On 15th and 29th April, a total of 10 youths and 1 staff visited New Hope Community Services to spend time with community children at Jalan Kukoh. This inaugural partnership between YLD and New Hope provided M.Y YOUTHsync with an experience which brought new insights and warm memories.

“New Hope Club” began in March 2017 as a platform to reach out to the children of the Jalan Kukoh community, comprising of families under shelter homes assistance. The programme offers music and character building lessons to engage the children and inculcate positive values. Our youths were engaged as befrienders and had an enjoyable time interacting and learning together with the children. The programme began with a percussion lesson by “DJ Stich”, a percussion and beatbox instructor from Advent Music. The children were taught to create music with pails, pans, bottles and other commonly found household items. After the lively percussion lesson, the children were engaged with character building lessons from a trained instructor.

As befrienders, the youths played an active role in engaging and encouraging the children throughout the session. They also shared their experiences during the character building lesson on bullying and healthy friendships. The experience spurred the youths to think about the importance of community and the real meaning of joy and hope in our current society. M.Y YOUTHsync will be volunteering at “New Hope Club” in the subsequent sessions with further discussions on potential long term partnership.

As befrienders, the youths played an active role in engaging and encouraging the children throughout the session. They also shared their experiences during the character building lesson on bullying and healthy friendships. The experience spurred the youths to think about the importance of community and the real meaning of joy and hope in our current society. M.Y YOUTHsync will be volunteering at “New Hope Club” in the subsequent sessions with further discussions on potential long term partnership.  

“As the world is getting more developed, handphones become the young generation's best friends. Playgrounds and outdoor activities are forsaken. That is one of the reasons why the lessons were on cyber bullying. New hope club really brings back the REAL joy we used to feel, to the children. They made sure that everyone was involved and had fun. I personally think that the program is true to its name because from the experience, you will really get to understand that money can't buy hope and happiness. I feel that the experience was indescribable. It was amazing.”

– He Hui Ling, 19, Building and Construction Academy, M.Y YOUTHsync Member

“It was encouraging that the children are empowered to take up leadership roles in their groups and also given the opportunity to try out so many activities like acting out skits and playing percussion. It is very heartwarming to see how there are people who truly cares and look out for these children.”

– Brenda Seet, 20, Intern, M.Y  YOUTHsync Chairman