Building community cohesion and resilience

Mr Sahari Ani, Director, Red Cross Youth

Youth Officers,

Parents,  

Unit Leaders and Red Cross Youth Volunteers

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Good evening. I am glad to join you today at the inaugural Red Cross Youth Warrant Officers’ Initiation Ceremony 2017.

2. This evening, we mark the initiation of 73 Red Cross Youth leaders into the Warrant Officers’ Programme. Also known as WOP (read as: double-u-OH-pee), this is a programme which trains Secondary 3 leaders to become Red Cross Youth Unit Leaders in their school. Congratulations on receiving your Staff Sergeant ranks today!

Youth leaders needed to overcome today’s challenges

3. More than ever, we need youth leaders like yourselves, who are resilient, innovative and able to inspire those around you to overcome the challenges we face today. Let me briefly speak about two of them.

4. First, one of Singapore’s major challenges is our ageing population. By 2030, almost 1 in 6 Singaporeans will be a senior, aged 65 years old and above. While the government will continue to do its part to ensure that people of all ages have access to healthcare, each of us must also look out, and be willing to help others in our communities.

5.  Second, it is also important that we are ready to respond to emergencies or disasters that may strike. The SGSecure Movement aims to ensure that our community is aware, vigilant and well-equipped to respond to the threat of terrorism. Your training and experience in disaster management from the Red Cross will enable you to help your peers, family and neighbours during emergencies. And as leaders, you can influence others to look out for the vulnerable members in the community, and be resilient and ready to respond in times of crisis.

Becoming more resilient and prepared as a nation

6. Humanitarian leaders like you can strengthen community cohesion in many ways – from being caregivers to the elderly in your lives, to mastering Life Saving techniques, and advocating emergency preparedness in your community. The community-based programmes you will organise for your units are caring acts that foster trust and strengthen community bonds. And by staying strong as a caring community, we will become more resilient and prepared as a nation.

7. I encourage you to continue participating in such activities, even after graduating. MCCY is ready to support you with opportunities to contribute back to the community. For instance, you can join Youth Corps Singapore after secondary school to volunteer and further develop your leadership skills. In addition, you can seek funding from the National Youth Council to start community projects that you are passionate about, through the National Youth Fund and Young Change Makers grant.

Conclusion

8. Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the people who have helped nurture our Red Cross Youth into the leaders they are today. To the youth officers, parents, friends and mentors of these young leaders, your support has been vital in grooming the next generation of leaders for Singapore.

9. To all our Red Cross Youth Leaders – congratulations once again. This is a proud moment I share with all of you, and I wish you all the very best in your humanitarian journey ahead!

10. Thank you.