A two-day forum for youths is set to be held at the University Cultural Centre in conjunction with the inaugural Youth Olympic Games that Singapore will host later this year.
Jointly organized by the NUS University Scholars Programme and the University of Sydney’s Centre for the Mind, the forum, titled “What Makes a Young Champion? 2010 (Singapore),” will take place from Aug. 7 to Aug. 8.
Marketed as a “forum by youth, for youth,” the event will bring together selected youth from around the world to exchange diverse views about the meaning of the term ‘championship’.
Phoebe Lim, who is Communications Executive in the forum’s organizing committee, said that the objective was to encourage youths to “think of different ways of conceptualizing ‘championship’.”
“With this forum, we hope that they realize that being a champion is not just about medals or awards,” said the psychology freshman.
In an attempt to better reach out to youths, various social media will be employed as platforms to conduct panel discussions during the forum. Participants will be able to pose questions or comments via SMS, Facebook and Twitter.
Kia Jie Hui, a fourth-year business undergraduate and student director of the forum, said that the new initiative “will especially help participants who are shy.”
Programmes Director Kayjal Dasan, a political science senior, said that the organizing committee will also be arranging for “live telecasts (to be broadcasted) around the world” to ensure that interested youths will be able to watch the forum even if they are unable to attend it.
Recognizing the organizers’ efforts at a press conference on Feb. 4, NUS President Tan Chorh Chuan applauded the students who are working hard to make the forum a reality.
“Academic achievement is insufficient; we must also develop other qualities which are important in the future, like teamwork and leadership,” said Tan.
Professor John Richardson, Director of the University Scholars Programme, also commended the organizers for producing a “vibrant” forum.
“The student organizers have worked very hard together and stayed up very late,” said Richardson.
For Shafiqah Song, being part of the organizing committee has proved to be an exciting experience despite having to juggle her duties as Vice-head of Programmes with her schoolwork.
The fourth-year literature undergraduate said, “My thesis isn’t done, but it’s fun as I get to work with young people.”
The 2010 forum is the third of its kind, following earlier editions that were held in Sydney and Beijing in conjunction with the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games respectively.
The event is a brainchild of Professor Allan Snyder, head of the Centre of the Mind at the University of Sydney.
More information on the forum can be found at www.whatmakesayoungchampion.com. |
