2018 marks a significant milestone for the MGS Regional Youth Conference as we celebrate our 10th iteration. It is my pleasure to welcome you to MGS and to the Conference. In keeping with this jubilatory mood, our Conference theme ASEAN after 50 - Young & Enterprising celebrates our longstanding friendship with our neighbouring countries. Since her founding in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has grown from strength to strength.

 

Today’s ASEAN is a dynamic region brimming with new ideas and grand visions. Despite the breathtaking diversity in the ten member states, ASEAN has forged a surprisingly resilient unity. Now as Singapore takes on the mantle of ASEAN chairmanship, it is the ideal moment for us to delve more deeply into what makes ASEAN tick - and more specifically how the youth of ASEAN are stepping up to address the challenges faced by their communities.

 

We want to celebrate ASEAN’s youthful vitality by exploring some of the ways in which ASEAN’s challenges are being tackled by her own people. We will explore solutions from the private and public sectors and seek to inspire in you that sense of adventure and enterprise -- that no problem is insurmountable as long as you are willing to work together to find solutions.

 

I ask that you listen carefully to our Keynote Speaker, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong and our other distinguished guest speakers and workshop leaders. Consider carefully the viewpoints presented and do not be afraid to pose questions and share your opinions. Above all, enjoy the learning.

 

Ms Grace Ng

Principal, Methodist Girls’ School