By: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and 2nd Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
WEDNESDAY, 4 JULY 2007, 10AM, KAKI BUKIT CENTRE (PRISON SCHOOL)
Professor Leo Tan, Chairman, National Youth Achievement Award Council
Mr Teo Tze Fang, Acting Director of Prisons
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning,
Introduction
I am pleased to join you today for the 6th National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Bronze and Silver Presentation Ceremony at Kaki Bukit Centre, Prison School. We are here this morning to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the NYAA participants from Prison School, Cluster A4, and Changi Women's Prison. Congratulations to the 131 participants who will receive the Bronze and Silver Awards today. You have shown what you can achieve by applying your talents and skills. In the process, you have grown and learnt, and also made a difference in the lives of others in the community. I am especially glad to see some of the participants who have since left Prison, joining us for the ceremony today. Your presence is an encouragement to all the other participants.
National Youth Achievement Award
The NYAA Programme was launched in 2000 to encourage youths to develop personal qualities of self-reliance, perseverance, and a sense of responsibility to our society and nation. The programme helps our young people to build up their character, and allows them to channel their energy towards serving the community. Over the years, the NYAA has become a strong partner of the Prisons Department. A total of 635 participants from the Prisons had received awards under the NYAA since 2000. And I am told that we are witnessing a record number of award recipients this year.
Achievements of NYAA Recipients
As part of their NYAA journey, the participants this year took part in sports, learnt basic survival skills through an expedition and exploration course, and completed community projects. One of their community projects was the ''Cranes to Grains'' project organised by the South East Community Development Council (CDC). Under this project, a bowl of rice was donated to needy families for every folded crane. Through their combined effort, the participants from Prison School, Cluster A4, and Changi Women's Prison folded a total of 40,000 cranes and that meant 40,000 bowls of rice for needy families.
In another project, the residents of Pelangi Village welfare homes were invited here, to Prison School, where they were entertained by performances put up by the NYAA participants. I am impressed that the participants accomplished all these while undergoing their own rehabilitation in the prison setting.
Education as Key to Rehabilitation
The NYAA programme shows us that no matter where we are in life, we can keep learning and improving ourselves. To the award recipients, let me encourage you to make good use of the opportunities available here to learn. The education you receive now will prepare you for life in the community eventually. I am glad to hear that the academic results of the students in Prison School have been very encouraging. In 2006, eight students in Prison School scored five or more distinctions in their GCE 'O' levels. To borrow the words of your school's mission, I congratulate the staff and teachers of Prison School for your dedication towards ''awakening hope and rebuilding lives.''
Community and Family Support
The success of the NYAA-Prisons collaboration demonstrates what difference it makes when the community comes in to be a partner in the rehabilitation process. In the past few years, the CARE Network has provided a platform for the Prisons Department, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, and other community organizations to promote public support for offender rehabilitation. The ongoing Yellow Ribbon Project and its message of ''unlocking the second prison'' is shaping attitudes on the ground and opening up opportunities for ex-offenders. On this note, I would like to acknowledge the participating organisations in the NYAA Programme ? South East CDC, Singapore Adventurers' Club, Pelangi Village, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the National Institute of Education, Singapore Inline Rollerblading School, Girl's Brigade, Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, and many other community agencies and individual volunteers. I urge more organisations and individuals to come forward and do your part to help offenders reintegrate back to society.
To the families gathered here today, let me affirm that your encouragement and acceptance will give your loved ones the confidence they need to complete rehabilitation. Your understanding and support is an important source of strength, when they leave Prison and begin to rebuild their lives in the community.
Conclusion
Finally, to our NYAA award recipients, I am confident that the life-skills and knowledge you have acquired here will put you in good stead for the challenges ahead. Your achievements today are a positive leap forward, and I urge all of you to continue to inspire others on the rehabilitation journey. I wish you every success in your future endeavours.
Thank you.
MCYS SPEECH NO: 34/2007
DATE OF ISSUE: 04/07/2007