SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Community
Development, Youth and Sports, Halimah Yacob, has urged young
people to take a collective step forward to contribute to
society.
She made the call at a convention for student
leaders at Hwa Chong Institution on Wednesday
morning.
Madam Halimah said student leaders should lead by
example and help pave the way for their peers to bring about change
in their schools and communities.
One avenue is through the Community Involvement Project (CIP),
which is part of the school curriculum.
"The CIP, in my view, is a useful programme, but how you
operationalise it in your schools is important. Provided you
approach it with the right attitude, and also, with the right
motivation, and you understand the purpose. It's not just a
question of chalking up the required points, but it has an
underlying objective."
Madam Halimah also stressed the importance of volunteer work,
saying it provides a window to the outside world for
students.
"In our schools, once you go to university, you can be very
divorced, isolated from reality. You must be able to step out of
that security, that comfort, to connect with the real world
outside. And the best way is for you to volunteer."
More than 300 student leaders from countries such as India,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Vietnam and Singapore are attending
the three-day convention.
It's a platform for them to share ideas and offer solutions on the
social challenges the world is facing.
- CNA/ck
