Inform your views: TODAY Instagram Live series

The rise of social media, among other factors, has empowered youths to be more vocal and involved in shining the spotlight on important issues affecting our society.  

Join our team and special guests LIVE on Instagram, as they discuss topics that matter and what youths are doing to bring about the changes they want to see. Stay tuned for a chance to win a Google Home Mini and a S$20 GrabFood voucher!

Inform your views and be part of the conversation. Follow TODAY on Instagram and Telegram!

SERIES OVERVIEW

Session 1

Activism no longer a dirty word: The rise and impact of youth activism and its future in Singapore

Date: Nov 12, 12pm (Save to Google Calendar, iCal)

There’s been a growing trend of youth-led activism in the past few years across various topics such as the environment, gender equality and the welfare of migrant workers.  To kick off our first IG LIVE chat, we discuss the impact of youth activism and how young people can get involved to make a difference.

Panellists: Navene Elangovan, Cai Yinzhou, Dipa Swaminathan

• Navene Elangovan is a senior journalist with TODAY.  She has written many stories on young activists raising awareness about climate change. This year she has also written extensively about the impact of Covid-19 on migrant workers and the efforts by activists to improve their living conditions.

• Cai Yinzhou is the director of Citizen Adventures, a company that organises tours and social initiatives in Geylang and Dakota Crescent. He’s among several activists to raise the alarm over crowded and unsanitary dormitories at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in Singapore.

• Dipa Swaminathan is a lawyer and founder of the migrant workers group - It’s Raining Raincoats. The initiative, which was started after she helped two migrant workers caught in the rain, aims to improve the lives of migrant workers in Singapore and strengthen their integration with the broader community. 

Session 2

Perils of cyber vigilantism: Harnessing the power of the crowd for good, and not for harm

Date: Nov 19, 12pm (Save to Google Calendar, iCal)

The power of social media can sometimes be a double-edged sword. Where is the line between citizen justice and mob justice? Join our guests as we discuss the perils of cyber vigilantism, and how we can harness the power of the crowd for good and not for harm.

Panellists: Ng Jun Sen, Josephus Tan, Jade Rasif

• Ng Jun Sen is a correspondent with TODAY. He reports on a wide range of issues including politics, social affairs and criminal justice. In his years as a journalist he has written various stories about internet culture, cyberbullying, and anti-harassment laws.

• Josephus Tan is the managing director of Invictus Law. As a criminal defence lawyer known for his pro-bono work, he is also dubbed the “gangster lawyer” thanks to his rockstar image in court. Josephus is also a recipient of the Singapore Youth Award in 2015. 

• Jade Rasif is a former deejay and social media personality with more than 360,000 Instagram followers. Since the start of the pandemic, Jade has switched careers from the nightlife industry to the healthcare sector, and now works full-time on the frontlines against Covid-19.

Session 3

Empowering women in a patriarchal society: Why gender equality matters and is not just a women’s issue

Date: Nov 26, 12pm (Save to Google Calendar, iCal)

What are the challenges faced by women in tackling gender equality in a patriarchal society like Singapore?  Must it be a zero-sum game? Join our guests as we discuss why gender equality is not just a women’s issue and how we can get men to be part of the conversation.

Panellists: Nabilah Awang, Fannie Lim, Kristian-Marc James

• Nabilah Awang is a journalist with TODAY. She reports on community and social issues and has written a lot on topics such as gender equality and sexual violence. Last year she also attended the Women’s Boot Camp, which gave her a taste of National Service life.

• Fannie Lim is the Executive Director of the non-profit organisation Daughters of Tomorrow, a local charity that helps underprivileged women and their families in Singapore. Since 2012, the charity has helped more than 800 women through community mobilization to provide them with skills, confidence and access to sustainable job opportunities.

• Kristian-Marc James is a volunteer with the Association of Women for Action & Research (Aware). He is also the diversity and inclusion programme coordinator for the software company Red Hat. He has been a panellist on several dialogues on gender issues, including a recent discussion on toxic masculinity.

Session 4

Breaking the stigma of mental health: How youths are driving the conversation and the role of community support

Date: Dec 3, 12pm (Save to Google Calendar, iCal)

Is it ever OK to say “I feel down” in the workplace? What should we do if a friend says he’s depressed? We discuss how we can break the stigma of mental health and why we are seeing a growing number of youths driving the conversation. We’ll also look at what kind of community support is needed to bring about greater awareness of mental health issues and what is the kind of change young people want to see.

Panellists: Justin Ong, Cho Ming Xiu and Khee Shi Hui

• Justin Ong is a journalist with TODAY. This year he has written several stories on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of many people, from frontline workers to those who have lost their jobs. 

• Cho Ming Xiu is the founder of Campus PSY (Peer Support for Youths), a non-profit organisation that aims to promote mental health awareness among youths and young adults. 

• Khee Shi Hui is the programme director of Common Ground, a civic institution that facilitates critical partnerships to address social and national issues.