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DESIGN OUR FUTUREBuilding a values-based society

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Get Involved!

Principles in Corporations

Contents

PatronTeo Chee Hean Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security

Board of Directors[Chairman] Michael Palmer Speaker, Parliament of Singapore;MP, Punggol East SMC;Partner, Harry Elias Partnership

Soon Sze-MengDirector of Cross-Border Business, APCEMEAVisa Worldwide Pte Ltd

Raymond McConnell Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sandler Training Singapore

Bill Padfield Chief Executive Officer, Dimension Data Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Jeffrey Yip Co-Founder, Halogen Foundation Singapore

Martin Tan Co-Founder and Executive Director, Halogen Foundation Singapore

Editorial TeamJael Chng Editor

Faith Luo JinghuiWriter

Lin Xue HuWriter

Peter OhDesigner

ContributorsCharles PhangDarlene UyFoo Li XuanKristin Loo

Can Teachers Teach Values?

Bringing Youth Leadership Development to Singapore

Generation Divide or Unite?

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Halogen Foundation Singapore11A Mount Sophia #02-05 Old SchoolSingapore 228465T: +65 6884 5680 F: +65 6884 5670

Halogen360 is a quarterly publication of Halogen Foundation Singapore. Halogen360 is distributed free to more than 1,400 people, including ministers, partners, educators, volunteers and donors.

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Values Education: What Matters Most

Instilling Values

Whats Coming Up?/Halogen Impact

Shaping our Girls Generation From Ruler to Recluse/Did You Know

From the Directors Laptop

WE SEE VALuES iN ACTiON ALL AROuND uSMy preschool young daughters who would choose play over study if given the choice (they have yet to learn the importance of studying), a teenager who listens to his friends rather than parents advice, the type of job we choose and the example we choose to be.

Our actions reflect our values. They show up in our calendars, our stories, the language we use, the friends we keepevery area of life. They inform our decisions and make us who we are.

At Halogen, we define values as what guide our choices and actions. Values reside not just in our minds, but also in our hearts; while they may be inherited from role models at a younger age, we must learn to discern and understand why we value certain things and what that means for us. We do not tell young people what to do nor what their passions should be. We simply want to come alongside them to help them discover their values and facilitate action steps.

Halogens core values are clear: People, integrity, Responsibility and Generosity. We believe that every individual is of great worth and are worth investing in regardless of their backgrounds. We develop them as people of integritythe same inside and out, with character that is the basis for positive influence. This influence must be used responsibly and generously, not just for self, but to serve the community and world, in whatever areas they are passionate in.

How about for Singaporeans? in a recent poll by The Straits Times*, Singapore residents listed their top three virtues as Honesty, Kindness and Gratitude. Late last year, Singapores Ministry of Education announced plans to build a student-centered, values-based education system. in mandatory Civics and

Martin TanCo-founder and Executive DirectorHalogen Foundation Singapore

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Moral Education lessons, students are taught the core values of Respect, Reponsibility, Resilience, integrity, Care and Harmony.

Parents are and must be the main source of values education for young people. But while parents are the main educators of their children, teachers must play a supportive role to reinforce values. Often, we address behaviours and actions, typically rewarding or punishing them. That however is only behavioural conditioning that only effects a change for the short term. Lasting motivation must therefore be intrinsic.

if values lead to actions, and we can get to the corevaluesthen we have a pretty good indicator of how our youths will grow and lead. Nurture their beliefs and values and we are confident their behaviours and actions will follow suit.

in this issue, we hope you will be able to glean from how teachers, a parent, a business leader and others are living out their values and in turn also nurturing them in others.

*The Straits Times featured a Special Report on Values We Value: What Matters Most on 3 March 2012. Statistics were based on a representative sample of 503 Singaporean residents.

DiCTiONARy.COM LiSTS 18 DiFFERENT DEFiNiTiONS of the word value. The word itself is derived from the Latin valere which means to be worth. Thus the wide range of definitions, from mathematics (quantity or magnitude) to music (length of a tone) and fine arts (degree of lightness or darkness of color).

When the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced a focus on values-driven education, they meant it in the ethical or sociological way, as in a desirable, or the ideals, customs and institutions that a society holds in high regard.

The MOE directive is centered on the pupil and includes the development of a curriculum to teach values and character. Minister of Education Mr Heng Swee Keat said that teachers must have the belief and passion to instill the right values in our pupils.

As front-liners in educating a child, teachers are key players whose words and actions pupils see and follow. What then do they value?

in an informal poll of 58 teachers and staff of an all girls school in Singapore in November 2011, we asked them this question. Tied at first place were love and family, chosen by 72%, followed by happiness, chosen by 59%, spirituality (41%) and responsibility and integrity (tied at 31%). Contrary to the stereotype of the 5Cs (cash, car, credit card, condo, country club), only four (7%) said that economic security was a top value.

While it is by no means a scientific poll, it is still comforting to know that teachers uphold values consistent with what we want to inculcate and see in youths. When we at Halogen talk to students about values, we help

Darlene Joy Uy is passionate about educating young leaders through the Halogen Academy. She is an avid reader so chances are, youll find her with her Kindle.

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Values Education: What Matters Most

Top 10 Values* of Teachers

*Selected from a pre-defined list of 30 values.

**Percentage of respondents who named the value as among his/her top five.

1 & 2.

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5 & 6.

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9 & 10.

72%**

59%

41%

31%

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Love, Family

Happiness

Spirituality

Responsibility, Integrity

Friendship

Self-Respect

Balance, Loyalty

them understand the concept by saying that values guide our choices and actions. We help them explore and determine what they value, not prescribe what they should value.

Values education is the responsibility of each and every one of us. it needs to go beyond the classroom and be a way of life. Students learn about responsibility when they see a parent working to provide for the family. They learn about integrity when they see their teachers actions align with their words and values. What values are your youths learning from you as you model the way for them?

By Darlene Joy Uy

At the Junior College level, i am less inclined to teach values. Teaching values leads to people following by rote. What i want to do is to teach my kids to discern values. What makes punctuality a right value? How does giving up a seat show that you care? understanding the why drives the student to follow his values.

i also drive home this idea that morals can be updated with new information. A change in value system is not symptoms of a lousy person but a person who evaluates. Values that our family or our friends, religion or government advocate must be subjected to a rigorous evaluation.

How do i teach that? i debate with my students. i show them the reasons for my values. i help them identify what influences our perspectives of right and wrong. i drive home the ultimate point: values are absolute. Relativism is an oxymoron. When my values clash with what the world promotes, i stress to my kids what my values are and how i derive them. To help them discover their own values, i decode my thinking process for them and force them to decide for themselves what is right.

Each person holds different values. Ethics is debatable because of a lack of knowledge. We dont know what the whole truth is. As a result, we need to wrestle to find out what is important to us and how we can express that. As teachers, we set an example and can tell our stories to help our students find their values.

Can Teachers Teach Values?Intentionally Bringing Values Into the Classroom

Jael Chng champions relevant ways of communicating with young people at Halogen. She blogs, tweets, snap photos, videos, posts on Facebook and writes for an online magazine.

Faith Luo Jinghui chose to join Halogen after attaining her degree from down under. At other times, her itchy fingers can be found holding a drawing pen or on music instruments.

TEACHER, TEACHER! i saw you at East Coast Park McDonalds last night! you went rollerbladingwas that guy with you your boyfriend? Suddenly, forty pairs of sparkling eyes are fixed on the teacher in rapt attention. Um. As youth-speak goes, what an awkward turtle moment.

Not a teacher myself, i asked a secondary school teacher friend what it was like to live within the neighbourhood of the school she taught at. i cant hang out at the places i used to anymore and i cant wear those shorter shorts anymore in case my students spot me! she exclaimed. That is the life of many a teacherscrutinised?

Students somehow have in-built teacher radars to spot and observe teachers even out of school. As the second constant adult in many young peoples lives after their own parents, youths tend to look up to teachers as role models and an example of how to navigate life. Knowing the potential there is to influence young people, how can teachers bring values into the classroom? Two teachers share their different approaches.

How i share my values is through my own life. i share about my experiences growing up and be my students window to the world outside.

Recently, I showed them the official music video of Dont Let Me Go by the band The Click Five. in the video, the band and normal people are wearing blindfolds to symbolise the things which most people are blind tohuman trafficking. Later, people slowly take off their blindfolds and see what is really happening around them. At that point in the song, The Click Five encourages us in their lyrics to not turn away from what we see.

i asked my students: Why were they wearing blindfolds? Are we one of them? Which part of the song lyrics struck you most? Before they were allowed into the classroom, they each had to tell me one good thing they had done for a classmate or family member during the week. When answers like i dont know are given, i ask if that is an excuse to shirk the responsibility of making a decision. it is like how a teacher cannot go into a class and say, i dont know what i am going to teach today, or not answer students questions simply because i do not know the answer. Would that be responsible of me?

The exercise widened their horizon, made them reflect about the world around them, think deeply and apply that knowledge to life.

A female Secondary School teacher who has taught science, biology and computer applications for two years.

A male teacher who has taught economics at a Junior College for three years.

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By Jael Chng and Faith Luo Jinghui

NOBODy CARES iF yOu CANT DANCE WELL. JuST GET up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion. Martha Graham, American Choreographer

This is true for many areas of our lives; whether the passion is nature, wildlife, a nations security or chocolate, passion fuelled technique. it is what drove four women to do all they could to reach their goals.

These four women, Sim yi Hui (Co-Leader of the Singapore All-Womens Everest Team), Cheng Shun Ling (Co-founder of Life List Chase), LTC Goh Jerica (Executive Officer of RSS Intrepid [frigate]) and Lyn Lee (Co-owner of Awfully Chocolate), inspired 583 students and 41 educators from 21 schools on the fourth National young Women Leaders Day.

Held at Kallang Theatre and graced by Guest-of-Honour Madam Halimah yacob, Minister of State, Ministry of Community Development, youth and Sports, it was a morning full of colour. Students from Crescent Girls School shined with their song numbers on stage, and after being inspired by the speakers, students were given the chance to put their hands to the plough with our Action Partners which included the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Singapore, World Vision Singapore and Blessings in a Bag.

All this was to encourage students to Design Our Futurethe events theme. Globally over the years, the balance of gender equality has vastly improved in many countries. Never before have women made headlines like they have in 2011. in Singapore we are fortunate to have seen the growth in the emancipation of women; how can we use that privilege responsibly?

Hearing from women role models, young women had the sense that the baton was being passed to themthe emerging generation of young women leaders. in turn, it was for them to realise that they could design the futurethe future they share with othersby using their strengths and living out their dreams.The event received plenty of positive feedback. One of the participants, Jennifer Wong, commented, This has caused me

So what exactly was discussed over the conference to get everyone so inspired and enthusiastic about chasing their dreams?

There was a running theme in every story the speakers sharedperseverance. Perseverance in three areas was what pushed these four women to achieve what they have. The first was perseverance in belief.

Awfully Chocolate started from humble, almost bizarre beginnings of having only a single chocolate cake in store. Co-owner Lyn Lee shared, Everyone told us it cant be done, but if our logic tells us that we can, then we will do it. Staying true to their belief, Awfully Chocolate pushed their idea despite naysayers and it has evidently turned out to be an immense success. She

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Shaping our Girls GenerationNational Young Women Leaders DayTOP: Panel discussion with the four speakers, (LR) Sim Yi Hui, LTC Goh Jerica, Lyn Lee and Cheng Shun Ling. It was moderated by Dr Ann Tan (3rd from left), Chairperson of the Womens Register.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Lyn Lee, Co-owner of Awfully Chocolate, shares, It does not matter if you do not know what you want to do or where you are going, as long as you do good work and put your all in it. As long as you do that, you will be successful. Students from Crescent Girls School performing an acoustic version of Maroon 5s She Will Be Loved. Students were given the opportunity to ask questionsas the crowd warmed up, there were too many to be answered in just one morning!

I really feel like it has opened many new doors for me and given me a new perspective on so many new things. If we just keep at what we

love to do, anythings possible!

to realise the role that females can and should play in society and has driven me to discover my true potential. Another student, Sophie Tan, remarked,

By Kristin Loo

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Lyn Lee, Co-owner of Awfully Chocolate, shares, It does not matter if you do not know what you want to do or where you are going, as long as you do good work and put your all in it. As long as you do that, you will be successful. Students from Crescent Girls School performing an acoustic version of Maroon 5s She Will Be Loved. Students were given the opportunity to ask questionsas the crowd warmed up, there were too many to be answered in just one morning!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: No matter the age, we all have a part to playeven seven year old Maegan! A 662-strong audience in rapt attention. Crescent Girls School students cheering for their friends performing on stage. Guest-of-Honour Madam Halimah Yacob being presented with gifts from the event organisers and students.

Kristin Loo is an aspiring marketer exploring the world of design. She believes that everyone has the potential to be a good leader, and feels young once again working with youth as an intern at Halogen.

National Young Women Leaders Day (NYWLD) is an annual conference which seeks expose young ladies in Singapore to inspirational role models who have achieved success in varying arenas. it aims to celebrate the women of today and cultivate the young women leaders of tomorrow. Held in conjuction with international Womens Day in March, this years event was organised in partnership with the Singapore Council of Womens Organisations and Womens Register, and supported by Nexus.

concluded that things have to start with a lot of stubbornness, and start small, especially when people say it cant be done.

Sim yi Hui, Co-leader of the Singapore All-Womens Everest Team, encouraged everyone to be bold with your goal. That advice took her and her team through five years of training and finally, a trip to Mount Everest which was fraught with perils and has claimed over 200 lives to date. They knew of the risk of falling into deep crevasses and even saw an avalanche before their eyes. yet, yi Hui and her team scaled the mountain, something that some dream of achieving but are too fearful to take the first step into, and lived to tell the tale.

Their beliefs persevered and was the motivation for the discipline they needed to accomplish their goals. Perseverance in belief spurred perseverance in self-discipline.

These successful ladies have experienced no pain, no gain. Joining the Republic of Singapore Navy where fighting Somalian pirates to keep our waters safe is part of the job, LTC Goh Jerica chose an unconventional route many ladies do not imagine taking. However, her open mind, desire to enjoy the experience and being prepared to put in hard work helped Jerica grow her competence, excel, and enjoy what she is doing.

At times when our feet feel too heavy to walk on, we look around beyond discouraging situations to the people around us. it is perseverance with a team of friends that we gather strength and continue striding on.

Sim yi Hui had a team who trained together, Lyn Lee has a collaborative staff team, LTC Goh Jerica never wants to let down her team on board.

For Cheng Shun Ling, these bonds are not just with her teamher bonds are with, for one, the orangutans in Borneo. Through her photographs, she strives to raise awareness for their loss of habitat from forest fires, and separation from mothers which is giving rise to orphans in the wild. This is the cause that keeps her going.

These ladies took their dreams, fused them with their strengths and are doing their bit to change our world. How about you? As Sim yi Hui asked, is there an Everest in your life? What will you do to achieve or conquer it?

How will you design our futurethe future you and i share?

Here is advice from Cheng Shun Ling, the young photographer at the event whose works have already been published on the National Geographic: Never give up. Go all out with a passion in what you have, take small steps and plan your life ahead.

GOiNG By FiRST iMPRESSiONS ALONE, yOu MiGHT BE FORGiVEN for failing to notice Jeffrey yips quieter leadership qualities. yet Jeffrey has dedicated the past decade of his career to the research and planning of leadership development. He has collaborated with the National youth Council and Centre for Creative Leadership, a top-ranked, global industry leader in adult leadership development, practice and research.

While on a work trip to Australia to learn from the youth scene there, Jeffrey attended a young Leaders Day organised by the then young Leaders Foundation (later changed to Halogen Foundation), and was amazed at how thousands of youth were brought together to hear from some of the nations top leaders in arenas ranging from sports to business to politics.

inspired by the idea, Jeffrey approached Martin Tan about bringing a similar idea to Singapore. In 2002, they set up an office (which consisted of a fax machine on Martins balcony) and Halogen Foundation Singapore was born.

Eight years on, Halogen has a proper office, 10 full-time staff, over 100 volunteers, and thankfully, a new fax machine. To date, we have reached over 65,000 students through events, leadership training and community projects.

Recently, we had the chance to sit down with the new father and find out more about the brains and heart behind Halogen.

Alongside Martin, you co-founded Halogen with a fax machine at the corner of a balcony. What is your most vivid experience from the humble beginnings of Halogen?I clearly remember the very first Young Leaders Day we organised in 2003 in partnership with Northeast Community Development Council. it was the trailblazer that set off an important traditiona team of young change agents united by a collective vision for others like them. It was our very first event and we werent sure how students would take to it. The best part of it was reading through the feedback cards from the students and teachers. They loved it! Thanks to their affirmation, we knew we were on the right track.

You are currently pursuing a PhD in Organisational Behavior in Boston University, and youve been involved in youth leadership for more than a decade. What is it about your work that drives you out of bed every morning?Organisational Behavior (OB) is a fascinating field of leadership study. As a student of OB, i am motivated to understand how people achieve (or fall short of achieving) positive change for themselves and their

Halogen Academy is the arm of Halogen which brings leadership consultation and education to Singapores youth and educators through a values-driven and experience-based learning model. Among talks, camps and customised programmes, we conduct Everyday Leadership workshops in schools and youth organisations. Workshop modules are about Personal, Group and Shared Leadership.

Bringing Youth Leadership Development to Singapore An Interview with Jeffrey Yip, Co-founder of Halogen Foundation Singapore

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Lin Xue Hu is interning with Halogen, on extended loan from the National university of Singapore. An avid geography student, he dreams of writing for National Geographic one day.

By Lin Xue Hu

organisations. in my research, i work with students to examine how belief systems can impact change-oriented behavior and outcomes. im not all about work though! As a new father to a beautiful baby boy, what really gets me up every morning is the sound of his voice.

If we had to ask Martin (Co-founder of Halogen Foundation Singapore) to give us one reason why he likes you, what do you think it will be?Hell be quick to point out that we both enjoy good conversations (and coffee). Plus our personalities round off each other pretty well! Martin is a people person and an entrepreneur at heart. He plays well in a group, and hes great at expressing ideas and engaging his team to move them forward. His energy can be quite contagious! im an introvert and prefer to think and write, and to develop concepts and frameworks. it is a strong dynamic and i couldnt ask for more. Weve had some lofty ideas over the years and a number have borne fruit, such as the Halogen Academy and the Everyday Leadership curriculum*.

Tell us about one real-life or fictional leader you look up to.Zhuge Liang, the Chinese statesman and scholar. He was one who masterfully applied principles of science and arts to leadership. i admire him for his ability to embrace complex obstacles with great insights, humanity, and compassion. He also embraced contradiction and paradoxa challenge that many leaders face. As a student of diverse disciplinesastronomy, geography, and military science among othersZhuge Liang managed to combine these disciplines quite deftly in his leadership and writings.

What would you have done if Halogen had never come into existence?its hard to imagine a scenario where Halogen would not have existed. Halogen has always been more than an organisation to meit is a community of people and friends with a shared passion for positive social changeand we have fun doing what we love to do. Halogen is where it is because of the talent, energy and creativity of all who are part of itthats a huge number of people, from all walks of life, and its exciting to be a part of this.

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Foo Li Xuan is a Halogen Volunteer who is eagerly waiting for his university education to resume come August.

A Youths Perspective

Generation Divide or Unite?

THE ONLy CONSTANT iS CHANGE.

i am pretty sure even the translation for this quote has been changed several times since Heraclitus said it in 5th century BC. in Singapore, changes in society have allowed us to enjoy a more prosperous life and technological advancements. On the flipside, distance between family members could have drifted apart and perhaps, according to elders, values have been eroding.

Whether in drama or reality, we hear disapproving voices from the elders ridiculing superficial faults. For instance, the flamboyant hairstyle and the tone used when youths speak to others. it all boils down to the differences in behaviours and values between the older and younger generation as a result of the changes in society.

Values are an individuals judgement of what is important; in exact, their principles in life. These principles would eventually translate into action, and this is where most elders are not afraid to point out what they think is right.

Most probably, the blunt words of the elders would be brushed aside by youths like me without much deliberation. However, upon further consideration, the underlying essence of those words can be easily understood. Asking for a less flashy hairstyle is the elders way of telling him to be less narcissistic and start caring more for those around him. Asking to spend less time on the mobile phone or computer is the elders way of asking youths to be more active in family matters. The list goes on.

The candour of the elders may not be well-received by everyone, but in my opinion, they really mean well for the younger generations. understanding that they have been through and survived hardships, perhaps youths should try to see beyond the criticisms of the elders and understand what they actually mean. There are always lessons and values that we can learn from them.

To see the comparisons between the environment, values and behaviour of the different generations, please visit http://www.slideshare.net/Halogen_Sg/how-to-facebook-your-emo-kid-when-pokes-are-passe-and-likes-are-in

HOW DO yOu VOTE?

While we were at a school training last week, i was observing the youths. it was clear. They vote with their attention.

As a 30-something, i have heard my peers and those older who say (in Singlish), Nowadays the youth ah... (followed by a string of complaints). One of the most common ones are Why must they spend so much time on Facebook ah?

It is easy to get lost in the specifics. It is easy to look at their behaviour (that which is different) and shake our heads. Ever asked what Facebook is to youths? is it just a technological invention that they use or is it something that goes deeper? From my observations, Facebook is about storiesstories of their life, intertwined with the lives of others that stem from their core desire to express and be part of something larger. Stories that shape their identities.

i agree with Tina Wells, author of Chasing youth Culture and Getting it Right; to understand young people, we need to understand the relationship young people have with technology. To bring it further, i propose that we need to understand the environment they are in. it is this environment that shape their values which then shows up in their behaviour.

The youth of today are growing in an environment where the rate of change is the most rapid, ever. Without having to fight for survival, significance is what they crave. To them, there are little barriers between what is local and global, offline and online. They are also the most marketed-to generation by brands. All these shape what is important to them. it is no wonder then that they value having space to express, being connected all the time, diversity and individualisation. At the heart of it, what does not change is the acceptance and validation that they crave from those around them. Our perspective is valued if we do not impose, but seek to bridge.

Often, in the conversations between the generations, it is not a matter of right or wrong but what is more or less. i challenge myself to stay open, be accessible and not stop believing in myself or them.

An Adults PerspectiveBy Jael Chng By Foo Li Xuan

TWO iS COMPANy, THREE iS A CROWD.

That might be the view some Singaporeans have on family life, looking at the considerably low fertility rate of 1.20 Singapore had in 2011, but for Joni Ong, seven is a party!

Having five children has brought much joy to Jonis home. Back in 2005 while full-time in the workforce albeit in a telecommuting arrangement, a friend asked Joni to join and lead a group of like-minded individuals to grow a children-plenty and children-friendly Singapore.

At that time, Jonis children were still in schooltwins Kristi and Kathi in secondary three, Liz in secondary two, Emme in primary six and Jonathan in grade four (nine years old; he attends the Singapore American School because of his dyslexia). it was a time of enjoying the fun aspects of parenting like discovering new shopping and eating places together, exercising together, and sharing daily activities and debating current issues through dinner chats as a family.

Out of her love for children and a desire to equip others in the journey of parenthoodJoni said yes to the idea, and i Love Children* was born. The voluntary welfare organisation seeks to keep Singapore young by advocating a higher priority to having children, and promoting a society where children are loved and mainstreamed.

They have done this through a roving i Love Children bus which anyone around can hop on and learn about parenting, events for couples and events for families, and lunchtime talks, among other activities.

We asked Joni to share with us from her experience, about how children can be nurtured.

How can values be inculcated from young?Values must be inculcated from young; Children do what children see. it is up to us parents and care-givers such as domestic helpers or grandparents to be the role models. A value is an enduring belief that a specific behaviour is personally and/or socially acceptable.

if we believe in the value of honesty, then even as we teach our children through stories and lessons learned from the television, we must actually behave honestly in all our interactions and transactions. A simple act of Tell the caller i am not home! when

Instilling Values: A Parents PerspectiveAn Interview with Joni Ong, Co-founder of I Love Children

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the phone rings asking for you (and you are home!) is enough to contradict all we preach about honesty where the children are concerned.

i personally believe in the power of story-telling and objective discussions on sensitive issues like abortion and premarital sex to plant values in my children. As our family is bound as a community of faith, biblical truths are also entwined in the teachings of social behaviour at home.

What are some values you think are essential to inculcate? Why those values?Each family will have its own traditions and habits which are the building blocks of the next generations character and emotional behaviour. We are Christians and Chinese; so values paramount to us are: Love and fear of God; Love and protection of family. Deeply entrenched within each of us, these two values in turn lead to behaviour supporting values such as integrity, love of others, compassion, caring for others, responsibility and self-discipline.

In todays increasingly relative world with more greys than black and whites, how do you empower your children to make the right choices? Is there a values framework you create?i dont have a framework per se. What my husband and i share is respect for each other and the children as individuals. We have brought them up with the utmost love only parents can give, with as much fun and laughter that can come only if we do not take ourselves so seriously.

From a young age, each child has been slowly but steadily unleashed to make their own decisions about schedules. For example, what television programmes to watch given her daily 1.5 hour allowance, what to order when we eat out, what to wear on special occasions, what subjects to study based on strengths and interests, what course and what university to apply for and which boy to bring to the prom!

When certain decisions lead to outcomes not so desired or worse still, broken hearts, we as a family openly discuss and empathise. Nothing is secret within the family; even Jonathanthe youngest siblingsviews are sought by his sisters on matters of the heart. it is amazing to hear him spouting advice to his older sisters on how to attract the right kind of guy and how to keep him interested!

By Faith Luo Jinghui

Instilling Values: A Parents PerspectiveAn Interview with Joni Ong, Co-founder of I Love Children

*Find out more about i Love Children at www.ilovechildren.org.

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Bringing up children is the parents responsibility. No two ways about it. The school ethos and

teachers are the second line upholders of values for our childrenthey help to reinforce what the parents have inculcated at home.

We are grateful thus for having five children who are close to each other, who look out for each other and are always there for each other. They are empowered to think and act independently within the constraints of consideration and love for each other and others within their own sphere of influence.

In Singapore, some parents believe teachers should bear the responsibility of bringing up their kids, while some teachers believe otherwise. How can teachers and parents work together to raise the next generation of leadersour children, and enjoy themselves while theyre at it?Bringing up children is the parents responsibility. No two ways about it. The school ethos and teachers are the second line upholders of values for our childrenthey help to reinforce what the parents have inculcated at home.

An example is that of discipline in the oft-complained minefield of homework. My sons school views homework not as revision of what was taught in classroom and not to give extra work, but to inculcate self-discipline. When he was 8 and 9 years old, homework was very structured15 minutes to do this Mathematics sheet, 20 minutes to read that article, and parents had to sign off upon completion. it is not about so much work that they have to take a few hours to complete, as more so to finish an amount of work within a set time.

This helps them as they grow older about how they use their time in a structured manner and how they prioritise their work given a specific timeframe. From young, I did not have to nag

Jonathan about his homeworkhe was helped by his teachers to appreciate the value of homework in his development as a disciplined student and future leader.

During parent-teacher meetings, while we discuss and celebrate strengths of our children, we should also be open to the areas that our children can improve. What helps us is goal-setting with the children on the improvement areas. Together with the teacher, Jonathan writes action plans for improving his writing skills (for example) and i sign on the plan to commit my support to him as he works on this area.

it is a collaboration. it is a partnership. But ultimately, we as parents are responsible for the upbringing of our children into the best persons they can be.

What delights you most about your own children?Everything. Their humour, their world views, their compassion and their competitive spirit. Each is different; therein lies the strength of the five of themeach complements the other in the support and protection of each other and the family unit.

ABOVE: Joni Ong and her husband, Ong Kian Min, and their five children, twins Kristi and Kathi, Liz, Emme and Jonathan.

WHAT DOES iT TAKE TO BE A BuSiNESS LEADER? WHERE DO values place in a company? Mr Bill Padfield, Chief Executive Officer of Dimension Data Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, shares his insights with us.

A specialist information Technology (iT) services and solution provider with total revenues of uS$4.5 billion, Dimension Data helps clients plan, build, support and manage their iT infrastructures. Founded in 1983, they are headquartered in Johannesburg and currently in 51 countries.

Mr Padfield comes from 34 years of experience in the IT and telecom industry in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, with the past 14 years being in Singapore. He is a member of the board for Asia Cloud Computing Association and Halogen Foundation Singapore. We at Halogen know him to be one who puts his money where his mouth is, so to speak. Supportive, down-to-earth and firm, he is someone who knows what is important to him, and acts on the work he believes in.

Having been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Datacraft Asia Group then and now Dimension Data for eight and a half years, what is your number one philosophy of being a business leader?The business is technology, so a leader here needs to know the industry. i then expect four things: integrity, knowing the strategy, operational skills and a hunger for success. My philosophy is to hire and nourish people who are smarter than me, then give them the freedom to do what they do. This approach has, so far, never failed.

We have seen cases where companies lose sight of corporate ethics due to the pursuit of profits. How do you balance profit and values in your organisation?There is a constant tension between right and rich. The relentless drive for growth and profits can make people do unusual things; the newspapers and the courts are full of them. The ethics and the culture of the company are mainly led by the tone from the top. i set a tone that success is a given, but fraud or not adhering to our values is unacceptable. it must come from the top, it cannot be do as i say, not do what i do. you must be the role model.

What is one piece of advice you have for young entrepreneurs?use other peoples money. There is a wealth of capital out there, the challenge is knowing how to tap into it.

Principles in CorporationsAn Interview with Mr Bill Padfield, CEO of Dimension Data Asia Pacific Ptd Ltd and Board Member of Halogen Foundation Singapore

You are currently a board member of Halogen Foundation Singapore that is dedicated to youth leadership development. Why did you agree to be on the board?i was inspired by listening to one of your previous board members speak at the Forbes CEO event in Malaysia. i approached her after the event to try and get involved. ive been developing my own and others leadership skills for over 30 years in most regions of the world. The biggest challenge is to attract and retain leaders. if only there were more people that aspire to lead. Therefore, focusing on the young makes huge sense. Halogen is a great vehicle for this, led by people that share the same vision. it was a no brainer.

It must come from the top, it cannot be do as I say,

not do what I do. You must be the

role model.Who was the leader in your life that impacted you the most?There have been some negative ones in my life, and some very wonderful leaders and role models that appeared at the right time in my life and career. ive been incredibly lucky. However, the role model outside of my own career that has always inspired me is Steve Jobs. The passion, the cheek, the inspiration, the manic focus on detail, the eye for a winner, and having the faith in himself all inspire me.

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By Lin Xue Hu

EVERy MONTH, HALOGEN FEATuRES A NEW yOuNG FACE on our Facebook Page. These youths are those we have met and trained personally in schools, who share with us about their dreams and aspirations.

The girl on the cover is Vidya from Temasek Secondary School. She enjoys debating and wants to use that passion and strength to be a lawyer.

We encourage and guide students to discover their passions and strengths, and articulate them. Expression through writing or speaking helps them clarify their thoughts, while sharing it with others gives opportunity for affirmation through finding like-minded buddies or people who can direct them to the right resources.

iN THE iRON LADy, DiRECTOR PHyLLiDA LLOyD STRiVES NOT for historical accuracy in this biopic about Margaret Thatcher, Britains first female Prime Minister, played by Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep. instead, Lloyd tells the inspiring story of how an oppressed lower middle class girl worked her way up in a male dominated society.

The film opens with Margaret Thatcher buying milk in a convenience store. unrecognisable and pushed around in the mad scramble to the counter, it symbolises the movies central themethe personal price Thatcher paid for power. in her quest to, as a woman, lead a male-dominated country, she led with perseverance, a fighting spirit and dignitybut at the trade-off of her family.

Though power drove Thatchers life as a Prime Minister, she later lost it both in society and her family. in her old age, she became more than just lonely. Estranged from her two children, she was left to confide in her dead husbands ghost. She was isolated from society and in her own mind and body as she suffered from dementia. Nevertheless, Thatcher must be admired for her determination to defy the status quo, and clinging on to another one of her esteemed values, meritocracy her belief that hard work will be rewarded with success. She proved that instead of spending her whole life being dominated as society expected a woman to be, she could change that.

Charles Phang was formerly an intern with Halogen and now moonlights as a member of the Halogen Volunteer Editorial Team. His day job involves telling stories as a TV Journalist and Producer with Channel NewsAsia.

As a nations leader in tough times and especially as a lady politician, she lived by this: Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become your character. And watch your character for it becomes your destiny. indeed, her dreams and character shaped her destiny as one of the most famous women leaders in history, and later as a leader in recluse.

Thatcher embodied the notion that if you want to change the country, lead it. Even though she did not set out to empower women, Thatcher became a symbol and inspiration to women across the world. it could be said that she has paved the way for women leaders, from Burmas Opposition Politician Aung San Suu Kyi to Liberias first woman President, Ellen Johnson Sirleafwomen who are standing up for their beliefs, paying the price for it, and living to see that it is worth it.

Did You Know?

For stories of local and global change, ideas for social good, inspirational quotes and more, visit Halogens Facebook page (www.facebook.com/halogensg). it is an online community for people who are and want to be positive influencers. if you find something that interests or inspires you, share it! That is one way we can use social media for social good.

ABOVE: Nazir and Shree, secondary two students, were featured on Halogens Facebook Page previously. Nazir (right) wants to become a Crime Scene Investigator and Shree (left) wants to own (be a top winner) at the popular game, Call of Duty.

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From Ruler to Recluse: A Review of The Iron LadyBy Charles Phang

Temasek Leadership Face-OffAn action-charged leadership competition for secondary schools where student teams pitch their skills against other teams and learn leadership and team-building in the process.

BizAcademySalesforce.com and Halogen have partnered to bring this globally-run apprenticeship in leadership to Singapore for polytechnic students. Selected participants will have the opportunity to learn about business, gain new skills and expand their networks at salesforce.coms office. Working on a real project, they will pitch their social business plan and learn from mentors to get hands-on experience and real-world business expertise. Applications have closed. Find out more at www.bizacademy.sg.

The Leadership Challenge WorkshopA leadership programme by bestselling authors James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, this workshop is specially for educators who want to foster a greater understanding of leadership, hone their leadership skills, and become impactful leaders. it is based on the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. Find out more at http://www.leadershipchallenge.com. To enquire or sign up, email Darlene at darlene@halogenfoundation.org.

Student Leadership Challenge Facilitators Certification ProgrammeBe equipped to train students in the students version of The Leadership Challenge. Halogen Foundation Singapore, partnering John Wiley and Sons, is the exclusive certification partner in Asia-Pacific. To enquire or sign up, email Darlene at darlene@halogenfoundation.org.

Jun 2012

11 - 15 Jun 2012

5 - 6 Jul 2012

12 - 13 Jul 2012

if you would like to receive a copy of our catalogue of programmes, book an appointment or have queries, please contact us at +65 6884 5680 or singapore@halogenfoundation.org.

Whats Coming Up?

Halogen Impact

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2,077

2,313

18,000

3,754 (20.8%)

Student ImpactFacebook Fans

DEC 2011

No. of students targeted to be impacted in 2012No. of students impacted as at March 2012

MAR 2012

in the past eight years, over a hundred volunteers have been a part of Halogen. They range from all ages and professions, including students. if you would like to join us in building young leaders and take your leadership skills further, you can volunteer for:

AcademyBe a Lead Trainer or Assistant Trainer for school workshops (training will be provided), or look into our curriculum and lesson planning.

EventsOn-site helpers and organising committee members: Event conceptualisation, technical managers, sound managers, producers, registration, ushering, photography, videography and more.

Social CommunitiesHelp develop our communication content and channels. We need writers, editors, designers, developers, community managers and content strategists.

ProjectsWe are always on the lookout for social good enthusiasts, innovators, project managers and mentors.

Research and DevelopmentResearchers and research assistants.

if you have other specialised skills that are not mentioned in the above but would like to contribute, get in touch with us. From time to time, we will need your special skills and professional talent in areas such as iT, administration, finance and design.

it is a great opportunity to give back and strengthen our communities. interested to find out more? Contact Faith at faith@halogenfoundation.org.

Leadership is not defined by our positions of power, but positions of influence. Based on that view, leadership is everyones business, because everyone can influence. This is why Halogen aims to make leadership education affordable and accessible to every student.

We provide consultation for schools to develop their leadership framework and offer programmes which include:

Get Involved!Educate Volunteer

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At Halogen, excellence and prudence are two qualities that we esteem. We believe that the cause is worth pursuing, with the highest quality possible. From content to form, we take care to polish the details and add special touches, while keeping it cost-effective. To achieve our goals effectively, we think of creative ways to save costs and stretch every dollar.

if you would like to invest in building young leaders, you can:

1. Make a bank transfer to our DBS accountOur account name is Halogen Foundation (Singapore) and our account number is 033-900802-8.

2. Write a cheque to Halogen Foundation SingaporeMail it to us at: Halogen Foundation Singapore, 11A Mount Sophia, #02-05, Old School, Singapore 228465.

3. Donate online through SG GivesLog on to www.sggives.org/halogensg and donate through credit card or eNets.

As a registered institute of Public Character (iPC), all donations to Halogen Foundation Singapore will enjoy a 2.5 times tax deduction. To ensure you receive your tax deduction receipts, please let us know your full name, NRiC or FiN number, address, email and contact number. if you are investing as a company, kindly include your companys name and ROC number.

Our accounts are audited by Ernst and young. Our annual report is available on our website and upon request. if you have any questions regarding how we manage our resources, feel free to drop us an email at singapore@halogenfoundation.org. We will be happy to answer any queries.

Help us build this foundation for the future, together.

Donate

The Leadership Challenge Workshop for teachers and The Student Leadership Challenge

Workshop for students Everyday Leadership workshops

for individual classes and motivational mass talks

inspirational large-scale events, such as the recent National young Women Leaders Day.

Our programmes are customisable and affordable to meet each schools needs. To receive a full catalogue listing what we offer or to find out more about our youth leadership programmes, please contact Darlene at darlene@halogenfoundation.org or +65 6884 5680.

To provide comments or request copies of this publication, please email singapore@halogenfoundation.org.