Wee Jun Kai, Business Times 21 Feb 08;
REACH (Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home), the government agency for engaging and connecting with citizens, yesterday launched its Junior REACH Ambassadors programme.
For the programme, 70 youths from 14 participating schools, including Institutes of Technical Education, junior colleges, polytechnics and secondary schools, will take on the role of ambassadors, spearheading feedback activities in their schools to encourage youth participation and interest in national policy-making.
REACH chairman Amy Khor said: 'This is a major milestone for REACH as we go one level up with our youth engagement and getting youth to play a more active role in shaping government policies.
'We will continue to grow and expand the programme and eventually reach out to all schools who desire to participate in the programme.'
During the student forum after the launch, guest of honour Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, tackled some questions, including queries about the Budget, brain drain, foreign talent and rising cost of living issues.
One student from Hwa Chong Institution asked the minister if the Budget had overlooked the disabled, citing articles in local media detailing the size of hongbao that different segments of society received from the Budget.
In response, Dr Balakrishnan said that it was 'important not to segment the community' when looking at this year's Budget, which placed a premium on education and innovation.
'There will inevitably be people who are left behind and the disabled make up just a small group,' he added.
He emphasised then that what was important was a safety net that was 'real and sustainable', which would ensure that Singaporeans 'can provide for themselves, put their children in school and receive healthcare when they need it'.
He also mentioned that the government spends four times more on a disabled child in a special school than the average student.
Of course, Singapore's bid to host the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games, for which the results will be made known at 7pm today, also came up.
The minister said: 'If Singapore were to win, I believe it will send a very strong message that the Games is open, not only to big cities, not only to old cities, but to young cities as well.'
On Singapore's chances of winning, he said: 'I do not wish to speculate, please wait.'
