The National Youth Achievement

Award

Making Youth Leaders out

of Ordinary Singaporeans
 Aim of the Award

To encourage young people aged 14-25

to develop personal qualities of

 Self reliance
 Perseverance
 Sense of responsibility to oneself, to
society and to the nation.
Background
 More than 111 countries
worldwide are operating
the Award Programme
under various titles

 The NYAA Programme

was officially launched in
Singapore on 9th May
1992 by H.E. President
Wee Kim Wee at the
Istana.
 Background
 NYAA is advised by an Advisory Board chaired by
Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development

 NYAA is administered by a National Council chaired by

Prof Leo Tan, Director, National Institute of Education

 NYAA Secretariat is headed by an executive director,

Mr James Soh

 NYAA Singapore is a Full Member of The Duke of

Edinburgh’s Award International Association
 Mission Statement

To develop and maximize the potential

of young people through selfless
community service, challenges of
adventure, skills development and
physical recreation so that they may
be exceptional individuals, who can
contribute effectively to society and
the nation.
 What NYAA offers?

Key Benefits:
 Leadership training
 Project management skills
 Development and expansion of
personal interests
 Adventure and discovery
 An opportunity to be an
exceptional individual
 Benefits of the Programme

 No losers! Completing the Programme means

earning an award
 National and international recognition
 Self-improvement -- discover new talents,
abilities and skills
 Participate in recreational and creative
challenges
 Meet new and interesting people
 Opportunity and Challenge

 Offers equal opportunities to all young

people aged 14-25
 Non-competitive -- you only compete
against yourself to improve yourself
 Physically less able and disadvantaged
youths can participate on an equal basis
 Voluntary and flexible -- projects
completed on your own time
 How it works
 Bronze Award:
 Ages 14-25
 Min. 6 months

 Silver Award:
 Ages 15-25
 Min. 12 months

 (For existing Bronze Award holders: Min. 6

months)
 How it works

 Gold Award:
 Ages 16-25

 Min. 18 months

 (For existing Silver Award holders: Min. 12

months)
 How it works

Minimum age to receive an Award:

 Bronze: 14.5 years old

 Silver: 16 years old

(15.5 years old for
Bronze Award holders)
 Gold: 17.5 years old
(17 years old for
Silver Award holders)
 Four Sections of the
Award Programme

 Service
 Adventurous Journey
 Skills
 PhysicalRecreation
 Residential Project (only applicable to
Gold Award Participants)
 Service

Purpose:
 To develop a sense of responsibility to the
community and become better citizens
 To experience community building and bonding
through service
 To learn through helping others
 Service
Examples:
 Volunteering in a Neighbourhood Police Post
 Fund-raising projects
 Environmental protection and nature conservation projects
 Caring for animals
 Helping out in homes for the elderly or in children’s homes
 Volunteering in local hospitals
 Working with the disabled
 Or pursue an activity of your own choosing
 Service

The Challenge:
To offer community service regularly

 Bronze: 15 hours over a period of 3 months

 Silver: 30 hours over a period of 6 months

 Gold: 60 hours over a period of 12 months

 Service

Whether it is cleaning up the sea, preserving historic

monuments or assisting the disabled, Service is designed
to develop

Respect, love and care for our

community and environment
 Adventurous Journey

Purpose:

•Adventure and discovery

Discover more about yourself!

 Adventurous Journey
Examples:
 Canoeing
 Camping
 Jungle trekking
 Mountain biking
 Sailing
 Or create your own
adventure -- at home or
abroad
 Adventurous Journey

The Challenge:
Plan, train for and undertake a venture

 Bronze: 2 days/1 night

 Silver: 3 days/2 nights
 Gold: 4 days/3 nights
Adventurous Journey

Teamwork and group cohesiveness

work hand in hand to make the
expeditions a success.
Skills
Purpose:

 Develop and expand

personal interests

 Gain useful
knowledge and skills
and set a foundation
for future learning
 Skills
Examples:
 Calligraphy  Photography  Videography
 Librarianship  Plant Study  War Games
 Languages  Pottery  Writing
 Computers  Umpiring  Wood Carving
 Publishing  Refereeing  Needlecraft
 Motor Car  Public  Musical
Driving Speaking Insturments
• Or pursue a new skill of your own choosing
 Skills

The Challenge:
Show individual progress
and sustained interest

 Bronze: 6 months
 Silver: 12 months
 Gold: 18 months
 Skills

Skills stay with us for life, and so will the vivid memories of
the time invested in picking up the skill.

In the company of like-minded friends, through the sharing of

knowledge and the exchange of help between one another,
learning a new skill has never been more fun.
Physical Recreation
Purpose:
 Healthy body, spirit and mind

 To develop strength, stamina,

endurance and perseverance

 To empower you with

confidence and self-esteem
to help you face challenges
in daily life
 Physical Recreation
Examples:
 Aerobics  Dancing
 Archery  Fencing
 Badminton  Football
 Basketball  Gymnastics
 Billiards  Judo
 Bowling  Ice-Skating
 Canoeing  Karate-Do
 Cycling  Netball
 Physical Recreation
Examples:
 Orienteering  Tae Kwon-Do
 Rock Climbing  Table Tennis
 In Line Skating  Tennis
 Rugby  Volleyball
 Running  Water Polo
 Sailing  Water Ski
 Sepak Takraw  Martial Arts
 Swimming  Yoga
•Or pursue an activity or your own choosing
 Physical Recreation

The Challenge:

To show improvement in overall performance

 Bronze: 20 hours spread over 8 weeks

 Silver: 30 hours spread over 10 weeks
 Gold: 40 hours spread over 12 weeks
 Physical Recreation

Physical recreation brightens up our spirits,

sharpens our alertness and keeps our
health in check. Above all, it is fun.
 Residential Project (Gold participants only)
Purpose:
 Cross physical and cultural
boundaries to help
communities bear out
extremities and hardship

 Provide community service

at home or abroad through
residential projects

 Become global citizens by

helping others
 Residential Project

The Challenge:

To undertake or initiate a project that will have a

beneficial impact on the community at large, be it
at home or abroad.
Residential Project

Travelling to foreign countries

exposes one to exciting sights,
sounds and smells. The
residential project allows the
participants to live the local
lifestyle, not as a mere traveller,
but as a resident.
 Residential Project

Living, eating and working with the locals, our participants

are exposed to a culture beyond their own. This challenges
them to exercise their initiative, creativity and camaraderie
to benefit the community at large.
Recognition for Personal Achievement

 The Award Programme celebrates

personal achievement that is
measured against original
circumstances and potential
capabilities.
 Every participant can be a winner!
 Recognition and Achievement
 After completing the
programme,
participants are
invited to an award
ceremony. They will
receive a certificate
and a badge from a
minister in recognition
for their efforts.
Recognition for Personal Achievement

Participants and winners are from

all walks of life
 Getting Involved
Step 1 : Getting the enrolment form
The enrolment form may be obtained from
• The school’s award coordinator

• The NYAAC’s office located at:

277 River Valley Road
#02-01 StarDuS Clubhouse
Singapore 238318
Tel: 6733-6753 Fax: 6733-6754
E-mail: nyaac@singnet.com.sg
nyaaward@singnet.com.sg
• Web site at http://www.nyaa.org
 Getting Involved
Step 2 : Sending in the form and fee
A nominal fee is charged for each level as an indication of
your commitment to the Programme.
Fees are: Bronze: $5
Silver: $10
Gold: $15
Submit enrolment forms and fees to
• The school’s award coordinator
OR
• The NYAA Secretariat
 Getting Involved
Step 3 : Receiving the Award Diary
and Record Book

These two items will be issued to you

upon submission of the enrolment form
and fee.
The Award Diary and Record Book
represent the experiences and
achievements of the participant. They act
as a record of success and achievement.
 Getting Involved
Step 4
Find an instructor for each of your chosen activities and work
out a schedule. The Programme usually takes up about one
hour per week of your leisure time.
Step 5
Begin your activities and record your progress. Your Record
Book is to be completed and signed by your instructor.
Step 6
Send your Record Book and Diary to your award coordinator
who will submit it to the NYAA Secretariat for endorsement.
Upon approval, you will be invited to receive your badge
and certificate at an Awards Ceremony.
 Resources

Should you need help or more information

• Seek assistance from your school’s Award
Co-ordinator

• Call the NYAA Secretariat at 6733-6753

• E-mail your questions to the NYAA Council at

nyaaward@singnet.com.sg

• Visit the NYAAC’s website at http://www.nyaa.org

The National Youth Achievement Award

Thank you