Latest news with #SGYouthPlan
CNA
07-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
*SCAPE to reopen in November, offering more room for programmes aimed at youths
SINGAPORE: Youth hangout spot *SCAPE, will fully reopen in November this year after three years of upgrading works, with an expected annual footfall of more than 2 million people. The space, located in the heart of Orchard Road, will shift its focus from retail offerings to youth-led programmes such as career pathways and community building. It plans to add 30 per cent more openings for such programmes. Through this, it hopes to reach more than 30,000 youths every year, said Mr Ethen Ong, deputy executive director of *SCAPE. He added the change in focus was due to the impact on retail businesses by e-commerce as well as building a community for youths, after noting a demand for such spaces because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Ong told CNA: "(We) got our feedback from our youth that they would like to have more sitting capacity, more open spaces for them … to catch up with friends and to connect.' The plaza at the entrance to the refreshed *SCAPE previously contained retail spaces, which have been replaced by open communal spaces for youths to use as a stage for concerts and performances. WHAT DOES THE NEW *SCAPE OFFER? Mr Ong said the new open plaza was designed to allow youths to run events and performances. The redeveloped *SCAPE is part of the SG Youth Plan, a five-year blueprint on how to support the nation's youth that is set to be released in 2026. Youths looking to host events such as exhibitions can also benefit from lower rental fees when applying to use spaces in *SCAPE that are specially allocated for youth-run programmes, he added. Mr Ong noted that the rent will be cheaper by around half compared to other locations in the shopping belt and the space may also waive the rent for programmes upon application review. Youths can also tap micro-grants for projects benefitting their peers. *SCAPE's chairman David Chua said that the rejuvenated space is part of a larger Somerset youth belt. '(It) is the key node from which partnerships and programmes will then be able to spill over into the belt and give even more space and opportunity for our young people to showcase their talent," he added. *SCAPE will partner nine organisations to help youths learn and engage with industries including wellness, artificial intelligence, urban sports, creative arts, media, entertainment and sustainability. One partner, Lenovo Singapore, said it intends to show how opportunities in technology can benefit students before they enter the workforce. Lenovo Singapore's general manager Nigel Lee added that its programme will look at AI, augmented reality, virtual reality, robotics and more. '(It) is about mentoring (youths), coaching them and (offering internships), making sure that they are ready for the real world once they leave school,' he said. HISTORY OF *SCAPE This is *SCAPE's third revamp since it opened its doors 18 years ago. *SCAPE was first established in 2007 at the Red Box, in response to a call for more youth-centric spaces. Its own building was officially launched in 2010 and underwent its first revamp in 2012, when HubQuarters was introduced as a base for youth organisations and their development programmes. It went through another rebrand in 2016, putting in place new facilities and platforms for entrepreneurship and volunteerism. In 2022, *SCAPE was announced as part of the Somerset Belt Master Plan revitalisation effort. Last year, the Ground Theatre and HubQuarters reopened after renovations. Property experts said community engagement is important in creating youth spaces that can thrive and succeed. Mr Ethan Hsu, head of retail at property firm Knight Frank Singapore, said: 'If you look at other countries where youth-centric precincts have been successful, places like Hongdae in Seoul and Harajuku in Japan … a lot of the activity is driven by the community.' He noted that designing spaces for youth activities also requires an understanding of their diversity. 'We have … creatives … gamers, entrepreneurs (and) social activists. And … youth culture is constantly evolving … so without inviting them to become co-collaborators … to design the space or what (it) is used for, it's hard to say whether it will be sustainable,' added Mr Hsu.
CNA
01-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Revamped *SCAPE to open in November with focus on youth-led programmes
A space for youths in the heart of Orchard Road is set to complete its third revamp since it began almost two decades ago. From November, *SCAPE's latest and biggest iteration will move away from retail offerings and focus more instead on youth-led programmes, such as career pathways and community building. It expects an annual footfall of more than 2 million people and hopes to reach over 30,000 youths annually. The refreshed *SCAPE is part of the SG Youth Plan, a five-year blueprint on how to support the nation's youth that is set to be released next year. Muhammad Bahajjaj reports.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
National Youth Council, KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) co-design youth action programme for youths to drive social sustainability projects with industry mentors
• Launch of Gen2050, a structured accelerated programme to drive youth action in the area of social sustainability with an engagement series on key social issues • Avails opportunities for youths from all backgrounds to start ground-up initiatives with the support of industry mentors and subject matter experts • Provides youths with critical skillsets such as stakeholder management and seed funding to advance innovative ideas SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 June 2025 - The National Youth Council (NYC), KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) today unveiled a youth action programme, Gen2050, to nurture youths' ability in tackling pressing societal challenges. The tripartite collaboration aims to bring together expertise and support of the public, private and non-profit sector in the areas of youth engagement, industry perspectives and mentorship. Two-prong programme to enable youths to drive meaningful change As part of commemorating SG60, Gen2050 seeks to equip more than 1,000 youths with practical skills to influence, mobilise and drive meaningful change. The programme aims to reach out to youths of all backgrounds, including students with disadvantaged backgrounds, to provide easy access to critical skills and competencies including social entrepreneurship, problem solving, stakeholder management, and knowledge to develop impactful and scalable solutions. Gen2050 offers two tracks - a structured programme with four key modules led by industry experts who will share insights to help participants develop and refine their ideas, and receive funding and mentorship to pilot them. The mentorship process also allows students to be plugged into professional networks where they get to discover potential career paths. Following the programme, selected participants of this track may be considered for national youth leadership programmes. The second track features a curated series of youth engagements that offer youths the opportunity to directly engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and peers to discuss critical societal issues like the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, equitable access to digital skills and mental wellness. These insights from these engagements will support the development of the SG Youth Plan, a five-year action plan that holds the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore with the support from the rest of society. Gen2050 demonstrates how public-private collaboration amplifies youth-driven impact. NYC brings its expertise in youth engagement and understanding of the youth landscape, KPMG supports programme implementation with industry insights and its Leaders 2050 network of young professionals focused on driving positive impact. IPRS equips youths with strategic communication skills to augment the impact of their solutions. 'This tripartite collaboration demonstrates how the whole of society, and not just government, can collaborate as a collective to give our young people opportunities to learn, grow and drive impact at the same time,' said David Chua, Chief Executive Officer of NYC. 'And if they do not succeed in implementing their ideas, they will still gain invaluable lessons, connections and insights that will shore up their confidence. We also aim to give youths with less access the opportunity to go through this programme.' 'Young people have the passion and energy to address the pressing challenges of our time, from social sustainability to climate change,' said Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore. 'Channelling that restlessness into collaborative movements that drive meaningful progress is not straightforward. At KPMG, our experience with global youth programmes gives us a deep understanding of our next generation talents' challenges and potential. Through Gen2050, we are dedicated to equipping youth with the guidance, skills and networks they need to transform their aspirations into impactful, lasting change.' Ross Gan, President of IPRS, said, 'Great ideas often make their biggest impact when they are clearly and authentically communicated in a manner that rallies others to the vision. At IPRS, one of our focus areas is on equipping youth and participants with practical strategies and skills to sharpen their messaging, build credibility, and drive action, ensuring their go-to-market solutions translate into real-world, measurable outcomes.'
Arabian Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
National Youth Council, KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) co-design youth action programme for youths to drive social sustainability projects with industry mentor
Launch of Gen2050, a structured accelerated programme to drive youth action in the area of social sustainability with an engagement series on key social issues Avails opportunities for youths from all backgrounds to start ground-up initiatives with the support of industry mentors and subject matter experts Provides youths with critical skillsets such as stakeholder management and seed funding to advance innovative ideas SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 June 2025 – The National Youth Council (NYC), KPMG in Singapore and Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) today unveiled a youth action programme, Gen2050, to nurture youths' ability in tackling pressing societal challenges. The tripartite collaboration aims to bring together expertise and support of the public, private and non-profit sector in the areas of youth engagement, industry perspectives and mentorship. Two-prong programme to enable youths to drive meaningful change As part of commemorating SG60, Gen2050 seeks to equip more than 1,000 youths with practical skills to influence, mobilise and drive meaningful change. The programme aims to reach out to youths of all backgrounds, including students with disadvantaged backgrounds, to provide easy access to critical skills and competencies including social entrepreneurship, problem solving, stakeholder management, and knowledge to develop impactful and scalable solutions. ADVERTISEMENT Gen2050 offers two tracks – a structured programme with four key modules led by industry experts who will share insights to help participants develop and refine their ideas, and receive funding and mentorship to pilot them. The mentorship process also allows students to be plugged into professional networks where they get to discover potential career paths. Following the programme, selected participants of this track may be considered for national youth leadership programmes. The second track features a curated series of youth engagements that offer youths the opportunity to directly engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and peers to discuss critical societal issues like the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, equitable access to digital skills and mental wellness. These insights from these engagements will support the development of the SG Youth Plan, a five-year action plan that holds the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore with the support from the rest of society. Gen2050 demonstrates how public-private collaboration amplifies youth-driven impact. NYC brings its expertise in youth engagement and understanding of the youth landscape, KPMG supports programme implementation with industry insights and its Leaders 2050 network of young professionals focused on driving positive impact. IPRS equips youths with strategic communication skills to augment the impact of their solutions. 'This tripartite collaboration demonstrates how the whole of society, and not just government, can collaborate as a collective to give our young people opportunities to learn, grow and drive impact at the same time,' said David Chua, Chief Executive Officer of NYC. 'And if they do not succeed in implementing their ideas, they will still gain invaluable lessons, connections and insights that will shore up their confidence. We also aim to give youths with less access the opportunity to go through this programme.' 'Young people have the passion and energy to address the pressing challenges of our time, from social sustainability to climate change,' said Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore. 'Channelling that restlessness into collaborative movements that drive meaningful progress is not straightforward. At KPMG, our experience with global youth programmes gives us a deep understanding of our next generation talents' challenges and potential. Through Gen2050, we are dedicated to equipping youth with the guidance, skills and networks they need to transform their aspirations into impactful, lasting change.' ADVERTISEMENT Ross Gan, President of IPRS, said, 'Great ideas often make their biggest impact when they are clearly and authentically communicated in a manner that rallies others to the vision. At IPRS, one of our focus areas is on equipping youth and participants with practical strategies and skills to sharpen their messaging, build credibility, and drive action, ensuring their go-to-market solutions translate into real-world, measurable outcomes.' For more details about Gen2050's structured accelerated programme and youth dialogues, please see: Hashtag: #KPMG The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About KPMG KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. For more detail about our structure, please visit For more information, visit LinkedIn: About the National Youth Council At NYC, we believe in a world where young people are respected and heard and have the ability to influence and make a difference in the world. Together with our partners, we develop future-ready youth who are committed to Singapore by instilling in them a heart for service, resilience and an enterprising spirit. About the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Established in 1970 as a non-profit organisation, IPRS is the only accrediting body for Public Relations (PR) practitioners in Singapore. The Institute promotes excellence in the industry through knowledge exchange platforms and training programmes that are aligned with the many changes and developments in the practice of PR and Communications today. IPRS has a growing membership consisting of professionals from diverse backgrounds in public relations, journalism, advertising, marketing, education, and management – a factor that has contributed to the Institute's strength and dynamism. There are 10 Student Chapters with various tertiary institutions to create opportunities for communications students and IPRS members to share expertise and experiences. The IPRS introduced the Biennial PRISM Awards (Public Relations In the Service of Mankind) in 1987 to recognise and reward excellence in PR and Communications in Singapore and the region. About the SG Youth Plan SG60 is about Building Singapore Together, and how each of us can contribute to a Singapore that we will proudly call home. NYC and its partners are organising a year-long series of engagements for youths to connect with others who are just as passionate about making a difference and taking action to build our shared future. The engagements will culminate in an SG Youth Plan – a five-year action plan created by youths, for youths, and supported by all of us, so that we collectively do our part for Singapore and fellow Singaporeans. The SG Youth Plan will hold the hopes and aspirations of young Singaporeans for themselves and for Singapore, and outlines how youth, supported with opportunities, platforms, and resources, can take action to do good for Singapore, and details ideas for how every part of society can play a part in empowering youths to be the best versions of themselves.
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Game of life: Must success always be about good grades and jobs?
Is Singapore ready for diverse pathways to success so that young people can feel accomplished in their own ways? In Your Opinion Podcast Game of life: Must success always be about good grades and jobs? Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience - two youths share their experiences in starting up a business, and whether school grades would determine success at the workplace. About 100 people attended two recordings at indie cinema The Projector at Golden Mile Tower on the evening of April 15. The special In Your Opinion podcast live recording was organised in partnership with the National Youth Council (NYC), in support of the SG Youth Plan – an action blueprint created by youths, for youths and the world that they will lead. About 100 people attended the live broadcast at indie cinema The Projector at Golden Mile Tower. PHOTO: JASPER YU The 45-minute dialogue (including a 15-minute Q&A session) was a part of The Straits Times' In Your Opinion podcast. Hosted by ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong, the podcast features two young entrepreneurs - Ms Adella Yeo and Mr Nabill Shukury. The session on April 15 is the second instalment of ST Podcasts Live. PHOTO: JASPER YU Currently an account manager at a software company, Ms Adella Yeo Rae-Nyse had co-founded MatcHub, a startup that matched fellow NUS students to find suitable job roles based on their personality. A part-time student with SUSS studying marketing, Nabill Shukry Johary juggles school with a business he started up in 2021 with his father - Cheekies, a home-based delivery service of healthy meals for the Muslim market - in a bid to help his family move out of their one-room rental apartment in Tampines. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:56 Journey to entrepreneurship 7:35 The point of going to university is not just for the paper qualifications 10:28 How academic grades play a part post-school 16:15 Challenge the conventions of success 27:10 Advice for youths to forge their own success The audience were also treated to finger food and free merchandise. PHOTO: JASPER YU Every voice matters, and if you want to share ideas and have your voice heard, you can do your bit in the SG Youth Plan Quest at: To find out more about NYC's upcoming engagement sessions, you can head over to: Read ST's Opinion section: Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@ Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: ST Podcasts website: ST Podcasts YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: Google Play: ---
