Some 200 secondary and tertiary students exchanged ideas and opinions on how to foster social resilience at a youth symposium organised by the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group earlier today.

Held at Singapore Expo, the symposium took the form of four workshops that discussed themes surrounding societal cohesion and racial and religious harmony in Singapore.

One of the workshops had students discuss real-life scenarios concerning potential racial or religious conflict. Another focused on the role of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), which does counselling work for detainees, in fostering social cohesion in Singapore.

In his welcome address, Mr Azmoon Ahmad, chairman of both the Association of Muslim Professionals and the inter-agency group said Singapore continues to face threats to internal security and stability.

He also talked about the dangerous impact of the internet and social media in spreading hate and propaganda, or as a platform for making seditious and offensive comments.

Youths have an important role to play in being aware of such threats to social harmony, he said.

The Inter-Agency Aftercare Group is a voluntary group comprising the Association of Muslim Professionals, Yayasan Mendaki, Taman Bacaan, Khadijah Mosque and veteran mosque leader Mr Rhazaly Noentil.

Established in 2002 to provide support and counselling to immediate family members of terrorist detainees. the group has also organised several youth forums to raise awareness on the threat of terrorist ideology and to encourage youths to play an active role in countering it.