Internship Experience - Hwa Chong Institution

New friendships, shared projects and a glimpse into the work of a social enterprise made a memorable week for Ian (Yi Feng) from Hwa Chong Institution. From 16 to 20 March 2026, we welcomed Ian to Make The Change under our Young Changemaker Programme, where he explored empathy, experimented with creative technology and supported the preparation of youth workshops.

Ian's journey began with an introduction to Make The Change and his fellow interns for the week. Through an empathy-mapping activity, he got to know his intern buddy — Anish from Temasek Secondary School, and presented what he had learned about his new friend. The activity offered an opportunity to practice listening, organize his observations and introduce someone else's experiences and perspectives to the group.

Together with his peers, Ian then took on a broader empathy challenge exploring the experiences of people returning to the workforce. The team developed presentation slides and shared their findings, considering the challenges faced by this community. Working on the assignment gave Ian an opportunity to exchange ideas with his teammates and contribute to a shared presentation.

Alongside these discussions, Ian explored augmented reality using iPads at a Apple Technologies Workshop by the Make The Change team. This hands-on workshop introduced another side of Make The Change's work, offering a chance to experiment with digital tools and discover creative ways of presenting ideas.

During the week, Ian also helped with logistics and venue preparation for our Youth For Change Workshops in March. Supporting the setup offered a glimpse into the practical work involved in getting a session ready before hosting our participants. He then joined the workshops as a participant, attending small group discussions and meeting people beyond his usual school environment.

A conversation with Make The Change's CEO — Michelle Lim, added to the week's opportunities to learn about the organization and the people behind its work. From helping with preparations to joining meaningful discussions, Ian experienced different aspects of working and learning within a social enterprise.

For Ian, the friendships formed throughout the five days were a particularly enjoyable part of the experience. Working on projects, preparing presentations and sharing lunches at Clarke Quay and Chinatown created opportunities to connect with his fellow interns beyond their assigned tasks.

Looking back, Ian described his internship as a fun and enjoyable experience. He appreciated meeting new people, attending workshops and talks, and completing projects alongside his friends. The everyday moments of working and eating together were just as much a part of his memories as his internship experience at Make The Change.

We are glad to have been part of Ian's learning journey at Make The Change. His week with us brought together community learning, creative exploration and new connections, offering a glimpse of how young people can learn through participation and collaboration. We hope he carries these experiences and friendships forward as he continues discovering his interests and the ways he can contribute to future communities!