TaufikBatisah.net
Your Official Source For Everything Taufik

Singapore Youth Awards 2008
938 Live
1 July 2008

Three individuals and two organisations will be commended at this year's annual Singapore Youth Awards or SYA .

The country's highest accolade for young people aims to recognise their contributions to society.

Twenty-six year old Taufik Batisah is well-known both in Singapore and regionally for his golden voice.

The winner of Singapore Idol 2004 is also a role model for youths here through his various ambassador roles.

For one, Taufik was the Community Chest's Youth Day Appeal Ambassador in 2005.

Within the next two years, he aims to helm a charity concert here to showcase Malay artists.

"I mean , at the back of my head now, it's Jamiyah. It will also help show Singapore that we do have a growing number of Malay talents."

Taufik will be receiving an SYA for Arts and Culture.

Local theatre company, the Finger Players will receive the same award.

Other than performing, it also conducts workshops in places such as orphanages and old folks' homes.

To date, the group has reached out to some 30 charity organisations and nearly 3000 beneficiaries.

Its Business Manager, 26-year old Natalie Chai.

"We will continue in this field. Be it to the schools, cultivating new audiences - the upcoming generation and things like that."

Another group, the Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes will be receiving an SYA for Community and Youth Services.

Among others, it provides seed funds to help youths execute entrepreneurial ideas to benefit and support Non-Profit Organisations of their choice.

The group's spokesperson, 36-year old Steven Chia.

"The next step is to continue to keep the youths engaged. We've asked those who've been part of the programme before to come back and do even more. We'll give you more funding. Go out there and we will help you make it happen."

Two others will each be receiving an SYA for Science and Technology.

They are : 35year old Dr Ng How Yong - who's renowned for his research in membrane technology for water desalination and 33 year old Dr Tan Min Han who specialises in cancer research.

All five will be receiving their awards and citations at the Istana this Sunday.