Makeover for *Scape to attract more youth

SINGAPORE - A popular Orchard Road haunt called *Scape, where the youth hang out and showcase their talents, will be revamped, in a move to make it a more appealing place where young people can pursue their passions.

Among the changes in store are the way the space is used, the mix of tenants and new programmes in music and media.

The impending makeover is one of three strategies in a government plan to update and strengthen the infrastructure to bring young people together and empower them to do good.

The second is to introduce more youth spaces islandwide and expand programmes for them with partners, such as Outward Bound Singapore (OBS), which organises outdoor learning activities for students.

The third is to restructure and strengthen the National Youth Council (NYC) as a national body overseeing youth affairs.

In announcing the three measures yesterday, the fifth and final day of the debate on the President's Address, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong pledged to redouble efforts to engage youth.

He said: "We will do more to support the aspirations of all youth. We will equip them with vital life-skills and help them discover their calling and passion.

"We will enable them to create their own ground-up initiatives, go for their dreams in diverse areas, and lead fulfilling lives."

*Scape, conceived by youth 10 years ago and opened in 2010, is a popular youth hangout, he said.

It attracts an average of 440,000 visitors a month, according to his ministry.

They include more than 1,000 young people who take part weekly in 30 youth-led interest groups, ranging from cajon percussion box players to graffiti artists.

"But the youth landscape has evolved over the years and we need to keep up with the changes," he added.

To operate more youth spaces and programmes, *Scape and the National Youth Council will forge closer ties with the Education Ministry and its schools, and voluntary groups, the minister said.

OBS' programmes, in particular, have received good feedback from many youth who said they were a "transformational, life-changing experience", he added.

The restructuring of NYC will build on an already active ground presence. More than 4,000 youth a year take part in its overseas community service programme.

But Mr Wong felt there was scope to do even more and raise awareness of NYC's offerings.

He plans to build up its capabilities in several areas to reach out to all youth and youth organisations, and to champion youth engagement and coordinate youth programmes nationwide.

Also, it needs to gather feedback from the ground, do research to better understand the needs of young people and give voice to them to influence and shape national policies.

More details on the various changes will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mr Wong also addressed MPs' concerns about social mobility.

He promised that all youth will continue to have fair access to opportunities, regardless of their background.

Pointing to programmes that expose youth from poor homes to sport and the arts, he said: "In Singapore, no one should be deprived of the chance to broaden his horizon or develop a talent because of his family circumstances or social background."

He told reporters: "There is a chance for light to medium rain with thunderstorms scattered over Riau over the next few days."

This article was first published on May 31, 2014.
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