HFC-TP Youth Video Content Creation Competition 2026 - Ms Goh Hanyan

1. A very good afternoon to all of you.

2. I would like to thank the Hawkers of Food Centres (HFC), and Temasek Polytechnic, for inviting me to join you today.

3. When Mr Ang (President, HFC) mentioned that HFC has already been a year old. Time truly flies, and I’m so glad to see how far you’ve come. It is truly impressive, with the inking of this partnership with TP and ITE College West later today, I’m very glad to see that the hawkers are coming together themselves to see what they can do for the trade. I’m sincerely very heartened by what has transpired. Thank you for having me here at the award ceremony for the Youth Video Content Creation Competition.

4. I'm very glad to see that many youths have come together to participate meaningfully and actively. I’ve seen some of the reels and the quality work just shows how much talent that our youths have - a very warm congratulations to all participants and winners here today!

5. I’m sure everyone here has a favourite hawker stall. So just close your eyes and think of your favourite hawker stall. Maybe there is more than one, and usually there is more than one.

6. It could be that chicken rice stall around the corner, or the prata stall you've been visiting since you were a kid.

7. For me, hawker food is very special because it pretty much marks different milestones in life. When you think back, you would anchor your milestones through the food that you eat.

8. When I was young, I grew up near Pek Kio, and the wanton noodles stall at Pek Kio market was one that I always go to. When I was a student, there was this chwee kueh at Ghim Moh market. And now I am serving at Nee Soon, so there is Chong Pang Market – lots of good food. From tau huey to the carrot cake, the list goes on.

9. But how often do we stop to think about the hawkers behind these dishes? I think this is really a time for us to take a pause and think about the people that made all these dishes that we truly love.

10. That is what I like about the theme for this very first competition - "My Favourite Hawker". It helps us to find out more about the people behind the dishes we love, and for us to truly realise that hawker culture is beyond these dishes.

Appreciating Our Hawkers

11. Our hawker culture is truly more than just the food we eat. It is about the relationships we form with the hawkers that we see every time, every now and then.

12. It is also about the familiar faces – like the hawker who remembers your usual order and cooks it, even before you say a word.

13. To our participants, I’m glad that you have decided to record and share with the wider world through your art forms, through your videos. It’s a celebration of our hawkers’ passion, hard work, dedication, and contribution.

14. Since joining the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE), I’ve spoken to many of the hawkers. It takes a lot of effort. They wake up really early, all to deliver food to us, keep our stomachs full.

 Supporting our Hawker Culture

15. What is unique about this competition is pretty much two of my worlds colliding together – MSE and MCCY, the hawkers division, as well as the youth division coming together. Something new, connecting with something that we have known for a long time, which is our hawker culture.

16. Your creativity has helped hawkers connect with new audiences, amplifying through social media. It helped more people realise where these great dishes are and have them check out these hidden gems.

17. Let me highlight a few examples:

    • Jaris’ story of the mouth-watering Nasi Goreng by  Din & Family, capturing the colour, energy and warmth of our hawker centres, and the hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

    • Elizabeth’s story of Fang Fang Prawn Noodle, celebrates the familiar flavours that keep us coming back. Food trends may come and go, but there is something special about the hawker dishes we grew up with.

    • And Max brings another perspective, as a young hawker himself. His video shows how Fatty Ox Famous Kitchen partners a market stall to cook a dish using produce selected by customers – very innovative. It is a fresh idea that brings new opportunities to both businesses.

18. These are just some glimpses of the meaningful stories captured through your videos. They remind us that behind every hawker stall are people, memories and traditions that make our hawker culture so special here in Singapore.

Sustaining our Hawker Trade and Culture

19. For some of you, the youths in particular, perhaps this competition has sparked an interest in going further.

20. For those of you who have more ideas to promote hawker culture, whether through events or activities, you can apply for the NEA's Vibrant Hawker Culture Programme (VHC) which provides funding of up to $5,000 to community projects that celebrate this heritage.

21. If you enjoy cooking and are keen to explore the hawker trade, NEA has the Incubation Stall Programme (ISP) that supports aspiring hawkers to enter the trade and gain practical experience in running a food stall.

22. Perhaps one day, some of you here will be the hawkers whose stories can inspire the next generation of youths.

Conclusion

23. To all our participants, you have taken the time to understand the journeys of the hawkers and share their stories in your own creative ways. I would encourage you to keep discovering new stories and sharing your ideas.

24. To HFC, your collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic is a great example of how we can engage our youths in the future of hawker culture. Their perspectives and ideas are important as we work to sustain the trade, and I hope you will continue to expand such partnerships with our Institutes of Higher Learning. And once again congratulations on your one-year anniversary!

25. Hawker culture has been built up over many generations, but each generation also brings something new to it. You too can play a part in shaping where it goes next.

26. Once again congratulations to all participants and winners.