23 October 2003

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, ACTING MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE LAUNCH OF SOUTH WEST CDC YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARD IN THE HEARTLANDS (YEAH!) PROGRAMME ON THURSDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2003, AT 10.00 AM AT THE OPEN SPACE ADJACENT TO JURONG EAST MRT STATION

1. I am very pleased to join you this morning in launching the South West Community Development Council (CDC) Youth Excellence Award in the Heartlands, or YEAH!, programme. As today is the eve of Deepavali, let me first take this opportunity to wish all Hindus present a very happy Deepavali.

2. The launch of YEAH!, a brainchild of the South West CDC, is special for many reasons. The programme draws various community sectors into partnership, to pull together opportunities for our youth in both community involvement and personal development. As we all know, students currently complete a minimum 6 hour Community Involvement Programme (CIP) as part of their Co-Curricular Activity (CCA). Under the YEAH! initiative, close to 300 existing community activities and programmes have been brought under one unifying umbrella to offer our youth a comprehensive range of volunteer opportunities to choose from. The umbrella will expand in future, as we add new programmes. Students will have a wider array of choices and opportunities to serve the community, according to their interests and abilities.

3. This initiative adds to our national efforts to build a caring citizenry, and our mission of developing character and leadership among young Singaporeans. It will help our young to develop an outward-looking disposition, expose them to facets of community life that they may not normally encounter, and allow them to help develop a sense of commitment to serving society.

4. Besides community involvement, the YEAH! programme also offers scope for personal development. Our youth will be encouraged to develop practical skills like project management, entrepreneurship and social and communication skills. These life skills will stand them in good stead as they venture out to the working world, and as they become responsible citizens and active players in society.

5. I understand that under the YEAH! framework, the South West CDC has put in place an award structure to reward youths who consistently contribute to the community. Starting with a yearly contribution of 12 hours to community involvement and 3 hours to personal development, youths can move up the various award levels in the YEAH! programme, to the apex appointment of South West CDC YEAH! Ambassador. These ambassadors will serve as youth role models and spokespersons in local and international settings.

6. In line with the Ministry of Education's move to award CCA points to students for involvement in community activities outside their school, participation in YEAH! will give students CCA points in the LEAPS Community Involvement Programme and the Character Development Programme. Schools can also set up a YEAH! Council of students committed to co-ordinating youth involvement opportunities for their peers.

7. That the YEAH! programme is off to such a good start reflects the strong support from schools, community and corporate partners, including our youth, grassroots and voluntary welfare organisations. I note that 13 secondary schools have thus far pledged their commitment to YEAH! in its pilot phase of implementation.

8. The community festivities lined up today are also very much in keeping with the spirit and intent of YEAH!. For instance, I understand that the NUS Students' Union Volunteer Action Committee (NVAC) has organised Charity Fiesta, a fund-raising carnival featuring booths set up by schools from the primary, secondary and tertiary level. The Fiesta's aim of raising $50,000 for charity is laudable and I wish them all the best in achieving their target.

9. To add to the day's excitement, I am told that a team comprising representatives from NUS, NTU and the grassroots organisations will also be co-ordinating an attempt to create a Guinness World Record for the world's longest human bridge. While going for the Guinness record will create the excitement, the effort will also symbolise our objective of connecting our youth to the community they live or study in.

10. The South West CDC is also using this occasion to launch the YEAH! e-portal. I am confident that our Internet-savvy youngsters will make full use of the portal to keep abreast of YEAH! activities organised by our corporate and community partners.

11. I would like to end by urging the students present here today to seek out the boundless opportunities to serve the community that are available under YEAH!. You will find that your contributions touch the lives of those around you, and occasionally even change lives. And your own lives will be enriched and touched by each contribution you make.

12. Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to thank corporate and community partners, including City Developments Limited, for their contributions towards the development of the programme.