Citi-YMCA
Youth For Causes (YFC), an annual social entrepreneurship and youth development
programme jointly organised by YMCA of Singapore and Citi Singapore, will be
launched on Thursday 22 May 2014, with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Social
and Family Development and Second Minister for Defence gracing the event as the
Guest of Honour. 100 teams of four youths each will raise funds for their
chosen voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) for the next 15 weeks till 7
September 2014.
Teams were
chosen from a field of 181 applications – an increase of 56% from 2013 – by a
rigorous selection process whereby the teams’ proposals were scrutinised and
dissected by a Selection Panel comprising senior management executives
from both corporate and non-profit sectors. The criteria for judging proposals
included innovation, feasibility, as well as level of public and volunteer
engagement.
“This year’s selection was tougher due
to the increased competition, but I am heartened by this development as it
shows that
youths in Singapore are dynamic and willing to come forward to challenge
themselves,” said Mr Leslie Wong, Chairman, Citi-YMCA Youth For
Causes Committee 2014. “The participants
will have to brace themselves to overcome the challenges they will face in the
next 15 weeks and I am confident that they will be able to make a positive
impact on the lives of others.”
Each team
will be provided with $1,600 in seed funding from Citi Foundation and team
members will undergo training – in financial management, safety management,
volunteer management, events management, marketing and fund-raising – conducted
by YMCA in partnership with NUS Business School. In addition to these trainings,
each team will have a volunteer mentor for guidance and support. The mentors
comprise working professionals from sectors such as banking and social service,
to various government ministries and statutory boards.
Mr
Stephen Loh, President, YMCA of Singapore said that the mentors were integral
to the success of YFC which is part of YMCA’s mission to develop volunteers.
“The mentors, with
experience in their respective fields will serve as an invaluable resource for
the teams in executing their projects with excellence,” explained Mr Loh. “Through
YFC, YMCA will leverage on the mentors’ expertise to develop and empower youths
to realise their potential, and groom them into responsible community champions
who can positively impact society.”
Mr Han Kwee Juan,
Chief Executive Officer of Citibank Singapore Limited, said, “We have seen
tremendous success in the programme over the past 11 years with the youth teams
raising over $6 million for 156 VWOs and mobilising more than 110,000
volunteers in the process. We are excited to launch this year’s programme for
other 100 youth teams. Through their projects, the youths are able to pick up
valuable life skills including people and project management skills. More
importantly, they will gain a higher level of social consciousness as they seek
to fulfill the unmet social needs in Singapore. In addition to funding from
Citi Foundation, we are pleased to support the programme with more than 58
volunteer mentors from Citi Singapore who will guide the teams on their projects.”
Last year, YFC participants raised over $756,000
in support of 38 VWOs, the highest amount raised since its inception in 2003.
The endeavour mobilised over 8,900 volunteers who came forward to support the
teams’ efforts in raising funds and awareness for these adopted VWOs. This
programme has continued to support the President’s Challenge list of
beneficiary VWOs since 2005. More than 4,000 volunteers were mobilised by 27
YFC teams to champion social causes for 11 VWOs under the President’s Challenge
list of beneficiaries in 2013. These 27 teams raised $246,000 for the 11 VWOs
through the YFC programme as part of the President’s Challenge 2013.
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