Page 31 - NYAA Annual Report 2021

Appendix 12

NATIONAL YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2021

The National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) is a self-directed programme that aims to develop
self-reliance, perseverance, and a sense of responsibility to society and the nation in our young
people. Young people identify their needs, design their journey based on their interests and take
charge of their progress. As a result, they can make unique contributions by realising their
potential and using their talents and abilities to benefit others.

The year 2021 continues to be challenging and turbulent for the world. The COVID-19 virus
continues to wreak havoc across the globe, including in Singapore. The NYAA was severely affected
by the pandemic. The NYAA's primary goal was to ensure that this calamity did not lose the
momentum gained in the preceding years. We needed to keep our activities going. The NYAA
Council's top priority was to find alternative and innovative ways for our youths to participate in
the programme without contravening the COVID-19 rules and guidelines. For example, our
partners conducted the NYAA Award Ceremonies online via the Zoom platform.

We chose to regard the pandemic as a learning opportunity. NYAA worked to find new ways to
give the youths a hands-on experience in understanding how a problem of this magnitude can
disrupt lives, especially for the less fortunate in society. We wanted this real-life experience to
deepen their desire to help others collectively and individually. We decided to use online
applications and technology to assist us in this project as we knew that this is something young
people are good at and enjoy using.

Our NYAA participants shared stories, photographs, and videos during the pandemic via mobile
applications. This experiential learning was valuable and helped develop our participants in three
key areas. First, from what they saw and experienced, our participants were made more aware of
the realities on the ground. Second, for many of them, it was the first time they witnessed what
people in a wholly different socio-economic class were experiencing and how they were coping.
Third, the NYAA programme also took these young people out of their comfort zones.

Second, it increased their capacity for empathy and understanding. The revelations made them
better appreciate what they have in their lives. They became more grateful. For many young
people, these experiences altered their lives and perspectives permanently. It helped improve
their interactions with their family, friends, teachers and the community. Even as it made them
question more, they became less cynical.

Third, the youths are intrinsically motivated to walk the talk and find solutions. They worked on
their own or in groups. As a result, they discovered new interests and developed skills such as first
aid and CPR. They also became more confident in undertaking basic but critical tasks such as
categorising, packing and distributing food and other necessities to needy families.

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