Page 61 - NYAA Annual Report 2024

CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE AND PARTNERS

Community Impact Through Alumni

GAHA Member Cheryl Lee’s Graduation
Ms Cheryl Lee, an NYAA Gold Award holder and HSBC NYAA Youth Environment Award recipient, has achieved
a remarkable milestone by graduating with a Master’s in International Relations from Oxford Brookes
University. Cheryl’s journey from a neighbourhood school student at Serangoon Secondary School to becoming
an internationally recognised environmental advocate is inspiring.

Despite facing academic challenges early on, Cheryl excelled in her environmental journey, representing NYAA
at four UNFCCC COP meetings in Germany, Spain, the UK, and Egypt. Her advocacy and leadership captured
the attention of former US Vice President Al Gore, who praised her efforts. Cheryl also played a pivotal role in
various youth environmental forums and was honoured with the NEA EcoFriend Award for her contributions
to sustainability.

Oxford University further recognised her environmental leadership, which offered her a place for a Master’s
programme in International Relations. Cheryl attributes her success to the support and opportunities provided
by NYAA and HSBC, expressing gratitude for the platforms that enabled her to thrive. NYAA is proud of Cheryl’s
achievements and dedication to unwavering environmental sustainability.

NYAA Gold Award Holder Cassandra Yip Appointed for a Second Term on the 23rd PAYM Council
Ms Cassandra Yip, an NYAA Gold Award holder from the 2018 cohort, was nominated by the NYAA ED to serve
on the 23rd People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) Council. Cassandra contributed significantly to
environmental sustainability, and her efforts have garnered appreciation from the NYAA and PAYM leadership.

In recognition of her impactful service, the Chief Executive Director of the People’s Association and the PA’s
Director of Youth and Sports, in consultation with the NYAA ED, have renominated Cassandra for a second term
on the 24th PAYM Council. NYAA congratulates Cassandra for her dedication and outstanding contributions,
which continue to bring pride to the organisation.

Community Heroes: Cassandra Yip
How I Bring Environmental Issues to Life in Classrooms and Cultivate a Love for Nature?
Miss Cassandra Yip-Lee, 24, shares her journey as a passionate environmentalist and the founder of Earth
School, a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing environmental literacy among children and youth in
Singapore.

Cassandra launched Earth School during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, starting as a ground-up
initiative with her classmates while pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Studies at the National University
of Singapore. Since its inception in 2021, Earth School has been sharing knowledge and fostering a love for
nature and the environment among Singapore’s youth.

Cassandra credits her experience at Young Sustainable Impact Southeast Asia, an incubator for youth-led
sustainability start-ups, as a key inspiration. The supportive community she encountered motivated her to
create a platform with a lasting impact. Reflecting on her childhood in Singapore, Cassandra noted the limited
exposure to nature-based and environmental studies in the local education system. This gap inspired her to
develop an educational programme that bridges the divide and nurtures future environmental stewards.
One of Cassandra’s driving memories is her childhood aspiration to become a marine biologist, which
felt unattainable in Singapore’s educational landscape. Through Earth School, Cassandra seeks to create
opportunities for young minds to explore careers in nature and the environment while fostering a deeper
understanding of sustainability issues.

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