Discover how young Singaporeans are taking charge and shaping policies for a brighter future

Last year in New York, Mr Dev Bahl found himself in an Italian restaurant having dinner with Mr David Chua, CEO of the National Youth Council (NYC). Over meatballs and spaghetti, Mr Bahl, who was attending a United Nations youth forum and had just learnt about NYC’s Youth Panels initiative, asked Mr Chua a burning question: “Is the Government genuinely interested in what youth have to say?”

Mr Chua’s affirmative response, combined with more details about the Youth Panels, convinced Mr Bahl to join the #TechHacks panel. This is one of four Youth Panels – including #LifeHacks, #JobHacks and #GreenHacks – created to address top-of-mind topics among youth today.

The Youth Panels involve around 120 young Singaporeans aged 15 to 35. Over the past 10 months, these members have worked with various government agencies to research, deliberate, and develop policy recommendations, which will be presented at the Youth Policy Forum on Aug 24.
#TECHHACKS: BUILDING SOLUTIONS FOR DIGITAL SAFETY
Among these dedicated young individuals is Mr Bahl, a 27-year-old product manager in the tech industry. Initially, he felt out of place in the world of policymaking. “I build products and solutions, and I have a technical background,” he explained. “But I soon realised that policymaking is similar to product and solution building – both rely on design thinking and methodologies.”

After discussions, the #TechHacks panel – focusing on digital wellness, inclusion and security – decided to concentrate on creating greater awareness and understanding of online harms and their impact.
Quipping that the hard work of creating policy from scratch has resulted in a “trauma bond” among members, Mr Bahl, a panel lead, said that a key challenge was identifying issues not already covered by the Government. “Tech policy evolves rapidly, and full-time policymakers in ministries often have more expertise in articulating what we are addressing part-time,” he noted. “However, our panel benefits from the independence to explore diverse perspectives by engaging with partners from the public, private and people sectors.”

Beyond policy recommendations, Mr Bahl highlighted the panels’ role in cultivating an informed youth population. “Today, I can say youth have greater knowledge and understanding of policy because of such opportunities and programmes,” he reflected. “At the end of the day, if we’re able to build a more knowledgeable society for the future, that’s a win.” 
 
 
#LIFEHACKS: NAVIGATING COST-OF-LIVING ISSUES
A former civil servant, Ms Lok Siying welcomed the opportunity to return to policymaking through the #LifeHacks panel. “I miss the rigour of public policy work,” she shared. “I hope these panels help the Government better understand young people’s concerns about issues that affect Singapore’s future.”

The 28-year-old regional standards specialist faces the same cost-of-living issues explored by the panel – including housing affordability, retirement and healthcare costs, financing life goals and caring for elderly parents. 
The #LifeHacks panel identified financial literacy and planning as crucial to addressing these issues. “Broadly speaking, financial planning usually begins when people face a financial hurdle or realise they lack adequate funds,” she explained. “They then think, ‘Why didn’t I know how expensive things are? I could have started planning my finances earlier’.”

Throughout the policymaking process, Ms Lok enjoyed getting to know her fellow panel members who come from diverse backgrounds – from tertiary students to working adults who are running their own businesses or ground-up initiatives. “Even if not all Youth Panel recommendations lead to major changes, the co-creation process, addressing youth issues and collaborating with diverse individuals are positive outcomes.” 
#JOBHACKS: FULFILLING CAREER ASPIRATIONS BEYOND SINGAPORE
One might expect strategy consultant Safafisalam Bohari Jaon, who has a background in climate policy, to make a beeline for the #GreenHacks panel. Eager to expand his horizons, however, the 28-year-old opted to join the #JobHacks panel instead. “I’ve done work in youth mentoring and am interested in employability,” he said, referencing his involvement in Mentoring SG and MARA Mentoring, a MENDAKI Club initiative for Malay-Muslim university students.

After discussing broad concerns, the #JobHacks panel decided to zoom in on jobs and opportunities in the ASEAN region. “There’s already momentum in the youth-oriented space for internships and mentoring,” said Mr Safa. “The next meaningful frontier for Singaporean youth is ASEAN readiness. There are vast opportunities overseas and challenges in working with non-Singaporeans.”
An area of particular interest for him is how Singaporean youth perceive neighbouring countries. “Do we see them as equal neighbours and partners for regional prosperity? It’s crucial to address this mindset to encourage job roles in ASEAN, so I brought geopolitical concerns and cultural appreciation of the region into the conversation.”

Reflecting on his experience, Mr Safa found it encouraging that key policymakers were willing to listen and collaborate. “On multiple occasions, when we presented our prototypes, they invited us to elaborate on our perception of the problem area rather than immediately scrutinising our recommendations, teasing out our thinking as much as possible to give us the best chance of success.” 
#GREENHACKS: PAVING THE WAY FOR A GREENER NATION
When Ms Hannah Batrisyia Hamdi Hidayat, 23, announced to her parents that she was joining the #GreenHacks panel, they responded, “Another one?”

The Nanyang Technological University student, who is pursuing a Bachelor in Sociology, is an avid Youth Corps Singapore volunteer involved in youth-led projects on literacy, mental health and sustainability. She was looking for opportunities to enhance her skills as a volunteer and leader when she chanced upon the Youth Panels. “I was keen to join because it offers a rare opportunity to have a bigger stake in policymaking and youth involvement,” she recounted.

Inspired by her recent exchange programme in South Korea, where recycling is ingrained, Ms Hannah chose to serve on the #GreenHacks panel. “In South Korea, dustbins are segregated, unlike in Singapore where everything goes into one bin,” she explained. “It’s not that our youth don’t want to recycle, it’s just not as accessible.” 

Noting Singapore’s declining recycling rate, the panel explored structural changes to improve recycling habits. As part of the policy research team, Ms Hannah analysed recycling practices in other countries, delving into reports and research. “At first, I felt intimidated, but I’ve been coping well and am proud of myself,” she shared. 

“I’ve realised that you don’t need to fit a specific mould to be part of the Youth Panels. You can bring your unique perspective to the table. The future may be uncertain, but you can make it a bit more certain by letting your voice be heard.”