Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Virtual 2021 Hwa Chong APYLS

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Chairman, Board of Governors, Hwa Chong Institution;

Student Delegates, Teachers, Distinguished Guests;

I am happy to join you today at the virtual 2021 Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit (APYLS). Since 2006, Hwa Chong Institution has played host to young delegates who come together to share and debate their ideas, as well as network with like-minded leaders of tomorrow.

Even the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic did not dampen this spirit of enthusiasm and idealism among our young people. Last year, the pandemic prevented the hosting of the APYLS in person, but young delegates worldwide still leveraged digital technology and came together at the inaugural Hwa Chong Global Digital Young Leaders Convention.

The theme of this year’s Summit is “Re: Imagining, Building, Uniting”. This is an apt and brave choice. We continue to grapple with the challenges brought on by COVID-19. But the pandemic has also given us an opportunity to re-imagine and rebuild a vision.  To do so, we must remain optimistic about the collective resilience of humankind. We need to constantly re-innovate the way we work, play and live, and do so as a cohesive community.

One example in the realm of education is the shift towards more blended learning. Over the past year, teachers, students and even parents have adapted quickly to home-based learning. The importance of digital literacy as a core competency in the future economy has also become more apparent. Just as this digital Young Leaders Summit has shown, borderless learning takes on a new dimension and opens up immense opportunities, as well as endless possibilities in co-constructing knowledge and fostering exchanges.

As we forge ahead with this digitalisation drive, it is also critical that we pay attention to digital inclusion.  We must share the benefits of technology with all segments of society.  We should ensure that no one is inadvertently neglected in this journey of the future. I am heartened that many youths in Singapore have stepped forward, such as by volunteering as digital ambassadors to help the elderly in their use of digital applications. For example, Hwa Chong’s very own Project Coconut empowered seniors from Lions Befrienders with technology, by successfully raising $30,000 for them to purchase phones and teaching them how to use these devices.

The theme for today’s Summit also highlights an important message. Unity is a keystone in our future. This global pandemic has taught us the value of strengthening social cohesion in our societies, so that together we can overcome prolonged challenges like this. I am heartened to see that this Summit has brought together a diverse group of young leaders. I hope you will leverage this Summit to understand more about each other’s culture. You can be the catalyst to rally others in strengthening social harmony within your society.

In Singapore, we have always treasured our multicultural and multi-religious diversity. One key node for cultivating this cohesion is our schools. Our schools help to build strong and positive relationships among students.  Schools are where our children learn the values of respect and harmony, regardless of race, language, or religion. In the classroom, students in Singapore have the opportunity to discuss contemporary issues, including those related to race and multiculturalism. Cultural awareness and experiences are further enhanced beyond the classroom, through various school-based learning and interaction opportunities.

With the advent of the internet, social media has become a common platform worldwide to discuss just about anything, including issues of race and diversity. There is nothing wrong in doing that, but do remember that how we interact on the social media can have an impact on ourselves and the people around us. As future leaders, use such platforms wisely to further your engagement of others. Only when our conversations about diverse cultures are heartfelt and respectful, can they enrich our lives and strengthen trust amongst different communities.

In going beyond the classroom, I urge you to build deep and meaningful relationships with people from different communities. Go beyond interactions only with your own closed circle of family and friends within your comfort zones and learn about the diverse and rich experiences of other communities. To forge meaningful relationships, it requires you to open your minds, discard stereotypes and not prejudge others. In this way, you begin to see the really colourful and rich lives of other communities. At the end of the day, all human beings regardless of who and where we are, share a common desire to build a better life for ourselves and our families. Our paths may divert, our experiences may be different, but our goals are the same. Nelson Mandela once remarked that ‘the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow’. I would go further to say that the youths of today like all of you here can be leaders today, in your own right.

Let me conclude by encouraging everyone to believe in the possibility of a better tomorrow in this rapidly evolving world. Without optimism, it is difficult to make a positive change. Be daring and ambitious as you re-imagine and build a better future – one that is united in purpose and in cause for everyone in your community. I wish all of you a fulfilling time at the 2021 Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit. Thank you.