On the morning of 29 March 2025, the second Lens of Identity Exhibition was unveiled at the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. The project was organised by social service agency Trybe Limited and co-organised by the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, with the aim of guiding youths to explore their career paths and express their perspectives on life through photography.
There were fifteen students participating in this year’s exhibition, divided into five groups of three. They first underwent a Single-lens Reflex photography course before venturing into various professional fields to capture their observations and experiences through photography. On the day of the photography exhibition, large numbers of the students’ works were displayed, and they also shared the ideas behind the photos with their relatives, friends and the public.
Being a beacon of light for youths through sincere companionship
At the unveiling ceremony, Wilson Low, event manager of Trybe Limited, said in his speech that this programme is designed for youths who are waiting to further their studies, looking for a job, or feeling lost, aiming to help them understand themselves through participation and explore future directions. It encourages youths to discover the diverse definitions of success, allowing every youth to have his or her own success story, as well as to think about what they can contribute to and gain in return from the world in a real work environment.
The students’ photography subjects were drawn from five partner organisations, namely RDA Singapore, City Sprouts, Bettr Academy, The Good Guys Barbershop and Fullerton Hotel.
During the photography presentation session, each group presented their works and ideas in turns, and a judging panel consisting of photography instructor Donn Tan and representatives of partnering organisations gave their professional feedback. There were also booths on site for the public to learn more about each partner organisation.
Continuing to ignite hope into the future
Wilson Low expressed his gratitude to the partners for giving youths such an opportunity. The participants lived up to expectations and demonstrated significant growth as they devoted themselves to taking great photographs. He specially thanked the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre for its support, not only for providing the exhibition venue, but also mobilising volunteers to assist in the exhibition. Ultimately, the selfless guidance of photography instructor Donn Tan was the key to the success of the programme.
Looking into the future, Wilson Low revealed that the third Lens of Identity programme is expected to be launched in July 2025 and is currently actively looking for new partners. He encouraged youths who are interested in photography or are still exploring their life direction to follow relevant social platforms, with registration information expected to be out in May.
