Page 34 - NYAA Annual Report 2020

Appendix 13

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2020

Our Work: Programmes and Activities

Since 1992 – over 29 years - the NYAA has facilitated and witnessed a powerful transformation of more
than half a million young men and women through the NYAA Programme’s learning journey. This is no small
achievement, especially since students enrol for the programme and strive to attain the awards purely of their
own volition. It won’t be an overstatement to say that the NYAA has contributed significantly to building a few
generations of leaders for Singapore.

The NYAA has provided opportunities and platforms for young people to develop into passionate and
responsible citizens. As a result, many of them actively contribute to the community.

In 2020, the world, including Singapore, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our youth development
projects and activities were on hold as part of the national effort to contain the virus. Unfortunately, life has
never been the same as before. NYAA has had to find alternative ways for our participants to cope with the
COVID-19 pandemic safety management measures and continue their NYAA learning journey.

The NYAA, with the support of our operating partners, had to be forward-looking. So we leveraged technology
to help our young people in the NYAA Programme overcome the setback by replacing physical activities with
online activities. We felt this was the best way to keep the spirit going.

The NYAA operating partners have been encouraged to continue to hold their NYAA ceremonies and events,
albeit virtually, so that efforts put in by our young people are recognised. We are pleased that despite the
challenges faced, our operating partners, educational institutions and youth/community organisations
(including the Prisons Department) continued to remain motivated and provided the young people with the
opportunities and platform to participate in the NYAA Programme.

Our award recipients, especially members of the NYAA Gold Award Holders’ Alumni, continued to play an
active role in serving the community and helping the vulnerable in our society with much-needed assistance
through various community initiatives.

The NYAA strongly believes that laying a solid foundation on values is critical when engaging children.
Therefore, we decided to start a junior programme for the primary schools. The NYAA Junior Programme - The
Butterfly Award - was introduced in February 2020. Our pilot group of primary schools, youth organisations
and parents participated enthusiastically in the programme. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
several students were not able to complete the programme. Only two groups managed to complete the
programme. We hope to launch the NYAA Junior Programme in all schools in 2021.

Our wish for the NYAA participants and recipients is to have a sense of purpose in everything they undertake
and continue to learn the true meaning of service. Unfortunately, in 2020 there was a drop in the number of
new participants enrolled in the NYAA programme. Like in the previous years, in 2020, our NYAA recipients
and participants have made their schools, families, NYAA and Singapore proud. We wish them well.

PARTNERSHIP (LOCAL)

The NYAA Secretariat continued to build and • Ministry of Social and Family Development
strengthen our partnerships with the government (MSF)
and other partners such as: • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
Statutory Boards and Agencies:
• Ministry of Education (MOE) • People’s Association (PA)
• Ministry of Sustainability and the • Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Environment (MSE) • National Environment Agency (NEA)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) • National Park Board (NParks)
• Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth • Public Utilities Board (PUB)
(MCCY) • Community Development Councils (CDCs)

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