A new initiative empowers the youth to start meaningful projects for the community and make a difference.

 

Seniors and other beneficiaries and causes are being reached out to by a new initiative by the youth wing of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) called Young NTUC U Heart (U Heart). U Heart enables youth of the Labour Movement, who are 35 years old and below, to conduct self-initiated do-good projects that make a positive difference in society.

U Heart, in collaboration with OrangeAid, the community development and involvement arm of NTUC Income, has over 90 projects involving different beneficiaries from July all the way to National Day in August, engaging a total of over 6,500 beneficiaries and 2,500 Young NTUC volunteers and beneficiaries. The senior-related projects include bringing cheer to seniors at SilverACE senior activity centres for vulnerable seniors in lower-income neighbourhoods, and celebrating National Day with the non-profit, Society for the Aged Sick. There are also other projects such as distribution of food to low-income families; beach clean-up; community climate change workshop; appreciation of bus captains and domestic workers; and an outing with the Rare Disorder Society (Singapore).

The initiative focuses on five key pillars – home (where they will reach out to low-income families and seniors living in one-room flats/rental flats), environment (animals staying in shelters, wildlife and the environment), appreciate (workers working behind the scenes), respect (individuals with physical disabilities and the pioneer generation) and tenacity (underprivileged children and children and young persons in residential care programmes).

Shared Desmond Choo, executive secretary of Young NTUC, “We recognise that youth want their voices heard and they want to make a difference. Young NTUC U Heart enables these youth leaders by giving them the platform to inspire and attract other like-minded individuals, connecting them to organisations and partners seeking assistance and supporting them towards putting their plans into action.” U Heart will provide funding of $1,000 and mentorship, as well as marketing support.

He hopes that through these projects, it will be a stepping-stone for the youth to then do it on their own.

During the recent launch of the initiative, 100 volunteers fanned out across Sentosa to those who worked there with chocolates as tokens of appreciation and were joined by Chan Chun Sing, secretary-general of NTUC.

 

** If you are a Young NTUC member and have a project in mind to give back, e-mail to: youngntuc@ntuc.org.sg.

(** PHOTOS: Young NTUC)

 

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