Speech by RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State, Ministry of Education at the Girls' Brigade Awards Ceremony 2007 at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls Secondary School on Saturday, 21st April 2007 at 4.10 pm

SPEECH BY RADM (NS) LUI TUCK YEW, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AT THE GIRLS’ BRIGADE AWARDS CEREMONY 2007 AT PAYA LEBAR METHODIST GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL ON SATURDAY, 21ST APRIL 2007 AT 4.10PM

1 Let me extend my congratulations to the Girls’ Brigade as she celebrates her 80th Anniversary. I would like to thank the leaders, teachers and volunteers for your fine work, commitment and faithfulness these past years. The Girls’ Brigade has been working in our schools since 1927, growing in strength from 1 unit in 1927 to 86 units today.

2 The espoused intent of the Brigade is to develop each girl and officer to her fullest potential by equipping, empowering and enabling every girl to be a leader and every officer a servant leader.

3 Spurred on by its belief that EVERY GIRL IS A LEADER, the Brigade has over the years mapped out a leadership development programme to equip every girl in knowledge, skills and attitudes that will allow her to exercise positive influence over those she comes into contact with either at home, the school or the community.

4 I understand that the training is provided both at the unit and Brigade levels through leadership workshops, camps and conferences. This is augmented by having officers and leaders serve as models and mentors as the girls are assigned responsibilities within their units and take on various projects in collaboration with other units. This is a laudatory effort by the Girls’ Brigade in Singapore.

5 Beyond leadership development, the GB is zealous in the holistic development of each of its members and hence its programmes cater to the educational, spiritual, physical and social aspects. I have been informed that the Girls’ Brigade Singapore is not only working towards a vision of reaching girls in all schools in Singapore but has also cast its heart beyond Singapore and is working towards establishing a presence in every country in Asia. This I know will provide GB girls with the opportunity to reach out, interact and learn. In the process of doing so, we can reflect on and better appreciate what we have in Singapore.

6 CCAs are an integral aspect of our education system and provide varied opportunities to develop skills and qualities of leadership and enterprise. Uniformed Groups like the GB play an important part in building character, giving our students a sense of who they are and what they stand for. The Girls’ Brigade seeks to instill and cultivate within each girl a sense of self worth and identity that is dependent on what she is as a person, grounded on the morals and values that she holds rather than be swayed by the winds of current social norms and fads. It strives to inculcate a sense of responsibility through useful Christian service and in doing so, help each member to know and accept that she has been created for a higher purpose.

7 Beyond spiritual values, the activities of the GB can strengthen many important attributes in her members. One such attribute is mental and physical resilience. Through challenging pursuits, the GB can stretch our girls and help develop a mental toughness in our young, the ability to withstand shocks, come out of difficulty and thrive. Resilience is a critical attribute that will help young Singaporeans do well in the future and help Singapore do well.

8 I look to the leaders and officers as you continue to invest your lives in helping to mould the young ones under your charge. May you inspire them to serve as you have served; with a cheerful spirit and a compassionate heart.