As part of the SUSS community-giving mission, a group of 215 students from the Bachelor of Digital Media degree programme from the SUSS School of Science and Technology (SST) enthusiastically participated in the East Coast Digital Festival 2023 held at three different locations: Siglap Community Centre, Kampong Chai Chee Community Centre, and Changi Simei Community Centre. The objective was to empower East Coast residents by teaching them how to create engaging TikTok videos.
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Ms Jessica Tan, Chairman of Changi Simei (East Coast GRC) with the SUSS team
Associate Professor Tan Teng Hooi, SST Dean, showcasing our students’ works to Mr Heng Swee Keat and Ms Jessica Tan
The response from the local residents was truly remarkable. A total of 125 individuals eagerly participated in our TikTok session, demonstrating immense interest and enthusiasm. The energy and passion displayed by both the volunteers and the participants created an electrifying atmosphere throughout the entire sharing session.
Volunteers showing participants how to make Tik Tok at Kampong Chai Chee Community Centre on 4 June 2023
SUSS would also like to congratulate the winners of the East Coast Tik Tok Competition, where the top three awards were presented to Mr Hazeeq Henney Lee Mahfudz, Mr Poh Junming Vincent, and Mr Kannan S/O Ramah Raja. These talented students were honoured to receive their prizes from Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Mr Heng Swee Keat, who graced the East Coast Digital Festival. During the event, the SUSS booth proudly exhibited the students' TikTok creations, along with TikTok videos made by East Coast residents.
SUSS East Coast Tik Tok Competition winners, Mr Hazeeq Henny Lee Mahfudz and Mr Poh Junming Vincent, receiving the prizes from Mr Heng Swee Keat
The SUSS volunteers found the opportunity to teach the residents TikTok content creation to be an incredibly meaningful and heartwarming experience. Muhammad Hanafi Bin Sedik, an ICT student, firmly believed that introducing elderly residents to new digital tools could facilitate stronger connections with the younger generation and keep their minds engaged and active.
Wena Chan, a Digital Media student, also reflected: “I went there as a volunteer to teach and guide the residents on how to use Tik Tok, but learned so much from them. An elderly resident showed me the rhetorical and deep poems he wrote and posted on Facebook, and I was really touched by his writing. While teaching the elderly residents, they encouraged me and provided lots of advice. I believe this is the beauty of inter-generational interaction as it encompasses the notion that older generations have an abundance to offer to society, often surpassing our perceptions of what we can provide for them. I think many people overlook the individuality of each elderly person, they are like us with their own experiences, hobbies, and preferences. A little encouragement can go a long way in motivating them to share and express their unique and wisdom-filled stories.”
Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs with SST Volunteers and participants at Siglap Community Centre on 4 June 2023
Cheerful residents showing their Tik Tok clips at Changi Simei Community Centre on 4 June 2023