Page 38 - NYAA Annual Report 2024

NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND PROGRAMME IMPACT

NYAA Gold Award Orientation Programme
On 6 January 2024, Ms Lim En, Chairperson, NYAA Gold Award Holders’ Alumni and a team of NYAA Gold
Award holders led the orientation and facilitation for the new cohort of NYAA Gold Award recipients. This
orientation session was designed to familiarise the new recipients with the NYAA Gold Award Ceremony
proceedings. It also provided a platform for them to connect with like-minded peers and gain inspiration to
continue their community service work through the NYAA Gold Award Holders’ Alumni (GAHA). The session
emphasised the importance of sustained service, echoing GAHA’s motto, “Service Beyond Gold,” encouraging
recipients to remain actively involved even after achieving their Gold Award.

NYAA Gold Award Ceremony 2024
The NYAA Secretariat successfully organised the NYAA Gold Award Ceremony on 12 January 2024. The event
involved meticulous planning and coordination and provided valuable insights into protocols and ceremony
proceedings, especially from the President’s new team.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented a total of 210 awards. President Shanmugaratnam and Deputy
Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat expressed their delight with the 2024 cohort of Gold Award recipients. They
engaged in meaningful interactions with the awardees, celebrating their achievements and encouraging their
continued commitment to service.

The Boys’ Brigade’s Butterfly Award
The Executive Director of The Boys’ Brigade (BB) in Singapore reported that the NYAA Junior Programme—The
Butterfly Award has received strong support from BB companies. With the backing and encouragement of BB
officers, the BB Boys who participated in the Butterfly Award found the programme particularly beneficial,
especially regarding project engagement. The BB leadership is now encouraging more companies to motivate
their boys to participate in this impactful programme.

NYAA Coordinators’ Workshop
The NYAA Secretariat conducted a Coordinators’ Workshop at the ITE Enterprise Development Centre, attended
by over 100 Heads of Departments (HODs), teachers, and leaders from national uniformed organisations and
youth networks.

The ED delivered a compelling PowerPoint presentation showcasing the transformative journeys of NYAA
participants. Many former participants now hold key positions in the civil service and corporate sectors,
contributing to Singapore’s development amidst challenging global environments. Numerous NYAA alums
have represented Singapore and NYAA at prominent international conferences, including APEC, G20, UNFCCC,
World Economic Forum, St. Gallen Symposium, THINC, and ASEAN-related events.

Bedok Green Secondary School and Temasek Polytechnic representatives shared inspiring success stories
about how NYAA has enhanced students’ leadership potential. Furthermore, e1-Concept, NYAA’s online apps
developer, provided a briefing on the newly developed online system, designed to streamline coordinators’
and teachers’ workloads. This innovation was well-received by the attendees.

The lively Q&A session fostered an engaging exchange of ideas. During the tea reception, ED, NYAA officials,
and volunteers had meaningful interactions with HODs and teachers, making the workshop a fruitful and
enriching experience.

NYAA Award Ceremony at Tanah Merah Prison
The NYAA Award Ceremony at Tanah Merah Prison was held on 27 November 2024. The event was graced
by Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the
Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Dr Eugene Seah, Chairman of the NYAA Council, delivered an uplifting speech to congratulate and encourage
the award recipients. He also expressed gratitude to the officers and staff of the Singapore Prison Service
for their dedication to the rehabilitation of inmates. The ceremony was attended by the Executive Director,
Deputy Executive Director, and NYAA Council Member, Mr Zed Teo.

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