1. “Sports beyond 2010” (Download research pack) Context: Next year July, Singapore would be hosting the ASEAN Youth Games and following that the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. Singapore has already begun work on providing top class facilities and services for the upcoming events. The question however, is not whether the facilities and services would be completed on time but rather on sports culture in Singapore.
Will there be a continuum of the sports culture and sports spirit once the events come to an end and the anticipation and excitement dies down? Will we be able to leverage on these events to revive the same national spirit that we saw in the years of the Singapore Malaysian Cup? What can youths do to encourage the development of our youth talents in sports? Are the media blasts on sports effective or can we do more?
2. “Expressions – Yours or Mine” (Download research pack) Context: Many a times, we have heard the words, ‘Freedom of expression’. But what does it mean in today’s high tech world? With new devices such as citizen journalism, online blogging and new media, the term freedom of expression has become a double- edged sword. Does it cost to practice freedom of expression in Singapore?
Even with channels such as new media and citizen journalism, are we truly allowed to express our views? Are we ready for the new boundaries that new media sets? How accountable should people be for their choice of expression?
3. “Education For All” (Download research pack) Context: Singapore has been in the forefront in trying to provide a holistic, qualified and equal education to its citizens. Singapore’s education system has been often lauded overseas while more often lambasted at home for its actual or perceived inadequacies. The system is sometimes described as a manufacturing process.
But the real question is, what does education really mean to Singaporean youth?With constant revision and introduction to the education system, are we truly bettering or worsening the quality of education?
Is our education system becoming more elitist in nature? Is the education machinery producing marketable graduates? Singapore practices meritocracy, giving people equal chances in terms of education. But is being meritocracy the way to go or is it widening the education gap even further? Do the products of our system reflect the desired outcomes of our education?
4. “Taking It Green” (Download research pack) Context: Our urban planning has been one of the most highly regarded in the world and a much sought-after model for many of the world's developing countries. The green factor is one of the reasons why the thousands of visitors that throng our streets every day remember us when they return home. Singapore has gone even further to answer the call of global warming by taking appropriate measures. Efforts such as bringing your own shopping bag instead of using plastic bags, using the media to teach people how to save energy and rewarding them when they reduce electrical energy by giving them a chance to win a hybrid car, has set to encourage people to go green.
The question however is, are we truly green? Can Singapore do more? Can one of Singapore’s driving industry, tourism expand on Eco- tourism? How can youth in particular help in this issue?
To many of us, it is a health issue that needs to be addressed but the key question is, what does this tell us about how sex is viewed by youth in Singapore? If more of such problems are rising then are we really giving the proper form of education to our youth on the issue of sex? Is sex just a private issue or has it become a social issue?
Singapore is slowly opening up to new social identities. In that case are we given the freedom to uncover our own sexuality despite what has been taught to us? What are the consequences if we choose our own sexuality? Is society still as discriminatory as it has been before? What are our youth’s view on the issue of sexuality?
The National Youth Forum (NYF) was initiated by the National Youth Council (NYC) in 2004 to address PM Lee Hsien Loong’s call to enhance the level of youth civic participation in Singapore. It has since been held biannually in 2006 and 2008.
In essence, the NYF is a formal platform for youth to understand how national policies are made; be exposed to different perspectives on national issues, debate about youth-related issues; and spearhead and implement initiatives that benefit the community at large.
This year’s topics were chosen with the youth in mind – Issues that youth have a stake in.
The 5 broad topics are: 1. Sports Beyond 2010 (Sports)
2. Expressions - Yours or Mine? (Media)
3. Education For All (Education)
4. Taking It Green (Environment)
5. Sex: Lies and Reality (Health)
This blog serves as a place where resource information on each of these topics can be shared and discussed.
For the sake of accountability of posts, please identify yourself with your real name when posting up on the chatbox. Any post that is anonymously written will be treated as spam and deleted. Thanks for your understanding. :)
