By David Lim
YOUTH at risk will be encouraged to participate in activities aimed at keeping them off the wayward path, through a three-year youth-engagement plan.
Youth@North West, launched by the North West Community Development Council (CDC) yesterday, will provide platforms for young people to pursue sports, the arts or community work to benefit the community.
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Said Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District: "Although the majority of youth are engaged in meaningful activities, there is a small percentage who may be at risk of straying to other activities."
Hence, the plan aims to "guide these youth who are at risk to join the community in our morewholesome activities", said Dr Teo.
This $1.5-million initiative comes in the wake of two separate gang-related attacks which took place in Bukit Panjang, part of the North West District.
It aims to reach out to young people in the North West District and guide them to develop a sense of ownership over the community, by running projects that are beneficial to the whole community.
The CDC aims to increase the annual participation of young people in its youth-outreach activities, from between 20,000 and 25,000 to about 60,000 annually after three years.
Since its formation nine years ago, the CDC has been organising many outreach activities for youth.
However, these were on an ad-hoc basis.
Dr Teo said that the CDC wanted to have a more structured and coordinated approach to its outreach activities and, therefore, spent a year to develop this framework with its stakeholders.
The execution of this plan will see the CDC spend up to $500,000 annually on its outreach activities, as compared to between $150,000 and $180,000 before this initiative.
An amount of $250,000 will also be set aside for the North West Youth Engagement & Support (YES) Fund. Through the YES fund, young people are encouraged to propose projects beneficial to the community, with a maximum cost of $10,000.
If the proposal is accepted, the CDC will fund 75 per cent of the total cost and the remaining sum will be funded by sponsors.
Youth@North West aims to attract young people through five areas: the arts, community work, leadership development, sports, and discussion and free speech. Each area is championed by a youth leader who has been trained in community development.
Ms Adrienne Ser, 23, who helms the leadership development category, said that she strongly believes friendship is key to reaching more youth.
"I believe in multiplying our number from one to two to three and so on. I feel that's how it should work. Moreover, when we organise activities, we cater to the interests of our own members as well," the executive assistant with the Singapore Sports School said.
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