Author and Snapshots by Joyce Chew
Friday, February 14, marked Valentine’s Day—a time traditionally dedicated to love and romance. However, at the Youth Hub, we put our own spin on the occasion by celebrating Galentine’s Day! What is Galentine’s Day? “It falls on February 13 and is all about ladies celebrating ladies and the power of friendship. A Galentine is a playful, affectionate term for a close friend.” This special event, organized by Odita, Noor Aisha and Mercy, encouraged Youth to recognize and appreciate love in all its forms—friendship, self-love, and community—beyond just romantic relationships.
The festivities kicked off with a watercolor workshop led by talented local artist Erum, who shared sample cards to spark ideas for the participants. Attendees explored various watercolor techniques, using their creativity to design heartfelt Valentine’s Day cards—either for themselves or someone special in their lives.
With a free flow, the Youths’ CREATIVITIES kept flowing in.
Habeeba planned to illustrate a story from a movie. However, that did not materialize, and she came up with below.
Following that, an exciting lipstick-making workshop was facilitated by Christina from Persuasion Inc. With 30 participants in attendance, everyone had the opportunity to mix different colors, scents, and lip gloss ingredients while learning how each element contributed to a glossy and nourishing lip care product. The workshop served as both a creative outlet and a chance for self-expression, reminding participants that beauty and self-care can be fun, personalized, and a way to embrace their uniqueness.
Beyond the arts and crafts, attendees participated in a Self-Love and Healthy Relationships workshop facilitated by Mental Health Case Worker, Mercy. This session provided a safe and supportive space for meaningful discussions on self-care, boundary-setting, and the importance of nurturing both personal well-being and relationships. Participants reflected on how self-care plays a vital role in building stronger, healthier connections with others.
The response from the youth was overwhelmingly positive. Many shared that they felt more confident and empowered after the lipstick-making session, appreciating how makeup can serve as a form of personal expression. In the Self-Love and Healthy Relationships workshop, participants found the discussions eye-opening and supportive, with several mentioning that it helped them recognize the importance of setting boundaries and valuing themselves.
Some even expressed feeling inspired to practice more self-care and prioritize their mental health moving forward. Overall, the event fostered a sense of creativity, confidence, and community, reminding us all that love exists in many beautiful forms!
A Reflection from Helin
For this Valentine’s event, I created a card that’s all about love, love for others, love for yourself, and just love in general.
The idea behind this card is simple. I want anyone who sees it or receives it to feel loved. Love isn’t something we should only celebrate on one day of the year. It’s something to feel every day. That’s why I went with “Love Day” instead of just Valentine’s Day.
I really enjoyed this event because I saw all my friends and everyone around me enjoying it. There was lovely music, and I really appreciate everything about it.
So, Happy Love Day, today and every day!
For this lip gloss, I had so much fun creating it. It was my first experience ever. I chose the color, pink and some sparkles. I then added the flavour and the smell of pina colada which was so awesome.
Happy Staff
Happy Youths
Happy Galentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day
Photo & Event Credit : Valentine’s Day watercolour card workshop and Galentine’s Day presentation at TNO Youth Hub on February 14, 2025
