Page 41 - NYAA Annual Report 2024

SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATIONS

Meeting with NTUC FairPrice Group
On 7 February 2024, the ED chaired a meeting at NTUC FairPrice Group headquarters to discuss the Ice-cube
project, an initiative to reduce carbon emissions across all NTUC FairPrice food courts and Kopitiams.

The pilot project, spearheaded by ITE College East, yielded impressive and convincing results. As a result, NTUC
FairPrice has agreed to scale up the programme to a national level. A comprehensive report was submitted to
HSBC for their endorsement.

2nd Phase HSBC-NYAA ITE SMEs Sustainability Prize Presentation Ceremony cum Fireside Chat
On 20 April 2024, the Guest-of-Honour, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the
Environment and Transport, presented the prizes to the winners of the 2nd Phase of the HSBC-NYAA ITE SME
Initiatives. The first prize was awarded to Laundry Loft and ITE College East students, who received $3,000.
The second prize went to Knot Café by Xpress Flower.com, with students from ITE College West, who received
$1,000. The third prize was awarded to J’s Salon with ITE College East students, who received $500. Three
Merit Award winners were recognised, each receiving a $200 cash prize, while the SMEs received the citation
plaques.

Dr Amy Khor also participated in a Fireside Chat with the HSBC CEO, Mr Wong Kee Joo, and the NYAA Climate
Change Advisor, Prof Jeff Obbard. Assistant Prof Goh Jing Rong, a Singapore Management University (SMU)
Professor, moderated the Fireside Chat.

The discussion centred on the importance of sustainability and the role of young innovators in addressing
climate challenges. The VIP guests were highly impressed with NYAA’s initiative, which actively engages ITE
students in seeking practical solutions to environmental issues.

HSBC-NYAA ITE SMEs Sustainability Online Training
The NYAA ED officially opened the 3rd Phase of the HSBC-NYAA Sustainability Initiative with an online
workshop on 22 April 2024. The session, led by Prof Jeff Obbard, NYAA Climate Change Advisor, was attended
by ITE management staff, lecturers, and students from the three mega colleges. The participants expressed
enthusiasm about beginning projects with 40 SMEs to reduce carbon emissions. The NYAA will work closely
with ITE to monitor and support the progress of these projects.

Relaunch of the HSBC Youth Environmental Award 2025 and Fireside Chat
First established in 1998, the HSBC NYAA Youth Environmental Award aims to groom future environmental
leaders in Singapore. Over the past 25 years, the programme has offered numerous opportunities for students
through the HSBC NYAA Youth for the Environment Programme.
More than 130 outstanding young environmentalists were sponsored for overseas attachments, working
alongside leading scientists and researchers in environmental sustainability. In celebration of the award’s
25th Anniversary, HSBC and NYAA jointly launched a commemorative publication featuring 25 environmental
advocates.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat officiated the relaunch of the awards and unveiled the anniversary
publication on 23 October 2024. Five exceptional environmental advocates received the HSBC NYAA
Outstanding Environmental Awards. A commemorative documentary screened at the event featured Khai,
an NYAA awardee from 1998 who later became a respected architect. His leadership and contributions to the
built environment were prominently recognised.

The Deputy Prime Minister also joined Mr Wong Kee Joo, CEO of HSBC Singapore, and Ms Cheryl Lee, NYAA
Gold Award holder and environmental advocate, for a Fireside Chat on “doing more with less” in environmental
sustainability. The event was attended by ambassadors, senior representatives from MOE, PA, SICC, Institutes
of Higher Learning, and a full house of students from ITE, polytechnics, and universities.

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