National Youth Council - Youth Expedition Project

The National Youth Council aims to develop a vibrant, highly-connected and self-sustaining youth sector so as to nurture World-Ready Youth.

The Youth Expedition Project (YEP) has been a success since its inception in 2000, enabling over 9,000 youths to participate in about 400 community projects overseas. In early 2005, after the tsunami disaster, YEP also supported about 600 youths, spread over 50 teams, to assist in the rebuilding efforts in affected countries.

By participating in overseas projects, our youths gain a better appreciation of their life in Singapore and an increased social consciousness.

After the consultation with various stakeholders, the future direction for YEP is to encourage youths to see YEP not as a one-off project overseas, but a sustained activity with contributions to the Singapore community. More ground-up initiatives from youth and for the youth sector are encouraged and NYC will support a network of partners to share expertise and experience.

Project Orion - Rovering with Turtles

All About Orion!

The 2nd Scouts of the World Award Voluntary Service of the SWA Singapore Base. The first was Project Sirius - Rovering with Rhinos in 2007.

Project Orion will be held in Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia from 20th June to 5th July 2009. With a main focus on turtle conservation, the team will be doing beach patrolling for turtle nestings, repairing and painting of the turtle watching hut and information and awareness centre in Setiu, beach clean-up, and mangrove replanting. Conservation is however never successful without the human aspect, which plays a major role, hence the team will also be interacting with the nearby villagers, providing English lessons and awareness education for both adults and kids, provision of stationaries and books, assist the local women in the cottage industry for revenue generation, and of course not forgetting fun and games with them!

The Name!

Orion is a prominent constellation, often referred to as "The Hunter". It is one of the largest, most conspicuous, and most recognizable in the night sky. Its name refers to Orion, a hunter in Greek mythology. Orion's brilliant stars are found on the celestial equator and are visible throughout the world. It was all these factors that we hope this project will be, and thus Project Orion was named!
The project also makes specific reference to the prominent asterism, Orion's belt, which is made up of three bright stars, signifying the three species of turtles involved - the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Signed off,
Sijie
Project Advisor

Photos taken from:
http://www.malaysia-hotels.net/images/pic-terengganu.jpg, http://www.beartoothnbc.com/ktvh/images/Orion_000.jpg , http://www.geocities.com/abaastronomers/imgs/orion.gif, http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/books/turtles/hawksbill.jpg, http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/images/olc/olive_ridley_leonard.jpg, http://www.seaturtlenet.com/Images/GreenSea/GreenTurtle15.jpg , http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_main/freshwater_conserving_freshwater_habitats/projects_sustainable_management_of_setiu_wetlands/setiu_issues/