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National Family Council wants to convince youths to settle down early
By Evelyn Choo | Posted: 22 September 2010 2140 hrs
SINGAPORE : The National Family Council (NFC) is expanding its efforts to target a new segment of society - youths.
It wants youths to embrace the idea of marrying and having children early, as part of their definition of success.
But just how easy is that?
"Getting married early? I think it may restrict you (from) things that you (want) to do," said one Singaporean.
"I want my own independence. I want to do whatever I want and not worry about having a family," said another.
Students in secondary or tertiary institutions are the new targets.
"We don't want youth to look at success purely in terms of having a great education, and getting a good job and making good money. I think the kid should also embrace the notion of having a good family as part of their definition of success. So we have to look at other ways and means of reaching out to the youth," said Lim Soon Hock, chairman of National Family Council.
The council said it will use the new media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, along with viral marketing methods to reach out to Generation Y.
Another idea is through youth forums, where they can air their views on settling down.
22-year-old Uma Devi, a student of Singapore Management University, thinks the new strategy of giving youths a voice could work.
She said: "It will be effective. At the same time, before a person wants to set up a family, they should be stable first. It'll be better to work that out instead of driving at the youths."
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan said: "Family as an institution in Singapore is under stress. Many of the other things that we strive and spend so much time on in life ultimately are all very transitory and sometimes quite meaningless.
"But we want to emphasise the family. It's not because we need to produce the next generation of economic workers. And it certainly isn't just about pro-creation or fertility."
NFC will hold a strategic planning workshop next month, where more details will be brainstormed and ironed out. - CNA
Plant your family tree early, so that shades can be formed to protect your future generation.
By Evelyn Choo | Posted: 22 September 2010 2140 hrs
SINGAPORE : The National Family Council (NFC) is expanding its efforts to target a new segment of society - youths.
It wants youths to embrace the idea of marrying and having children early, as part of their definition of success.
But just how easy is that?
"Getting married early? I think it may restrict you (from) things that you (want) to do," said one Singaporean.
"I want my own independence. I want to do whatever I want and not worry about having a family," said another.
Students in secondary or tertiary institutions are the new targets.
"We don't want youth to look at success purely in terms of having a great education, and getting a good job and making good money. I think the kid should also embrace the notion of having a good family as part of their definition of success. So we have to look at other ways and means of reaching out to the youth," said Lim Soon Hock, chairman of National Family Council.
The council said it will use the new media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, along with viral marketing methods to reach out to Generation Y.
Another idea is through youth forums, where they can air their views on settling down.
22-year-old Uma Devi, a student of Singapore Management University, thinks the new strategy of giving youths a voice could work.
She said: "It will be effective. At the same time, before a person wants to set up a family, they should be stable first. It'll be better to work that out instead of driving at the youths."
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan said: "Family as an institution in Singapore is under stress. Many of the other things that we strive and spend so much time on in life ultimately are all very transitory and sometimes quite meaningless.
"But we want to emphasise the family. It's not because we need to produce the next generation of economic workers. And it certainly isn't just about pro-creation or fertility."
NFC will hold a strategic planning workshop next month, where more details will be brainstormed and ironed out. - CNA
Plant your family tree early, so that shades can be formed to protect your future generation.
