Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manifesto NUSTLS Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manif | Page 95

Issue 16: Community Work in the Future
In looking towards the future, we can broadly tackle the issue of apathy and the effective deliverance of community work using a
three-pronged approach.
3. Develop a framework that facilitates
1. Setting the right mind set for delivering community service.
• Educators have to inculcate a stronger sense of civic responsibility that is skills–based community work alongside
premised upon ecological thinking – one that envisions society as a complex the community work that is carried out
purely motivated by emotions.
system that is rooted in relationships, connectedness and context.
• Children need to be introduced to alternative modes of thinking that enable This would require a deeper analysis of
them to see the physical and social world in a holistic manner instead of the demographics of today’s youth
separate entities that are demarcated by economic systems.
volunteers so as the make full use of their
• Time needs to be imagined differently with greater emphasis given to how resources and skills. Some general
current decisions have impacts that last beyond generations. In the same vein, characteristics are listed below:
educators should strive to instil a sense of humility in students by assuring them i. Highly educated with professional
that results of their efforts do not necessarily have to be seen immediately.
backgrounds
• There is a need to acknowledge that at times, social cohesion, values learning ii. Goal-oriented with highly organized
and strength of relationships cannot always be meaningfully quantified. This will career, family and social lives
enable youths to engage in communities in a more sustainable way.
iii. Independent/ sense of mobility
• These point to shift the focus of community work to personal stories and iv. Technologically skilled and
connections that motivate us to develop a more intimate connection to the comfortable participating in social
social system in which we live.
networks
2. Placing more emphasis on raising awareness.
v. Individualistic and have a strong desire
• Before recruiting volunteers on a long-term basis, there is a need to first for autonomy
vi.Multiple interests and identities linked
introduce them to these current social issues.
• There is a need to raise awareness about specific issues and provide them with to many communities and causes
accurate in-depth information about the issues. This is opposed to just getting
them to take part in one-off programmes.
Topic of Interest: How can we encourage effective, yet independent youth-led community projects in the future?
•
•
•
•
An initiative by two passionate Singaporean youths, Ashik Ashohan and Ashok
Kumar.
Aim to raise awareness of the needs of the physically disabled and to
contribute funds to the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD). They have
extended their project in recent years so as to target other beneficiaries such
as the Children’s Cancer Foundation on other climbing expeditions.
This project is a positive example of balance between emotive and skills-based
volunteering. Additionally, it is an independently led project that has the spirit
of volunteerism at its core.
Their project has won the Hillview Civilians Sports Club's Silent Heroes Role
Model Award for Inspiring Youth and the NUS Student Achievement Award for
successful initiatives.
CASE STUDY: Heart2Climb - Singapore
What exactly did they do?
•
•
•
Trekked the Annapurna Himalayan
circuit without the help of high-
altitude porters and guides.
Managed to secure funding for their
climb in addition to raising funds for
their
cause
through
rigorous
fundraising and campaigning efforts.
Raised over $50,000 for charity
Emotive Volunteering Skills- based Volunteering
A shared passion for
adventure, sports and
community work. Realised the importance of goal setting: The duo started off with a clear idea of: the cause/
beneficiaries, the amount that they aimed to raise ($50,000) Training required to execute the
climb
Believed in the
importance of
empathy.
Reaching out to sponsors and donors
• tap into various networks to secure funding for the climb and to aid with the fundraising
efforts.
• reached out to more than 300 organisations and faced a slew of rejections at the initial
They specifically chose
stages.
to
engage
in
a • Some of the community partners and corporate sponsors that eventually lent them their
challenging
activity
support include, Red Bull Singapore, Starhub, Mini Environment Services (MES) Group of
such as mountain
Companies, The North Face, Little India Singapore, Sri Siva Durga Temple and Hindu
climbing in an attempt
Endowments Board
to raise awareness of
the ‘mountains’ that Importance of identifying a mentor : The duo engaged the help of a mentor right from the start
the physically disabled for guidance with regards to both the fundraising process and the climbing expedition itself. Dr.
have to ‘climb’ on a Kumaran Rasappan had previously engaged in a similar arduous expedition and was able to
daily basis
support them in many ways.
Issue 16: Community Work in the Future
PAGE 95