Youth Carnival 2021 was launched on 5 December 2021 by Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC, Tan Chuan-Jin [1]. The event was livestreamed on Bedok Police Division’s Instagram account and the Bedok South Neighbourhood Police Centre’s Facebook page. The online event was organised by Bedok Police Division, in partnership with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and Fei Yue Community Services.
This is the third year that Bedok Police Division has organised the Youth Carnival [2]. In line with the theme for this year’s carnival: “Be Empowered”, the event aims to inspire and empower youths to be confident and resilient, which is especially important amidst the challenges in the current COVID-19 situation. The Police also hope to encourage and educate youths to stay vigilant against scams, as there has been an upward trend of youths being victims of scams.
Speakers from NCPC and Fei Yue Community Services shared on crime prevention advisories and mental wellness respectively. The carnival also featured Police officers from the Singapore Police Force Band showcasing their talent in music and dance performances. Participating youths of the Youth Got Talent competition also performed various acts virtually.
Commander of Bedok Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Heng Chih Yang, said, “Youths are the future of Singapore. Every empowered youth will be able to contribute positively to the community and help play an important part in keeping our neighbourhoods safe. Bedok Police Division is proud to organise the Youth Carnival for the third consecutive year. We are grateful for the strong support of the NCPC and Fei Yue Community Services, and will continue to partner the community to keep Singapore safe.”
[1] For the full transcript of Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin’s opening speech, please refer to Annex A.
[2] Last year, the first online carnival introduced youths to the work of many public agencies, and the various opportunities to get involved in the community. More than 7,000 people attended the event online via Bedok North Neighbourhood Police Centre’s Facebook page.
SPEECH BY MR TAN CHUAN-JIN, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MARINE PARADE GRC,
AT THE OPENING OF BEDOK POLICE DIVISION’S YOUTH CARNIVAL 2021 ON SUNDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2021
Good afternoon everyone, and a special welcome to the youths who are joining us online. I am excited to speak to you today at Youth Carnival 2021, organised by Bedok Police Division, and supported by the National Crime Prevention Council and Fei Yue Community Services.
Last year was the first online Youth Carnival, and the event connected youths with various public agencies, so that they understood more about cyber security and online scams, and also learnt the different ways they could volunteer in the community. This year’s Youth Carnival aims to encourage youths to tap on their passion to maximise their potential.
Youth Carnival 2021 consists of a pre-event competition for youths, where participants submit a TikTok video showcasing their talents. Not only that, participants will also have a chance to use their talents to benefit the community by incorporating crime prevention messages in their entries. I am delighted to see our youths actively to contributing to the community’s safety and security.
Between 2010 and 2020, there was a 43% drop in youth offenders (MSF, 2021 [3]). Over the past 5 years [4], the top offences committed by youths were shop theft and cheating.
Police have also observed an upward trend of youths being victims of scams. I remind all youths to be discerning. If you come across an offer that is too good to be true, it is probably a scam. It can be an advertisement for a latest gadget or a job promising high returns for minimal work. Find out more before committing.
It is heartening to see Bedok Police Division taking the effort to put together this Carnival. Events like this bring the community together, which is more important given the impact of Covid-19. Beyond being a platform for youths to showcase their talents, the organisers hoped that it would also develop the self-confidence of the participants and allow them to realise that their potential is boundless.
To our youths, as you begin to forge your own pathways and - make choices for yourselves, be it academically or in life, think too, of the Singapore you want to build. Understand that every Singaporean has a part to play in creating a shared future together. You do not have to wait until you are an adult to contribute to society. Positive change will come about if everyone takes the first step. So, take the lead, step forward, and build the Singapore that you want. Who we are as a person reflects the soul of this nation. If we want to build a more compassionate and inclusive Singapore, it must begin from ourselves.
[3] MSF(2021) Report on Youth Delinquency, Page 12, Figure1.1
Equally as important is supporting our youths’ passion in the area of mental health. Covid-19 has put a strain on the population. Mental health issues are real and are more prevalent than we think. It affects many families, and it is important that we try and understand it as best as we can. This drives my passion to champion mental wellness.
Within my constituency in Kembangan-Chai Chee, we continuously organise training sessions and educational talks on mental wellness for our residents, volunteers, and grassroots leaders. We collaborate with various government agencies and community partners to provide care and support programme by visiting homes of vulnerable residents and their families. We also organise regular discussions and co-create solutions for residents with complex needs. My volunteers and I also actively connect agencies and partners to these residents, and I am keen to tighten and strengthen this support network with all of you.
One of the biggest challenges that people with mental health issues face is the stigma. As a society, it is imperative that we reduce the stigma towards people with mental health conditions. We must constantly encourage those who are facing challenges to seek help early. There are multiple avenues of assistance such as the National CARE Hotline (1800-202-6868) and Belle; the Beyond the Label Helpbot (go.gov.sg/belle-helpbot) which connects public to mental health resources.
I hope to continue to raise and spread the awareness on the importance of good mental wellness and the availability of quality mental healthcare that the government and its partners are providing. In addition, I want people facing mental health issues to speak up and learn that it is perfectly fine to talk about their challenges. For others in society, I hope that we can all learn to listen and offer support to those around us who are trying to cope with mental health issues. What we do not have, we shall create. What we do have, we can develop it further. Together, I hope you will join me in creating a family of supporters.
There are various aspects in our lives that can play an important role in combating mental health issues, one of which is having strong family bonds. I have a very close relationship with my family. We share on a lot of things and will support each other in respective pursuits and goals. We are present during happy moments, even more so during challenging times. Another aspect is through hobbies. Hobbies give you a way to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life, allowing you to indulge in activities not associated with work or other responsibilities.
Let’s not forget that life is a balance of work and play. Pursuing hobbies, learning new skills, and forging new relations are ways to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life. Take a moment to pause and recharge. There are plenty of workshops, volunteer centres, and recreational facilities at your disposal. Our friends from the National Crime Prevention Council will be sharing valuable information to help youths detect the signs of possible crimes. Once you know the tips and tricks, share it with your family and friends. We are stronger together.
The Youth Carnival may be a one-day event, but I am certain that the lessons learnt will have a lasting and positive impact on you. I am excited to see what lies ahead for you and for Singapore.
Thank you for spending your Sunday afternoon with us. Please enjoy the Carnival!
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
05 December 2021 @ 1:00 PM