Singapore remains committed to youth engagement and engagement within ASEAN

Honourable Chairman,
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, 
Excellencies, 
Distinguished Delegates, 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Please allow me to begin by congratulating Brunei Darussalam for assuming the Chairmanship of ASEAN this year. My heartiest congratulations to Mr Chairman, H.E. Pehin Dato Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, for assuming Chair of the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY VIII). I would also like to thank the Government of Brunei for hosting AMMY VIII and for extending a very warm welcome and hospitality to the Singapore delegation. Terima Kasih (Thank you).
   

Theme of AMMY VIII

2. Our vision of a single ASEAN Community in 2015 is almost upon us. As part of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, we are tasked with building an ASEAN community for our people – particularly our young people - to thrive in. But we are not alone in this endeavour. Youths today are more educated and connected than ever before in our history. Riding on boundless energies and passion, many young people are creating waves of positive change in their communities.

3. The theme for this year's AMMY, “Young People – Building Tomorrow's ASEAN Today” cannot be more timely. It addresses the critical role of today's youths in developing the ASEAN that we desire to live, work, and play in. It also signals our commitment to support our young people with the resources and opportunities to shape the future of ASEAN here and now - an ASEAN they will inherit, continue to build upon, and eventually hand over to the generation thereafter.
   

Inspiring Youth in Singapore

4. In Singapore, we want to create a home with our young people – a home where their voices can be heard, and where they can pursue their dreams and fulfil their aspirations and potential.

5. We provide spaces for youths to interact and express themselves. *SCAPE is one such youth space in Singapore which draws in a buzz of youth activities, from hip-hop dancing, to bustling flea-markets that sell creative wares made by youths for youths. Last year, *SCAPE reached out to over 45,000 youths through its programmes, and nurtured over 15 youth interest groups such as dancers, skateboarders, cheerleaders, and local musicians. This year, *SCAPE has launched even more initiatives to support and celebrate youth aspirations in sports, arts, and community contribution. Last year, Singapore was privileged to hosted a Bruneian delegation to visit *SCAPE to witness the vibrant youth scene in Singapore. We would be happy to host other ASEAN Member States who are interested to visit *SCAPE, and we welcome your visit to *SCAPE so that you have the opportunity to witness how young people get themselves together to create a vibrant youth scene in Singapore.

6. Besides spaces, today's youths are also more articulated and passionate about the causes they wish to pursue. Singapore provides diverse opportunities for young people to engage in dialogue with national leaders on issues that concern the young people themselves. Concurrently, these platforms allow us to share with our young people the rationale and perspectives behind policy decisions. One such platform launched in Singapore in 2012 is “INSPIRIT”, which brings together young leaders who advocate and champion youth causes on national and community interests and issues. These youth leaders are invited from the people and private sectors to work with our National Youth Council through a series of learning journeys, discussions and community projects. INSPIRIT is one of the many ways we hope to engage and involve our young people in co-creating our society because this society belongs to them, where they take charge in creating our future.

7. Our youths are also becoming more involved in social entrepreneurship. They desire to make something of their pursuits, not just for personal satisfaction, but for societal good. In this regard, we have various grant schemes to support our young people and youth sector organisations at their different stages of development. For example, the Youth Expedition Project (YEP) and the Young ChangeMakers (YCM) are two of our key initiatives supporting young people in community projects, both locally and abroad. Two months ago, we (the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth) also decided to establish a $100 million National Youth Fund (NYF) to better support our youth sector organisations in their efforts to engage our young people. The National Youth Fund would also be a significant boost for our youths to drive ground-up initiatives for their respective communities. By partnering with our young people and youth sector partners, community organisations and passionate youth leaders, we hope to bring out the Best of our Youths and develop a vibrant, dynamic youth culture in Singapore.
   

Inspiring Youth in ASEAN

8. Regionally, Singapore remains committed to youth engagement and development within ASEAN. Since 2007, the Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund (SAYF) has supported 62 ASEAN youth projects to increase regional interaction and understanding among the young people in our region. For example, the YMCA Regional Youth Conference held last year drew 209 participants who were passionate in building a community of caring societies through pledging work hours, and promoting an ASEAN identity through the showcase of cultures and talent performance. I hope that more youths will step forward to utilise the Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund (SAYF) to materialise their visions and projects that they want to do for the greater good of the youth sector in ASEAN.

9. We also encourage more youth exchanges where good ideas can be shared and implemented back home. In 2012, we hosted the 2nd ASEAN Children's Forum based on the theme, “LEAD”, which stands for Learn, Express, Act and Dream. At the Forum, delegates aged 12 to 18 years old had discussed several issues, including the right to development and to express their opinions.
   

Youth: Today's Problem Solvers For A Better Tomorrow

10. I remember very clearly that Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”. I couldn't agree more with the statement of Winston Churchill. All of us see the value of our young people for what they are today. They have the potential to be today's problem solvers, and they need to know that they have the power to change things if they give themselves for the causes they believe in. Therefore, it is our duty as governments of this region to bring out the best in our youths – for the good of ASEAN. With our continued support and partnership through important platforms like this, I am confident that our youths will have the determination and capability to lead the region towards a brighter tomorrow for all of us in Southeast Asia. On this note, thank you Chairman for giving me the opportunity to speak.

11. Terima Kasih (Thank you).