Singapore

I was selected as an RYC towards the end of 2006.  

What are the critical issues facing youth in your country?

I remember discussing this with the other RYCs when we met up in Pakistan.  As the basic needs of access to food, water, healthcare, education, have been met in Singapore, this makes it more difficult to pinpoint a critical concern that transcends our youth population.  In my view, I would identify youth apathy as a primary concern.  I believe that once this attitudinal approach of youths can be addressed, youths will be able to better create windows of opportunity for themselves, or else seize the opportunities afforded to them, to effect the changes they want to see.

What policies/initiatives are being put in place to help combat these?

Encouraging youth to be involved and concerned about the community, the way I see it, is a bit of a chicken and egg story.  We first need to get youth involved, to get them interested in being involved.  And the best way to get youth involved is to get other youths, already active in the community, to infect their peers with their enthusiasm! 

We currently have a good number of youth-led initiatives in Singapore that I believe approaches the issue in this manner.  For instance, our National Youth Council's Young Change makers Scheme features youth panelists who evaluate community project proposals by other youths, and apportion funding accordingly.  The "infection" of enthusiasm works both ways: youth panelists are encouraged to mentor and share their experiences with successful applicants, and sometimes even unsuccessful applicants, in their project implementation; at the same time, project applicants offer youth panelists insight into the concerns of certain sub-sectors of the youth community, and often highlight to youth panelists creative ways of addressing these concerns. 

Also, the NYAA Gold Award Holders' Alumni, an active alumni grouping of Duke of Edinburgh Award holders in Singapore, encourages Gold Award Holders, who have each worked individually towards achieving their awards, to work together in conceptualizing and implementing community projects.  Gold Award Holders are encouraged to bring their experiences to the table, and also persuade other youths to take up and/or continue with the NYAA challenge, thus nurturing a constant stream of socially aware and adept, all-rounded youth.

What is your message to the youth of the Commonwealth?

The Commonwealth youth platform is a unique one.  Equal representation and say.  Seize this opportunity, but at the same time, remain keenly aware that all talk and no action is just that - no action.  You need to be the change you want to see.  Only then do you have something to bring to the table.  Contrary to popular conceptions, being a young person on its own is not enough.  Your experiences will help you identify areas for change, and contribute constructive suggestions as to how to effect the change.  Identifying the problem/issue, though important, is only half the journey.  And in terms of effecting change, The youth platform hopefully will help you realize the change on a larger scale,