How Nexus Learners Rose and Sadie Are Giving a Voice to Shelter Dogs in Singapore

At Nexus, our learners are not only curious and engaged in the classroom, they are also compassionate changemakers in the community. We recently spoke to Year 7 learners Rose and Sadie, who are serving as Ambassadors for Give A Home SG. In this interview, they share their journey and passion for animal well-being, a cause that has been close to their hearts for many years. Inspired by their families and strengthened through their PYP learning at Nexus, Rose and Sadie are now using their voices to raise awareness, fundraise, and encourage adoption from animal shelters in Singapore.

Congratulations, Rose and Sadie! Can you tell us a little bit about your role as Ambassadors for Give A Home SG? 

Rose: We are both very passionate about animal well-being. My mum has been working with animal shelters, so I often hear stories from her and she shows me pictures of the dogs.

Sadie: My babysitter, Hermes, told me about an upcoming pet adoption event. She knew we were both passionate about animals and invited us to take part by writing and reciting poems about the adoptees, as well as giving a speech to raise awareness about adopting animals. That was how we first got involved and became Ambassadors for Give A Home SG.

What inspired you to get involved with this cause, and why do you feel passionate about helping animals?

Rose: Every dog should have a home, but dogs in shelters have less of a chance than the ones in pet shops.

Sadie: I love dogs because they are so cute and sweet, and it makes me upset that they have to be separated from their parents.

When I see the dogs in cages, it makes me really sad. I think rescue and shelter dogs should be able to find a home just as easily as the ones in pet shop.

By raising awareness about shelters in Singapore and encouraging people to adopt instead of shop, we hope more families will visit shelters instead of going to pet shops.

Rose: My goal is to raise awareness about the conditions in pet shops so that more people choose to adopt rescue dogs. We realised that many people in Singapore do not know much about local animal shelters or what really happens in pet shops. Most dogs sold there have been separated from their mothers at a very young age, and we want people to understand the impact of that.

Many dogs in shelters have been waiting a long time for a loving home. How do you hope your work as ambassadors can make a difference for them?

Rose: By raising awareness about what really happens in pet shops and by supporting the shelters, we hope that more people will choose to adopt from shelters instead of buying from shops. 

Sadie: We also want to encourage people to donate or raise funds, so that shelters have more resources to care for the dogs while they wait for their forever homes.

Can you share some of the activities or projects you have done so far as part of your volunteering?

Sadie: We wrote poems about five of the dogs up for adoption and gave a speech about them, sharing why they deserve a loving home.

Rose: We also helped to sell stickers at the event to raise money for the shelters. The stickers featured dogs that had not yet been adopted, and we managed to raise $600 from the sales!

Sadie: We are also going to help my babysitter, Hermes, write a story about adopting dogs in Singapore. The idea is to help other children understand more about what happens in pet shops and some breeding kennels.

Can you share some of the poems with us? 

Xiao Hei
Hi, my name is Xiao Hei.
I may be blind, but I am kind.
So do not be shy, give me a try!

Bobo
Hi, my name is Bobo.
I am the littlest hobo.
I am a friend of Xiao Hei’s, I am his eyes!

Pokka
Hi, my name is Pokka,
And this will shock ya.
I have three legs, so I am a hopper,
But do not let that stop ya
From being my adopter.
It does not slow me down,
I still run all over town!

Rudy
Hi, my name is Rudy,
I’m as bright as a ruby.
I may have cancer,
But do not make “no” your answer.
Please adopt me so I can be free,
Will you take good care of me?

Taking on this role requires dedication. How do you balance your schoolwork, hobbies, and volunteering?

Rose: We joined the Ambassador programme over the summer holidays, which gave us time to meet up more often and work together. Once school started, we met after school or on weekends to practise our poems. Now that the event is over, we are working with the organisation to get involved in more activities and events.

Sadie: We are really enjoying the programme so far and are excited to keep finding more ways to be involved!

What is the most rewarding part of your work with Give A Home SG?

Sadie: Definitely that the dogs find homes!

Rose: I also like that we can raise awareness and share our opinions with others. It feels good to know we are helping to make a change.

Have you faced any challenges while volunteering, and how did you overcome them?

Sadie: When we were selling the stickers, a lot of people said no at first. But we kept going and kept talking to people until we found those who were more open to learning about rescue dogs.

How have your families, friends, and the Nexus community supported you in this journey?

Sadie: Our families and friends have been really supportive!

Rose: Yes, my mum volunteers with shelters, so she was able to share a lot of information with us. I was also inspired by my PYP topic at Nexus last year, which helped me understand more about shelters and why we should adopt instead of shop. I learnt that there is a lot happening behind the scenes in pet shops that buyers do not see.

At first, I wanted to get a sausage dog from a pet shop because they are really cute, but I changed my mind when I found out more about the conditions animals face there. You might think you are rescuing a dog from a pet shop because it looks lonely, but as soon as that dog is sold, another one is bred to take its place. By buying from a pet shop, you may actually be causing harm to another dog.

Finally, what are your hopes for the future, both for the dogs you are helping now and for yourselves as young ambassadors?

Rose: We want to keep helping more dogs get adopted by volunteering at shelters and taking part in more events.

Sadie: Yes, I would also like to continue volunteering at dog shows, raising awareness, and finding more ways to get involved.

What advice would you give to other learners at Nexus who might want to volunteer or get involved in their community?

Sadie: Be hardworking and do not give up.

Rose: If you feel nervous, just go for it. It feels so much better to take action than to keep thinking about what you wish you had done.

Congratulations to Rose and Sadie for the incredible work they are already doing as young ambassadors. Their story reflects the essence of Service Learning at Nexus, where learners connect their passions with real-world causes and discover their ability to make a meaningful difference. We look forward to seeing how they continue to champion animal welfare and inspire others in the community.

Find out more about how Service Learning is embedded into every stage of a Nexus education