Since 2000, Singapore's government appears to have relaxed its stance towards Chinese varieties. In 2002, clan associations such as Hainanese Association of Singapore (Kheng Chiu Hwee Kuan) and Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan started classes to teach other Chinese varieties. This was in response to an increased desire among Singaporeans to reconnect with their Chinese heritage and culture through learning other Chinese varieties. In 2007, a group of 140 students from Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Primary School learnt Hokkien and Cantonese as an effort to communicate better with the elderly. The elderly themselves taught the students the varieties. The programmed was organized in the hope of bridging the generational gap that was formed due to the suppression of these dialects