Themed ‘Waves of Inspiration’, the seventh Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA) on 8 April 2017 at Downtown East saw 120 youths and young union leaders recognised for their outstanding contribution to the Labour Movement.
This year marked the first time that SOYA was co-organised by Young NTUC and nEbO. The joint effort seeks to ensure greater synergy in the Labour Movement’s plans to empower youths to make a difference and streamline efforts in grooming future leaders.
Team Winner
The team that was presented the Initiative of Extraordinaire Award by NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing is living proof of that. The four team members from the Young NTUC Junior Circle, a leadership transition programme for graduated nEbO leaders to flow in to Young NTUC, were behind the youth-initiated project, ‘U HEART: Gratitude on Board’.
In August last year, they went to a few bus interchanges and train stations with high traffic to get members of the public to write words of appreciation for everyday transport captains on some 300 cards. The team then personally visited the staff lounges to pass the cards to those unsung heroes, whom were all pleasantly surprised.
National Transport Workers’ Union and Young NTUC helped to obtain the necessary clearance, provide counsel and gather some 25 volunteers for the activity.
“I thought after graduating from nEbO, there wouldn’t be many platforms by the union for me to continue doing community service but I realised in Young NTUC, there is still much support and youths whom we can work with. This award inspires us to think of more ideas to create a ripple effect,” shared team member, Lim Li Khee, 23.
Individual Winner
Individuals such as Eunice Illagan, 15, from Naval Base Secondary School have also gained from NTUC youth communities in more ways than one.
“nEbO is like my second family and second home. All of us in nEbO’s music community, including the advisors, encourage one another often. I have learnt a lot about confidence, teamwork and self-discipline,” she said.
Eunice received the Young Achiever’s Award for organising Christmas celebrations over three days in 2016 for hospitalised children, senior citizens at an elderly home and migrant workers.
“Since young, I’ve always wanted to sing and as I grew older, I thought why not contribute to the society while at it. The reason why I do it is simple – I love it. It’s something that I will do despite everything that is happening in my life.”
She will be performing solo at the upcoming May Day Fiesta. Young NTUC and nEbO currently have more than 300,000 members combined.
