In her second blog in the series, Cindy Chen from Promo Cymru explores how young people in Singapore are creating their own solutions and what we can learn from their approach.
I recently embarked on a learning journey to Singapore to explore their approaches to youth engagement and youth work, funded by WCVA’s Walter Dickie Leadership Bursary.
In my first blog I talked about connecting with youth centres in Singapore. I also had the opportunity to hear first hand about how young people are being empowered to create their own solutions.
YOUNG PEOPLE RE-WRITING THE RULES FOR ONLINE SAFETY
While services are creating welcoming physical environments for young people, two youth-led initiatives are campaigning hard to ensure safe and inclusive digital spaces for their peers.
Project Get Flamed! is the brainchild of Muhammad Syazan Saad and Hannah Batrisyia, two passionate youth advocates committed to improving mental health and cyber wellness among young people.
The duo developed Project Get Flamed! to tackle toxic gaming culture. With the tagline ‘Building safe spaces, empowering game changers’, the initiative has reached over 1,800 youths through school programmes, conferences, and public events.
The programme, run by youth volunteers aged 17 to 25, is offered free to schools.
Looking ahead, Project Get Flamed! plans to expand its reach by launching a Discord server in the coming year, creating a safe digital space for youth gamers to connect. ‘We often see toxic in-game behaviour being brought into the real world. We want to build a digital space where like-minded people can game together,’ said Syazan.
YOUTHTECHSG
Another similar initiative is YouthTechSG, Singapore’s largest youth-led tech movement. Founded in 2019, YouthTechSG focuses on helping young people navigate the digital world, building their tech confidence and literacy, and cultivating the next generation of digital leaders.
Law students Beatrice Tan and Zoe Toh are among the committed volunteers driving this mission. Their advocacy has reached national platforms and even the global stage, with Beatrice speaking at a United Nations meeting in New York. ‘I would like to see more corporations and professionals trust us as young people to make decisions and really listen to our voices,’ said Beatrice.
Zoe shared with me the importance of making the internet safer and more equitable, ‘If we are using the same spaces, we should be equally informed.’ Their work exemplifies how young people are not just adapting to digital change but actively leading it.
STRONG GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
It’s not just young people advocating for safer digital practices; the Singapore government is equally committed to this important cause.
At Singapore’s 60th National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate children’s access to social media, aiming to keep them safe online while still letting them enjoy the benefits of digital tools. This balance of safety and empowerment reflects a thoughtful digital strategy.
One thing that really struck me in Singapore was how seriously it invests in youth people. It’s not just funding; but a clear belief that young people matter and should be actively included in planning their future.
CAPTURING THE VOICES OF YOUNG SINGAPOREANS
Chatting with me over coffee at her office, Director of Youth Engagement at the National Youth Council (NYC), Haslizah Ahmad, explained that NYC was set up by the Singapore government in 1989 as the national agency dedicated to youth development and engagement. It undertakes regular consultations and research with young people and involves them in policy-making.
Last year it organised the inaugural Youth Policy Forum, held at the impressive Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. Over 1,000 young people attended the forum to listen and contribute to policy recommendations put forth by their peers.
This year, one of NYC’s key priorities is organising a year-long series of engagement events to capture the voices of young Singaporeans and shaping actionable recommendations in SG Youth Plan on how they can be supported to be the best versions of themselves.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM SINGAPORE HERE IN WALES?
This has been such an informative trip to Singapore. I saw young leaders paving the way, driving the conversations and getting the support they need to come up with real solutions. I saw youth services receiving backing to make a real difference for those who need it most. I saw governmental commitment and investment in involving young people in policy-making. I saw young people being empowered to express themselves, grow in confidence, and develop valuable skills.
Across all levels, the government, community groups, and youth are joining forces to make their vision for the future a reality. The lessons from Singapore reaffirm the importance of investing in youth as partners in change.
Great things are happening here too in Wales. But we can go further by investing more and making it the norm for young people to have real power in decisions that affect them.
FIND OUT MORE
ProMo Cymru specialises in youth work, service design, and co-production. We focus on improving the lives and experiences of children and young people in Wales.
If you’d like to know how we can help you do this, talk to us: cindy@promo.cymru.
More on this: https://wcva.cymru/views/exploring-youth-work-in-singapore/