NYC Expands Leadership Programs to Youths Aged 16-24, Empowering Them to Shape Singapore’s Future

SINGAPORE — The Singapore government is expanding training and mentorship opportunities for youths as part of a larger initiative to encourage greater civic participation and self-initiated projects. To empower young people who want to have a stronger voice in shaping Singapore’s future, the government aims to institutionalize youth involvement in policymaking, ensuring their proposals are considered at a national level.

During a parliamentary session on March 6, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong announced that the National Youth Council (NYC) will extend its leadership programs to include individuals aged 16 to 24, previously focused on those between 25 and 35 years old. One key initiative is the expansion of the flagship Our Singapore Leadership Programme (OSLP) to Secondary 4 student leaders from all Ministry of Education schools and madrasahs. This initiative helps develop leadership skills, foster understanding of national issues, and promote peer-led actions.

A pilot OSLP for 53 Secondary 4 and madrasah students took place in December, including visits to notable places such as the Sembcorp Floating Solar Farm. The next edition of the program is slated for December 2023, with student leaders from various backgrounds participating.

Tong also shared plans for a new leadership program for students in institutes of higher learning, to be launched in mid-2023. This expansion comes in response to the growing interest among Singaporean youth in policymaking, as revealed through the Forward Singapore engagement exercise.

Additionally, the Mentoring SG office, established in December 2022, will work with schools, businesses, and organizations to foster youth mentorship through an online platform, continuing the work initiated by the Mentoring Alliance for Action.

Urban spaces like the Somerset Belt and Outward Bound Singapore’s (OBS) Coney Island campus will also be renewed to further engage young people, offering spaces for them to participate in programs and activities that encourage community involvement and leadership development.

These initiatives reflect Singapore’s continued commitment to nurturing its next generation of leaders by giving them opportunities to make meaningful contributions to society and policymaking.