What is Photovoice? Photovoice is a participatory action research method which uses photographic images to draw attention to social issues. However, instead of an outsider’s perspective, participants take photos that highlight issues surrounding their own community and share the experience with others. In the following pages, a series of photos taken by 3 youths from their own perspective would be showcased. The photos are primarily focused on 3 main themes; youth well-being, social support and social participation. Photovoice project is a new initiative by National Youth Council (NYC) to understand more about the youth community.

Photovoice Done by: Michelle Tay R&P Intern

Wellbeing

Identity search !In fast paced Singapore, I feel that we do not have much time to

explore our dreams and passion. A majority of my peers, and me, are often at a loss as to which career path to pursue following graduation. More opportunities for us to learn about various career paths in Singapore and identifying our interests instead of passing the next big test would be good.

Work and play !It is common to see children as young as 6-7 attending tuition

classes. Although education is important, I feel that it is too highly emphasized in Singapore, often pressuring students more than it should. I feel that students shouldn’t have to feel doomed if they fail that test or exam; there should be more opportunities in other fields available for youths.

More study rooms please? In Singapore, it is common to see students studying in fast food chains/ cafes which might be a disturbance to the general public. I think it is good that there is a study room set up for students in SKCC and I often see students from all ages studying together. I think such places is also a good platform for students from all walks of life to interact.

Expectations VS reality !The rising cost of living in Singapore juxtaposed against the fairly

stagnant wages is worrying. Growing up in a first world country, most of us expect to be able to own our HDB flat/condominium and car. However the reality is that HDB prices are sky high, much less condominiums, and prices of cars are pushed higher by the year with COE and road taxes.  

I want kids, but… !Singapore’s low fertility rate is an issue. I would love to have

children in the future; however living in one of the most expensive countries in the world makes things difficult. All parents would want the best for their children; therefore if I feel that I would not be able to provide well for my child, I would rather not have children. Could more be done to support young parents?

Social Support

Aging population Everyone will eventually grow old and as we are growing up, our parents are growing old as well. I hope to be capable of letting them retire early and enjoy their golden years. Other than financially supporting them, I also wish to spend time with them. However, the current situation is that many elderly are working beyond retirement ages and children are too busy working.

Support for migrants The recent events of the little India riot has put light on the living conditions of migrant workers in Singapore. I feel that Singaporeans often overlook the importance of these migrant workers who leave their families behind to build houses and buildings for us. Thus I think the new initiative to provide migrant workers with entertainment facilities should definitely be supported.

Kampung spirit I feel that Singaporeans always seem to be in a rush and thus appear cold and distant. Majority of us live in HDB flats which share a wall with our neighbours yet we often do not interact with our neighbours. I think that Singaporeans should perhaps slow down their pace and interact more with the people they see almost daily and live so close to.

The (lack of) Asian pride I feel that young Chinese Singaporeans do not appreciate the Chinese culture enough. Many of my fellow Chinese Singaporean friends look up to the Western people and often want to be like them. This leads to them neglecting their Mother Tongue language which is Mandarin. To me, one of the strengths of Singaporeans are bilingualism, thus the erosion of this ability is a problem.

A (truly) inclusive society I hope for Singapore to be a truly inclusive society that looks out for every sector of its population. With the advancements in technology it is now possible to make many parts of Singapore wheelchair-friendly. I think other than public places, schools could also be made more wheelchair friendly thus allowing children, who are wheelchair bound but fit to attend school, the opportunity to attend a regular school.

Social Participation

Corporate social responsibility I feel that companies can do a lot more in terms of corporate social responsibility. City square mall is Singapore’s eco-friendly shopping mall that uses smart technology to reduce wastage of electricity in the mall. I think more companies/ shopping malls should also play their part in helping the environment and raising awareness of such social issues.

Recycle more, waste less I think that in terms of recycling, Singapore can do a much better job than it is currently doing. I feel that Singaporeans are not educated well enough about recycling and the importance of it. Even with these recycling bins below each block, it is often not utilized in the right way as well. Singapore has a small land size and limited landfill capacity so the increasing amounts of waste generated is a problem.

Active participation These notice boards are commonly seen at local community centres. Rather than joining expensive/exclusive clubs, I feel that youths would be better off joining these activities due to the exposure they will get from meeting people from different walks of life. Yet the stereotype of such activities being for elderly or kids makes it hard for youths to join. CCs should re-market themselves to attract more youths to join in their activities J

A special canvas I think the establishment of the Esplanade is really a boost to the local arts scene. The picture above shows Speak Cryptic aka Farizwan Fajari, visual artist working on the walls along the passageway leading to the Esplanade. Even though I am not particularly interested in the arts, I find it encouraging that youths are given a proper platform to express and showcase their work.

Singaporean pride I feel that many of my peers, me included, do not really support Singapore’s local talents/ productions. Singaporeans often seem to look down on local artistes thinking that they wont be able to make it big. I think local productions such as television dramas or local bands could do with more support and it would be nice to see Singaporeans supporting their fellow citizens.

Photovoice Done by: Desmond Lim R & P Intern

 

Wellbeing

A place called home With the current housing prices, affording one’s own flat is becoming an arduous task. As much as I am able to utilize my CPF to make payments for the flat, but at the end of the day I would still be saddled with housing debts. Home ownership is one of the concern in starting a family and if I am going to be spending the rest of the next few years paying my debts, I believe it will be better off being financially stable first.

Searching for a sense of belonging Is the grass always greener on the other side? I feel that the career prospects , quality of life, and life satisfaction would be better overseas as compared to the fast-paced and poor work-life balance here. Of course, perspective is always subjective. Sometimes, I feel that local talent is overshadowed and underappreciated in favour of the foreign talent, which is ingrained as “better”. I believe this not often the case.

A “gateway” to progress? As Singapore continues its march towards economic progress, I feel that Singapore has become a playground for the rich. Despite the government implementing various measures to bridge the social inequality, it’s always the middle-income group that is sandwiched. If this is left unaddressed, social unrest will continue to rise. The repercussion of it will undermine what Singapore has achieved over the years.

Expecting too much? The traditional notion that achieving a degree opens up a path to career success is no longer viable. Since young, I was ingrained with this mentality and I can expect upward mobility. In order to hold an edge, internships, skills upgrading and overseas experience become important to differentiate myself from others. A degree is now just a qualification to be considered but not an entitlement to a career success.

Taking the next step Since young, I was exposed to these so-called routes in attaining my life goals. Sometimes, I fear the uncertainty as taking the path less treaded means more inherent risks to it. I believe that this could be attributed to the notion that in this fast-paced and economic-driven society of Singapore, it becomes impossible to accommodate for those who failed and lacked behind.

Social support

Work-life balance: Family defines us In the midst of pursuing a foothold in my future, I feel that this is at the expense of spending time with my family. I feel that the limited amount of work-life balance culture in our workplace or even our society, which could be subjective, may be due to the fast-paced life here in Singapore. Of course, there is always a choice but I believe that the circumstances serve as a catalyst for work-life balance to occur.

Ageing population I believe that having access to good and affordable medical services is important. Illness and diseases are part and parcel of life. Despite the constant reassurance by the government in keeping the healthcare affordable, the increasing demand for healthcare due to the ageing population make this seems bleak. In addition, I feel that the existing pool of medical support staff are taxed by the demand.

Segregation In light of the preposterous outcry of Philippinos celebrating their National Day in Singapore, this xenophobic phenomenon is uncalled for. Similar to us, these migrants are in need for an urban space, allowing themselves a sense of belonging. In order for social integration to work, mutual understanding and interaction has to be cultivated. Sometimes compromise is needed. Nationalistic sentiment is now a thing of the past.

Tolerance I believe that Singapore has enjoyed its share of mutual understanding throughout the years. Sometimes, this long period of harmony results in people taking it for granted. Due to the recent condemnation of the Pink Dot event, I think it is audacious to enforce your religious ideals onto another person. The actions in segregating individuals are ironic to what is being preached. Morality is never black and white.

National Pride As Singapore is embarking on its 50 years of independence, I am proud of what a small nation like Singapore has achieved. Nevertheless, I feel that national pride and having a sense of belonging should not be associated together. After all, I am proud to be a Singaporean yet at the time I feel a low sense of belonging with the emerging issues of high standard of living, coupled with low quality of life.

Social participation

Service learning goes both way I once believed that I would make an impact when I signed up for YEP but throughout the trip, I realized that this was not the case. Rather, I feel that they are more satisfied than us. As much as this may sound hypocritical, I feel that sometimes people have to experience the other side in order to feel appreciative. YEP has empowered me and even serve as future motivation for volunteering locally.

Leading an active lifestyle In the pursuit of career excellence, keeping an active lifestyle is also important. I am heartened by the fact that the government has implemented more facilities and increased more avenues for activities. These including kayaking, wakeboarding and many more. I see this as an opportunity for me to engage activities with my friends and family, and also keeping fit.

School is more than a place for learning Striking a balance between academic and lifestyle is important. I feel that there is an overemphasis of academic in Singapore. It has been so deeply entrenched since young that we were brought up with the notion that better grades will be the key to better quality of living. Moreover, I feel that grades are not a complete indicator of someone’s capabilities.

Grooming the next generation of local talent I believe that Singapore has its own share of local talent, be it its sports or arts. The insufficient support for local arts and sports is what some artists and sportsmen are claiming. Despite the government allocating funds for cultural activities in recent years, I believe that limited local audience support and the lack of proper communication in applying for these funds, along with red-tapes are the problems instead.

Having a political voice As much as I believe that having a voice is vital, what is equally important is the government themselves are listening and redressing the issues at hand. The growing distrust of the government if left alone with continue to breed and shadow the future efforts of the next generation political leaders. Sometimes by looking at the large picture, we tend to overlook the minor issues, resulting in the current disconnection.

Photovoice Done by: Sylvester Or R & P intern

Wellbeing

Can I go back in time? Opportunities are everywhere. Unfortunately, it wasn’t easy to spot it all the time. This is one of the instances that I hope I could go back in time and seize that opportunity. Perhaps, I was short-sighted. Perhaps, I was immature. Perhaps, I needed more guidance from my mentors, teachers and people whom I look up to.

What is ahead of us? The structured way of life since young may first, seem good and organized. However, as I am transiting to my adult life, I feel at lost. What does the future hold for me? Who will be there supporting and providing what I want? I guess I could only test it out myself and take the full responsibility in order to learn and hopefully, grow.  

Behind closed doors Even though we are living in the age of technology where the world is closer virtually, I am clueless about what is happening around me. I do not know the names of my neighbors or what are they working as. The ‘Kampong’ spirit never happened in my estate. Everyone just prefers to keep everything to themselves.

Happiness can be simple Happiness can be very simple, but in this globalized world, it makes one thinks that happiness is closely linked to fame, power and money. Nowadays, when I achieved something that seemed valuable in the eyes of society, I wondered if I am genuinely happy.

National Pride

A survey recently showed that more than half of the Singaporeans would migrate overseas if given a choice. I am afraid that this is a sign of Singaporeans losing the National Pride and identity. In the long run, our future generation might be in jeopardy as they do not have any identity to relate to.

Social Support

The fast-paced society In this fast-paced society, I hardly get any time to rest. In school, I will be overwhelmed by schoolwork and shortly after graduation, I will be under pressure to join the workforce almost immediately. Once in the workforce, I will be tied up with work and responsibilities, which leave me no time for spiritual or any other personal development.  

Getting married I feel that getting married is an expensive affair in Singapore and it comes with heavy responsibilities. These responsibilities come even before you said, ‘I do’. In recent years, couples have been applying for flats even before the marriage proposal. In addition to that, there are wedding ceremony and dinner to prepare for.

Too early to have children? Having children is not just an expensive affair, but a long-term investment. I will require a huge capital at the initiate stage and will only reap what I sow after around 20 years, if any. This is worrying and a concern for myself. Unless I am financially stable and ready to commit, it is unlikely that I have children right after marriage.

Work-life balance More than half of the marriages in the US will end up with a divorce. In Singapore, divorce is on the rise too. This is alarming as I do not know if real love works. I feel that in this 21st century, youths have different priorities in life and unfortunately, forming a family is seldom among the top priorities.

Being kind and respectful to others Having worked with a number of youths, I feel that they are getting more outspoken and opinionated. Unfortunately, messages that get conveyed may seem inappropriate or even rude. This is unwelcoming because attitude is the outmost important trait in day-to-day interaction with people.

Social Participation

Who is the beneficiary? As I am more involved in international community service, I often ask myself if I am really lending a helping hand to them. Do they really need my help or am I a burden to them? It seems that it is a one-sided affair instead of a reciprocal one.

Do  we  know  each  other  well  enough?  Singapore is a multiracial society for nearly half a century. However, in recent times, I still heard of insensitive comments made by youths of different races. It seems that social participation among the different races is still lacking and there is much to be done.  

Leading Volunteers Finding youths to volunteer in community projects is not a problem. However, finding a leader among volunteers is a challenge. This is exactly what I’ve faced when I was finding a successor to take over a community project of mine. It is sad to hear that many of them still regard education as more important than servicing the less fortunate.

Do we still care for our environment? I find that youths are spending less time volunteering in environment-related community work. This is worrying because it might be a sign that youths are generally not concern about environmental issues. In fact, when I stroll along the park, I hardly even see any youths.

Childless Playground I feel that youths today play less at the playground when they were young as compared to youths a decade ago. This is saddening because the playgrounds nowadays are not as lively as the playgrounds I knew before.