SCF 2022 Bootcamp: Safety and well-being take the spotlight

After a hiatus from in-person programming because of COVID-19, SCF returned this year with something many young people had been waiting for: the chance to come together, face to face, and tackle the issues that matter most to them.

It started with a five-day camp during the June school holidays— the launchpad for a six-month journey that will bring 15 young people aged 13 to 17 through research, reflection, and eventually a public project showcase in December.

This year's theme: "What Does Safety and Well-being Mean to You?"

Four strands sit beneath that question: Navigating the Digital World; Mental Health and Well-being; Relationships with Friends and Family; and Climate Change. Big topics. But the SCF approach has always been to make them personal, starting with what young people are actually living through.

How the camp unfolded

The first three days were about building a foundation. Learning sessions were held across Singapore Children's Society's youth drop-in centres, with speakers joining from Singapore and abroad, alongside SCF alumni who shared their own experiences of the journey. Any young person who wanted to listen in was welcome.

These weren't passive sessions. Within spaces where participants felt safe, honest conversations happened, including topics that were genuinely sensitive. Young people shared their own experiences, and in doing so, reminded each other of what youth-led action can actually look like.

Day four shifted gears from listening to doing. Participants crystallised the ideas they wanted to pursue, supported by skills workshops to sharpen how they think, communicate and present.

On the final day, they pitched those ideas to members of Singapore Children's Society's Research and Advocacy Standing Committee and Research Unit, receiving real, substantive feedback to carry forward into the months ahead.

What participants are already saying

Five days in, and the impact was already showing.

Zahra shared that the camp helped her find something she hadn't expected: her own voice. "I learnt that I'm capable of talking about and contributing to discussions on this topic. It was very rewarding."

For Solana, the speaker sessions opened up a curiosity she's now eager to follow. "I used to be reserved, but am now able to step out of my comfort zone and present or share my views with my group. I am looking forward to working with my team."

The six-month journey is just beginning. Watch this space.