900 South Woodlands Drive #06-01 Woodlands Civic Centre 730900 Tel: 6248 5566 Fax: 6219 1176

MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY

19 November 2020

To News Editor

EMPOWERING YOUTHS TO CHAMPION SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN THE POST-COVID WORLD

North West Youth Forum to discuss sustainability in the new normal, and avenues of support for ground-up initiatives ______

North West Youth Forum – ‘The Sustainability Landscape in a Post-Covid World’ will bring 200 youths together in an effort by the North West Community Development Council (CDC) to encourage environmental ownership and innovation amongst youths. This year, the Forum will hone in on how the notion of sustainability has evolved due to the pandemic, both at a more personal level affecting day-to-day life, and at a broader level impacting climate change and the environment.

2 Ms , Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, and Mr Alex Yam, Mayor of North West District, will be joining the youths in a discussion about key sustainability issues in post-COVID Singapore. Minister Fu says, “Since independence, Singapore has always pursued economic growth in tandem with social inclusion and environmental protection. With the evolving challenges from climate change, it is more important than ever that we put sustainability at the core of everything that we do. As Singapore charts our

1 way towards a green recovery from COVID-19, we will be looking to foster sustainable growth through green financing, sustainable infrastructure development, and accelerating our progress towards a circular economy. These efforts will strengthen our resilience in an increasingly resource and carbon- constrained world. More importantly, they will create new jobs across many sectors. Events such as the North West Youth Forum provide an important platform for youths to engage in important discussions on possibilities, constraints and trade-offs, formulate environmental solutions, and bring excitement amongst the youths to a new sustainable economy. The Government will continue to work with all segments of society, including our youths, to realise our vision for a sustainable Singapore as we emerge from COVID-19 and beyond.”

3 On North West CDC’s approach and efforts in supporting ground- up initiatives, Mr Alex Yam, Mayor of North West District, says, “Covid-19 has presented its own set of environmental issues and challenges to sustainability initiatives. In these trying times, equal importance must be placed on sustainability – finding solutions to new and existing environmental problems, and redefining the way we champion sustainability. North West CDC is providing platforms and support to develop and tap on the innovative potential of youths. We hope more youths will step forward to advance our sustainable development goals and champion sustainability projects in the community.”

4 The North West CDC supports green ground-up initiatives through three main avenues:

i. Identifying problem statements – As an aggregator of needs in the community, the CDC is able to develop a more acute understanding of green-related issues in the community. The problem statements can then be communicated to youths for them to come up with innovative solutions;

ii. Providing funding support – Through the North West GIRAFFE Fund, the CDC supports impactful sustainability initiatives through a seed funding; and

iii. Providing technical guidance and consultation – The CDC is able to contribute its own expertise accumulated over the years, and also connect youths with partners and specialists in sustainability, who could help in sharpening the ground-up initiatives.

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5 The annual North West Youth Forum provides a platform for youths to exchange ideas, network with like-minded peers, discuss timely sustainability issues and learn from green field experts. At the end of the forum, youths are also encouraged to kick start ground-up initiatives to champion topics that they are passionate about.

Media Invite

6 You and your photographer / camera crew are cordially invited to attend the North West Youth Forum, at the North West CDC Office. Media interviews with spokespersons may be arranged on request.

7 The details of the event are as follows:

North West Youth Forum

Date : Friday, 20 November 2020 Media arrival : 6.45pm Venue : North West CDC Office @ Woodlands Civic Centre 900 South Woodlands Drive #06-01 (S’730900)

Please RSVP Clare Chua at HP: 9880 1153, or email: [email protected] by Thursday, 19 November 2020, 5.00pm.

Enclosed: Annex A – Programme for North West Youth Forum

Contact Person for Media:

Clare Chua (Ms) Manager (Corporate Communications) North West Community Development Council Tel : 6248 5551 HP : 9880 1153 E-mail: [email protected]

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About North West Community Development Council (CDC)

The Community Development Councils (CDCs) were established to build a tightly-knit, compassionate and self-reliant community.

North West CDC works closely with various community and corporate partners to strengthen Singapore’s social fabric; and encourages the more able and successful to come forward to help the less successful, and to foster greater sense of community ownership and self-help among the residents.

We strive to align our activities and efforts with our mission: (a) Assisting the needy To help the less fortunate through local assistance programmes (b) Bonding the people To bond the community through projects & programmes to bring them closer to one another (c) Connecting the community To develop strategic partnerships with corporate and community partners to better serve our residents

The North West District comprises Holland- GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Nee Soon GRC, GRC and SMC. ______

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Annex A

NORTH WEST YOUTH FORUM FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2020

PROGRAMME ______

Time Programme 6.45pm Arrival of Media 7.00pm Arrival of Host Mr Alex Yam Mayor of North West District 7.00pm – Media Doorstop 7.15pm 7.30pm Arrival of Guest-of-Honour Ms Grace Fu Minister for Sustainability and the Environment 7.40pm Group Photo 7.45pm Opening Address by Mayor 7.55pm Sharing by Minister 8.00pm Commencement of Dialogue – The Sustainability Landscape in a Post-Covid World 9.00pm End of Event

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