Singapore : Three teams were awarded top honours today for the inaugural Singapore Youth Challenge on Urban Governance: “Heroes” held by the Centre of Liveable Cities (CLC) in August 2013. The teams comprising youths aged 17-21 years old were awarded for their compelling works that narrate Singapore’s journey in urban development.

In organising the Youth Challenge, the CLC had hoped to engage youth in Singapore’s urban development experience. Through the students’ choice of a “Hero” – which could range from an “urban pioneer” to a “man on the street” as an anchor character, participating teams were to narrate Singapore’s urban development experience via a multimedia narrative. All in, 16 teams from Singapore’s tertiary institutions participated in the challenge.

A four-member judging panel who made the decision on the winning entries comprised Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities; Professor Lily Kong, Vice Provost, Academic Personnel of the National University of Singapore; Mr Haresh Sharma, a local playwright and; Mr Josef Tan, a Curriculum Planning and Development Officer at the Ministry of Education.

Professor Kong said: “It was heart-warming and encouraging to see young people learning about contributors to Singapore’s urban development, and identifying those whom they think have made significant contributions to making Singapore a liveable and sustainable city-state. They clearly demonstrated a curiosity about the past, a healthy respect for our urban pioneers, and an appreciation of the challenges that went into the making of Singapore’s cityscape. Not least, several teams also demonstrated their creativity in presenting their research. All teams deserve praise for their very noteworthy efforts.”

Champion team “The Urbanites” had this to share about the competition: “Exploring the unconventional, building lasting friendships, appreciating and feeling grateful for the works of our forefathers. We have to continually improve our urban landscape to prepare us for the future, as we become an increasingly globalised and metropolitan city.”

The three winning teams will receive prize money (top prize being $2,000) and be offered internship opportunities with the Ministry of National Development (MND). Their winning entries are also exhibited at the World Cities Summit 2014 that is held at Marina Bay Sands from 1 – 4 June 2014.

Source :   ACN Newswire