Address by Mr Anbarasu Rajendran, CEO, SINDA, at the SINDA Youth Awards on Saturday, 26 October 2024, at Marina Bay Sands

Guest of Honour, Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development,

Dr Hamid Razak, Chairperson of SINDA Youth Division Sub Committee and Executive Committee Member

SINDA Executive Committee and Youth Sub-committee Members;

Guests, Award Recipients, Parents;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Opening

1. Good morning.

2. Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of youths in our programmes; it is the culmination of an entire year’s hard work put in by them and affirmation of their positive growth.

3. Looking around, I see immense potential and excitement. To our award recipients, you should be proud of your remarkable resilience, dedication and transformation. Your commitment to growth and learning makes you not just an achiever but also an inspiration.

4. Congratulations to all of you! Give yourselves a pat on the back for the great progress you’ve made. Well done!

Depth of SINDA’s Opportunities 

5. SINDA is very proud to have journeyed with you. Each year, we partner over 3,000 Indian youths in their personal growth, driven by the belief that academic success, mental resilience and holistic skills are all equally important, as our youths look to the future.

6. Through our carefully designed programmes, we empower youths by offering equal access to opportunities, regardless of their backgrounds or family circumstances. These efforts are crucial in laying a strong foundation upon which our youths can confidently build their dreams and aspirations.

7. Among our several focus areas for our youths is mentorship – with the belief that each one needs a role model, the right knowledge and grounded skills to help them do well in life. Through our various mentoring programmes, we connect youths with deeply-experienced professionals from industries of their choice, for first-hand exposure and learning. This year, we are proud to have partnered 12 corporations for the SINDA-IBR Corporate Mentoring programme, up from 8 last year. This has enabled us to expand mentorship opportunities across more industries.

8. We’re also very glad to be joined by several partners, including tertiary institutions, corporate organisations, and mentors, who believe in SINDA’s mission. All of us share a common goal – to help our young generation unleash their potential and succeed in life. We have our partners here, I want to thank you all for joining us today, on a Saturday morning.

Pathways to Success

9. In today’s environment, there are many pathways available to youths to pursue and find their footing. Gone are the days when everyone had to follow predefined pathways and careers.

10. Things have changed now. Each individual is strongly encouraged to pursue a passion of his or her choice. The frameworks and grading structures at every level of study have evolved to support such varied pathways. Several institutions, including SINDA, offer enrichment and added support to motivate you further and help you succeed. All you have to do is to be driven in life, leverage on available support systems and just be focused in doing well.

Highlight Recipient

11. I’d like to share the story of one of our youth participants, 24-year-old Rajavelu Sree Devi. After the sudden passing of her father, Sree Devi faced significant challenges that impacted her mental health and placed immense financial strain on her family. This occurred while she was waiting for university admission, right after completing her A-Levels. Her mother, who had limited work experience, took on multiple jobs to support the family.

12. It was then that her mother encouraged her sign up for the SINDA-SIET Tertiary Education Bursary, which offered financial support and help with her expenses. This allowed Sree Devi to focus on her academics, relieving the financial strain on her mother. She also joined the SINDA-IBR Corporate Mentoring programme, as well as the Mentor Me programme; she gained deep insights from experienced mentors into the industry she was passionate about – Information Technology. Through these learnings, Sree Devi began to not only do well in her academics, she was also motivated to take on several leadership roles in her university, and conduct workshops for her peers, to impart her knowledge and technical skills.

13. Today, I am happy to announce and share that she is a Year Four Computer Science student at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and aspires to become a cybersecurity expert. She hopes to continue contributing to the society by mentoring students and guiding them to achieve their full potential. Stand up Sree Devi, you are a role model.

14. Just like Sree Devi, we are proud of every one of you here. I am sure each one of you have a story to share. All these are a reminder that even for adults like us, that setbacks are just a stepping stone to accomplish greater things.

Conclusion

15. Before I conclude, I want to express my gratitude to all the parents here and for trusting SINDA with your child’s growth and development. Every weekend, you send your child to SINDA’s programme with the trust and belief that your child will do well. We are continuously working to make sure that the promise is fulfilled. We take great pride and ownership in that. You can see today, the emcees, the drummers, Sree Devi and there are more surprises waiting for you all. It really takes a village to raise each child, and I’m glad that we could be partners in ensuring that our children thrive and can grow into confident and well-resourced adults who make us proud.

16. And to all the young changemakers here – congratulations once again on your accomplishments. Let this award serve as a reminder of your hard work and dedication, and may it inspire you to reach even greater heights in the future. I look forward to witnessing your continued journey of success.

17. Thank you very much and have a great day ahead.