Over the weekend of December 20 and 21, 2014, the youth division of SSA, supported by the entire organisation, successfully held the SSA Youth Friendship for Peace Festival 2014 at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall. Some 3,300 performers and 1,200 support personnel put up an inspiring and spectacular culture extravaganza which was enjoyed by some 8,700 members and friends of SSA, over five sessions. Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, was the Guest of Honour for the event.
The theme of the Festival “Together in Mind, Together We Advance” drew its inspiration from the mottos given by Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s to the SSA Young Women Division and Young Men Division respectively during his first visit to Singapore in 1988. The sub-theme ‘Be the Light of Humanity’ reflects the aspirations of SSA youths to become the guiding beacon of hope and happiness, dispelling the darkness of despair. The imagery of ‘light’ is hence a running thread across the various performances in the festival, weaving together a spectacular story of struggles, adversities, hope and victory.
For the full report, please look out for the YFP special in SSA Times issue 502. A highlights video will also be screened at the New Year Gongyo Meetings on January 1, 2015 and a DVD of the entire performance will be made available subsequently as well!
