TODAY article

we got ask for a space meh?

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YOUTH GET THEIR SPACE, BUT BUTTON THEIR LIPS
Given their own hotspot to play with, young S'poreans don't seem to care
Friday 5 August 2005
Tor Ching Li

NOW they have what they wanted, they don't know what to do with it. Or,
they don't care.

In a nationwide consultation exercise, Singaporean youth revealed last
year that they wanted a community space to call their own.

The Government has granted their wish in the form of a 1.2ha plot of land
in Orchard Road called *scape. It has even asked them how they would like
to see the space used.

All it has received so far are some uninspired suggestions - but mostly
silence.

The *scape advisory panel is trying to wring responses out of Singapore's
apathetic youth - even offering iPod shuffle mp3 players for ideas that
should have been forthcoming anyway.

With less than a month before the consultation period ends, just over 700
of Singapore's 700,000 youth - those aged between 15 and 29 - have come up
with suggestions.

According to *scape advisory panel co-chair Khairudin Saharom, 29, most of
the entries were obtained from secondary school students at school
outreach events.

Getting the views of working adults in their early-to-late-20s has proven
an uphill task.

"Personally, I would like to hear more youth speak up," said fellow
co-chair Charissa Ee, 33.

The irony is that Mr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports, said at the launch of *scape that it
"should not be something that is planned top-down, but should emanate from
young Singaporeans".

Instead, it appears that young Singaporeans are either not used to being
asked for their opinion or simply cannot be bothered.

"We've never had something as 'bottom-up' as this before," said Ms Ee.

And the advisory panel has shown flashes of frustration. Added Ms Ee:
"It's typical of Singaporeans to ask for something, but when they get it,
they don't take ownership and wait for a top-down approach."

Entrepreneur and *scape advisory panel member Elim Chew is desperately
dreaming up ways to stir young people out of their apathy.

"We will be sending out emails to working youth above the age of 25," she
said. "The response should be (greater) than it has been."

One of the suggestions received so far is to include a rooftop garden, to
be linked to the nearby Orchard Cineleisure via an overhead bridge. "One
of the youth wanted this open rooftop to star-gaze and hang out with
friends," said Mr Saharom.

Other suggestions include a flea market where shops could be set up
rent-free and a swimming pool with see-through glass walls.

However, most ideas have been "quite tame", said Mr Saharom. "We're
waiting for that buzz that will shock."

But has the panel given enough publicity to the project in the first
place?

"It can be quite tricky because the panel, which is driving the project.
isn't full-time. But we're all very excited about it," said Ms Ee.

Now the panel is resorting to time-tested methods to get people talking. A
street-poll will be conducted next weekend along Orchard Road.

The top 20 ideas will be rewarded with iPod shuffles.

After the consultation exercise ends, the advisory panel will conduct
dialogue sessions before presenting its recommendations by the end of the
year.

Construction could start next year and *scape could be opened to the
public by 2008. More information is available at www.scape.youth.sg, the
project's official website.

Meanwhile, as she waits for fresh ideas, Ms Chew said: "Youths have asked
for this space - and now they have got this space.

"Moving forward, it's now about how they take ownership of their own
space."