Guest-of-Honor, Minister of State Madam Rahayu Mahzam from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council and Chairman of *SCAPE, Mr. David Chua and SUSS senior management, along with SUSS student leaders and forum participants at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Social Sustainability Leadership Forum 2024.
The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) proudly hosted the inaugural Social Sustainability Leadership Forum (SSLF) from 13 to 17 May 2024. Supported by L’Oréal Groupe, this five-day, four-night forum brought together close to 100 students from universities across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, China, and India.
The forum aimed to enhance awareness of social sustainability and deepen participants’ understanding of resilience and inclusivity by addressing key issues such as active aging, women empowerment, mental well-being, and developmental disabilities and physical and sensory disabilities.
Twenty SUSS student leaders collaborated with the SUSS Student Success Centre to design and deliver the programme. Anchored in experiential learning pedagogy, the forum focused on three core outcomes: to enrich, empower, and engage youth leader participants in co-creating solutions for social sustainability challenges.
Enrich: Deepen understanding of Social Sustainability issues across the diverse cultures.
Guest-of-Honor, Minister of State Madam Rahayu Mahzam from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of youth advocacy and leadership, stressing the need for collective efforts to empower young people in addressing social challenges and creating sustainable solutions for positive change.
Guest-of-Honor, Minister of State Madam Rahayu Mahzam, praised the student-led nature of the forum and stressed the importance of collective efforts to empower young people in creating sustainable solutions. SUSS Deputy Provost (External Relations & CET), Associate Professor Allan Chia, also emphasized that SSLF 2024 represents SUSS’s commitment to sustainable social impact, serving as a platform for dialogue and action.
During the keynote address, Mr. David Chua, CEO of the National Youth Council and Chairman of *SCAPE, shared his experiences as a former SAF Colonel and involvement with youth advocacy in Singapore. His personal stories inspired participants to address social issues with determination.
Mr Joshua Lim, Manager of St Luke's Eldercare Bishan Active Ageing Hub, shared about the rapid ageing population in Singapore and the declining old-age support ratio. St Luke's focuses on an ageing-in-place and community framework, aiming to extend the health span through centre-based and community-assisted living solutions in Singapore.
The forum also featured a resilience talk by tennis athlete Sarah Pang and insights from various experts, including Mr. Joshua Lim from St Luke’s Eldercare, Ms. Cheok Xue Ting, CEO of Trampolene, and Mr. Winston Wong from Inclus. Lizbeth Balayanto from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Philippines, remarked that the session was empowering, particularly as one speaker highlighted the dual mental and physical impacts of stress, depending on its duration and intensity. She added that the session was "very lively, offering the opportunity to interact with individuals who provided profound insights, thereby enhancing my understanding of mental health, active ageing, and social work."
Empower: Foster Self-discovery, personal growth and resilience through immersive experiential learning experience
Jackie Cheong, a guide for the Enabling Village tour, showed the students the various assistive technologies and inclusive workspaces designed to support individuals with disabilities. He wow-ed the students with his enthusiasm and positive attitude towards life as a PWD. He is now a certified physical trainer and a track-and-field athlete. He competes in running 100m and 200m races as well as javelin events.
Participants engaged in immersive experiences, including visits to Bettr Academy, Enabling Village, SG Assist, SAMH Mindset Learning Hub and St Luke’s Eldercare, along with resilience-building activities such as Aqua Adventure and high-element obstacle courses. These activities promoted personal growth and resilience, encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones.
Zhang Shubin from Shenzhen University, competing with his opponent at the rock-climbing wall challenge at Aqua Adventure.
SUSS student facilitators observed that participants fully embraced the spirit of resilience, demonstrating a willingness to challenge themselves and grow through these experiences. To support their learning journey, each participant was given a reflection booklet designed to guide their daily reflections. The reflection booklet included series of questions aimed at deepening their understanding of social sustainability, self-awareness and understanding of their roles as youth advocates. This holistic approach equips them with the tools needed to champion social sustainability issues effectively in their communities.
Engage: Practice stewardship, inclusivity and advocate for sustainable solutions to challenges in their own communities
Participant Lit Shen from Singapore University of Technology and Design and Harun from SUSS represented their team to share their solutions to address mental health struggles faced by men in their 20s and 30s.
On the final day, student teams presented their proposals for addressing social sustainability challenges in the five domains to SUSS senior management, including SUSS Assistant Provost, Dr Yap Meen Sheng, Dean of Students, Yeo Lay, and representatives from National Youth Council (NYC) Youth Changemakers. The NYC Youth Changemakers shared with the participants on various grants available to support the implementation of their solutions and ideas.
Participant Lit Shen from Singapore University of Technology and Design and Harun from SUSS represented their team to share their solutions to address mental health struggles faced by men in their 20s and 30s.
On the final day, student teams presented their proposals for addressing social sustainability challenges in the five domains to SUSS senior management, including SUSS Assistant Provost, Dr Yap Meen Sheng, Dean of Students, Yeo Lay, and representatives from National Youth Council (NYC) Youth Changemakers. The NYC Youth Changemakers shared with the participants on various grants available to support the implementation of their solutions and ideas.
To view Social Sustainability Leadership Forum 2024 Video, click here.
For more information on the Social Sustainability Leadership Forum 2024, please visit the event page.