In the film INequality, two youth – Chin Wei and Nisha – who come from contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds tell their unique stories, showing how unfair experiences can cut across classes.
The narrative, developed by three Singapore Children’s Society centres and produced by Cloudy South Productions, was based on interviews with 25 children and youth about fairness and equality.
The film was specially created for the 4th Singapore Children’s Forum. The theme, “Why is it sometimes not fair?”, builds on Singapore Children’s Society Lecture 2018, “Growing up in an Unequal Society”. It sought to flesh out the issue from the perspective of young people and was the basis for the panel discussion.
Over 200 educators, parents and students attended the event, held at the SMU Mochtar Riady Auditorium on 30 November 2019. Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, then Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, and Education was the Guest-of-Honour.
The panel discussion included the following participants:
Ms Kong Kum Peck, Director of ComCare and the Social Support Division, Social Policy and Services Group, Ministry of Social and Family Development
Dr Irene Ng, Associate Professor of Social Work and Director of the Social Service Research Centre, National University of Singapore
Mr Zheng Liren, Social Work Lecturer at the School of Health and Social Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic
Ms Loh Lai Sum, Social Worker, Yishun Family Service @ Children’s Society
Qalishya, a 15-year-old member from our youth drop-in centre, VOX @ Children’s Society
While the discussion touched on a range of topics, key themes that emerged included the universal need for love, a sense of belonging, and positive self-esteem, regardless of the child’s background.
If you are interested to watch the film INequality, please write to us at scf@childrensociety.org.sg.