A new cohort, a new journey— SCF 2021 begins

13 July 2021

Every Singapore Children's Forum starts the same way: with young people coming together, getting to know each other, and beginning to figure out what they want to say to the world.

For the 14 participants aged 11 to 17 who make up the SCF 2021 Core Group, that journey kicked off with a two-day virtual orientation– a mix of sharing sessions, group activities, and honest conversations about the issues that matter most to them.

*Singapore Children’s Forum 2021 Virtual Orientation*

Getting started together

Singapore Children's Society staff opened the orientation with an introduction to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): the framework that sits at the heart of everything SCF does. From there, participants did something just as important: they set their own group norms, agreeing on how they'd communicate and treat each other throughout the months ahead.

They also shared what they were hoping to get out of the experience. Some through words, others through drawings. The visions that came through were clear and personal:

*Drawing by a youth participant, “I want to be able to voice out issues for all youths.”*

*Drawing by a youth participant, “I want to achieve growth through here and learn new things.”*

Others hoped their problems would be taken seriously. Some wanted more space to express themselves. Many saw SCF as a chance to grow, learn, and find their voice (perhaps for the first time).

The conversations that are already starting

The orientation centred on four themes the group will explore over the coming months: mental wellbeing, the digital world, education, and the impact of COVID-19.

In breakout rooms, participants shared their perspectives and listened to each other's. What came through was thoughtful and grounded.

On mental health, many recognised it as something young people around them are quietly dealing with and felt that more could be done, both in education and in early support.

On the digital world, participants were clear-eyed about the risks online, with some drawing on their own experiences and the steps they'd taken to keep themselves safe.

How they felt at the end of it

"Empowering." "Enriching." "Engaging."

Those were some of the words participants used when asked to reflect on the two days.

One participant put it in a way that captured something the whole group seemed to feel: "There's a lot of different voices coming together to express one point — so I would say unique."

That's exactly what SCF is built on. And with enthusiasm, curiosity and a genuine desire to be heard, this cohort is ready for what comes next.

Themes:

UNCRC