On 19th July, we invited Normal Stream educators to participate in a dialogue about what top hirers of ITE graduates are looking for and how we can build key competencies needed for our students to thrive in the working world.
Here are some event highlights from that day!
Industry experts from Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, LinkedIn and Shell were on the panel for our session. While their sharing focused on the evolving landscape of the working world, questions from the audience also honed in on topics such as what are the skills students need to develop to thrive in the workforce. Some of these skills include adaptability, problem-solving skills and communication skills.
DELIVERED BY
MS. VANESSA YAP
Vanessa anchored her sharing on the need to look beyond present situations and circumstances to call forth the potential in people. At Halogen, we believe that every youth has the innate potential to make a difference and be a positive influence. Vanessa emphasised the importance of giving youth platforms to affect change in their spheres of respective influence. Having positive adult figures come alongside youth is what steered Vanessa to being a mentor in the lives of youth. Just as she has benefitted from leaders who guided her patiently through her difficult circumstances, she highlighted how Educators have tremendous influence over their students.
KEY TAKEAWAY #1
Recruitment Methods are Evolving
“We need a fundamental shift in the way we teach students to look for a job.” – Hosea Lai, Head of Social Impact APAC, LinkedIn
Hosea spoke about some trends he observed with people maximising the digital sphere to search for new hires. Having skillsets such as problem solving, communications, resilience and adaptability are increasing in importance in the workplace, compared to the traditional route of having just diplomas and degrees under the belt. An example would be how over 95% of Fortune 500 companies in2018 use LinkedIn Talent Solutions to search for potential hires on LinkedIn, a professional network.
KEY TAKEAWAY #2
A supportive environment that nurtures self-confidence
“Learn to accept failure at an early stage.” – Thaya Nanthini M., Recruiter, Shell Singapore
One main theme that arose in our session was the lack of confidence in young job seekers. Thaya, our panel speaker from Shell Singapore highlighted the effect an environment has on someone. Creating an encouraging and supportive environment can build confidence in students which results in people who are more willing to think out of the box and try new things. “No one likes to fail. But it’s through our failure that we realise and learn from our mistakes. This also builds resilience, giving us the opportunity to bounce back from our setbacks.”
KEY TAKEAWAY #3
Every setback presents an opportunity to learn and grow.
“You can master soft skills through getting comments and feedback. This helps you to move to the next level.” – Derick Ooi, Human Resources Manager, Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore
Derick pointed out that in order to thrive in the working world, it’s important for one to continually improve themselves. Whether it’s developing a growth mindset towards situations they face or being a master of a skillset, it’s key to take in feedback and grow. Sharing from his personal experience of starting out as a waiter in the F&B line, he had his fair share of feedback. But taking his supervisor’s comments objectively has helped him to be where he is today.
It’s important to build 21st Century competencies beyond academic achievements among our youth. Skills such as critical thinking, analytical thinking and resilience are key in helping them navigate through future endeavours. The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE, pronounced as ‘nifty’) programme is dedicated to activating the entrepreneurial mindset in students. Key indicators of having an entrepreneurial mindset include showing initiative and self-reliance, flexibility and adaptability as well as being comfortable with taking risks.
PHYTO-SOLAR
In recent years, deforestation has been occurring at an accelerated rate. California had recently seen one of the biggest wildfires in 2019. Preeya aims to combat deforestation with Phyto-solar, a solar-panel powered plant that can help to have cleaner air while minimising the time needed to care for an actual plant.
You will find the sample framework in your email shortly after submitting this form.
By clicking ‘Submit’, you give consent to receive updates on future programmes, events, and resources by Halogen Foundation Singapore.
You will find the sample framework in your email shortly after submitting this form.
By clicking ‘Submit’, you give consent to receive updates on future programmes, events, and resources by Halogen Foundation Singapore.
Geraldine Tay, CSR Champion
Tackling big issues like poverty, climate change, and inequality are at the forefront of many youths’ minds and I’m excited to see how things will improve as our young people are given more access and opportunities. Volunteering with Halogen+ is a wonderful opportunity to coach youth in navigating their lives, through proven methodologies that create lasting skills. If you are looking to join an organisation that allows you fulfil your purpose in impacting people and provides learning/growth opportunities, Halogen+ is definitely one of the top choices I’d recommend.
Richard Slovenski, Donor
I recently left a senior corporate position after working for over 30 years, and have embarked on a personal ‘journey of discovery’. I believe that the young people of today will solve the challenges of tomorrow. We can provide them with guidance and give them confidence to overcome these challenges and to make the world a better place. Throughout my career, I was fortunate to receive help from individuals who saw my potential and shortcomings, and guided me. I believe Halogen Foundation performs a similar role helping young people.
If you want to help young people understand what it takes to lead, collaborate, build trust, be creative, and become lifelong learners; build the confidence of young people; help build a better future for Singapore then Halogen Foundation is the place you should be!
Lawrence Liang, Youth Volunteer
I am passionate about volunteering with young people. I was once a lost boy. I had always known I wanted to serve the community. However, with so many beneficiaries and numerous ways to help them, I lacked motivation and a sense of direction. But there was one group who often felt was missed out on when people thought of giving back to society – Youth. Thus, I began my journey of developing my passion for empowering youth. In a short span of 6 months, I discovered how meaningful it was to uncover the limitless potential that so many youth possess but do not recognise. Through this process, I not only developed the skill sets required to train a class of students, but also clarified my own values in the process. I am excited to apply what I have learnt, to give back even more.
Amaris Ann, Youth Volunteer
I believe that all of us are capable of sparking change in the life of a young person. Growing up, I’ve seen my relatives struggle with the results of the choices made in their youth, one reason being due to the lack of support and guidance received. I have come to realise that young people are at a vulnerable point in their lives because they are discovering their identities and the choices they make have real consequences. To me, the future of young people is similar to the process of clay moulding. Without the guidance of an experienced potter, the clay would never reach its’ full potential. I believe that volunteering with young people is a great chance to surprise yourself. More than just impacting the lives of young people, I’ve come to learn new things about myself and have changed for the better too.
Jacob Tan, Adult Volunteer
Often times when I volunteer, I find myself not just imparting things, but receiving an exchange of ideas, concepts, and stories. I am passionate about volunteering with young people because I had the fortune of meeting many teachers, mentors, and kind souls as I was growing up. I believe they have had a strong influence on who I am today. That is why I wish to give back in the same way to young people now. Everyone faces different challenges, have different aspirations, and learn in different ways. I try my best to understand each individual as a person first before sharing what may be relevant to them. I believe we live in a world where young people can dream, and we can play a part in making their dreams come true!
Vivek Sharma, Adult Volunteer
I believe that the future of young people is bright when they have proper guidance and directions. To quote Franklin Roosevelt, “We cannot build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future”. The truth is that many issues the young people today grapple with are more complicated than what we faced in our youth. Rapidly evolving social and cultural norms are forcing young people to find their unique identity. New technologies are changing the way they will work tomorrow. I believe in guiding young people to handle these challenges appropriately so that when the time comes, they are equipped to make the right decisions for themselves, their families and society.
Su Ann Lai, Youth Volunteer
I truly believe that when we invest in young people and build them at a young age, what they learn sticks with them, even as they grow older. It is in their youth that crucial learning and development takes place, not only in terms of skills, but also in terms of the development of their personal beliefs, values and confidence. Having the opportunity to interact with a diverse range of young people has taught me a lot about the way young people think and act, and interestingly, has taught me a lot about myself too. I believe that young people deserve the chance to be guided and shaped, just as how I had someone to do that for me too.
Callista Anne, Youth Volunteer
The future is filled with so much uncertainty. Things are constantly changing and there will always be new problems. But at the same time, this also means that there are so many opportunities for youths to do things that has never been done before! I just hope to plant a little seed of growth and knowledge for today’s youths, which would hopefully bloom into something that will help them through the struggles they may face. Halogen+ has given me that opportunity as an Associate Trainer.
Daril Haqim, Youth Volunteer
I once heard this quote — “We do not inherit the world from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”. We often get caught up in our own world and we forget that there still exists young people who could do with a little more guidance and a nudge onto a better path. It is my hope and wish that every student that I’ve taught will put their new knowledge to good use and continue to impart them to those younger than themselves.
Muhammad ‘Ammar, Educator
Steadfast. That is the first word that pops in my mind when I think of youths and their future. I want them to be equipped with the proper skills and values so that they remain steadfast in the face of challenges and adversity. As a teacher at Edgefield Secondary School, I am more passionate about instilling values and life-skills in the youth more than anything else. Halogen+ is a very enriching experience for youth. It opens up their lives to a plethora of opportunities and experience beyond the four walls of a classroom setting and into the real world.
Amuthavalli Ramiah, Educator
Young people are at a stage in life where they are exploring the future and blossoming into adults. It is at this period of their life that they need the most support and guidance to encourage them so that they can make a difference in their lives, and in the lives of others. When I think about young people, I see a dynamic future that is filled with endless possibilities.
Mohammed Feroz, Youth Volunteer
The youth of today will become the leaders of tomorrow. By extending a helping hand and serving as a guide to youths, we can mould the leaders of tomorrow. This, to me, is one of the greatest contributions we can make to the future of our society. Volunteering with Halogen+ is an amazing opportunity for you to play a vital role in the lives of youths. Your actions can deeply inspire and push students to become better versions of themselves. Be a part of this community and shape the future of our society!
Tun Shien, Youth Volunteer
The youth are the greatest agents of change in our society and I feel a need to give back to the youth of today as I have had a couple of opportunities in the past. They are the source of the greatest change with new and fresh ideas on how to improve the world we live in. Volunteering with youths at Halogen+ is a meaningful experience where you get to meet people of different backgrounds, lifestyles, cultures and mindsets but all aligned with a common cause.
Daniel Kwok, Adult Volunteer
I’m Daniel, and I am a Service Delivery Manager at UBS for nearly 20 years. I was once a lost teenager who did not know what to do with his life. Now, as a working adult, I can share my past experience to encourage young people. By investing in young people, we can help them tackle their challenges in life, prepare them to join the workforce, develop their skillsets, discover their talents, and do so much more to help them achieve their goals!
Phoebe Ng, Youth Worker
I am currently working at The Salvation Army Youth Development Centre as a Centre Manager. Young people are sometimes labelled by society with less positive terms like “youth-at-risk” or “strawberry generation” and this hinders them from rising up to the occasion. As many of them continue to discover their passion and purpose in life, what they really need is to have more support and opportunities for them to shine. My passion is to help young people discover and unleash their potential. If you love working with and helping young people, Halogen+ is the platform you can do it!
Harold Goh, Educator
I am currently a Head of Department, overseeing the Student Management in Serangoon Secondary School. I have seen how young people have the drive and the potential to impact the communities in ways that even adults cannot. Their strength lies in their youthful tenacity to hold on to their ideals. I believe that young people can and should contribute to the betterment of their community. The way they act must be based on a properly guided set of beliefs and values. Sometimes, all they need are adults who believe in them and who are willing to guide them.
Tze Xin, Youth Volunteer
Having people believe in you greatly influences who you think you are and what you think you are capable of, especially at a young and impressionable age. I volunteer with young people because in the same way others first believed in me, I hope to be able to do the same now for young people and witness them reach their potential and achieving their goals.
Gloria Zhang, Adult Volunteer
I am working at Diageo, as a Technical Manager for South East Asia. I believe that the potential of young people is endless. Just by showing them different perspectives and new possibilities, we can empower them to dream, and to create a better future for themselves and for those around them. As a volunteer, it has been rewarding to witness their growth and to see what they can really accomplish. Halogen+ is where a true difference can be made, sustained and amplified for good through our youths.
By clicking ‘Submit’, you give consent to receive updates on future programmes, events, and resources by Halogen Foundation Singapore.
Chief Training Officer
Halogen Foundation Singapore
Sean first started out in 2005, where he was a volunteer with Halogen. Today, he oversees curriculum and programme design, research in youth trends and consults with schools to help them achieve their student leadership development goals. Sean loves the outdoors and a good adventure. One day, he hopes to be able to sail overseas, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
Nur Ayumie Ayda Bte Roslan
Bedok Green Secondary School
Seribayu by Bayufamily
With the rising trends of viral dance movements from Korea and America, traditional dance seems to be losing traction among young people. Ayumie hopes to revive an interest in Malay dance by opening up a Malay dance company. She hopes that more people will appreciation of this unique art form as she shares the beautiful and graceful nature of Malay dance. Through this, she aims to impart important values to the new generation and ensure the distinct culture will not be lost.
Nurul Huda Bte Mazlan
Edgefield Secondary School
Reusable Clothes
Clothes and discarded textiles make up a large proportion of what ends up in landfills. Huda believes that upcycling is one of many ways to create a sustainable future, and she hopes that more people will tackle this issue by changing the way we make, use and dispose of clothing. Through her business, she wants to give old clothes new life and encourage eco-friendliness through reusable and upcycled clothes.
Wong Ji Feng, Willard
East View Secondary School
School Canteen Checkout
Rushing for class, facing endless queues, only to find you have an empty wallet? This is a common problem experienced by students everyday. Willard’s School Canteen Checkout aims to change this situation by instituting a grab-and-go system in the canteen, without queuing, and automatically making payment through their e-wallet later in the day. It’s the Amazon Go for school canteens.
Ang Kai Hsien
Greendale Secondary School
Flipping Around
What does it feel like to be Spiderman? Kai Hsien wants you to experience it for yourself. Parkour is an increasingly popular activity that appeals to youths, and spotting this trend, Kai Hsien created Flipping Around, a parkour gym that is perfect for young Singaporeans who are looking to dabble in Parkour. It is an ideal place for them to destress and build new friendships over a common interest.
Darius Foh
Hougang Secondary School
Self-Cleaning Contact Lens Case
The risk of eye infection after using unclean contact lenses poses a severe threat. However, there is also the hassle of ensuring that the contact lenses are clean, and especially so for busy Singaporeans. Hence, Darius created a self-cleaning contact lens case to help its users reduce the risk of having an eye infection while eliminating the hassle of the time to clean them.
Prakash Nair s/o Raja Morgan
Jurong Secondary School
CASH KICKS
Ever wanted a pair of beautiful shoes specially designed for you? Prakash aims to provide this exact service where he will design a unique pair of shoes just for you. While scrolling through Instagram, Prakash noticed many users selling shoes of the similar design and can be easily found in the market. That was when he came up with Cashkicks, a business where he will design shoes for customers, providing a different experience that is one of a kind.
East View Secondary School has been onboard the NFTE programme since 2016, taking on the in-curriculum model from 2017. Since then, we have seen three batches of NFTE graduands. As each year passes by, I have the privilege of witnessing the boost of confidence in each student throughout their NFTE journey. The students go through various planned activities that encourage them to speak out, progressively giving them chances to present in front of their class, finally pitching their business ideas within 6 minutes before a panel of esteemed judges.The sponsorship of the business attire brings about a newfound confidence in them as well. It is as the saying goes “Clothes make the man”, the change of the outward appearance alters the way they perceive themselves. This, coupled with their newfound knowledge in business ideation and planning as well as the support from volunteers, results in the shift of their own mindset. They surpass all our expectations and it brings me such great joy to hear them present with determination and self-belief. With each presentation, my heart grows with pride for my students and I will want all my colleagues to witness their growth as well.
Find Your Congruence
Lawyer, poet, non-profit founder. Amanda Chong seems to be doing it all. In a world that battles for our time and attention, how does she juggle her many hats? Hear from her on what guides her path, what her life compass is, and how she got to where she is today.
Why Wait? Start Now!
Change doesn’t need to be tough and impossible. All it takes is an idea, a decision to make a difference and a call to action. Learn how having a mindset shift is pivotal in taking the initiative to create a culture of giving and encouragement. The time is now.
Punch Above Your Weight
The journey to becoming Singapore’s first woman pro boxer was one fraught with setbacks, challenges & criticisms. Shah had to punch above her weight, her difficulties and critics to become the boxer that she is today. Learn from Shah as she shares handles on how to break through the barriers that stand in the way of our goals.
The journey to becoming Singapore’s first woman pro boxer was one fraught with setbacks, challenges & criticisms. Shah had to punch above her weight, her difficulties and critics to become the boxer that she is today. Learn from Shah as she shares handles on how to break through the barriers that stand in the way of our goals.
Leadership Development in an Increasingly Complex Society*
No doubt, the primary role of a young person’s development is a parental one. But increasingly parents find that the full development of a child has to be a collaborative and integrated one, very much needing the support and advice of schools and those in youth sector. It is important in this complex society that we have a fresh evaluation on how we do that.
Tong Yee will be sharing about the complexities of changing society, and their implications on leadership development practices. Change is always challenging and can be very difficult for teachers; but it is also imperative that the broader school systems recognise the impact and significance of their work and are able to innovate and evolve alongside global development.
*Educator’s Only
An emcee, designer and art facilitator with an unabashed love for lettering, Josh has taught calligraphy workshops and hand-lettered a wide range of commissioned typographic works: from weddings, posters to even wall murals.
A 2014 TEDxYouth Singapore speaker, Josh has also emceed for events such as the 28th SEA Games and hosted in front of crowds of more than 50,000 at venues like the National Stadium and OCBC Aquatic Centre.
Josh most enjoys combining his love for design and facilitation and has worked as an artist-educator for organisations such as Playeum’s Children’s Centre for Creativity and the YMCA Y-Stars, a group of young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Aiken Chia is a host, actor and producer of Food King by Night Owl Cinematics.
Off-camera, he serves as a young-adults leader/mentor to a connect group in his local church. Internationally, he is committed to humanitarian work specifically in My Family Home, Kathmandu – a children’s home that takes in children who are at risk.
Aiken is passionate about leadership, creativity, psychology, art and music, and social justice.
Ying is the brainchild of Li Ying – elusive, instinctive and arty. Using fabrics as her canvas, she creates wearable art by translating her inspirations and thoughts into one-of-a-kind art pieces using abstract brush strokes dipped in a whimsical watercolour palette.
Ying mentions, “I felt that the market has a gap in the availability of unique pieces, and I wanted to go beyond fashion and inspire. I am a strong believer of how less is more, but adding something exceptional to the ‘ less’ can bring out one’s personality and I hope to use my paintings to do that. Inspired by the everyday, my art always tells stories.”
Fann Wong
Fann Wong is a Singaporean actress, singer and model signed to Catwalk Asia, an artiste management company from Taiwan.
Her acting talent started since childhood and after just a year in the television industry, her role in Chronicle of Life (缘尽今生) led her to be the first actress to win both the Best Actress and Best Newcomer awards at Singapore’s Star Awards 1995. After gaining regional exposure and
popularity in Asia through various television productions, she became the first Singaporean actress to venture into Hollywood, playing a lead role in the 2003 film, Shanghai Knights.
Fann also ventured into the China market and won the Best Asia Artist and Asia’s Most Popular Actress in China’s 2012 Tripod Awards.
Yuhui is a creative content creator for &whyte, who goes by the username – @Spoiltbytes. After working in an advertising industry for almost a decade, Yuhui decided to dedicate most of her time into the endless pit of social media content creation. She is active on Instagram which she uses the platform to share her dreams, inspirational quotes, travel adventures and her two fluffy cats.
Outside work she also loves to embark on projects that uses design and creative ideas for a social cause.
Yuhui is also the creator behind Actseed Co. where she brings her creative output to life in products. She believes that when you buy something from a designer, you’re not just buying an item but you’re investing into somebody’s passion.
Starting out on YouTube at the tender age of 14, Joie Tan began her musical journey by posting covers of vocal-heavy popular songs on the platform. Her renditions were met with tremendously positive reception, giving her opportunities to go from bedroom covers to live performances.
A prolific fresh graduate, the 22-year-old is currently working towards her debut album that is set to release at the beginning of next year.
Your donation encourages us to continue the work we do with our next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. Please leave your details below and complete the donation payment, and you will receive an email upon confirmation.
Scan this QR code to make your $10 payment to our corporate PayNow account. In transaction reference, please put ‘JOURNAL-YOURNAME’
PDPA:
We Respect and Keep Your Data Safe
By submitting this form, you give consent to receive updates on future programmes, events and marketing materials by Halogen Foundation Singapore.
Nurshahidah is Singapore’s first professional female boxer and the founder of Juggernaut Studio. She represented Team Singapore Boxing in the South East Asian Games 2015 and her dedication to her craft has helped her progress forward and gain more exposure. Her professional record of 8 wins and 2 defeats brought about her nickname ‘The Sniper’ with 6 wins via knockout. She currently holds 4 Championship belts and was also awarded WBC Asia Female Champion of 2017.
As a strong advocator for women’s rights, she would like to see female boxing in Singapore grow to a higher level, with more women stepping up to the task of being a professional boxer. She hopes to be the source of inspiration for local female boxing scene to thrive.
Isaac’s life’s mission is to use music, media and messages to transform society positively. Having gone on his first humanitarian trip when he was 17 years old to a refugee camp along the borders of Thailand, his life was radically transformed and today he spends his life finding ways to love and serve others. He started his own social enterprise called Colours Global, a company that architects creative solutions to tackle social problems across Asia. They are presently at work with the Singapore Girls Home, helping to rehabilitate youths at risk through music and art, and assisting a NGO in Batam thats seeks to provide a better life for the children living in the slums. Isaac also uses his media platforms to bring awareness about social issues around Asia, and have been featured on both local and international news. He was also a finalist on The Voice Singapore and Malaysia.
Amanda Chong co-founded ReadAble, a non-profit organisation that runs weekly English literacy classes for children and migrant women in a low-income neighbourhood since 2014, with the aim of improving social mobility.
She is a lawyer trained in Cambridge and Harvard, who writes poems on her lunch breaks. A winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, her poetry has been engraved on the Marina Bay Helix Bridge.
Amanda is interested in exploring themes of gender and power in both her poetry and academic writing, which has been published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender. Her creative work has appeared in Monocle, the Straits Times and Quarterly Literary Review Singapore.
Thanks for your interest in the National Young Leader Award! We just need some information from you and the full info deck will be in your email shortly.
By clicking ‘Submit’, you give consent to receive updates on future programmes, events, and resources by Halogen Foundation Singapore.
As our individual programme pages are under construction, we would like to share our latest catalogue with you that contains our full suite of programmes. You will find the catalogue in your email shortly after submitting this form.
By clicking ‘Submit’, you give consent to receive updates on future programmes, events, and resources by Halogen Foundation Singapore.