Some youths are hanging out at The Red Box in Somerset till late night. But why?

We all love a good night out with friends.

There’s something comforting about unwinding after a long day of school or work — when conversations flow freely and you open up to people who truly get you.

For some youths in Singapore, they spend many nights out at The Red Box in Somerset.

True to its name, the building stands out with its striking red facade, located just next to 111 Somerset.

Beyond sharing stories about their lives, these youths bounce ideas off one another and come together to plan meaningful projects as volunteers of Youth Corps Singapore, part of the National Youth Council.

What projects you may ask.

What are youths doing in The Red Box?

For 17-year-old Sachin Palaniappan, he and his team from the Beyond Singapore Cluster spent four months developing lesson plans to educate participants in Cambodia virtually about sanitation and clean water. It wasn’t just about presenting slides, the group also designed activities like Kahoot quizzes and an online escape room to keep their Zoom sessions engaging and fun.

23-year-old Deirdre Ng has spent the past four years volunteering with Youth Corps, planning various projects — from organising outings for the elderly to running a recycling event that taught repair skills to lower-income families.

As you’re reading this article, she’s leading a Youth Expedition Project in Chengdu, China, where she and other Singaporean youths are volunteering at a nursing home for seniors with special needs.

24-year-old Nicholas Ong recalls his time in the Youth Corps Leaders Programme — a 12-month journey that saw him meeting new people and pitching ideas at The Red Box.

“Despite having different backgrounds, being in different age groups, we are still kind of bonded with a common purpose, that is to do good for the community,” Ong said.

At the end of the day, it’s the people that make the place special.

Making friends outside of our usual social circle

Through the Youth Corps, these youth volunteers gained new friendships that last beyond the projects.

Nicholas spoke fondly of this mentor-friend called Samuel who was a facilitator for his first volunteering experience called Programme X. With a positive mind, Samuel never fails to ensure everyone has a chance to share their thoughts.

Nicholas was also thankful for the guidance he received from another mentor named Jessy during his time in the Youth Corps Leaders Programme.

Her vast experience in volunteering, effective communication and facilitation led the team grew and stepped out of their comfort zones, Nicholas recalled.

As for Deirdre, she has made friends with secondary school students and working adults, expanding her social circle through volunteering with the Youth Corps.

“Sometimes what you see on the ground can be better substantiated by a volunteer from a similar community, and this person can share more insights as to why this is the case. So it's a very fulfilling process, meeting people who are from different backgrounds, who come together and are really just very passionate about serving the community,” Deirdre elaborated.

Some friendships can be unexpected and memorable. For example, Sachin remembers how touched the seniors were when youths like himself simply shared a meal with them.

‘Healing’ experience

School and work can both be fast-paced, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But at The Red Box, things slow down. It’s a space where people can shift their focus and connect with each other in meaningful ways.

For Nicholas, the volunteering experience turned out to be unexpectedly “healing”.

“The dynamics are very different, whereby you're working within a team, and as someone who enjoys learning from different people, I thought that it was very healing. It helps me to recharge at the same time,” Nicholas said.

Personal growth

Volunteering is also a process of self discovery and growth.

Some volunteers were surprised by their own ability to inspire and lead, as they were unaware of this side of themselves till they were given the opportunity to do so.

Some took pride in the new skills they picked up through their volunteering experiences — from people and project management to handling impromptu situations that tested their ability to think on their feet.

Youth Corps Open House

At Youth Corps, there’s definitely something for everyone.

The best chance to find out more is around the corner – the Youth Corps Open House is happening on Jul. 12, from 2pm to 8pm.

You can find a variety of booths introducing the activities and causes that you can join and support, such as Children, Seniors, Environment or People with Special Needs.

There are also useful and interesting workshops available for you to take part in for free.

You can find out more about a day in the life of persons with disabilities from the Empathy Taskforce at 2:15pm.

The Sustainability Cluster is conducting a textile upcycling workshop and the Children, Youth & Family Cluster will be sharing more about children who grew up with less through powerful storytelling at 3:15pm.

You can also learn the art of asking good questions, self care tips and simple greetings in different Mother Tongues and dialects at the Open House.

This could be your first meaningful experience at The Red Box.

So, register for the Youth Corps Open House now.

This branded article by the National Youth Council makes the writer feel like 17 again.

Top image from Google Maps