SHINE Youth Festival Bash 2013‏ @ Universal Studios Singapore

Throughout the Youth Month of July, SHINE Youth Festival 2013 has encouraged youths to act on their passions and champion causes for the community. 

During this period, more than 150,000 youths pursued their passions and championed causes for the community. This year’s Festival also saw 3,000 youths make their own Pledge to SHINE – in line with the theme #FreeYourYou – to co-create social innovation and change.

And now, The month for SHINE had come to end.

To celebrate this remarkable finale, the efforts of the partners who organised over 60 by-youth-for-youth programmes were recognised at Festival Bash. This wide range of exciting youth-led programmes and initiatives include “Jump Asia”, Asia’s first parkour festival, “Dreamcatchers”, an art exhibition and showcase featuring artwork by young patients with chronic illnesses, and the “MP3 Experiment”, an audio flash mob helping young people to understand that they have the ability to drive social change. 

Youth is the hope for our future, together we can make a difference in tomorrow.

Arriving at Universal Studios Singapore for SHINE 2013 Festival Bash.

I'm so glad to be back here at the land of adventures again.

Re-unite with my childhood friend, Jessie.

Felt so good to reminisce all the good old times together. 

We arrived just in time to catch the Lake Hollywood Spectacular. 

This was how the magical and awesome night began.

The magnificent firework was presented in the centre of Universal Studios Singapore. 

They were so beautiful.

Especially when the colourful firework display reunite in the sky.

We then slowly made our way to New York Street where the event would be held.

USS latest attraction. 

Elmo and Super Grover 2.0 in the world’s first Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase where you can enjoy high-flying adventure.

Sesame Street got us feeling excited. We stopped by and take more photos.

Spotted Marilyn Monroe greeting the guests.. 

I was happily talking to Marilyn Monroe until she wasn't ready for the camera.

The bright light and decorations lit up the street at night. I really had the feel that I was at New York.

More Elmo coming up.

Last photo before we settled ourselves down.

We were ready to enjoy the fun night.

SHINE Festival Bash was the the biggest SHINE party in 2013.

Let's celebrate the success of every SHINY moment in July together.

My favourite 987FM DJ, Divian Nair, was the host of SHINE Festival Bash.

So happy to see him again after 2 weeks.

The event kickstart with the rehearsal for STIX performance. The guests were divided into 6 groups to rehearse a series of beats using their STIX.

On every chair, there were 2 STIX of 6 different colours and a music note. Each colour group had their own set of music note to play and at the end of it, everyone will play their music piece together.

Jessie and I were in yellow group. We had fun learning and playing our part.

Next up was a B-Boy performance put up by The Rockafellas to welcome and interact with guests in the centre of New York Street.

The hip hop plus break dance combination was good. Everyone was cheering for them.

After that was singing performance by Show Choir Academy.

Wow, they were very hyeractive. They will position themselves differently while singing and also different action. 

The Guest-of-Honour (GOH) was none other than Mr Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Chairman of National Youth Council.

Mr Lawrence Wong thanked everyone for coming down and making this event a great success.

To reward these youth for their outstanding perseverance and courage in pursuing their dreams and aspirations, let's us witness the rise of the 2013 Stars of SHINE!

Five extraordinary youths received the Stars of SHINE 2013 award, in recognition of being everyday heroes who create positive impact in the community through their inspirational stories.

Congratulations to Isaac Ong Yijie, Mark Cheng Jin Quan, Muhammad Bukharie bin Abdul Malik, Serene Koh Siew Eng and Sim Kang Wei.

Each of them showed tireless dedication in making a difference in the lives of others through mentoring, starting their own youth social enterprises or by overcoming adversity and lighting the way for others.

Good job, everyone.

Credits to Shine Youth Festival Facebook.

These inspiring youths were presented with the award by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Chairman (NYC) Mr Lawrence Wong at the SHINE Youth Festival Bash 2013.

To find out more about the inspiring stories behind these youths, please visit http://shine.nyc.sg/stars-of-shine/stars-of-shine-2013/

It's the memorable moment everybody was waiting for:

Pledge to SHINE.

This year, a brand new SHINE Youth Festival logo was unveiled. It was aligned with the NYC’s commitment to “hear youth and be here for youth” and emphasised the dynamism of today’s youth.

Everybody held up their right hand with the wristband on. On the count of 3, everybody shouted "SHINE ON!".

3

2

1

"SHINE ON!"

Credits to Shine Youth Festival Facebook.

A magical moment had took place. Our wristbands were all lighted up at the same time.

Words can't describe how I felt at that moment. It was a mix feeling of joy and touched. It taught me a fact: with the strength from everyone, we will make a difference.

We rounded the event with a finale performance by everyone of us – STIX performance. All 6 groups had play their musical piece together and it was actually a melody that we were all familiar with – Ode To Joy by Beethoven.

You can watch the video over here.

Ode To Joy lifted up the whole of New York Street.

Credits to Shine Youth Festival Facebook.

Mr Lawrence Wong enjoyed the STIX performance too. 

With the strength of individual, we will not be able to achieve this. It required everybody’s effort, each of us have a role to play in making this possible. So never be little your own ability.

After which, I head straight to the charming host for photo.

Handsome right?

The organisers were really nice, they had opened up TRANSFORMERS The Ride for the guests. You guys are the best.

The Transformer Ride was really fun and exciting. We could feel the adrenaline rushing in our body.

Before I end this post, I just say a big Thank you for the invitation to SHINE Youth Festival Bash 2013. I truly enjoyed myself that night and I am grateful for it. It was the most meaningful SHINE event that I attended.

SHINE Youth Festival, see you next year.

For more information, please visit http://shine.nyc.sg/