Develop youth rangers as future leaders

Mr Daniel Ang, Chairman of Care Corner Singapore Ltd

Youth Rangers, and your families and friends,

Distinguished community partners and guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I am very happy to join you this afternoon for the official launch of Care Corner's Youth Rangers programme.
   

2. First piloted in 2008, the Youth Rangers programme has proved to be a good avenue to engage our youths.
   

3. As part of the programme, the Youth Rangers go for leadership training and outdoor adventure camps and attend  study support and character development workshops; they also do local and overseas service learning projects.

4. I think this is a great programme as it builds character, teaches useful life skills, and gives youths the opportunity to serve a local or overseas community. I understand Care Corner has reviewed and improved the Youth Rangers programme earlier this year, and I am happy to be here to launch this new and improved version of the programme.
   

5. The Youth Rangers programme has already proven its success. Out of the 74 Youth Rangers who have come through the programme so far, 11 have achieved the bronze, silver or gold awards in the National Youth Achievement Awards. So with the enhancements, I'm sure there'll be even better achievements and results.
   

6. To illustrate the impact of the Youth Rangers Programme, let me share a story about one of the youths in the pilot batch, Tan Chow Ken. Chow Ken was a troubled youth, making friends with gang members, and picking up their behaviours. He got into all kinds of trouble in school, for being rude to teachers, fighting and smoking.
   

7. In secondary two, at the invitation of some classmates, he joined the activities conducted at CROSSROAD Youth Centre, which is managed by Care Corner Family Service Centre (Admiralty). Initially, Chow Ken found that he was not popular with other youth members, as his constant use of vulgarities and aggressive behaviour led to several confrontations with others. However, with the guidance of the centre's youth workers, Chow Ken slowly learnt to deal with his anger management issues, and began to pick up leadership skills. He enjoyed the Centre's programmes, and a year later he was commissioned as a Youth Ranger Youth lieutenant. A few years later, when he was at ITE, he stayed on at the youth centre to volunteer as an Exco (executive committee) member, leading and mentoring other youths.
   

8. The life lessons he has learnt from the programme have helped him tremendously. When serving his National Service, Chow Ken did well in his BMT and was his company's Best Recruit. He was selected for Specialist Cadet School (SCS), and upon graduation clinched the Silver Bayonet Award as the company's second best cadet.
   

9. From a troubled youth to a leader of men, Chow Ken's life has been transformed in large part by Care Corner's Youth Rangers programme and the persistent youth workers who nurtured and believed in him. To the youth workers tirelessly working to nurture and transform our troubled youth, I offer my heartfelt thanks.
   

10. Youth Rangers like Chow Ken not only have their lives transformed, but go on to make a difference in their community, and help the less fortunate. This philosophy of developing our youths and then encouraging them to pay it forward is one key reason the enhanced Youth Rangers programme is supported by the National Youth Fund. We are happy to support Care Corner in developing youths and then encouraging them to contribute their skills and talents to the community.
    

11. MCCY and the National Youth Council have created opportunities for youths to give back to the community, as well as receive further development and experience in the process.
    

12. One way is through the new National Youth Internship Programme, which mainly targets youths around 16 years of age. Under the NYIP, youths can be paid a stipend and attached to a community organisation for a few months. This gives them valuable work experience while they contribute back to the community. For youths who have a few months to spare while waiting for your exam results, this is a good opportunity to gain life and work experience.
    

13. Another platform to serve the community is the Youth Corps, which is a one-year part-time programme, mainly aimed at youths in tertiary institutions, such as ITE, Polytechnic or University.
    

14. Under the Youth Corps programme, the youths go through a 5-day OBS induction, and are provided with skills training on leadership and problem solving. They are teamed up with fellow passionate youths and matched with a community organisation to tackle a social issue in a meaningful and impactful way. The pilot batch of Youth Corps youths started in June this year, and they are working on a range of community projects.
    

15. For those who have completed your Youth Rangers programme, I welcome you to apply for the Youth Internship Programme or the Youth Corps.
    

16. Today, I am most delighted to share in the joy and excitement of our Youth Rangers, who will be commissioned and promoted to the next level to continue their journey of discovery. It is indeed a proud moment for the families and friends here who have come to witness the event and support your loved ones.
    

17. I encourage you, Youth Rangers, to hold steadfast to your values of Integrity, Compassion, Authenticity, Respect and Excellence. You have come far, but there is still more to learn. As you continue through the programme, do so with a spirit of humility and service, and always remember to give back to society. Today is your commissioning; it is also the start of a lifelong journey to build character and leadership. So I wish you all the best in this exciting journey to becoming our future leaders and pillars of society.
    

18. Thank you.