YEE is a NEA-run course that aims to nurture and build a network of youth who will become leaders and change agents in moving their peers and the community towards environment ownership and sustainability.

Hannah is a YEE from the batch of 2006, and is actively involved in environmental work at NTU as well as other organisations, such as ECO Singapore and the National Parks Board (NParks). EXPRESS! caught up with her to hear her thoughts about the impact of the YEE course on her life.

What are the most important things you learnt from the YEE course?
How have you benefited from the course?
The course taught us various strategies and tools we could make use of to bring about change, in particular for society and the environment. I found especially useful the way they taught us to see the bigger picture, how Nature, Society, Environment and Well-being are all intricately linked and that all these four aspects need to be equally addressed when dealing with environmental issues. Knowledge of these strategies and tools has helped me in the planning and implementation of many subsequent projects and campaigns.

How have you applied what you learnt in your personal life?
What I found particularly impactful and useful was the use of the “amoeba” analogy to explain societal changes. How the amoeba feeds is that it extends a “foot” to reach for its food, after which the “nucleus” of the amoeba follows, and finally the “butt” of the amoeba moves as well. In society, the “foot” represents the change-makers, or in the case of environmentalism the activists, campaigners, etc. This is the small group of people that first reaches out to what is new. The sluggish “nucleus”, where the bulk of the amoeba lies, lags behind but eventually moves as well, going with the flow. The “butt” represents the cynical and apathetic people, who refuses to move until it is impossible not to.
I have applied this analogy with Earthlink, the environmental club in NTU, to address issues on the NTU campus. Earthlink is much like the “foot” that reaches out to raise environmental awareness on campus. The key is to influence a critical mass of people within the “nucleus”. There will always be people at the “butt”, but nevertheless we should focus on the task ahead and not be held back by them.

Could you share with us some highlights of your involvement in environmental work since the YEE course?

Earthlink NTU

• BYOB Campaign: Initiated a 1-week BYOB campaign at all retail outlets on campus last academic year. The campaign has since expanded to once-a-week, in line with the nationwide campaign.
• Recycling: Earthlink coordinates recycling programme on campus, in collaboration with the Office of Facilities and SembEnviro, a local recycling company.

ECO Singapore

• RE-live! 2008: This inaugural environmental carnival engaged the public on the importance and ease of living a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
• NYEF 2008: The NYEF is a biennial forum that engages youth to discuss, recommend and take action on environmental issues.

Would you recommend the YEE course to others people?
Yes, especially if you are leading/planning to hold a leadership position in an environmental organisation/event. The YEE course also gives you the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, who can provide necessary assistance in future organisations/project involvements.