Paym convention 2006: IT’s all about youths!
- Three Es (Engage, Excite & Enhance) to propel PAYM to greater heights

The PAYM Convention 2006 which was attended by about 800 PAYM members and supporters on 2 December at the Suntec City Convention Hall 603, was a much awaited finale of a series of events to celebrate the PAYM’s 35th Anniversary this year.  Coming after a series of Pre-Convention briefings and discussions at regional and constituency-levels among YEC members, the Convention was a platform for the various stakeholders of the PAYM to chart its directions over the next three to five years, particularly in its outreach to working youths and young parents, on top of its ongoing strategies, such as Friends of PAYM and PAYM Service-Learning Clubs, which target mainly schooling youths. 

The Pre-Convention discussions generated more than 30 key recommendations in three categories – Engaging YOUths, Exciting YOUths and Enhancing YOUths’ Capabilities.  The recommendations included organising lunch-time courses at workplaces, planning talks on topics, such as financial planning and parenthood courses that are relevant to working youths and young parents, and setting up a PAYM Alumnus to continue to engage YEC members who could not continue volunteering with the committee due to the age limit.

Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister of Defence and the Guest-of-Honour at PAYM Convention 2006, noted in his opening address that it was important to get young people moving into working life to continue volunteering and to remain active in the community, and that the PAYM should change with the times in order to face up to new challenges, such as encouraging its working members to be active. 

Mr Lee Hong Chuang, PBM, Chairman of the PAYM Central Youth Council (CYC) acknowledged the efforts of the pioneers, “We have our pioneers to thank for the PAYM that we see today.  Some of these leaders have transgressed into other GROs, bringing along with them a wealth of experience derived from serving in the YEC.  It is inspiring to see that serving the community does not stop at YEC, where, in fact the journey has only just begun,”

Indeed, the contributions of the pioneers of the Movement were captured in a 30-minute musical, specially choreographed for the PAYM Convention to commemorate its 35 years of existence.  Other highlights of the PAYM Convention was a showcase of the exhibits and milestones of PAYM, a dialogue between the participants and the Panel of Advisers to the PAYM Central Youth Council (CYC) and a cosy gathering at the end of the session.