MCCY partners The Straits Times to train youths in impact journalism

Ms Irene Ng, Vice-President of ST editorial project in SPH
Ms Serene Goh, Editor of ST In and Little Red Dot
My colleagues in NYC
Our distinguished judges
Ladies and gentlemen

1. A very good afternoon to everyone.
   

2. I want to thank the ten teams for the excellent work, the judges who have a very tough job to do, and of course our trainer, Chris, who flew all the way from Miami. And our friends from ST, I know you guys put in months of hard work, and have been guiding the teams. So on behalf of MCCY, I want to say a big thank you to all of you for being part of this inaugural Idea Jam, co-organised by the Straits Times and MCCY.
   

3. We know that for youth these days, there are many things competing for your time and attention. The fact that you have given five days out of this week (for this programme), says a lot about your commitment and your passion to give back, so once again, kudos to all of you.

4. This is the first time that MCCY is partnering the Straits Times to develop this project – Idea Jam, which is really about training our youth in impact journalism. Through this initiative, we really hope to empower our youths' voices and actions. So, deep gratitude to the friends in ST, shifu or mentors, who committed time to guide these teams along, until they can get the grant.
   

5. We also want to say a big thank you to Chris, who has done a really outstanding job. Our friends in ST newsroom told me that the one-day crash course was a wonderful refresher course. I also want to say thank you to Laremy, who has to step up as our emcee today. I know you have also worked very hard these few days writing those scripts.

6. Our judges, you have been speaking in Simon in X-factor! I want to say a very big thank you to Mr Muhammad Nabil, Mr David Tay, Mr Hosea Lai and Ms Serene Goh! I am very sure your stories will inspire actions and change in your readers.
   

7. Through this workshop, many of you have shared with me earlier that you have learned from Chris and your shifu, how to develop innovative solutions. Now the question is to test it, and test it with the stakeholders to make sure you can affect a positive change.
   

8. I have learnt so much through your elevator speech. I really like the toilet one – very succinct. We were saying that if you design a logo, that will make a very nice slogan. Projects like what you have articulated, we feel that they have great potential to make a lasting impact and I think that is the real intent of Idea Jam. Not to just stop the journey here, but today is the beginning of a wonderful journey of volunteerism, which we hope will be your lifelong endeavour. We hope that you will come back, the four teams (who didn't get the grant today) don't be disheartened. What I am going to say may sound cliché, but we really feel that everyone is a winner! The four teams, our judges have already agreed to mentor you, and in fact I think you have a better deal – you get more time with the judges and your mentors, to get the grant and to effect the projects.
   

9. I hope that everyone who has taken part in this inaugural Idea Jam will continue to take your plans further, actualise it, and effect the positive change that you have envisioned. Every one of us has a part to play, to make Singapore more inclusive and caring. I have a simple mantra that I've always reminded myself to stay true to – Dare to dream, dare to do.
   

10. On behalf of MCCY, thank you once again and have a good weekend.