Pilot intake of volunteer youth corps to embark on community projects

SINGAPORE- Low-income families often spend the bulk of their money on feeding their families. With rising food prices, it is a challenge for them to whip up cheap, nutritious meals.

Helping needy families manage their food budget while ensuring that they eat healthily is one of the projects which young volunteers will be embarking on this year.

They form the pilot intake of the national volunteer scheme Youth Corps Singapore, an idea first mooted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during last year's National Day Rally to increase opportunities for young people to do projects in the community.

Ninety volunteers completed a five-day training camp at Pulau Ubin last week. It was organised by the National Youth Council Singapore and Outward Bound Singapore. The training aims to give them leadership and project management skills needed to take on projects that could tackle health or environment issues, or involve helping those with special needs.

Said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong: "We hope that through the induction programme and training, our Youth Corps members will gain the confidence and determination to effect positive changes in the communities they serve. We want our youths to lead the way in volunteerism."

For the 90 volunteers, this marks the start of a year-long commitment which will see them getting involved in local and overseas volunteering stints.

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