Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How hosted a virtual session of the Total Defence Conversation with Youths today. In his opening address, SMS Heng introduced the Total Defence Sandbox (TD Sandbox) – a new platform that enables the public to share ideas on strengthening Total Defence and have their ideas brought to life through implementation in the community.

The new TD Sandbox hopes to build stronger resonance and appreciation of Total Defence with youths and the public. Youths aged 17 to 35 years old are encouraged to share their ideas through the sandbox, start their own ground-up initiatives and put Total Defence in action in the community. TD Sandbox aims to nurture ideas and proposals from youths, and match them with partners who could support the implementation or amplification of their ground-up efforts.

Held ahead of Total Defence Day on 15 Feb, 40 youths attended the Total Defence Conversation with Youths. This is part of Nexus' ongoing series of engagement sessions to seek views from youths on how Total Defence continues to be relevant to Singapore's survival, security and success amidst our evolving threats. Today's session focused on how Total Defence can have greater resonance amongst youths, the importance of Total Defence and the role youths can play, and on inspiring youths to co-create initiatives on Total Defence. SMS Heng noted that youths wanted more autonomy and opportunities to share ideas on community actions that could make Singapore even more resilient, and to take part in shaping Singapore's future. "This year, we have taken your views and hope our new efforts to engage and partner youths and young working adults like you to co-create and play a part to build a Singapore that you aspire to will encourage more actions in Total Defence," he said. SMS Heng also cited the TD Sandbox as an example of the new efforts.

Speaking about the importance of incorporating new ideas and views towards TD, Director Nexus, Colonel Goh Jerica said, "Through the series of Total Defence Conversations with Youths, we have met many Singaporeans who have shared their ideas on how Total Defence may be put into action. Some of these ideas are promising and have potential to be developed further. The TD Sandbox will nurture promising ideas through providing funding, or to match them to partners who may support the implementation of their ideas. We look forward to the ideas and hope that their participation will also inspire everyone to play a part in Total Defence and keeping Singapore strong."