ON DEFINITIONS
01. Who is a youth?
A: The National Youth Council's working definition of youth encompasses those between the ages of 15 and 30.
02. What is a youth organisation?
A: A youth organisation is one that serves the needs or interests of youth via activities, programmes or services.
03. What is youth development?
A: Youth development is defined as "the ongoing process in which all young people are engaged and invested. Through youth development, young people attempt to meet their basic personal and social needs and to build competencies necessary for successful adolescent and adult life. It is an approach, framework, a way to think about young people that focuses on their capacities, strengths, and developmental needs and on their weaknesses and problems.
All young people have basic needs that are critical to survival and healthy development. They include a sense of safety and structure; belonging and membership; self-worth and an ability to contribute; independence and control over one's life; closeness and several good relationships; and competency and mastery. At the same time, to succeed as adults, all youth must acquire positive attitudes and appropriate behaviors and skills in five areas: health; personal/social; knowledge, reasoning and creativity; vocation; and citizenship."
(Source: Making the Case: Community Foundations and Youth Development, Bonnie Politz, Senior Program Officer, Academy for Educational Development, Center for Youth Development & Policy Research, Foundations for Change, 1996, 2nd Edition.) NYC'S ROLE
01. What is the NYC's role in youth development in Singapore?
A: NYC seeks to :
Prepare youth to become world-ready through youth development programmes, international exposure, and research on youth and youth-related issues;
Co-ordinate innovative programmes and approaches to reclaim youth-at-risk; and
Grow youth organisations in Singapore through funding support, guidance and connecting them with one another and youth organisations overseas.
02. I am a youth, and would like to be involved in the youth scene. How do I get involved?
A: We encourage you to join the appropriate interest groups at Youthopia, a youth organisation housed at the Youth Hub. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, there are opportunities galore at the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre website.
03. How can the NYC help strengthen my Youth Organisation and increase our outreach to young Singaporeans?
A: The NYC provides support to youth organisations in terms of funding for projects and has implemented various schemes to enhance a youth organisation's capability. The NYC also links interested local youth organisations to foreign youth sector agencies, with the ultimate objective of nurturing world-ready youth. For more details, please check out Funds & Grants, and International Partnerships.
04. What is the difference between NYC and a youth organisation?
A: The NYC is the national coordinating body for youth affairs in Singapore. As a national body, the NYC initiates, funds, facilitates, develops and co-ordinates national programmes in support of youth organisations to create a vibrant, highly-connected and self-sustaining youth sector.
While youth organisations have a direct outreach to youths, the NYC develops an enabling environment for youth organisations and other stakeholders to enhance their outreach and impact.
Here are some youth organisations that have received support from the NYC through the Youth Organisation Capability Development Fund (YOCDF) :
The Boys' Brigade in Singapore - recipient of the Youth Development Tools and Curriculum Scheme. BB has taken the leap in the 21st Century with its BB21 Development Plan which strives to put in place 150 enrolled companies with 10,000 officers and boys by 1 January 2006. With the assistance of the Youth Development Tools and Curriculum Scheme, BB will conduct a comprehensive programme review to keep its curriculum, activities and training methods relevant to the needs and interests of today's youth. The outreach of this programme is expected to extend to Southeast Asia, strengthening current companies in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand.
Girl Guides Singapore - recipient of the Youth Organisation Development Scheme, to assess the structure and workflow of the organisation. This would ensure that current programmes and outreach strategies would be executed efficiently, with maximum impact and thus achieving the desired outcomes of developing the potential of young girls and women in Singapore.
Heartware Network - recipient of the Young Social Entrepreneur Incubator Scheme. Originally housed at the InQBuzz at the Orchard Youth Park, Heartware Network has since graduated to their new office space at China Square Central. This scheme nurtures promising new players or start-ups in youth services or youth development. With assistance through this scheme, Heartware Network has, since its inception, set up a network of HeartCore youth clubs in institutions of learning, worked with community partners to organise annual Make A Difference (MAD) Movements and developed curriculum for training volunteers as mentors and facilitators.
ON THE YOUTH SECTOR IN SINGAPORE
01. Where can I find information on youth organisations in Singapore?
A: We have a listing of Youth Organisations at the Youth Community page.
FAQs ON YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES
01. How can I be involved in overseas community service projects?
A:
You may look for more information on Youth Expedition Projects here.
02. What are the international youth programmes that the NYC co-ordinates or collaborates with other partners?
A: Some of the programmes we work in collaboration with or help co-ordinate are the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP), Commonwealth Youth Programmes, IATSS Forum, and other ASEAN youth exchanges.
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