A camp to prepare our youth for their future

Dr Ho Yew Kee, President of The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore

Mr David Chan Chairman of Camp Temasek VI for Juniors

Mr Ho Yew Keong Chairman of Camp Temasek VI for Seniors

Officers and members of The Boys’ Brigade

Distinguished Guests

Parents,Teachers and Students,

1. A very good afternoon to all of you. I am very happy to join you this afternoon for the Camp Temasek VI, for two reasons:

   • a) I had a really good experience with you boys last year, and I am very glad to be back here again.

   • b) And the second reason why I say it is good to be back - I get very fidgety when I see your video montage. Back in my school days, I was a girl guide! I remember going through some of those stuff, such as overcoming the high elements. Why I am highlighting this? In 10, 20 years later, you will look back at this camp being a very key milestone in your life because of all the friendships that you build now, from the same or different schools, and from other countries.

2. I was told that this camp is not organised every year, but every five years. I am humbled to be part of this journey. I want to thank the hardworking organising committee for putting this together.

3. This year’s camp is a special one because it coincides with our SG50 celebrations. Apart from the programmes that you have gone through, I know you will find elements that help you reflect on our past, to celebrate what we have today – not to take things for granted, and to look forward. You, as future leaders of Singapore, we hope that you see this as a mission, to collectively make Singapore a better place for all of us.

Mr Lee’s spirit of service

4. In fact, looking and planning for tomorrow was always foremost in the minds of our founding fathers. I think a lot of you will remember that the last week of March this year was a very difficult time for Singapore, because we bid farewell to Singapore’s founding father, our late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I understand that you were at the Marina Barrage yesterday. In fact, this whole project was Mr Lee’s idea. Let me quickly share a little bit of the history with you. Many decades ago, Mr Lee and his founding team had always fretted about Singapore’s water sufficiency. Marina Barrage is a very key solution. Mr Lee came up with this idea of having Marina Barrage as Singapore’s fifteenth reservoir. He had the idea of creating this freshwater reservoir by building a dam at the mouth of the Marina channel. While running water from our taps may be a given today, it should never be taken for granted. Self-sufficiency in our water supply is of strategic importance to us, and this was always foremost in the late Mr Lee’s mind. With this as an example, his legacy and love for Singapore was what drove thousands of Singaporeans to queue up, to pay our last respect to him.

5. It is therefore appropriate that thousands showed up this year to pay their respect to Mr Lee, who cared so much for Singapore and Singaporeans. Many waited in line for hours, just to enter Parliament House to bid farewell to our Founding Prime Minister. I trust that our boys in BB and all of us will continue to be inspired by Mr Lee’s unwavering spirit of service and his values, and do more to give back to our community. “It is in giving that we receive.” Not necessarily money, but time and effort. Whether you are volunteering as part of CIP in school or as part of BB’s community service projects, you will realise that when you put a smile on someone’s face, because you bring joy to someone, you also bring joy to yourself.

Giving back to the community

6. In my ministry, I come from Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, we have various platforms to support youth who have an interest to serve the community. BB was involved in National Youth Internship Programme (NYIP) last year. This allowed our BB boys, even after Secondary 4 and 5, to continue stay in touch with BB, and other Uniformed Groups. So I urge you boys, especially the seniors, to join NYIP.

Start of a regional friendship

7. To our friends from overseas, thank you for being part of this journey with us. I trust that you are making new friends and learning more about Singapore. To our fellow Singaporeans here, we should not just be a good host, but also take the opportunity to learn more about our ASEAN countries. This bond of friendship will serve you well throughout your lifetime.

8. I understand that besides Nurul, you will also meet some of our Team Singapore later. How many of you have watched the SEA Games? I was there for two weeks, cheering on our 747 athletes. They have done us very proud at this 28th SEA Games, winning 259 medals for Singapore. But medals aside, what I focused on is their display of grit and tenacity. I hope these are values that you will also take on board.

9. Earlier, Nurul also mentioned that the 8th ASEAN Para Games will also be held in December this year. I hope you will ask your daddy and mummy along to support the games together. Our para-athletes, including those from the South-east Asia countries, deserve our support. I don’t just say this because I am hearing it from Nurul, but I saw with my own eyes, how they flew our Singapore flags overseas. In September last year, I went to Incheon Korea to support them. If you see, for example the swimmers, how they climb out of the pool with just one arm or one leg, it will give you a renew sense of perspective.

10. Lastly, it is Father’s Day tomorrow. Can all the boys join me in saying a very “Happy Father’s Day” to all our fathers in this hall!

11. With this, I wish that you continue to stay safe at this camp, and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Thank you.