Meet Chong Ee Jay and Anthony Yeong. The technologically-savvy pair, who work with youth through Touch Cyber Wellness, were awarded the Singapore Youth Award in the Team Award category, recognizing youths for their contributions to society.

Their work could be in the field of science, arts and culture, or sports. And for the duo, it was their commitment to community development and youth services that bagged the prize.

Touch Cyber Wellness, in its 10th year running, won the 36th edition of the annual award, presented in the middle of the year by the President. Its aim is to promote cyber wellness, healthy gaming and online safety among youth in Singapore.

For Ee Jay and Anthony, the take it on themselves to help youth with gaming addicition.

“There are a few studies done… and one study did show that 5 to 8 per cent of youth (in Singapore) are pathological gamers,” Anthony said.

Ee Jay also added, “We want to inspire them and to help them get better, to change and at the end of the day, we’d want them to become mentors and ambassadors in our own cyber arena.”

Both revealed some heartening results seen in youth, when some of them formerly addicted to gaming returned to volunteer and eventually mentor others.

The pair also reiterated their stand about drawing the fine line between gaming for leisure and addiction. “Sometimes, teens become to absorbed in the games and don’t set boundaries for themselves, when to stop.”

“Being heroes online is one thing, but they should also move towards being heroes offline, in the real world too!” Ee Jay beamed.

Apart from Ee Jay and Anthony, 4 other individuals claimed the award as well. The include film-maker Boo Junfeng, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic alumnus, Darius Cheung, an entrepreneur, Associate Professor Teo Yik Ying, a scientist specializing in genetic research and disease prevention, as well as Terence Chia, a role model in volunteerism and community outreach.