24 August 2002

SPEECH BY DR NG ENG HEN, MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION, AT THE BOYS' BRIGADE AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, 24 AUGUST 2002, 3.00 PM AT ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE

1 Good afternoon. I am most pleased to be here to join you in honouring the recipients of the Founder's Badge and the J M Fraser Award for Excellence. Today's recipients represent the cream of the BB and I have no doubt that they have given their all to being the best.

2 Being the best does not come without effort. The road to excellence is arduous and challenging - it means going the extra mile, never quitting even when the chips are down, digging deeper within oneself to become more enterprising and innovative.

3 So, the Founder's Badge is the highest and most honourable accolade awarded to a Brigade Boy. It is given to one who has attained an advanced level of proficiency in a number of skills, given much of their time to the service of the community and shown outstanding leadership qualities. The Brigade Boy who receives the Founder's Badge, is seen by all as the embodiment of everything that the Boys' Brigade represents. You will be a model for your juniors to emulate. With the attainment of the award comes the responsibility of living up your community's expectations of you as an award winner. Remember, you are not just a Founder's Man today but everyday. I encourage you to continue your service in The Boys' Brigade even after you have left school and to be a positive force in your company, guiding younger Boys and leading by example.

4 I also commend The Boys' Brigade for embarking on the BB21 Programme Initiative which has been designed to offer fun, challenge and an all-rounded development of the individual. It is indeed heartening to see that 72 years of successfully instilling true Christian Manliness in our boys have not prevented the Brigade from wanting to reinvent itself as the youth organisation of choice. The Boys' Brigade has always been known for its emphasis on character development, teaching Boys moral integrity and to have care and concern for others. That is why I look forward to more excellent BB Companies and programmes for the benefit and development of our youth.

5 I have been told that the BB21 Programme Initiative is in line with your BB21 Development Plan that was launched in September 1999. One of the targets of the BB21 Development Plan was to double your membership to 10,000 members by 2005. Given that BB membership has grown from 4,500 members in 1999 to the current 6,000 members in over 90 schools, I am confident that this target will be met

6 I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Principals, officers and family members of the recipients for their support and encouragement. Once again, my congratulations to all the award recipients. May you continue to be Sure and Stedfast in your pursuit for Company and personal excellence.