He accidentally created a tropicalised Venus flytrap at 17 | Young Minds - video Dailymotion

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At 17, Darren accidentally created a tropicalised Venus flytrap — a plant never meant to survive in Singapore’s climate. Now 26, he runs a thriving carnivorous plant community and business, nurturing curiosity and confidence in kids through hands-on workshops. Who knew one flytrap could lead to all this?    Young Minds is a series about youths in Singapore making an impact in their own unique ways.   Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video

Transcript

00:01Focusing on the small sausage was the one that was driving me forward.

00:05I'm Darren, the founder and director of SG Venus Firetrap

00:09and I created a Venus Firetrap that try well in a warm temperature.

00:21SG Venus Firetrap is the first local community to develop

00:24a tropicalized version of tempered carnivorous plants.

00:27These plants are tough to grow in Singapore because they prefer cooler temperatures to drive in.

00:32But through innovations and research, we actually bring success to anyone

00:36who want to grow a carnivorous plant on their very first attempt.

00:41So I have cultivated more than 50 different kinds of carnivorous plants.

00:47Venus Firetrap is my all-time favourite because these plants can do math

00:52and they can even remember things.

00:54So let me show you what actually happens when I touch it for the very first time.

00:59The Venus Firetrap did not snap on it.

01:01They actually started their counter and they will snap up their jaws immediately

01:05when you touch them two times.

01:07This is to prevent catching on dead insects or even rainwattles as well.

01:11And when they are hungry, they actually changes colour.

01:14Can you see? It became rater.

01:16I started going carnivorous plants when I was 9 years old

01:19and I bought my very first Venus Firetrap shipped from the US for 75 USD.

01:23But it died within 14 days.

01:25I was quite demoralised but my mum encouraged me to try a second one.

01:29It only lasts about 16 days.

01:32I asked my teacher how to grow a Venus Firetrap.

01:35My teacher didn't have the answer to that but she asked me,

01:37Hey Darren, you did well. We actually have a small achievement.

01:40And that was an additional 2 days.

01:42So can you do 18 days, 22 days even?

01:45So that got me excited.

01:48So I read up a lot of research paper and I soon realised that

01:51Venus Firetrap is tough to grow in Singapore because they are tempered plants.

01:54They prefer cooler temperatures to thrive in.

01:57When I was in secondary school, I was exposed to biotechnical and plant tissue culture.

02:02I asked my science teacher,

02:03I want to teach people how to grow Venus Firetrap when I grow up

02:06but I need an access to the science lab.

02:07Could you actually help me out?

02:08I said, why not?

02:10That was the start of my research journey.

02:13I have some basic form of results before I actually entered Anderson KC

02:17whereby I took my research to the next level.

02:19I was attached to the NTU lab.

02:21I actually had my first biotech breakthrough

02:23that allowed these plants to change from cold growing to warm growing.

02:27Back in 2016, me and my friend started sharing an online Facebook community

02:34on Venus Firetrap that tried well in a warm temperature

02:37and we were expecting that it would be well received

02:40but they call this a science fantasy

02:43and we would ban and kick out of the prior existing community group.

02:47Basic rejection was one of the very big learning curve for me

02:51but one of the members asked me, Darren, why not start a community of your own?

02:57We started off a Facebook community with only about 10 members.

03:01It was really a small start.

03:03So as the community grew bigger,

03:05our group actually come down over to my house

03:07to see Venus Firetrap thriving without any form of cooling.

03:10They asked me, Darren, why not rent a place

03:13and then we can house all the plants in there?

03:16I really think very, very hard because I was in JC too.

03:20I don't have an income.

03:21We are from an average family.

03:23We don't have a lot of extra money for all this.

03:25One member asked me this question, why don't you sell these plants to me?

03:28I was like, wait, that actually solved the money problem.

03:31Selling off the extra plants that I have started to fund the project.

03:35I managed to pull together some community members,

03:38my family members to build the garden from scratch

03:41but at the beginning, everything was not working.

03:44Looking at the money that was lost,

03:46looking at customers who are complaining that their plants are dying.

03:49Even the shelter is not holding up the rain.

03:51So that was a very tough time.

03:53But when I wanted to give up,

03:55I always give myself more time to go and think about it.

03:58Is there a solution for that?

04:00And what is the skill set I'm lagging?

04:03So it's always about learning,

04:05convincing myself to believe in what I'm doing

04:07and the community surrounding it.

04:09So at this point in time,

04:15combining all different members from different platforms,

04:17Facebook, emails,

04:19we have more than 10,000 members.

04:21I actually managed to set up a company,

04:24set up a team,

04:25whereby we are able to run smoothly.

04:27So right now, I actually wanted to focus more on children's development,

04:31passing them the experience I had through the last 17 years.

04:35It's really my honor to be able to share with you about this carnivorous plant experience in the next 2 hours.

04:41Just a show of hands,

04:42how many of you all love the Venus Firetrap?

04:45Wow, all the Venus Firetrap lovers just like myself.

04:48The workshop is actually one of our approach to ensure that we bring success to anyone on their first attempt.

04:53The average age group that we are seeing are usually children 4 years old,

04:57all the way to 14 years old.

04:59I want children to believe that success is possible.

05:02I want children to actually equip themselves with the level of confidence in them

05:07to get themselves ready for the future.

05:09What is that one last thing that you need to do?

05:11Water the plant!

05:13Yes, you are right!

05:14So through the workshop,

05:16we want to link 2 things.

05:17Their efforts to the success of these carnivorous plants that come 6 months down the road,

05:23and putting their experience in the video montage to show to the children that,

05:27look,

05:28they are capable to make a positive change.

05:33I am Hayden.

05:35I am 12 years old this year.

05:37This is my third time joining the workshop.

05:40We had fun trying to put in our own plants and

05:44trying to take care and cultivate it.

05:47My carnivorous plants are growing very well.

05:50I feel so very good as I have successfully

05:53grew this plant.

05:55I think there are also other values that he could learn from

05:58taking care of the carnivorous plants.

06:00Like at home,

06:01how to take care of people around him,

06:03and also be more responsible as well.

06:05Even if they are building it,

06:06the success will still be achieved by them.

06:09And that's the main reason why you want to do that is because

06:11you want them to see their efforts

06:13translating into a proper result.

06:15I believe that many young children

06:17will have the same dream of bringing their passion into a profession.

06:20I want to see more children

06:22getting the right advice

06:24to develop the confidence,

06:26the shape of the mindset.

06:28So, I hope that SG Venus Workshop can continue

06:30to make that impact,

06:31inspiring children,

06:32working on the journey towards their dream.

06:45leading become a wish!

06:46So, oh,

06:48go, go!

06:50Let me see all thiskar presentation teams.

06:52What are you doing?

06:54What are you doing?

06:55What are you doing?

06:56Who has assumed dreams?

06:57What are you doing?

06:58What are you doing?

06:59What are experiences of spiritually?

07:00How do I have the two 선택 and a pledge,

07:02how do I not have political actions of signaling?

07:03What does Meter?

07:04How do I have,

07:05how do I move on to反 Carniv 상황?

He accidentally created a tropicalised Venus flytrap at 17 | Young Minds

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