President Tharman Shanmugaratnam,
Excellencies,
Members of the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Advisory Board and Council,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Good afternoon! And on behalf of the NYAA Advisory Board, I would like to thank President Tharman for gracing this award ceremony. Today, we celebrate the achievements of our NYAA Gold Award recipients, and at the same time commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the NYAA Gold Award Holders' Alumni (GAHA).
Celebrating the NYAA Journey
2. Since 1992, the NYAA programme has nurtured over 700,000 young Singaporeans, teaching them that the greatest fulfilment comes not from what we achieve ourselves, but from what we contribute to others. Today's Gold Award recipients will continue this legacy through their Service Learning, Outdoor Appreciation, Healthy Living and Community Leadership Initiatives.
Gaha's 30-Year Legacy — "Service Beyond Gold"
3. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the NYAA Gold Award Holders' Alumni. What began in 1995 with 18 pioneering recipients has now flourished into a 6,000-strong network of leaders spanning almost every sector of society. Through initiatives like "Service Beyond Gold", alumni members continue to mentor new recipients, launching community initiatives, and supporting vulnerable communities. So congratulations and thank you for 30 years of good meaningful work!
Inspiring Stories from the 2025 Cohort
4. Today, we celebrate a new batch of Gold Award recipients. There are many of them, with many uplifting stories. But time allows me to just share two stories of strength, compassion and leadership:
- The first is Mr Luke Quek. Inspired by his sister who has autism, Luke partnered with the Rainbow Centre to design experiences that promote independent living skills and strengthen family bonds. He also led Project Shine, which is an initiative supporting youths with special needs and their caregivers. In Luke's free time, he regularly gives back to the community by cleaning the homes of senior citizens and delivering food hampers to over 300 households. Today, he's an active volunteer with Youth Corps Singapore and the Boys' Brigade, and continues to lead with empathy and purpose, showing us how personal struggles can become the foundation for uplifting others.
- The second story is that of Ms Ayuni Nur Izyanti, from Temasek Polytechnic. She's been deeply involved in volunteering with The Singapore Buddhist Lodge Vision Tuition Programme, where she provides mentorship to students from underprivileged families. Last year, she stepped up as a Volunteer Organiser to manage the recruitment and training of new mentors. She looked after members' welfare, and collected feedback to improve the programme, while she continued to mentor students herself. I'm told that Ayuni also volunteered with the Tanoto Foundation Learning Together Programme under the Heartware Network, where she conducted reading sessions to improve young students' literacy and nurture their love for reading. Ayuni's spirit of service extends well beyond the local community. As part of a volunteer-led educational initiative in Cambodia, she led a team to curate teaching material for over 70 students. Ayuni's journey shows us that when we serve with heart and purpose, the impact we make can be multiplied many times over.
Building a "We-First" Society
5. These stories and more are a good example of the "We-First" society that we want to build. As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during the National Day Rally, when we all collectively look out for one another, we will build a cohesive society where each of us can thrive individually as well. That is what we want Singapore to be – not a place where everyone individually chases their goals at the expense of others, but a home where we all collectively lift each other up.
6. But achieving this is not what the Government can do on its own. It requires a collective effort from across our whole society.
7. So I encourage all our NYAA Gold Award Holders' Alumni to join us in this effort: step forward, continue to lead by example, and help shape our society for the better. Contribute your time, energy, and talents to meaningful causes. I know many of you already do so. We will empower you to do so:
- For example, through the NYAA projects and many platforms that we host; through school-based efforts; through National Youth Council Singapore programmes; and many more.
Conclusion
8. To our 2025 Gold Award recipients, congratulations on your achievements. Your Gold Award is not a badge of completion but a compass for the journey ahead. Let it guide you towards opportunities to serve, lead, and inspire others.
9. And to the NYAA Gold Award Holders Alumni, you have demonstrated how Gold Award spirit translates into lifelong commitment to the community. Continue to step forward in building this society, take responsibility for one another, and contribute to strengthening our society for the future.
10. So let's build a Singapore that is not only successful, innovative and prosperous, but also deeply compassionate and inclusive. So congratulations once again, and thank you.