SINGAPORE : More "at risk" youth are channelling their energy
into the performing arts through the RoundBox community project,
which hopes to help them cope with their growing pains by having
them take up creative pastimes.
They are called youth "at risk" because they are bored and
restless; without the right influence they may go
astray.
Watching them perform, you would never guess they were once wayward
teens.
Angela was hooked on drugs and she had dropped out of school; Jing
Kai was hanging out at shopping malls; and SV was shoplifting until
he was arrested and ordered to go for counselling.
Along the way, they were all introduced to RoundBox, a community
project that helps to take such wayward teens off the street and
away from bad influences, and teaches them performing arts like
mime, dance, music or even circus acts.
"By engaging them in the arts, it helps them channel their energies
into fun but meaningful pursuits. It allows participants to develop
confidence in themselves and to create friendships," said Acting
Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
"It's changed my life. Now I'm a good person and I listen to what
they say. I have a new life now; I'm no longer in bad company and I
feel happy," said SV.
"If I hadn't joined RoundBox, maybe I'd still be taking drugs, and
maybe I'd be dead," Angela said.
Since it was set up four years ago, RoundBox has helped some 110
youths; the worrying trend is that they are getting younger.
The youngest is just nine.
Over the next few days, a RoundBox trolley bus will travel to five
secondary schools to recruit 300 members to be part of their
performing arts team. - CNA
