Preserving hawker food culture: Time for young people to step up

I read with relief the report about teenagers helping to preserve our hawker food culture ("Wanted: Young 'hawker stars' to help sustain food heritage"; last Sunday).

It is not everyone's dream to grow up and become a blue­collar worker wielding utensils and working tirelessly around the clock to prepare meals in a stifling kitchen.

Even parents who enjoy hawker food discourage their children from working in a hawker centre.

I grew up hearing adults urging me to work hard so that I do not end up being a hawker or a road sweeper. This may have contributed to the negative perception of hawkers and discouraged young people from joining the trade.

However, young people must realise that the hawker trade is part of the fabric of our society and makes Singapore unique.