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Residents’ Committee Youth Chapters

05 July 2010 2 comments

Envisioning a vibrant and caring community where all youths play a part towards community bonding, the Pasir Ris Elias Community Club (CC) Youth Executive Committee (YEC) together with the Residents’ Committees (RCs) in Pasir Ris West Constituency aim to reach out to more local youths through the RC Youth Chapters. Concerned that youths might be less involved in the community, the Pasir Ris Elias CC YEC saw the need to create opportunities for youths to take an interest in their community. The RC Youth Chapters are appropriate platforms, offering opportunities to strengthen community bonds among young neighbours, as they are about residents engaging residents.

The Chairperson and members of the Pasir Ris Elias CC YEC approached the RC Chairpersons to share this new initiative, as the formation of RC Youth Chapters requires the partnership of the RCs.  The members sought to understand the different dynamics and strengths of the respective RCs.  Through feedback and communication, the YEC and RCs agreed on different customised working models that best suit each of them.

The YEC and RCs adopted several approaches to attract local youths to join the RC Youth Chapters.  The team created awareness of the initiative by going on house visits to conduct a Needs Assessment Survey with close to 700 households. About 60 grassroots leaders and volunteers helped with this initiative and managed to recruit some youths into the RC Youth Chapters.  Other effective recruitment efforts included inducting active participants from RC activities and from informal interest groups in the neighbourhood such as hip hop and computer gaming.

Following the formation of RC Youth Chapters, the members will continue to be engaged through a series of activities including projects derived from the Needs Assessment Survey.  The YEC will strengthen its recruitment efforts through targeted interests of their PAssion Card members, event road shows, recruitment talks at educational institutions in the constituency, as well as extending its outreach through social media such as Facebook.

The YEC recognises that one of the critical success factors in the formation of RC Youth Chapters lies in the strong support of the Adviser and the grassroots organisations.  Engaging young local residents is an ongoing process that requires the dedication and effort of various stakeholders.  The journey to a close–knit youth community can only be achieved if enough time is invested to create strong bonds.  This desired outcome may require two to three years of devotion before the results are visible. Real change always takes time but with strong commitment from the various stakeholders, we can look forward to a vibrant youth community in Pasir Ris West.

The story of how Pasir Ris Elias CC YEC reaches out to youths through the RC Youth Chapters is the third in a series of six stories on our grassroots leaders’ journey towards realising the Vision for the Community. 

Read the other stories here:

• Bridging Private and Public Estates
• Integrating New Citizens and Permanent Residents
• Using New Media to Enhance Outreach Efforts
• The Ties That Bind
• The Tampines West Experience

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