New website allows the young to discuss, offer ideas on govt policies
April Chong, Straits Times 8 Jan 09;
REACH - the agency created to engage citizens - launched a youth-oriented, interactive website yesterday.
Designed to get young people more involved in shaping government policies, the website - Youth Vibes - is 'by youth, for youth'.
The website is an offshoot of the successful student ambassador programme launched by Reach - an acronym for Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home - last February.
Youth Vibes will include feature stories and journal articles by young people, and allow participants to blog, discuss issues and make comments.
'Through (Youth Vibes), we hope to cultivate a participative citizenry from young and kick-start their interest in affecting changes in the community they live in,' said Reach chairman Amy Khor.
Kwan Jin Yao, 17, an editorial member of the website, is part of a group of young people who will keep the website updated and relevant.
'We hope young people can come in here to make constructive criticism. Unlike other forums where a lot of discussions are lost, there will be follow-ups here,' said the Hwa Chong Institution student.
Feedback collected from discussions on the site will be sent regularly to the relevant organisations, including government departments.
The launch of the website was combined with an appreciation lunch for Reach contributors. Among them was 19-year-old national serviceman Soh Yi Da.
He has been giving feedback to Reach and its predecessor, the Feedback Unit, for the last five years.
He also started his own school feedback symposium. 'I believe that by making ourselves heard, we can shape a better Singapore where we belong,' he said.
Some of his views have been adapted for use. One example is the implementation of internships for students at government agencies, an idea he came up with during his school days.
Reach has also appointed five grassroots feedback facilitators from different constituencies. They will help get the message out to the heartland and engage residents in giving feedback to the Government.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, who co-hosted the lunch with Dr Khor, stressed the need for the 'three Is' in better citizen engagement:
# The need for the Government to reveal as much 'information' as possible, accurately and credibly, so the people can participate in solution generation;
# The need to respond quickly to feedback and to have more resources to man the various 'interaction' channels; and
# The need for more people to feel 'involved' in nation-building, problem- solving and creating the future.
He made an analogy between getting feedback and the Singapore Flyer, where the lunch was held: 'This cannot be a process where things are just going round and round and occasionally getting stuck, with no output, with no effect on the ground and no changes.'
aprilc@sph.com.sg
Online forum grows
LAST year, the Reach discussion forum had:
# 12,000 postings, a 30 per cent increase from the year before.
# 1.5 million views, a 21 per cent increase from the year before.
# Since the Reach Facebook group was introduced in June last year, it has received 1,700 postings.
# Hottest topics on the Reach forum include the cost of living and transport issues such as ERP charges.
The new Youth Vibes website can be found at www.reach.gov.sg/youthvibes
