Associate Professor Dan Yock Young, Deputy Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health
Esteemed Judges for Live On Festival 2022
School Leaders,Teachers, Parents
Ladies and Gentlemen
Girls and Boys
A very good morning to all of you. It gives me great pleasure to be here with you at the Live On Festival Awards Ceremony 2022 to recognise the achievements from the participants of the Live On Festival - Design and Essay Competition. After two years of conducting the Awards Ceremony virtually, I am glad that we are now able to come together for a physical ceremony, to affirm the effort of the participants and the schools.
2. Now in its fifth year, the Live On Festival continues to beckon us to take a closer look at the very important topic of organ donation and transplantation. For the participants behind the more than 4,200 creative entries submitted for the Design and Essay Competitions, I am sure you have gained a new personal perspective on organ donation and transplantation. Each entry presents your unique insight, and speaks of powerful stories of altruism, hope and a second chance of life. We are gathered here today to present awards to the outstanding individuals who excelled in creating the fabulous artworks and essays which demonstrated a deep understanding of a complex yet rewarding topic on organ donation and transplantation. My heartiest congratulations, to each of you.
3. For the essay competition, our lower secondary school students were given the topic to share their views on whether donor families can find hope in organ donation. Some of our students described a hope that transcends the loss of a loved one, and I quote the following from Clarissa from the Methodist Girls' School (Secondary): "I believe that the donor families have a shared optimism that the recipient of such a precious gift would be able to live a fulfilling, meaningful life. A hope that the recipient would be able to live on for themselves, and a part of them, for their donor."
4. Our upper secondary school students were given the topic to discuss about Singapore's low organ donation rates – whether Singapore's conservative culture is the root cause. To that, our students shared insightful thoughts. Marianne, from CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent, shared that "The focus should not be on who or what is to blame for low donation rates, but rather on what can be done to raise these rates for the common good of our society". It is uplifting and inspiring to hear such perceptiveness from our young students.
5. The other highlight of the Live On Festival is the Design Competition. The quality of the works has improved over the years. Today, when I saw the displays, I was very taken by the quality of the artworks from participants.
6. Our Teachers had also put in hard work to guide our students. I would like to thank and commend our fellow educators. I am sure many of you would have been asked an assortment of questions by your students. Some of those questions may be beyond your field of expertise and may require incorporating inquiry-based learning to guide students in finding the correct resources. You have gone above and beyond to impart academic knowledge, skills, and techniques to create masterpieces, while integrating the teaching of values and social-emotional competencies such as responsibility, compassion and empathy.
7. With our educators' support, I am heartened to learn that we had a total of 107 schools participating in this year's Live On Festival. The growing support from our schools is crucial as we work to progressively normalise the discussion of organ donation in our community, starting from the classrooms of our English, Art, Science and CCE lessons.
8. Last but not least, I would like to thank the National Organ Transplant Unit, Ministry of Health, for bringing the Live On Festival to schools and members of the public, year after year. Through the years, I have had the opportunity to see the competition grow, from a design competition to the inclusion of an essay competition, evolving into the Live On Festival that we know today. Many thanks to the judges too, who have gone through many pieces of great work, to pick the best from the good pieces that our students and the public members have submitted.
9. Congratulations once again to all the participants, winners or not, you have achieved something good. I hope your family and friends will be proud of your achievements today.
10. Thank you.