Supporting the aspirations of our youth

1. Good afternoon everyone! It is my pleasure to join you at Fairground for All, an annual outreach event by Beyond Social Services to raise awareness of how we can help vulnerable families in Singapore. I am very happy to see so many of you here today, supporting this worthy cause!

All of us have a part to play in ensuring that no one is left behind

2. As a small country with an open economy, Singapore is not immune to global forces that may widen social inequality, such as globalisation and technological disruption. As a community, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind, so that we can all progress as one people. This is also the spirit of SG Cares, a national movement to support Singaporeans in building a more caring and inclusive society.

3. Fairground for All has brought together people from all walks of life to understand more about the everyday challenges faced by vulnerable families. The event tagline, “Today's Fair Ground is Tomorrow's Level Playing Field”, calls us to be mindful of those who may need a helping hand. Through the interactive theatre performances and human library booths, you can also take the chance to exchange perspectives with fellow Singaporeans you may not otherwise encounter. I hope you will enjoy these experiences, and take the opportunity to form relationships with one another.

We will continue to work with partners like Beyond to nurture our youth

4. Social service organisations, like Beyond, play an important role in identifying needs on the ground, and rallying the community and volunteers to reach out and support those who need help. Beyond also reaches out to over 7,500 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to nurture their talents, strengthen family relationships, and foster a sense of belonging and responsibility. Your presence and support today will go towards efforts by Beyond to nurture these youths.

5. At the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth, we believe that youth play a critical role in shaping the future of our country. We work closely with partners like Beyond to support our youth, regardless of background, so that they can realise their aspirations, and give back to our society. To strengthen social cohesion, we will also continue to create more opportunities for Singaporeans to have shared experiences, whether they are participating in arts, sports or volunteering activities.

6. Finally, I would like to congratulate Beyond, who will be celebrating 50 years of community-building come August 2019. I would also like to thank Beyond, supporting partners, and all the volunteers for making this event possible. Have a great afternoon ahead!