A platform for volunteering and making a difference in multiple ways, Youth Corps Singapore turned 10 on July 6, and founder Lawrence Wong joined the celebrations, praising “the energy, passion and idealism of our youths”.
Wong, now the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Singapore, had established Youth Corps Singapore in 2014, when he had the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth portfolio.
In a series of captioned photos posted on X, the prime minister outlined the journey of Youth Corps Singapore since its inception: “I remember meeting the first batch of 90 Youth Corps members in 2014… When we first started, I wasn’t sure of the response… Now we’ve grown to over 30,000 members…”
Explaining what this organisation does, the Youth Corps Singapore website said: “A division under the National Youth Council, we empower and support youths, aged 15 to 35, to ignite positive change in society through community service. We do this by catalysing meaningful collaborations between youths, the social service sector and society.”
I remember meeting the first batch of 90 Youth Corps volunteers in Ubin (OBS) in 2014. Now, Youth Corps has over 30,000 members contributing to mental health, elderly care, environmental sustainability, and special needs. I am heartened by the energy, passion and idealism of our youths. By stepping forward and making a difference, you can help shape a brighter and more inclusive Singapore. Happy 10th anniversary, Youth Corps!
Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Singapore, and former Minister of Culture, Community and Youth
Today, the Facebook page of Youth Corps Singapore highlighted moments from the carnival held to mark the 10th anniversary. The accompanying post said: “It has been an unforgettable day as we celebrated a decade of Youth Corps Singapore at the Youth Corps Singapore’s 10th Anniversary Carnival on 06 July at @scapesg.”
*SCAPE is a registered charity in Singapore that “engages and nurtures youth by developing their talents”.
The Facebook post said: “From showcasing the incredible work of our 24 clusters, affiliates, and community partners, to igniting the spirit of adventure with teams at The Somerville Adventure alongside @pepperthedinosaur, to reminiscing the past 10 years on the photo wall and enjoying fantastic performances and engaging mass games — the energy and enthusiasm were truly remarkable.
“Your support and participation have been instrumental in making this event a resounding success. We are grateful for your cheers and dancing along with us to a Good Time!
“We are immensely proud of Youth Corps Singapore’s journey and are thrilled that our paths have crossed. Let’s continue to partner together and do even more good in our communities.
“Looking forward to seeing all of you again at The Red Box and our upcoming programmes!”
The carnival was attended by PM Lawrence Wong and Singapore ministers Edwin Tong, Grace Fu, Alvin Tan, and Rahayu Mahzam.
Quoting PM Wong on youth-oriented plans, The Straits Times reported: “He said the Government is developing more avenues for youth participation, such as the Youth Panels — panels led by young people to discuss issues they care about and to suggest recommendations on how the nation can do better.”
Main activity areas of Youth Corps Singapore are:
- Environment
- Arts and Heritage
- Children & Family
- Seniors
- Youth
- Special Needs
From internship to leadership, Youth Corps Singapore offers a wide range of personal growth opportunities while volunteering. It also allows the youth to initiate community programmes. Participants are invited to be prepared with their project ideas, and get help from Youth Corps consultants to implement their projects.
