Youths come together under SG Youth Action Plan to envision future of Singapore

• More than 100 youths came together to kick off engagements under the SG Youth Action Plan, to envision the future of Singapore in 2025.

• A panel of 16 members, co-ledby Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, and co-founder and CEO of Timbre Group Edward Chia, will be engaging youths to develop the SG Youth Action Plan.

• The transformation of Somerset Belt is a key project under the SG Youth Action Plan.

1. More than 100 youths kicked off the engagements under the SG Youth Action Plan, to envision the future of Singapore in 2025. The SG Youth Action Plan is a platform for Singapore's youths to shape their vision for the country, and develop plans for youth, community organisations, businesses and the Government to realise this vision together.

2. Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Communications and Information, attended the engagement at The Red Box. She said, “The ideas, energy and passion of our youth will spark the next version of Singapore. The SG Youth Action Plan is how we will help our youths be heard, be empowered, and be the change that makes Singapore an even better home – not just for young people but for all age groups.”

3. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) unveiled the 14 panel members who will spearhead the Plan. The panel is co-led by Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Timbre Group Edward Chia. The panel also includes a diverse group of youth leaders, entrepreneurs and influencers (see

   Annex A [PDF, 265 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab)

    for more information). Panellists will actively engage Singaporean youth in the envisioning process, recommend policies, and champion projects to create positive impact.

4. The SG Youth Action Plan will build on insights gained from Youth Conversations held throughout 2018, where more than 8,000 youths shared their perspectives on issues which mattered to them. Topics such as narratives of success, social inclusivity, environmental sustainability and mental well-being were among the top concerns of Singaporean youths.

5. Findings from Youth Conversations revealed that young Singaporeans are not apathetic; they aspire to make a difference, and want to be engaged through different modalities¹. This paves the way for the Plan to move beyond conversation to action. 

6. Mr Chia added, “These are exciting times for youths in Singapore. The opportunity to co-create a purposeful narrative for our collective future is real and within our grasp. The SG Youth Action Plan will take ideas into action so that genuine value can be created for a better Singapore.”

7. Today's engagement saw participants explore different possibilities in Singapore's future, share their views on what Singapore could be like in 2025, and identify the values which would bring Singaporeans together. The envisioning process will continue till July 2019 through both offline and online channels. Online discussions will be hosted on a new civic participation platform, co-developed by NUS Enterprise and MCCY.

8. Youth will have the opportunity to realise their vision through projects and engagements on policy recommendations from August 2019 to March 2020.

Somerset Belt

1. A key project under the SG Youth Action Plan is the transformation of Somerset Belt, which has been designated as an area with a strong youth focus as part of the longer term plans for Orchard Road. The Belt is set to become a vibrant and inclusive district that brings together youth organisations, businesses, and service providers to support youth aspirations and grow youth communities.

2. This effort to develop a masterplan for Somerset Belt will be led by a working panel, co-chaired by Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Transport Baey Yam Keng and Chief Commercial Officer of Love, Bonito, Dione Song. (See

   Annex B [PDF, 266 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab)

    for more information).

3. For more information, please contact:

   Mr Edward Poh

   Corporate Communications Division, MCCY
   

   Edward_POH@mccy.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)

   
   Tel: 6837 9709

   Mr Wong Ruqin
   Corporate Communications Division, MCCY
   

   Ruqin_WONG@mccy.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)

   
   Tel: 6837 9812

¹ Youth Conversations Publication, issued by the National Youth Council in March 2019.