By: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Ag Minister For Community Development, Youth And Sports & Senior Minister Of State (Trade And Industry)
And Chairman, National Youth Council
At The Boys' Brigade Awards Presentation Ceremony On Sat, 14 Aug 2004, At 3.30pm At Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Mr Choo Gim Kang
President of The Boys' Brigade in Singapore
Principals
Parents
Distinguished Guests
Officers and members of The Boys' Brigade
Good afternoon. I am delighted to be part of this occasion, to celebrate the achievements of your Boys and the Companies. I wish to congratulate all the recipients of the Gold Badge and the Founder's Badge, as well as the Companies which have been conferred the J M Fraser Award for Excellence. I also take the opportunity to congratulate The Boys' Brigade in receiving the Singapore Youth Award recently presented to you in July for the BB Sharity Gift Box project.
I would like to thank the Principals and family members for their role in the success of the BB. Additionally, I would like to commend the teacher-officers and the volunteers for their passion and commitment to mould the BB Boys and youths, to be responsible men and women in the family, the community, the nation and the world.
I am also pleased to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between The Boys' Brigade and the National Youth Achievement Award. This signing is a testimony that the BB Programme has national recognition, an immediate outcome of your BB21 Programme Initiative carried out in 2002.
Youth organisations, with their harnessed energy, must be involved in community work, not just as participants but also as a proponents and organisers of community projects. Through projects such as the BB Sharity Gift Box and BB CARES, not only are the lives of the service recipients touched but also those who serve will learn to show care and consideration, things that are difficult to teach in the classroom. The BB's clarion call to rally everyone to serve is also commendable as you extend your reach to involve parents, schools, churches, old Boys, and community groups. It demonstrates your commitment to raise the efficacy and awareness of community service requirements within our society and it promotes active citizenry. This is essential for furthering social cohesion.
The BB's partnership with the Ministry of Community Development & Sports (MCDS) for projects to celebrate the International Year of the Family (IYF) 2004 is another positive initiative. In the busyness of our activities, including CCA, it is important to remind Boys and Officers alike the need to also spend time with family. Getting families to take part in community service, for example during the BB CARES Launch when 80 families spent an afternoon cleaning the homes of the elderly in the Kreta Ayer area, is a great way for families to bond while performing meaningful service. The BB's publication on family values, which will be launched in a little while, will be a great resource for positive values and practices to be taught amongst youth.
I note with interest the Global Youth Summit that the BB will be organising in June 2005. I understand this will draw together active young leaders involved in direct youth work across the world, providing a platform for young minds to exchange ideas and cultural values. It is essential for our youths to have a global orientation and such programmes give them the international exposure. I understand that BB Boys are encouraged to participate in cross-cultural exchanges like the Youth Expedition Project in Cambodia, and in the Youth Leadership Exchange & Appreciation Programme (LEAP) with BB Malaysia. Through such experiences, world-ready youths, with the necessary values, outlook and skills to thrive and succeed in a global environment, are nurtured.
Young people like you have much to offer. Your energy can be channelled to good use, as the BB projects and partnerships have clearly demonstrated. I believe this is but a glimpse of the vibrancy and energy of our young people. In his swearing-in speech on Thursday (12 August), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on younger Singaporeans to ''step forward and make a difference to yourselves, to your fellow citizens and to Singapore''.
To all the young people, indeed, the future is yours. I challenge our young people to more than shape our future. Let us create our future together. I would like to hear from you on how to shape the Singapore of tomorrow.
My Ministry, MCDS, which will be renamed The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports on 1 September 2004, wants your contributions to the agenda for our youth, our future. Over the next six weeks, young people like you will be invited to share your plans for making your dreams and aspirations a reality. Tell us what you want to do for your country, and how you and the government can achieve this together.
I have asked my Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Maliki Osman, to form a Committee with the theme ''Youth: Creating Our Future''. He will be assisted by Dr Chong Weng Chiew and Ms Penny Low. All 3 MPs are born on or after 1965. They will work with the National Youth Council and MCDS to invite young people to brainstorm and discuss all ideas. They will also invite Singaporean youths who are currently overseas to send in their thoughts and aspirations. We will evaluate the needs, opportunities and resources in the youth sector. Your contributions will help form the basis for the future programmes of the MCYS, NYC and the various youth organisations in Singapore.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the future awaits us, and it lies in the hands of the young people in front of us today.
Thank you.