Just yesterday, I was on a midnight flight with fifteen other students, Mr. Rick and Ms. Mel. It was late, but none of us were sleepy, we just kept on talking about the three-day conference that ended a few hours earlier. I had the honor of attending yet another Global Issues Network (GIN) Conference! This is my third GIN conference after Jakarta and Manila. With the theme of “Time to Act, Time to Change”, GIN Singapore (GINSING) was one of the most organized conference I have ever attended.
We arrived in Singapore on November 6, 2012 – a day earlier before the conference. On the first day, we went on excursions to different place around Singapore. I was with Joey on a trip to Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bollywood Veggies. Through the trip, we got the opportunity to learn about the wetland ecosystem in Singapore, as well as looking at how the local organic farm operate. The trip was a great way to start finding new friends, although it wasn’t very hands-on. After the trip, all the GINSING participants gathered at Singapore American School (SAS) for the peace concert.
Throughout the course of the second and third day, we have the opportunity to listen to an eclectic range of keynote speakers and NGOs talking about how their projects help different communities. I couldn’t pick any favorites, because I learnt something from each and every one of them! In between speakers, we are gathered according to our Local Action Plan (LAP) groupings. I was the only student from SWA in the “Biotechnology Rules” group, but that was okay. During the LAP session, we discussed current development on our respective topic. In the second session, we started developing an action plan that we can bring back and implement in our own countries.
Last but not least, the closing ceremony is where the different groups present their LAPs. I was exceptionally excited to be appointed as the main speaker from the “Biotechnology Rules” group. My LAP group came up with five LAPs, including: incorporating biotechnology-related materials into the school curriculum, promoting ‘Organic October’ starting up a school community garden, and spreading awareness through social media. Thus, the LAP presentations concluded GINSING Conference!
The whole conference was a very meaningful experience. I build connections with so many people, and I’ve learnt so many things about the sustainability of community and service actions. So far, this is the best GIN conference that I have ever been to! Going to GINSING have also motivated me into taking GINDO, a regional GIN conference that I will be organizing, to an equal if not higher level. Right below is a few photos from the conference! 
