Beyond just helping youths and young workers better navigate their careers and find support in the workplace, Young NTUC has also been engaging youths through cause-based activism.
One such initiative is Project Refresh, where youth volunteers spend a weekend sprucing up the homes of less privileged Singaporeans. From cleaning and painting, to the replacement of faulty lights and leaky faucets, youths get to roll up their sleeves and let their skills make a visible difference to beneficiaries’ lives.
Two young Singaporeans got to give back in a slightly different way, with their photography and makeup skills.
This was done through a photoshoot session at Young NTUC’s Project Refresh on 11 February 2018 for residents in the Hougang area. We caught up with them at their photobooth set-up then.
Stuart Lee, 23, Third-year Art, Design and Media undergraduate at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Staying on campus in NTU might have made it a long commute for Stuart Lee on a Sunday morning from Boon Lay to Hougang, but to the aspiring animator, it is just a minor inconvenience.
“If I have the ability to help someone out, I feel that I should… Being able to help others is a really nice feeling, and it feels great for me, especially when I know that I will be able to make a big difference to their lives. Being able to take photos at the photobooth to create memories and preserve them for the beneficiaries is very fulfilling,” said Stuart, who also regularly volunteers his time with youth camps and home refresh projects.
Through the portraits of the residents, which they will receive for their personal use and keepsake, Stuart shared that he hopes to be able to photograph them being candid as those are the moments that reveal their individual personalities.
Wendy Soh, 30, Freelance Makeup Artist
As a freelance makeup artist specialising in bridal makeup, weekends are one of the busiest days of the week for Wendy Soh.
“I’m excited by the prospect of being able to do makeup for the residents as it has been a while since I last volunteered. At least right now, I can use my professional skills to contribute. I hope that the seniors will like the makeup and they will enjoy the photo session together with their family members because this is something they will be able to look back upon,” said Wendy.
