Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manifesto NUSTLS Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manif | Page 27

Issue 4: Role of Student Tamil Societies
3. Can the student societies collaborate and exist as one entity?
• In schools with very few Tamil students, collaboration will be useful. There will be an
opportunity to showcase our talent and passion. For example, SMU Tamizha has only
about 10 regular members. There are Indian students in SMU, but Tamil-speaking ones
are quite rare. Yet the students are holding onto the society to provide a platform for the
Tamil students and not lose touch with their roots.
• SMU recently participated in a Tri-Uni camp with a good turnout. This spurred the
committee on to take part in another collaboration where the three universities will be
putting up a cultural show.
• Schools like SRJC, take part in competitions like Vaanavil though they do not have a Tamil
society. They have a sizable population of Tamil students and they are able to coordinate
and participate. They should look into forming a TLS society soon.
• Tamil teachers do have the authority, to take initiative and start an ICS in their school.
They can lead the efforts to get all the student societies to work together.
• We will have a lot more manpower and budget. Instead of each society going out for
sponsorship, they can come together and canvass collectively.
• NIE Tamil society organised 'Chinnanchiru Media' competition for primary school
students. There was difficulty finding sponsors for that because we were not a well
establish society. We knocked on a lot of doors, spoke to a lot of organisers to convince
them about how beneficial the event will be to them and society.
• When there is collaboration, you will receive a larger target audience as well.
Collaboration leads to networking and many more people will turn up to support. It also
reduces unnecessary competition and enables everyone to work towards a common
cause.
Issue 4: Role of Student Tamil Societies
PAGE 27