supermarket that has supported their events before, and requested toothbrushes along with Kopiko candies and Gem biscuits for 150 seniors. We were so grateful to Ms Ruiwen for believing in the kids’ mission.
To make the seniors feel extra special, the team also wanted something a little more treat-like in the goodie bag. Olivia, Natalie, and Emily stepped up and secured a sponsorship of 150 chocolate wafers from The Cocoa Tree. It was a small addition that made the goodie bag feel celebratory, like a festive surprise just for them.
On the actual day, the kids arrived early, long before the first senior came in. They carried in the sponsored items, cleared a space in the office, and turned it into a mini production line. Toothbrushes, Kopiko candies, Gem biscuits, and chocolate wafers moved down the table in a neat rhythm, packed systematically bag by bag. Calm, focused, and surprisingly efficient.
Then the fun began.
It started with a live game show where seniors guessed childhood snacks from blurry photos that slowly became clear. The best part was seeing the kids host in English and Chinese, taking turns, supporting one another, and keeping the energy high.
After that, the carnival stations opened, and the centre transformed.
Kiran and Devan ran a “human whack-a-mole” where Devan literally became the mole, wearing socks on his hands and popping his “mole hands” out from random holes. Sometimes he went fast, sometimes slow, and seniors had the best time trying to catch him at the right moment.
At another station, Olivia, Natalie, and Emily brought out a double challenge: Nerf gun shooting and bowling. There were cheers with every hit, and lots of friendly teasing when a ball rolled slightly off course.
Alby’s station was ball throwing, simple, classic, and surprisingly exciting when everyone started counting points and celebrating near-misses like they were almost-wins.
And of course, Benjamin’s two cardboard creations, a foosball game and a catapult game, were such a hit that the centre asked if they could keep them for future events. Imagine that: recycled cardboard, turned into something so meaningful it gets requested again.
What used to be a quiet space became lively and happening. Seniors came one by one, moving from game to game, laughing, cheering, and proudly collecting their Kopiko candies. Small prize, big happiness.
When everything wrapped up, the kids packed up, took a deep breath, and headed out for bubble tea. A simple reward, but also a reminder. Good teamwork and shared passion can turn a holiday project into something genuinely meaningful.
And maybe that’s what SmolBoss is really about.
Kids choosing to care, choosing to lead, and choosing to build joy from what the world might have thrown away.
We also want to give a big shoutout to OGF. Their postreminded us of something we deeply believe: impact is not measured by age, it’s measured by heart. We’re especially proud of Kiran and Devan for bringing so much energy and ideas from preparation to the actual event day. SmolBoss may be led by kids, but with a team of friends and supporters who show up with empathy and commitment, small ideas really can create big smiles. We are grateful to OGF for cheering the kids on and supporting youth-led volunteering that brings joy to the community.
Smol Boss 
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