153 receive National Youth Achievement Award gold awards

President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the 16th National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Gold Award with some of the 154 outstanding service-oriented young leaders . ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

SINGAPORE - Student Joel Lim, 19, travelled to Bandipur, Nepal, in March 2015 with the Rotary Club and helped out at a free clinic set up by doctors for two weeks.

He had participated in the trip as part of the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) programme.

On Thursday (Oct 20), he was among 153 awardees aged 14 to 25 who received their NYAA gold awards from President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre located at the Institute for Technical Education (ITE) headquarters.

The award recognises youth community leaders who have taken part in local and overseas expeditions, skills development, and sports, as well as initiated community-based projects. Participants are given at least one-and-a-half years to complete these tasks.

"The NYAA Programme gives our young people valuable exposure beyond the classroom walls, allowing them to develop crucial life skills that help them excel as individuals and as community leaders," said Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary at the ceremony.

Referring to the 258 youth who won the NYAA gold award this year, Dr Janil added that they "should be commended for challenging themselves and for becoming valuable members of our leadership community".

More than 300,000 youth have participated in the NYAA programme since it was launched in May 1992 at the Istana by then-President of Singapore Wee Kim Wee.

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