GYLDC, GCA and Battlebox Convene Inaugural SEAtizen Event with BunkerProof in Singapore

The GYLDC Singapore Chapter, in collaboration with Global Cultural Alliance Ltd (GCA) and Battlebox, hosted the inaugural BunkerProof: The Battlebox Experience on 25 July 2026. The half-day experiential event brought together young people from diverse national backgrounds for a structured exchange on historical resilience, crisis leadership and regional identity.

Programme overview

The programme invited young people from across ASEAN to rediscover the region’s multifaceted cultural heritage and the resilience embedded in its history. It combined an interactive heritage trail with a structured, facilitated dialogue that connected lessons from the past with the challenges facing young leaders today.

Segment 1: Briefing and the Trail Challenge

The afternoon opened with an introduction to GYLDC, GCA, Battlebox and the #SEAtizen initiative. Participants received BunkerProof Trail Cards before entering the underground command headquarters. As they explored the site with a guide, they followed historical clues and documented their journey at key installations, including the Cipher Office.

Segment 2: History to Today

Following the trail, participants convened for a facilitated group discussion on leadership under pressure. The session compared the limited intelligence available to Allied commanders in 1942 with the information overload experienced by young people today. Participants also reflected on the meaning of an ASEAN identity and the physical and cultural heritage their generation will leave behind for the young people of 2080.

Participants

The programme welcomed participants aged 16 to 30, primarily students from Singapore and other countries. Their varied experiences brought a dynamic, cross-cultural range of perspectives to the discussion and grounded the dialogue on regional identity and modern crises in the lived experiences of the region’s next generation of decision-makers.

Special thanks go to the Temasek Polytechnic International Students Group (TPISG) for inviting international students to take part in the experience.

Context and outlook

The event marked the official launch of #SEAtizen: Our region. Our roots. Our stories. By bringing historical immersion into direct dialogue with modern sustainability and action, the series aims to connect the region’s past struggles with future frameworks for leadership and innovation.

GYLDC extends its appreciation to Battlebox and GCA for their venue and operational partnership in convening the programme, and to all participants for their active engagement and contributions to the dialogue.