How SG youths are making a change in society
Being young right now can feel quite shag. Between an unpredictable job market, rising costs, and the pressure of low-key needing to have your whole life plan sorted before 30, it’s not surprising that a lot of youths today feel quite uncertain about the future.
But here’s the more hopeful side of things: young people in Singapore aren’t just sitting around doomscrolling and stressing out. They’re speaking up, stepping in, and finding their own ways to make life a little better for others – whether that’s by creating safer spaces to talk about mental well-being, helping people feel less alone, or building stronger communities across generations.
Here are 3 ways youths in Singapore are shaping the future they want to live in.
1. Well-being is non-negotiable for youths today
Image credit: Canva
For a lot of young people today, stress isn’t just about exams or having a bad week. It’s also tied to bigger questions about the future – like what happens after secondary school or JC, how to survive tertiary life, what entering the workforce will really be like, and eventually, how to deal with all the adulting milestones that come after. Every stage seems to come with its own expectations, responsibilities, and the quiet pressure to somehow have everything sorted out.
And with social media constantly serving up other people’s highlight reels, it’s even easier to feel like you’re falling behind.
That’s probably why mental well-being has become such a real and pressing concern among youths. The National Youth Mental Health Study 2023 conducted by the Institute of Mental Health showed that despite recovery signs, about 1 in 3 youths have reported experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or stress.
The National Youth Council’s (NYC) Youth Sentiment Polls between 2021 and 2025 also revealed that mental well-being consistently remained a key area which youths thought needed more attention.
What’s encouraging, though, is that youths aren’t just talking about the problem.
The same poll in 2025 showed about 3 in 4 youths are already actively taking steps to manage their mental well-being, suggesting a growing awareness and desire to address these challenges.
They’re also helping to make conversations around mental well-being feel less intimidating. Instead of treating mental health like something clinical or awkward to bring up, more young people are creating spaces where it feels more human, approachable, and normal to talk about.
Image credit: @youthcorpssg via Instagram
One example is Project Re:ground by Youth Corps Singapore, the volunteering arm of NYC. It creates casual, youth-friendly spaces for self-care and peer support, so opening up doesn’t feel so daunting. One of these spaces, Re:ground @ Dungeon at The Red Box, holds weekly Thursday evening sessions where youths can unwind, reflect, or speak to community peer supporters.
Image credit: @youthcorpssg via Instagram
Among the volunteers is Glyn Goo, 29, one of around 60 volunteers involved in the weekly sessions. As a community peer supporter, she sees herself as a bridge between youths and mental health professionals. For those who may feel intimidated by the idea of seeing a psychologist right away, peer supporters like Glyn help make that first step feel less scary. Rather than telling people what to do, they offer something much simpler, but just as important: a safe space where youths can feel heard, understood, and validated.
2. Youths are championing inclusivity
A better future isn’t just about progress for the sake of it – it’s also about making sure that the pursuit of advancement doesn’t compromise inclusivity. For a lot of youths, that means creating opportunities to connect with others outside of their usual circles and building communities where people from different backgrounds can actually feel seen and included.
That matters even more in a fast-paced, increasingly digital Singapore, where meaningful interactions don’t always happen naturally. Through SG Youth Plan engagements, 3 in 5 youths said that having dedicated youth spaces would help them meet people from different backgrounds. Youths are yearning for spaces where they can understand others better, feel a sense of belonging, and form more genuine relationships outside of school, work, or the algorithm.
Image credit: Levelled Field
Some youths are already stepping up to create that kind of impact. One example is Levelled Field, a youth-led initiative co-founded by Rachel Soh and Jerlynn Tay. What makes this especially impressive is that both founders are still students themselves – Rachel is currently pursuing a degree in Public Safety and Security at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, while Jerlynn is a Marketing undergraduate at the same university.
Levelled Field aims to create more inclusive opportunities for people with neurodivergent conditions by helping them build digital literacy and job-ready skills. Since its pilot run in 2022, the initiative has run programmes teaching things like cybersecurity literacy and Canva and has supported 16 learners from different special needs organisations.
At its core, Levelled Field is about levelling the playing field for persons with neurodivergent conditions – opening doors to better employment opportunities and giving them more room to grow both professionally and personally. And that’s what makes it such a strong example of youth-led inclusivity in action. They’re not just talking about fairness but actively creating pathways for people to feel more supported, empowered, and included.
3. Youths are building stronger intergenerational bonds with seniors
A lot of young Singaporeans want to make a difference – in fact, 83% of young adults say they’re interested in taking action for good. The bigger question is where that energy can have the most impact.
One area that’s becoming harder to ignore is support for seniors. As Singapore’s population ages, building a more caring society means making sure older generations continue to feel seen, valued, and connected. By 2030, nearly 1 in 4 citizens will be aged 65 and above – that makes about 23.9 percent of the population. This also means issues like social isolation, caregiving, active ageing, and community support are only going to become more urgent.
For youths, this is where “doing good” can go beyond one-off volunteering or showing up for a single event. Sometimes, making a difference starts with something much simpler: being present, checking in, and taking time to build real human connection.
That’s exactly the thinking behind Homewarmers, a ground-up initiative started by Caleb Chua, 18, together with friends he met through a youth leaders programme. The initiative supports seniors living alone by giving them more opportunities for companionship and belonging through home visits and community events.
Instead of treating ageing as an issue only for policymakers or caregivers to solve, Caleb and his team focused on something more personal and immediate – spending time with seniors and having meaningful conversations with them. Through Homewarmers, youths connect with seniors who may otherwise feel isolated, helping to remind them that even in a fast-moving society, they are still part of the community around them.
Here’s how you can be a part of the change, too
These stories are a good reminder that contribution doesn’t always have to start with some huge, life-changing idea. Sometimes, it begins with noticing a gap, speaking up, and taking one small step to make things a little better for someone else. As the saying goes, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”
That same spirit is at the heart of the upcoming SG Youth Plan. Created by youths, for youths, and supported by all of us, it reflects the hopes, concerns, and aspirations that young Singaporeans have shared – while also showing how youths can be backed with more opportunities, platforms, and resources to do good for Singapore and fellow Singaporeans.
The SG Youth Plan will officially launch at the SG Youth Forum on 25th July 2026, happening at Suntec Convention Centre, Hall 401-402, from 10.30am-5pm.
Youths who attend can find out more about the key initiatives under the plan, check out booths for opportunities and resources to help you navigate the youth journey, take part in panel discussions, join in workshops and activities, and tune in to live podcasts.
It’s also a chance to connect with peers, organisations, and government partners. Who knows, you might discover new ways to contribute that actually feel meaningful to you.
So if you’ve ever wondered how you can own your future and play a part in shaping Singapore’s future, this is a pretty good place to start. Register for the SG Youth Forum and keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the SG Youth Plan.
Sign up for the SG Youth Forum
This article was brought to you by the National Youth Council.