Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Youth Corps Leaders Commencement Ceremony

Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth,

SPS Amrin Amin, Chairman of Youth Corps Singapore Advisory Committee,

Youth Corps Aspirants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the Youth Corps Leaders Commencement Ceremony.  Congratulations to all the Aspirants who have completed the Youth Corps Leaders Programme, and to the six cluster members being conferred as Youth Corps Leaders today. You have shown that young people can take the lead in giving back to society.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Youth Corps Singapore. Youth Corps was first conceived to champion youth volunteerism in Singapore. From the engagement and time spent in cluster work, many youth volunteers have displayed leadership qualities and strong service ethos. 

Over the years, Youth Corps has grown as a platform for youths to take on a wider scope of leadership and volunteering work. This effort fosters a culture of care and compassion among our youths, and embodies the spirit of SG Cares movement. Through collaborations with various Social Service Agencies (SSAs), corporates, and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), Youth Corps has helped to strengthen the culture of volunteerism in Singapore. According to a survey conducted by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), the overall rate of volunteerism in Singapore has improved from 18% in 2014 to 29% in 2018. There has also been a rise in the volunteerism rate among youths aged between 15 and 34. Today, more than one in three youths volunteer, up from one in five in 2014. This progress was made possible because of the dedication and commitment of our youths in supporting community projects close to their hearts.

This evening, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight two projects, which were organised in collaboration with SSAs by the Aspirants. Eunice Gan from Cohort 15 participated in a 10-week immersion programmes with SHINE Youth and Children Services, and reached out to children and youths from less privileged families in the Spooner Road community. Eunice led a team of student volunteers to organise community events for residents, including an open house during Hari Raya Puasa. Through this event, participating residents and student volunteers engaged in meaningful interactions with people from diverse backgrounds, and had a better understanding of our multiracial and multicultural society. This experience also allowed Eunice to hone her leadership skills acquired during the Leaders programme, such as assessing community needs, developing partnerships, and managing projects.

Another project was “Wonders with Nature”, organised by Wang Chun Min, Muhammad Habib, Amos Lee, Lim Jie Ling, Ong Xin Rui and Tan Kai Lin from Cohort 14. The project aimed to educate children on environmental issues. The team worked with Lakeside Family Services and conducted house visits in Taman Jurong to better understand the needs of the residents. During the team’s visits, they discovered that many families in the community were keen to know other residents better as they were new to the neighbourhood. With this insight, the team designed a series of environment-related activities and adventure trails in Jurong, at Hort Park and Sungei Buloh to help children forge stronger bonds with one another while developing an appreciation for nature. Team leader Chun Min and Habib were commended by Lakeside Family Services for their leadership and astute decision-making abilities in the execution of the project. Both Eunice and the “Wonders with Nature” team have exemplified efforts in taking initiatives, and working together with community stakeholders to achieve meaningful social outcomes.

This year, I am also glad to see Youth Corps Leaders organising a series of Garden Tours at the Istana. In March, Cho Mingxiu organised a garden tour for a group of patients from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) at the Istana. In May, another Youth Corps Leader, Owen Tan, arranged for seniors from the Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens to participate in wheelchair yoga activities at the Istana. Both tours were memorable experiences for the participants, and good examples of how youths can continue to contribute to the community, beyond the Leaders programme. I look forward to working closely with the Youth Corps Leaders to organise more programmes at the Istana, in particular for our seniors. Many seniors told me that it was their first visit to the Istana.

I am heartened by the growing synergies between Youth Corps Singapore and the President’s Challenge. I am therefore pleased that Youth Corps Singapore has answered my recent call for partners to come together to support children from lower-income families, when I suggested developing a new reading programme for children aged 1-4. The early years are crucial for young children’s development. Early exposure to language will help these children to build their foundation, before they attend Kindergarten or Primary School. President’s Challenge will be partnering Youth Corps Singapore, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and the National Library Board (NLB) to pilot the programme. Through it, I hope that more youth volunteers will help encourage these children to cultivate an interest in reading from young. With the role modelling and guidance of our youth volunteers, I am confident that the children will find reading more enriching and enjoyable. This programme will not only benefit the less privileged children, it will also help to benefit our youths as they grow their character and perspectives.

In closing, let me congratulate the Youth Corps Aspirants once again.  After today’s commencement ceremony, you will begin a new chapter as Youth Corps Leaders. You can be a rallying force for good, and a source of inspiration for others to make a positive impact on our society. Let us build a spirit of care and create a more inclusive Singapore together.

Thank you.