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Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New youth space at *Scape to give over 3,000 disadvantaged youth a leg up in life
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo (second from left) interacting with alumni of Access Singapore during the opening of The Trampoline on July 5. SINGAPORE – A new youth space in the heart of town is aiming to support more than 3,000 disadvantaged young people over the next three years, and give them a leg up in their career. Located in the revamped *Scape in Orchard Road, The Trampoline will be home to mentoring programmes for young people, and act as a place for them to network, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo on July 4. The space is a partnership between *Scape and local social mobility charity Access Singapore, and is part of broader efforts to develop the Somerset Belt as a vibrant youth precinct, he said, speaking at a launch event of the space. 'Going forward, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) wants to create more spaces and empower youths... to take the lead and make a difference,' Mr Neo said. In line with this, *Scape will introduce a new grant to give funding support of up to $1,000 to young people who run projects around the Somerset Belt that do good for the community, he added. The fund, called Grant for Good, will launch on Aug 1, and will support 60 projects over the next year. More information will be shared closer to the launch date. Like the young people of the past, those today will have to overcome challenges and take Singapore forward, said Mr Neo. 'A key priority for me as acting minister, therefore, is enabling our youth to have the conviction and confidence to pursue their diverse aspirations,' he said, adding that MCCY and the National Youth Council (NYC), together with partners, are working to develop a five-year action plan. This is 'to empower youth to develop to the fullest of their potential and to achieve their aspirations', Mr Neo said, adding that over 6,300 young people have been engaged on this plan. 'I think this generation of youth inspires us in their own ways,' he said. 'Not least, in terms of challenging us to redefine success to be broader.' Speaking to The Straits Times, Access founder Clarence Ching said that what Mr Neo said aligns with his goal of empowering young people who come from disadvantaged families by providing mentorship, industry fellowships and career programmes with businesses and government partners. Access will run four programmes at The Trampoline, he said. Pathways is a half-day career exposure session with industry professionals, while Access Career Exploration is a case challenge, where young people solve real-world problems with mentor support. Mentorships is a modular programme where mentors will guide youngsters in exploring different academic and career routes, and support their individual development. The fourth is the Access Fellowship Programme, a two-month initiative for financially disadvantaged students that offers skills training, mentorship and networking opportunities. Access also hopes to use its new space to get young people and alumni from these programmes to make friends and support one another, and also come up with plans and work with the authorities to help redesign the Somerset Belt, he said. It also is envisioned as a shared space for charities, social enterprises and other ground-up initiatives that struggle with finding low-cost venues to host their programmes for youngsters. Mr Ching said: 'I hope youth will use this space to pursue their passions and interests, whether through the workshops held at The Trampoline or even through initiatives they run on their own at our space. 'The Trampoline is a for-youth, by-youth initiative, and there's nothing I want more than to see them making it their own and using it to chase their aspirations.' Mr Mohammed Ariff, 21, who was part of Access' very first programme in 2019, said that hopes this new space can be a comfort zone for young people, where they can come and make friends and relax. He added that through Access' programmes, and the growth of *Scape as a youth hub, he hopes that the young people of Singapore will use it to give back to the community. Mr Mohammed Ariff was part of Access' very first programme in 2019. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Mr Ariff attended a mentorship programme with Access when he was just 15 and in 'bad company'. But the programme helped him discover his interests in content creation and video editing, and led him on a journey of change, he said. He will be graduating with a work-study diploma in land transport engineering from ITE in 2025, and hopes to pursue a degree in engineering in the future. He plans to network with others in the programmes at The Trampoline. 'I want to inspire people with my journey,' he said. 'That it is not about the past, but how you want to end your journey well.'
The Standard
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Standard
Teaching high-tech agriculture
A Hong Kong social venture is transforming classrooms into agricultural hubs, teaching students sustainable skills while providing fresh produce for low-income families. The Farmunity initiative, run by farming technology company Farmacy HK, is engaging over 1,200 students across 10 secondary schools, producing up to 20,000 vegetables monthly – equivalent to a small commercial farm's output. Launched in 2024 with nearly HK$1.9 million in funding from the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, the project installs hydroponic systems in schools where students learn agriculture, technology and business skills. Each month, about 6,000 to 8,000 vegetables are donated to nearby low-income households, with the rest sold through student-managed distribution channels. "This isn't just about growing vegetables or creating future farmers," said Raymond Mak Ka-chun, Farmacy's co-founder and chief empowerment officer, in an exclusive interview with The Standard. "We're empowering students to solve real community problems through hands-on experience with sustainability and technology." The program's impact extends far beyond agricultural output. At one participating school, students delivered their first harvest to a temporary housing area across the street, sparking ongoing community connections. Several schools have established partnerships with neighborhood stores and social enterprises to distribute their produce. "Many of these underprivileged kids don't have access to green skills or STEM education outside school," he said. "But in five or ten years, these will be essential for their careers. This program lets them learn in a hands-on way, not just from textbooks." Mak also revealed that over 10 schools are on a waiting list and several have already signed letters of intent. Teachers have also embraced the curriculum, with participation rates surpassing expectations. Mak expects to expand the model to secondary schools. 'If ten schools can achieve this impact, imagine the potential for expansion." The Farmunity project was recently recognized at Oxfam Hong Kong's "Beyond Measure: Annual Outstanding Project Award Ceremony," where it was named one of four winning initiatives. The awards are part of the Oxfam Grant for Good program, which supports innovations addressing poverty and social exclusion. Wong Shek-hung, director of the Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan program at Oxfam Hong Kong, explained that the SIE Fund appointed Oxfam as an intermediary to help social ventures refine and execute their ideas. Over the past two years, the program has nurtured 49 projects, providing mentorship, networking, and funding oversight. (Ayra Wang)
