 President Nathan to launch ComChest fund-raising with calligraphy project
SINGAPORE : This year's Community Chest (ComChest) fund-raising efforts kick off on May 10 with a brush with charity.
President S.R. Nathan and seven Ministers of State spent weeks practising for the "Calligraphy for Community Chest 2007" project.
President Nathan quipped that he's a bad student when it comes to calligraphy, but his tutor said otherwise.
For the last 16 months, the President took weekly lessons from the president of the Chinese Calligraphy Society.
This meant the 83-year-old had to stay on his feet for at least an hour and a half.
But Prof Tan Siah Kwee said the President, who has also been trying to learn the Chinese language, never skipped any lesson, even when he was feeling under the weather.
Now the public has a chance to collect the President's brush work.
Mr Nathan wrote the words 'ren-xin' - which means compassion and benevolence.
His masterpiece, along with those of seven junior ministers, will be auctioned off at this year's Calligraphy for Community Chest charity project to raise money for 350,000 disadvantaged Singaporeans.
"So much of funds are needed for voluntary organisations and charitable purposes, and this is one of the ways. This may not appeal to everybody, but for those who value Chinese calligraphy and the Chinese language, they may find merit in doing this," said Mr Nathan.
"This is not the work of a professional, but perhaps when they see me putting in some effort, they may feel like rewarding me."
The theme of this year's Calligraphy for Community Chest is 'zhu' (or bamboo in English), a plant that symbolises determination and resilience.
President Nathan and the seven Ministers-of-State hope their participation in the project will encourage disadvantaged Singaporeans supported by Community Chest, to be like the bamboo plant - strong and resilient in facing their challenges.
President Nathan himself is pressing on with the art form.
He is even planning to personalise a calligraphy for the Chinese premier when he visits China next year. - CNA /ls | 
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