50 years ago, all Singapore had was the hard work of our people and the desire for a better tomorrow. Despite our limited resources, Singapore has turned our disadvantages into advantages to become a shining red dot on the world stage. Multinational companies around the world set up their headquarters here, confident in our infrastructure and integrity. Singaporeans are known for our good work ethic and ability to solve problems efficiently. But the world is changing. Globalisation has connected economies and made business more competitive. Countries around us are hungry for growth and success. The jobs of today are quickly becoming obsolete tomorrow. Productivity, entrepreneurship, and deep skills will be increasingly necessary in an uncertain world. Will Singapore rise above the competition? What if Singapore is no longer a shining red dot to the world?

Hotels. Trains. Marathons. Concert halls. The attacks are vicious. Lives are claimed. Fear is bred. What next? Where? Singapore? It is no longer "if" but "when". We are in the midst of a regional recruiting ground for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Close to 30 groups from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have pledged allegiance to them, and almost a thousand people have left to join the fight, including 12 from Singapore. Cyberspace has also become a battle zone. False information through social media sows discord and causes disunity. Extremist ideology on the Internet could lead to self-radicalisation. In 2014, two self-radicalised Singaporean youths were arrested for terrorism-related activities. This war against terror cannot be fought by the police and armed forces alone. How do we - as individuals, organisations and communities - guard against such attempts to weaken our resolve and divide us?

Singapore's peace is an act of will. As an immigrant nation, we have worked hard to build a society where Singaporeans of different races and religions live, work and progress together. We have learnt to respect and trust one another, and to guard against any attempt to create divisions or disunity. But there are challenges ahead. New faultlines - "them vs us" and "haves vs have-nots" - are emerging, and these could test our peace. Unhappiness and fear can be whipped up and spread very quickly online. All this could create social tension and lead to conflicts if things go out of hand. How can we continue to nurture community ties built on mutual trust and respect? How can we build a cohesive and resilient society, ready to face the challenges of tomorrow?

Singapore is one of the fastest ageing countries in the world. In 2014, we had 5 working adults to support every elderly citizen. By 2030, this ratio will drop to 2:1. A shrinking workforce may result in less innovation and lower productivity. It will be a struggle to keep our economy competitive. We will also need to care for a growing population of the elderly and infirmed. Our society is also becoming increasingly diverse with the arrival of more immigrants and foreign workers. Transnational marriages, which accounted for 37 percent of marriages in 2015, have almost doubled from a decade ago and are likely to continue increasing. Are we prepared to cope with a more complex demography? How can every Singaporean, regardless of age or country of origin, help to keep Singapore strong and cohesive in the years ahead?

Not only do disasters and pandemics seem more frequent these days, they are also closer to home. Half of the world's natural disasters took place in Asia last year, with MERS and Ebola coming alarmingly close to our shores. Singapore does our part to assist our neighbours, help save lives and take care of Singaporeans abroad when floods, earthquakes, forest fires and other disasters occur around us. Over the years, the SAF and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been deployed in an increasing number of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. But what if such calamities happen in Singapore? How will we react to widespread destruction and loss of lives here at home? Will we be able to recover? How resilient will we be?

For A Golden Home When editor and photographer Xiangyun Lim learnt of elderly citizens living alone in cluttered, unhygienic one-room flats, she started a campaign to fund the restoration of their homes. Local businesses, ranging from bakeries to yoga studios, hosted events and contributed to fundraising efforts. Individuals came on board as pledgers, with their own fundraising projects. They also encouraged Facebook users to spread the word for the cause. Together, they raised more than $60,000 for cleaning, fumigation and new furnishings for at least 70 homes. Xiangyun believes that "a lot of people want to help however they can." All you need is to mobilise them.

Religious Rehabilitation Group After more than 1,500 counselling sessions over a decade, the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) proves that you do not have to be security personnel to fight the growing threat of radicalism. "We realised we had a role to play in this fight against this new threat," reflects founding member Ustaz Ali. In 2003, the voluntary organisation comprising religious scholars was formed to counsel detained Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists, correct their ideological misunderstandings and reintegrate them into society. They also promote Islam as a peaceful religion. The RRG conducts workshops and seminars for the public, and reaches out to youths through social media. It also has a resource centre and helpline to provide information about Islam from a credible, authoritative source. Today, the RRG members include a mix of male and female, young and old. Through their knowledge and goodwill, these volunteers are helping to prevent the spread of radical ideology in Singapore.

Abu Bakar bin Mohd Nor A Singapore Polytechnic graduate, Abu Bakar bin Mohd Nor joined Keppel Shipyard in 1990 as an assistant safety officer. Today, he helms Keppel Singmarine, Keppel Offshore & Marine's specialised shipbuilding arm, as its Managing Director. "It is about having pride in your work and doing your job well," says Bakar, who exemplifies how success does not hinge on academic qualifications. Instead, he seized opportunities to work in diverse areas such as production and marketing, and constantly tried to deepen his skills through training. This later prepared him for his role as Chief Executive Officer of Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine, a Keppel joint venture in Qatar. Bakar's can-do spirit and desire to keep learning are what we need to drive Singapore's economy forward and stay relevant in the world today.

Tanjong Katong Primary School United in grief, the whole nation came together when an earthquake in Sabah claimed 10 lives. Among them were 7 students and 2 teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS). Singaporeans rallied together to provide comfort to the school community and the families of the quake victims. Former teachers, students and parent volunteers manned the school's tribute centre for hours. National athletes took time out of their SEA Games training to be with the survivors. Many Singaporeans attended the wakes of the victims to pay their respects and offer words of comfort. Speaking to students, TKPS principal Caroline Wu said, "We are all very saddened by the loss. And as a nation, Singapore mourned together with Tanjong Katong." But she added, "We are healing as a community, and we will bounce back and emerge stronger." In this period of sorrow, Singaporeans stood by one another, ready to offer support in any way they could.

Mohamed Faizaltulamri Noorali When Mohamed Faizaltulamri Noorali opened the front door of his Housing Board flat, he was greeted by the smell of burning plastic. The soccer coach soon discovered that a flat on the 8th floor was on fire and ran back to alert his household and neighbours, yelling for everyone to evacuate. Instead of fleeing, Faizaltulamri ran towards the fire. He rescued his mother's friend who was home alone on the 14th floor with her windows and doors shut. He ran back upstairs and found a domestic helper on the 11th floor sobbing, unable to help a 76-year-old wheelchair-bound woman off the floor. Faizaltulamri went up the stairs a third time, and rescued a five-year-old asthmatic girl. Crediting his parents for his selfless actions, he says, "They always told me that if I want to help people, I must give it my best shot and not do it half-heartedly."

Residents of Block 591A Montreal Link, Level 14 The families living on the 14th floor of Block 591A Montreal Link know the kampong spirit well. Almost every month, they gather in the common corridor for a meal. "Since I moved in, they have always been so friendly to me," said Ang Cheng Bin, who is the newest addition to the 14th storey. Breaking fast together during the month of Ramadan was no surprise. In the usual potluck style, each household brought a food item to dinner. Once they heard the radio announcement that fasting time was over, the residents tucked in. One of the neighbours, Muhammad Helmi, said, "It's good that we have this spirit." Syed Agil heartily agreed, "I hope that there are more of such scenes all over Singapore." Small and simple gestures like these strengthen our bonds with one another and make a neighbour a friend, and a block a home.

Citizens On Patrol Nur Arfa was 13 years old when she attended a talk by the police in her school. So inspired by what she heard, she headed to a neighbourhood police station to find out how she could serve as a volunteer. Today, she is part of the "Citizens on Patrol" scheme in the Canberra Zone 5 RC in Sembawang. She says, "I see this as an opportunity to spread awareness on crime prevention and to keep my neighbourhood safe." Trained by the police on observation skills and crime prevention measures, the volunteers meet at the Residents' Committee Centre for a briefing before each patrolling session. Nur's mother, Madam Supyah, who was cajoled into joining the patrol with her, says, "It's been eye-opening. I've gotten to know my community better and bond with my daughter at the same time."

ACCORD & PSEIs Chua Hong Zhi will enlist for National Service (NS) soon. Now a third-year student at Temasek Polytechnic (TP), he was able to get himself fit and ready for NS with a pilot fitness programme in school. This initiative of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) helps pre-enlistees like Hong Zhi get ready for the physical demands of NS. Students with lower fitness levels get additional training sessions to gain confidence and improve at a suitable pace. "The training helped me to prepare for the NAPFA/IPPT test. It also taught me certain fitness training skills that can be done at home without the need of any equipment." More than a hundred TP students have taken part in the pilot fitness programme, conducted over five runs. Similar programmes have also started at Post-Secondary Educational Institutions (PSEIs) like Anderson Junior College and ITE Colleges East and West.

The Ng Family When the Singapore Armed Forces deployed to the Gulf of Aden in 2013, MAJ (NS) Jimmy Ng could have stayed home. But with the support of his wife and children, he volunteered to join the counter-piracy mission that took him away for two months. Jimmy, who had completed his Operationally Ready National Service in 1996, has always been supported by his family whenever he is out at sea. His wife, Angelia, would take charge of caring for the family, including his elderly mother, while his two children quickly learnt to be more independent and responsible. It is a sacrifice but they believe that "if this service and spirit of love for Singapore can be continued, it's a good situation to be in". When asked how long he intends to serve in the Navy, the 52-year-old says, "As long as my health allows me to."

iTrust at the Singapore University of Technology and Design As Singapore is one of the most wired nations in the world, cyber security is a major concern for us. To help keep our networks safe, researchers at iTrust created the Cyber Security Patrol app, which detects unsecured Wi-Fi networks and informs users of their dangers. "Singapore intends to be a hub for many things. We need to ensure that the cyber domain is as secure as it can be for its users," says Muhammad Hatib, a student researcher at iTrust, a research facility which partners corporate and government institutions to help Singapore prepare for cyber security threats. "Our lives and future can only be as bright as how well we secure our country's critical infrastructures," adds Ivan Lee, senior associate director at iTrust.

Juliana Juma'in, SAF Volunteer Corps Being a teacher and mother is precisely what makes Juliana Juma'in want to defend her country, even if it means taking up arms. When the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) announced that they were starting a Volunteer Corps for the public, Juliana jumped at the chance to play a more active role in Singapore's military defence. As an educator, she had always promoted National Education. This was her chance to walk the talk and share her soldiering experiences with her students. As a mother of three, she wanted to safeguard the peace of Singapore for her children, and for generations to come. "I told myself that nothing should stop me from protecting and fighting for my children and the future of my country," said Juliana. The tough training gave her a glimpse of what it takes to be a soldier. Juliana is now a Bridge Watchkeeper with the Navy, defending our seas alongside Regulars and National Servicemen.