More than 1,000 residents, students, parents, and seniors gathered at Victoria School on Nov 29 for an intergenerational community walk, marking the launch of One Last Breath, the second film in the Take A Stand series by the Character & Leadership Academy (CLA). The initiative, driven by East Coast GRC and supported by the PaPaZao Walking Community, aimed to spark conversations on youth vaping, mental health, and family resilience.
Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong officiated the event alongside Minister of State (MOS) for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower and East Coast GRC advisor Dinesh Vasu Dash and his fellow advisor, MP Hazlina Abdul Halim.
Mr Tong emphasised East Coast’s approach of taking action on youth issues through partnerships with organisations like CLA. “Storytelling through film speaks to youths in a language they understand and brings families together to learn, reflect and grow,” he said, highlighting the role of family engagement and community unity in addressing challenges such as vaping and mental stress.
The event began with residents receiving multilingual pledge cards before joining a warm-up led by PaPaZao. A “Take A Stand” light-up display was unveiled, after which participants embarked on a 3.2km walk from Victoria School to Outward Bound Singapore (OBS). The evening concluded with a community picnic, live music, and private screenings of One Last Breath and One Last Straw, both inspired by real stories of youths facing vaping, addiction, and bullying.
CLA, a youth development charity, uses “movie therapy” – leveraging emotionally resonant true stories – to prompt open dialogue among youths, parents, educators, and community groups. Its six-part film series addresses issues including vaping, academic stress, relationships, and cyberbullying, and is being distributed across schools, community centres, and faith organisations.
CLA Executive Director Delane Lim said the films aim not only to raise awareness but also to create “spaces for reflection and change,” bringing these conversations into homes and neighbourhoods.
East Coast advisers underscored the significance of the community’s turnout. Mr Dinesh noted the “powerful message of unity” sent by the intergenerational walk, while Ms Hazlina highlighted the film’s honest portrayal of the harm caused by vaping. PaPaZao founder Mr Jack Neo and Musim Mas Holdings CEO Mr Alvin Lim also affirmed their organisations’ commitment to promoting healthy habits and supporting youth resilience.
The event marked another step in East Coast GRC’s broader vision of being a place to learn, care, and shape the future, with the community standing together to protect young people and nurture a healthier, more compassionate Singapore.
“Seeing over a thousand residents – students, parents, and seniors – walk together this evening sends a powerful message of unity across East Coast GRC. This intergenerational shows the true strength of our community. We are not just talking about the harms of vaping; we are taking a collective, decisive stand to actively protect the future and health of our young people,” MOS Dinesh noted.
RELATED STORIES
20 Nov 2025 14:39
