For the second year running, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Social and Family Development, and Senior Minister for Defence, graced the Service Learning Symposium as the Guest-of-Honour.  What he received upon arrival at SMU on 15 February was a warm reception from 150 secondary schools and their teachers.

Co-organised by SMU Centre for Social Responsibility, and Positive Intentions (PI), a social enterprise that specialises in people development, Service Learning Symposium 2014 provided a platform for local youths to enhance their Service Learning skills and exchange ideas and experiences with each other.  Through this platform, the organisers aim to enrich the community service experience of the students so that they can make a greater positive impact on society.

[Photo: Students were put into groups to discuss the social issues faced by the elderly, people with disabilities and youths, and share possible initiatives to alleviate the challenges that they face.]

This year’s Symposium brought together 150 students from various secondary schools, who are active in community service work.  The session was facilitated by 30 passionate youth leaders, including 17 of SMU’s own undergraduates.

SMU Dean of Students, Professor Ong Siow Heng, commented, “Service learning is a vital approach which we want to nurture in our youth.  It emphasises personal reflection and critical thinking, and stirs within us a sense of responsibility to the community.”

[Photo: Students presenting their ideas to the Minister and their counterparts.]

On why the focus on secondary students, Professor Ong replied, “By reaching out to students at an impressionable age, we hope to contribute to the cultivation of good values that will eventually translate into service for the community.”

When speaking to the students on community service and the role that they can play in addressing some of the social issues that Singapore faces, Minister Chan urged the students to put values before material wealth, and appreciate the elderly in society.  "Between values and money, values come first... How we treat our elders sets an example of how our children will treat us.  We lead by example," Mr Chan said.

[Photo: Minister Chan: “Between values and money, values come first…”]

Students were also encouraged to develop their ideas into projects that could be implemented in the community.  SMU and PI will provide resources and youth facilitators to coach them during the next few months through what has been aptly named as the ‘Service Learning Coaching Programme’.  This programme involves three-, six- and nine-month follow-up segments where both SMU and PI will meet again with the participating students in May, August and November 2014.  At these sessions, students will receive guidance and coaching through the process of conceptualising and implementing their respective projects.

[Photo: Minister engaging students at the Symposium, as SMU Dean of Students, Professor Ong Siow Heng (bottom left of picture), listens on.]