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SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Youth Council hopes to form more partnerships with organisations, both local and abroad, to develop long-term volunteerism projects.
This comes as the Council celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Youth Expedition Project (YEP). The project's job is to get young people to do volunteer work.
The event also recognises the role of the YEP in helping young people take that big step out of their comfort zones to venture overseas and make a difference in the lives of others.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan calls it the flagship national youth volunteer programme. He said many youths have been equipped and empowered to champion social causes and be a part of the solution to social needs.
More than 20,000 young volunteers have been sent to ASEAN, China and India to implement over 900 community based service-learning projects
Dr Balakrishnan said: "It has been an effective vehicle for idealistic, confident and caring young people to identify community needs and implement practical solutions on the ground. In a sense, these are really journeys of self discovery.
"I am pleased to note that over 90 per cent of participants have found the YEP experience a transformational one, and many have indicated that it has sparked a desire to contribute and participate in community work."
Dr Balakrishnan said beyond encouraging volunteerism overseas, the strong emphasis that YEP has placed on local community involvement has helped participants develop a better appreciation for the policies, systems and ways of life here.
He said they also become more sensitive to the needs of the less privileged.
"Through local service-learning community projects, both before and after their trips, participants were challenged to apply their learning experience in both local and overseas setting. This is what we wish to see in more young Singaporeans. Our youths, who will be our future leaders, should not just be smart and successful, but they should also be idealistic, compassionate and practical," he said.
- CNA/sc
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