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I oversee the Community Engagament and Young AMP departments at AMP Singapore. Previously I worked in a government agency dedicated to youth and I saw how much drive and potential the youth of today have. I’m glad to see the same drive with our MM youth and hope to learn more to better engage our volunteers.

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Volunteering with Mendaki for me was initially a 'compulsory' requirement to fulfil as part of a bursary I received (1242hrs!). The whole volunteering experience ended up being extremely meaningful and memorable. One of the programmes I used to volunteer for was the EPG programme, where I could speak to at-risk girls in secondary schools and share my experience and background as to how I became a research scientist (then). I realized that many of the youth did not have much family support or motivation to work towards their hopes and career aspirations. There were many depressing stories. Some were even told that they should should just find a partner, get married and settle down at home - I think we are wayyyy past those times. It is possible to have the best of both worlds - to do something you love in your job and to be involved with a supportive partner. Anyway, I realized mentoring was extremely important for the youth - to provide a listening ear for one, and of course to create awareness and opportunities of what is out there to those who want to chase their dreams and achieve success in their own terms. I am envious of the youth in these times where they can be provided such resources! Hope that this model of support will be able to benefit as many youth as possible.

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Sayed Majunoon

I have been involved in youth activities since 1988 when I was with MKAC working with disadvantaged children of kidney patients. Then with AMP in 1992 where I was actively involved in the committees of Early Childhood Family Education, Resource Centre, and Scholars Programme. I have been a member of Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society (STMWS) since 1977 and have conducted a number of motivational courses for children from Primary and Secondary streams. At SMRT where I worked as Training and Maintenance Section Manager, I have conducted Team-building courses and I was also a mentor for a number of young staff under Engineering Mentorship.

With my retirement in 2017, I felt that I should give back to our community and nation for all the blessings I had all along. I am what I am now because of so many people who came into my life and ignited the spark in me. So many people have guided, critiqued, discussed with, flagged off the flaws and the strength in me. STMWS is spearheading some programmes for students from lower secondary streams and from poor family environment. My mentorship all along has been informal. With this programme, I decided to plunge into formal mentorship.

I wish to help anyone, especially our vulnerable youth, realise his/her potential and to change his/her nagging negativism through positive reinforcement of simple skills, good words and actions. I hope to see a well-adjusted person who can accept the fact that a failure is not the end of everything but a beginning of a new dawn.

I believe mentoring of youths is very important and useful, as it provides a necessary structured guidance to them in navigating the treacherous seas of transition from childhood to adulthood. It prevents mentees from wavering in their pursuit of carving out a niche in their life. It helps to remove self-doubts in them and gives them confidence to face the world and its day-to-day demands. I understand that it is not easy as there is quite a bit of intricacies involved in mentoring and I hope to learn more of those complexities.

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The moment you graduate, you start to wonder - where do I go from here? Am I supposed to work in the field I studied? What if I don't succeed?

Like many youth adults, adulting hit me hard. The first few jobs I had were challenging and my peers were all progressing at different rates. Some landed amazing jobs, some decided to start their own families. Needless to say, all these societal pressures made me question my purpose in life - call it quarter life crisis, if you will.

It made me realise how nice it would be to have a mentor who could caution or advise me about life. Someone who could empathise with me and patiently be present through my life choices.

That was when I realised that I could be a mentor for someone else, helping them through the rough and tough teenage to adult years. My first formal mentoring was with youths from ITE. There, I discovered the power of empathy, non-judgmental conversations, affirmation, assurance and faith, and how it can completely transform these youths. Many a times now, we see the positive effects of mentoring and I truly believe that mentoring is much needed for our youths.

It's a two-way relationship - I learn and grow with my mentee as well. It takes a village to raise a child, and it starts from us.

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Being the executive officer overlooking youths and volunteers, and being a part of the youth ecosystem myself, it is important for me to know how to not only be the best version of myself, but also how to help others around me be the best version of themselves.

I used to be a very self-centered person growing up. Having to fend for myself since young, I believe that the world is a dog eat dog world. Everyone moves at their own pace and that is the norm. I only realize that compassion, in such a cold world, can change so much. Sometimes, we just need someone to look out for us, and for us to just know someone is there for us. Mentoring provides just that.

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My experience with mentoring has largely been informal and I count many of my seniors, teachers and former bosses as my mentors. I believe mentoring has the power to shape perspectives and new opportunities. According to Mark Granovetter, strong ties (referring to family and friends) are not as strong in getting you ahead because they provide you with “redundant” information or what you already know. Weak ties, or those not in your immediate social circles, provide you with access to information, opportunities and influence not readily available in your network. To me, mentors represent the strength of weak ties, build our social capital and can bring us forward together.

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I have always wanted to be involved in Youth Mentoring since my ITE days. Hence, when the opportunity arrives in Mendaki, I did not think twice and quickly apply for it. Fast forward, little did I know that this opportunity turns out to be my passion and job where in return I can contribute to the next generation of leaders, through Mendaki's Gift Centered Mentoring Programme.

Youth Mentoring is crucial for Youths entering their critical stage of life where key decisions needs to be made. Should he proceed to Higher Learning first or NS? ITE or Poly? JC or Poly? Private or Autonomous school? Many of this decisions needs to be thought throught and this is where Mentor comes into play. He/She will be able to provide guidance, advise, support and be the Abang/Kakak for the students that they didnt know they need. :)

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It all began while I was working in a small local enterprise where we conduct digital art workshops for the less privileged youths in neighborhoods. These memories inked deeply in me as they have their own set of challenges, limitations, or access to perhaps the basic equipment, but they created beautiful works that has a strong meaning & story behind it. It is just there that spark in wanting to work & give something back to the youths, being there & listening to them. Hopefully I can be a help for them down the road of life & that they will be a kind & ampowered individual that will impact younger lives that they will meet in the future. :) #cycleofgoodness

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I got involved in the youth sector by accident (I supposed its pre-destined) in my previous job. I was put in charge of a group of highly motivated and inspiring youth volunteers who made my work a blast. As our rapport grew, many also turned to me for advice in their education, career and personal lives. I realized this was something that sparked joy in me. I learnt from them as much as I hope they benefitted from my advice. The rest, as they say, is history

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In my schooling years, I used to receive help from self-help groups and spent most of my days after school at FSCs with youth volunteers who would help me with my homework. The same way these volunteers had left a memory for me to look back to and give back, mentoring provides a safe space for youths and help them see that they are not alone and it is not "the end".

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When I was younger, I received a lot of help from my community and guidance from adults around me that helped to shape who I am today. I believe mentoring is something that can positively impact the lives of our youth and help prepare them for the future.