SJI’s Inaugural VIA Scubilion Fair 2024

SJI organised the Inaugural Values-in-Action (VIA) Scubilion Fair on 2 April for the benefit of the school community to learn how they could contribute meaningfully to the community. In total, twelve Partner Organisations were invited to engage and interact with all students and staff.

At SJI, we refer to all service projects as VIA Scubilion, named after Jean-Bernard Rousseau, who was a French Catholic member of the De La Salle Brothers and who received the name of Scubilion when he entered the novitiate. 

The Partner Organisations for the VIA Scubilion Fair this year included, Caritas Singapore, Foreword Coffee Roasters, Heartware Network, ItsRainingRaincoats, Josephian Family Services, Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, Lakeside Family Services, Mercy Relief Singapore, Ray of Hope, Singapore Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, Singapore Disability Sports Council and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

These organisations partnered with SJI to meet the following objectives for our school community to:

• deepen awareness of social issues and to understand existing efforts in the community

• discover and explore opportunities to contribute

• inspire and align individuals’ and groups’ interests with opportunities to serve

The VIA Scubilion Fair also impressed upon all that being of service to the community should be a way of life for Josephians. This is very much integral to the SJI Education. as shared by our Principal, Mr Justin Arul Pierre, in his opening address at the VIA Scubilion Fair.

Mr Pierre also encouraged all Josephians to ‘be proactive in engaging the representatives from all partner organisations because they serve as models for success, and will inspire you to contribute in the community’. He added that the, ‘VIA Scubilion Fair will certainly be the first step in a long and rewarding journey of service in the community for many of us’.

Mr Muhammad Ashik, Executive Director of Mercy Relief and one of the partner organisations for the VIA Scubilion Fair shared that this was a truly memorable experience for his team and him. Mr. Ashik also shared that it was, ‘a privilege to be at SJI to share with enthusiastic students about the many and ongoing efforts by Mercy Relief’. His team is looking forward to collaborating with ‘students and teachers who expressed interest to work together on projects and make a difference in the community’.

Similarly, Mr Tony Goldman, Road Captain of the Harley Owners Group Singapore Chapter that also partnered with us this year, shared that platforms like the VIA Scubilion Fair, ‘enable us to engage the community to change the perception of motorcyclists. Just like the SJI school community, we also value opportunities and aspire to contribute in positive ways in the community’.

We hope to continue our partnerships so that our students will be empowered and supported as they engage with the community through their VIA Projects.