26/08/2026
A lovely reunion with Ian at , after meeting him at the Chinese Community Leadership Programme (CCLP) session I conducted recently!
Ian is from the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA), and like many of our clan and trade associations, they have been thinking hard about how to engage the next generation. That was a big part of our discussion during the session.
So I was really stoked to hear that they are now exploring an initiative for young people to visit different associations and that some of what we discussed has come in handy. ๐ช
The timing feels especially meaningful. โDear Youโ has sparked renewed conversations about dialect and heritage, and at NDR, PM announced that the cap on dialect film screenings will be lifted as long as a Mandarin-dubbed version is available. While our bilingual policy and promotion of Mandarin remain important, there is also more room now for younger Singaporeans to rediscover our dialects and cultural roots.
Our clan and trade associations hold so much history, culture and knowledge. I hope we can use this momentum to get more young people interested, not just in preserving our heritage, but in carrying it forward.
Fittingly, the CCLP itself was announced at last yearโs NDR and aims to nurture at least 100 next-generation Chinese community leaders over five years.
Investing in young leaders matters. Wishing our clans and associations all the best as they rejuvenate and may our dialects, traditions and trades continue to find new life in the next generation. ๐ฑ
SFCCA ๅฎไนกๆปไผ
