Posts filed under 'Celebrations'
By Natalie Morris
For its achievements, as well as contributions to the community and youth development, the National Youth Achievement Award Gold Award Holders’ Alumni (GAHA) was conferred the Singapore Youth Award (SYA) Medal of Commendation 2007 at the Istana on the afternoon of 1 July 2007. GAHA had been awarded the SYA in 2000. The Award Ceremony was graced by various public and private sector leaders, as well as the other SYA recipients and their guests. The guest-of-honour was DPM Prof S. Jayakumar. It was an intimate but informative affair, and the ceremony was followed by a scrumptious reception, during which guests were encouraged to mingle and also to view the exhibits providing more information on each Award recipient. GAHA would like to extend its thanks to NYAA Council member Ms Zaibun Siraj for nominating us and supporting us at the event, as well as the NYAA Council, Advisory Board, and other supporters who have helped GAHA achieve this award.
July 1st, 2007
By Sanjiv Nanwani and Sanjay Nanwani
With firm handshakes, hearty smiles and above all, positive youthful passions, the National Youth Achievement Award celebrated its 15th Anniversary on Friday, 25th May 2007 at Raffles Town Club’s Dunearn Ballroom. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong graced the occasion as Guest-of-Honour.
About 400 people attended the event, including Ministers, senior government officials and Members of Parliament, representatives from the International Award Association (of which NYAA is a member) NYAA award coordinators, as well as NYAA participants and members of the Gold Award Holders’ Alumni (GAHA).
Youth and the young groomed through the NYAA programme featured highly that night. Minister Mah Bow Tan, Chairman of the NYAA Board, Prof. Leo Tan and PM Lee, in his opening address also congratulated the NYAA on 15 years of “reaching out to many young Singaporeans, helping them to discover their unique talents and strengths, and giving them the opportunity to contribute something worthwhile to society”. He also praised the NYAA as an organisation which helped to develop the type of youth who would shape the country’s future. He urged youths “to be committed to Singapore and their fellow Singaporeans, and to have a genuine desire to give back to society and improve the lives of others”.
We also had the opportunity to contribute in various ways. Regina Oon (NYAA participant) and Terence Chia (Gold Award Holder, 1998), produced a commemorative video on the NYAA, set to the tune of If We Hold On Together. Jeremy Lim (NYAA Gold Award participant), Natalie Morris (Gold Award Holder, 2002) and Augustine Goh (NYAA Silver Award holder, 2005) also gave moving testimonies. Chua Wei Jian (NYAA Gold Award participant) from NP moved the crowd with his vocal rendition of the Chinese song Friends, as did Izyan Mellnya Binte Ishak of NYP, with her closing emotional song on dreams, to name but a few.
NYAA’s Distinguished Partners in Youth Development were given tokens of appreciation by PM Lee. They are: Tan Soon Nan, CEO of Singapore Totalisator Board, W E Huber, Chairman of Boncafé International Pte Ltd, Kwek Leng Joo, Managing Director of City Developments Ltd, Guy Harvey-Samuel, CEO of HSBC Singapore, Robert Tan, Financial Controller of Lee Foundation, Gautam Banerjee, Executive Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Terence Heng, Vice-President of Shaw Media.
The NYAA expressed its gratitude to its supporters for helping it reach this significant milestone, which was made possible also by the drive, passion and initiative of youths. And just as PM Lee stressed that Singaporeans needed “the same indomitable spirit (as its pioneers), the same courage and grit, the same resourcefulness and self-reliance, to bring Singapore forward and secure a better future for ourselves”, the NYAA also recognised that the youth, with the right platforms and mindsets, held the key to the future of NYAA and Singapore alike. At the end of the day, it’s all about attitude.
May 25th, 2007
By Mustafa Izzuddin
With the installation of the 2005-2007 NYAA GAHA Executive Committee during GAHA’s 10th Anniversary dinner in 2005, a new chapter in GAHA’s history has thus unfolded. GAHA has crossed yet another milestone with a new team of capable, intelligent and vibrant youths at its helm, eager to make a difference to the community, society and nation.
Held at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Convention Centre, this event was also graced by various dignitaries including community and national leaders as well as the esteemed business community. And of course not neglecting to mention many GAHA members who have contributed tremendously to GAHA in the past ten years.
Among the highlights of this event, which was graced by His Excellency, President S.R. Nathan, includes the following:
- Video presentation to showcase the past and present contributions and achievements of GAHA@NYAA
- Setting up of the Wee Kim Wee-Lee Foundation Youth Leadership Development Centre to develop training facilities and motivational programmes etc. for youths in Singapore.
- Launch of Leaf@NYAA by Mrs S.R. Nathan to immerse promising young women in national institutions such as the SAF and being invited to attend a series of dialogues including Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean about female leadership in the SAF.
- Sumptuous dinner and delightful speeches
While the past GAHA teams have had their series of accolades, the new team brings with it its own unique qualities and abilities. Under the able leadership of Dr Ken Ong and valuable guidance of Mr James Soh, the new GAHA@NYAA team will undoubtedly soar to greater heights while serving others within the community and society.
November 25th, 2005
By Terence Chia
Even as countless young people round the world made their way to celebrations to ring in 2005, GAHA welcomed the new year by doing what she does best - serving.
On 31 December 2004, GAHA members volunteered their services at the Caring Nite cum Countdown, held at the Jurong East MRT Open Field. The Guest-of-Honour for the event was Mrs Lee Hsien Loong, wife of Prime Minister Lee. It was also attended by Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary General of NTUC, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West CDC and Members of Parliament for Jurong GRC.
Over 2000 disabled, needy elderly and other less fortunate Singaporeans were invited to the Countdown to be part of the community New Year festivities. GAHA played an integral role in welcoming and making these special guests feel comfortable at the celebrations by coordinating their arrival, seating and departure, as well as answering to their needs during the countdown. Guides were provided to bring the guests from their busses to their seats and vice versa. Dinner and goodie bags were given to all the guests at their seats. Feet of Gold Award Holders were muddied, so that those of the less fortunate could remain dry and clean.
Over the course of the night, the guests were treated to many exciting performances put up by community groups, schools and local celebrities and entertainers. The audience clearly enjoyed themselves, and cherished the opportunity to be with the community on such a special occasion. On her part, GAHA was happy to have served and brought joy to the community.
Even as the event ended, and the less fortunate left the field, GAHA stayed on to perform her first service for the New Year - picking up used plastic water bottles to be recycled.
January 3rd, 2005
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