In a highly digitalised world, today’s youth face a wide range of new and complex challenges that are vastly different from those experienced by older generations, said President of SINDA and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ms Indranee Rajah.
Speaking at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the SINDA Youth Club (SYC) on Aug 15 at the YWCA Fort Canning, guest of honour Ms Indranee addressed an audience of 150 youth leaders, alumni, volunteers, and community partners.
Also in attendance was MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC and SINDA Executive Committee Member Dr Hamid Razak.
In her address, Ms Indranee emphasised that young people rarely succeed because of one defining moment.
“They succeed because they have people who believe in them, opportunities to grow and reach their aspirations, and communities that encourage them to keep going. This is why investing in our youth has always been a national priority,” she said.
A highlight of the celebration was a panel discussion titled ‘Leaders of Tomorrow – Shaping the Future of the Indian Community,’ moderated by current SYC Chairperson Dasheni Shanmugam.
The panel brought together Minister Indranee and distinguished SYC alumni: Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS) Aaron Maniam, Partner; Principal Consultant at Sequoia Group Druga Rajendran; and Senior Resident with the National Preventive Medicine Residency Programme at the National University Health System, Dr M Premikha.
During the discussion, Ms Indranee highlighted that maintaining human relationships in a technology-saturated era is a major challenge.
Speaking on how global issues impact local youth, she noted that they are increasingly exposed to fake news, online self-radicalisation driven by algorithms, and employment uncertainties. She warned that treating artificial intelligence as a close companion risks reducing genuine human interaction.
To overcome these challenges, Ms Indranee said that youths must believe in themselves, adding that the community must also embrace them by offering appropriate opportunities and encouragement. Regardless of how the world changes, she added, timeless qualities like integrity, trustworthiness, and active listening remain the hallmarks of a great leader.
To mark SYC’s 15-year journey, past and present members took part in a symbolic ‘15 Years, One SYC’ puzzle-assembling ceremony, fitting individual pieces together to complete the club’s logo on stage.
Reflecting on SYC’s origins, SINDA CEO Mr Anbarasu Rajendran recalled how the club was founded to provide a platform for Indian youth to express themselves.
“The club was designed to be like a safe, non-judgmental space where even if youths made mistakes, they would be supported by their older brothers and sisters. Watching hesitant youths transform into confident leaders over these 15 years has been a Himalayan achievement,” he said.
Currently, about 1,000 youths benefit from SYC’s leadership programmes annually, while over 3,200 youths are supported through SINDA’s broader youth development initiatives. According to the club’s official records, more than 3,000 youth took part in these mentoring and leadership schemes in 2025.
Mr Anbarasu added that preparing these youths for national-level leadership and future careers is vital.
Building on its foundation, SYC aims to evolve from a suite of programmes into a platform for youth to thrive, lead, and contribute. Outlining future plans, SYC Chairperson Dasheni noted that while SYC initially focused solely on leadership, it has now expanded to offer holistic support.
“As our members grow, we are expanding our programmes to guide them through career development, financial literacy, and family life,” she said, emphasising the need to sustain a cycle of multi-generational mentorship.
The anniversary also showcased youth-led community initiatives through exhibition booths.
Riya Roshini, a 19-year-old ITE nursing student and SYC Peer Leader since 2023, shared her growth: “It has given me a wonderful opportunity to serve alongside peers from different backgrounds and learn how to guide and nurture the next generation of youth leaders.”
