March 24, 2025
SINGAPORE – Young people lined up at Punggol 21 Community Club on March 23, eager to collect a crocheted keychain in the shape of a smiling pizza.
Some 20,000 keychains were handmade by volunteers over the past 18 months for the Positivity Pizza Initiative, which aims to encourage youth to seek help when they are bullied.
The “positivity pizza” keychains serve as a reminder for children and teenagers to speak up when they face bullying, said MP Yeo Wan Ling on March 23 at the launch of the mental wellness initiative.
Over 3,000 keychains have been given out to children and teenagers in Punggol, with more to be given out over the coming weeks.
“There was a growing concern about mental wellness of youth in the community, especially in the area of cyber bullying and online harms,” said Ms Yeo, an MP for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC who oversees Punggol Shore.
“Our community rallied together to tackle this concern with the messaging of positivity and assurance that the community always stands ready to offer its help to every youth.”
Ms Yeo said the initiative came about after a 13-year-old Punggol resident told her that she was thinking about harming herself after experiencing bouts of bullying in school.
“As I was trying to counsel her and let her talk through her emotions, the girl suddenly saw a rabbit keychain on my bag and asked if she could have it,” Ms Yeo said.
The MP said that after she handed it to the girl, the girl said the keychain would serve as a reminder that someone cared for her.
“Now, when young people hold the pizza keychain, I want them to know that there are people out there who care. And I want to give them the strength and courage to stick up their hand and speak to someone when something bad has happened.”
Asked if she will be contesting in the newly created Punggol GRC in the upcoming election, Ms Yeo said: “If I’m called to serve, I will be delighted to serve. Over the past five years, we’ve really formed good friendships with the residents. They trust me and, more importantly, they trust my team.”
The formation of Punggol GRC was announced on March 11 in the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report. The existing five-member Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will be split into two new four-member GRCs, with the new Punggol GRC created by carving out estates in Punggol and merging them with Punggol West SMC.
When asked if the three MPs who currently oversee the Punggol estates – Ms Yeo, Dr Janil Puthucheary and Ms Sun Xueling – are likely to run in Punggol GRC, Ms Yeo said: “Dr Janil, Ms Sun and I hope to continue serving in Punggol.”
She added: “For the three of us, our understanding is that it’s business as usual. We will continue to support the community and do what we’ve already put in place to do.”
Noting that the new GRC will be a four-person constituency, she said: “So, there will be another person coming in. Whether or not it’s from the Pasir Ris side or a new person coming in, we really don’t know.”