Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manifesto NUSTLS Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manif | Page 81

Issue 13: Community Work for Tamils by Tamils Post-Panel Discussion How can we bring the Tamil community together to engage in community work? Recommendation 1: Creation of Platforms to Develop Empathy • Conduct biannual focus group discussions between Tamils from varying age groups (youths, middle-aged adults and elderly), to elicit concerns and community needs. These focus group discussions can be conducted by Indian Activity Executive Committee (IAEC) in community clubs. Recommendation 2: Bridging Student Groups • The Indian and Tamil cultural groups from pre-university institutions i.e. Junior Colleges, Polytechnics and ITEs can consider working together to put up shows for charity organisations, especially since these shows are very popular. • The existing tri-university camp among NUS Tamil Language Society, NTU Tamil Literary Society and SMU Tamizha, could extend to work on community projects with active volunteer engagement. Recommendation 3: Skills Training for Volunteers • Volunteers with inappropriate skills or a lack of experience may do more harm than good to the beneficiaries, thus skills training is important. • Engage the youth in training programmes organised by the schools. These training programmes will increase the quantity and quality of volunteers for long-term projects. • These training programmes are to be conducted by social workers or staff from the organisation of the beneficiary e.g. SINDA, Charity Organisations. Recommendation 4: Kickstart a Facebook Group with Passionate Individuals • Start an online Facebook group consisting of seasoned veterans who carry out regular community work and passionate youths. The youths can post their proposed community project on the group, and the group can post their opinions as well as bring together contacts to implement the projects. The veterans will also be able to provide their opinions on the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed projects. • Make it compulsory for every foreign worker to get a brochure about all the help organisations that they approach to seek redress for salary and accommodation issues. Issue 13: Community Work for Tamils by Tamils PAGE 81