National Youth Council of Singapore
The National Youth Council (NYC) was set up by the Singapore Government on 1 November 1989 as the national co-ordinating body for youth affairs in Singapore. NYC is also Singapore’s focal point for international youth affairs.
From 1 January 2015, NYC was restructured into an autonomous agency as the national body coordinating youth development under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).
To augment NYC’s role as a national youth developer, Outward Bound Singapore (OBS), which offers adventure-based experiential learning and newly formed Youth Corps Singapore are now part of the strengthened NYC, to drive youth development and broaden outreach to young Singaporeans and youth sector organisations.
Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth is the Chairman of the 13th Council. The Council comprises members from various government ministries, youth organisations, academic institutions, voluntary welfare organisations, media and private sector organisations.
Advocate
Engagement Platforms
Flagship Programmes
Youth Corps Singapore
Youth Corps Singapore is a national platform launched in 2014, matching youth volunteers with critical community needs and helping them make sustained and meaningful contributions to society.
Youth Corps members can look forward to:
• Quality structured training in service learning;
• Impactful and meaningful volunteering experiences;
• Broad-based support to carry out community projects; and
• Good networking opportunities with other like-minded youths.
Youth Expedition Project
Being part of the Youth Expedition Project enables youth volunteers to embark on community service learning projects, both locally and overseas. YEP nurtures confident youths, who are socially responsible, active citizens with the desire to make a difference.
Young ChangeMakers
Young ChangeMakers fosters leadership development by giving seed funding, support and resources to youths keen on launching their own community projects. Youths are empowered as panelists to assess grants, and as mentors, guiding their peers’ projects.
SHINE Youth Festival
The SHINE Youth Festival empowers youth to organise and launch exciting events, allowing their talents to shine. The Festival also boosts community relationships and highlights inspiring youth role models.
Dialogues
NYC regularly gathers youth and YSOs to discuss issues that resonate with them. Such dialogues include the Youth Sector Leaders Dialogue, an open and collaborative platform for youth sector leaders to network and to share ideas on building a vibrant youth sector
Overseas and Global Programmes
NYC initiates and facilitates overseas programmes for youth and youth organisations. Within ASEAN, NYC serves as the Singaporean focal point driving regional collaborations in the youth sectors. NYC also maintains strong bilateral ties with individual ASEAN states, and ASEAN+3 states (China, Japan and South Korea).
For example, NYC facilitates the Singapore-Malaysia Youth Leadership Exchange Programme and Singapore-Brunei Youth Leadership Exchange Programme which aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Singapore and ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
As part of the Outward Bound centres in 33 countries worldwide, OBS also taps on its network and sends out more than 500 youth participants to overseas programmes yearly, to countries such as Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Oman and South Africa.
With well-established international partnerships forged, more enriching opportunities for global exposure and immersion experiences are created for youths.
Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme
The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) is sponsored annually by the Japanese Government and supported by ASEAN members. 300 youths from ASEAN countries and Japan gather on board the SSEAYP ship (Nippon Maru), interacting over 53 days and visiting various ports-of-call. This builds lifelong friendships and cross-cultural understanding among youths from Japan and ASEAN.
Commonwealth Youth Programme
The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) is a youth platform across Commonwealth nations, with initiatives like workshops and training for youth workers to learn, share and practice knowledge and skills to boost youth sectors in their home countries.
Recognition
Singapore Youth Award
The Singapore Youth Award (SYA) is the highest youth accolade in Singapore honouring youths in Singapore who have achieved excellence in their fields and contributed greatly to society.
Stars of SHINE Award
The Stars of SHINE award recognises outstanding youth who have overcome personal struggles to make powerful contributions to the community. Through the award, they serve as role models and as a source of encouragement and inspiration to other youth.
International Awards
As Singapore’s youth focal point for the ASEAN and Commonwealth Youth sector bodies, NYC organises nominations for outstanding youth leaders, youth sector organisations or youth projects for regional awards like the Commonwealth Youth Award and the ASEAN Youth Award.
OBS Leadership and Service Award
The OBS Leadership and Service Award (LSA) is an annual award that recognises and celebrates outstanding youths who contribute leadership and service within the community. These youths are offered the opportunity to through a unique multi-element and multi-expeditionary OBS 21-day Leadership & Service Challenge to sharpen their leadership skills and inspire them to play a greater role in the community.
Enabler
Funding
National Youth Fund
The National Youth Fund (NYF) champions ground-up youth initiatives from youth sector organisations, youth social enterprises, schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (i.e. ITEs, Polytechnics and Universities). The NYF supports: • projects that enhance capacity and synergies with other organizations; • partnerships which push youth community engagement, volunteerism, arts and sports across the Public, Private and People (3P) spheres; and • studies which help the youth sector understand youth trends and concerns in a rapidly evolving environment.
Singapore – ASEAN Youth Fund
The Singapore – ASEAN Youth Fund helps projects that boost ASEAN youth interaction and understanding across ASEAN states. It encourages ASEAN youth sector organisations to network, share best practices and synergise joint youth projects to help community building.
Learning and Development
National Youth Internship Programme
Secondary school graduates can now serve the community with a leadership programme that will prepare them for the national internship stint, ranging from two to six months, just before their tertiary education. The National Youth Internship Programme aims to help youths develop greater affinity for the community through service learning and gain practical life experiences outside of school.
National Youth Sector Conference
The National Youth Sector Conference (NYSC) is a flagship conference where youth developers and youth sector organisations get updated on youth sector trends; learn and share good practices; and connect with capacity builders. It’s a chance for youth sector leaders to network and stay abreast of current developments and future plans of the youth sector in Singapore.
Leadership and value-based programmes for schools
Annually, more than 9,000 students from secondary schools across Singapore pass through OBS on a journey of self-discovery and character development. These customised cohort programmes, are focused on Ministry of Education (MOE)’s Values in Action. They range from 4 to 21 days and aims to draw out specific lessons for students and highlight values that the schools wish to augment.
The cohort includes 4,500 student leaders coming from diverse backgrounds from over 138 secondary schools. Their training focuses on Harry Kramer’s Value Based Leadership frame work. Immersed in a learning environment that encourages self-development, these leaders enhance their intellectual flexibility and social sensitivity though exchanging of perspectives.
Partner
Networks
INSPIRIT
INSPIRIT is an organic community which gathers young adult leaders (aged between 28 and 35) to champion youth interests on national and community issues. These young adults are nominated by their employers/ organisations from the Public, Private and People (3P) sectors.
OBS Alumni
The OBS Alumni network is made up of youths who wish to transform their communities after being inspired by their OBS experience. Together, they network with like-minded individuals to participate in meaningful alumni-initiated community projects such as engaging with at-risk children, distributing food to low-income families, conducting coastal clean-ups and volunteering at OBS programmes. The more experienced alumni also mentor the younger volunteers.
With more than 8000 alumni members, OBS recognises dedicated and passionate volunteers at the OBS Volunteers Appreciation Ceremony.