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Internships at 15? Why Early Work Experience Matters for Young People in Singapore
Make The Change Co-Founder Pedro Aguirre joins MONEY FM 89.3 to discuss youth internships, early career exposure, and how meaningful experiences can empower the next generation of changemakers.
At what age should young people begin experiencing the working world?
For many students in Singapore, the teenage years are filled with academic commitments, examinations, and important decisions about their future. But could gaining real-world experience at 15 help young people discover their interests, develop essential skills and better understand their potential?
This was the central question explored during a recent episode of The Agenda on MONEY FM 89.3, where Pedro Aguirre, Co-Founder and Community and Impact Director of Make The Change, joined host Hongbin Jeong to discuss the growing interest in youth internships and the importance of introducing young people to meaningful workplace experiences.
Drawing on Make The Change's experience running its Young Changemaker Programme, Pedro shared why internships should be about much more than simply completing tasks or gaining something to include in a résumé.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Education plays an essential role in preparing young people for their future. However, some of life's most valuable lessons happen outside the classroom.
When young people enter a workplace for the first time, they encounter new environments, different perspectives, and challenges that may not have straightforward answers.
They learn to communicate with people from different backgrounds, collaborate with unfamiliar teammates, take responsibility for their work, and adapt when things do not go according to plan.
These experiences can help students develop confidence, independence, and a stronger understanding of themselves.
At Make The Change, we believe that young people do not need to wait until adulthood to begin discovering their capabilities.
With the right guidance, even a short internship can become a meaningful opportunity for personal growth.
What Makes a Youth Internship Meaningful?
Not all internships provide the same learning experience.
For young people, particularly those participating in their first internship, the experience should go beyond administrative tasks or observing how an organisation operates.
A meaningful internship creates opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop practical skills, and understand how their contributions connect to a bigger purpose.
We believe five elements are especially important.
1. Discovering individual strengths
Young people should have opportunities to explore different responsibilities and discover what they enjoy, what challenges them, and where their strengths lie.
2. Working on real projects
Contributing to authentic projects helps students understand that their ideas and efforts can make a difference.
3. Developing communication and collaboration skills
Working alongside others teaches young people how to express themselves, listen to different perspectives, and contribute effectively as part of a team.
4. Learning through mistakes
A supportive internship environment allows young people to experiment, ask questions, and learn from challenges without fearing failure.
5. Understanding the value of their contributions
Perhaps most importantly, internships should help young people recognise that they have something valuable to offer, regardless of their age or previous experience.
When young people are given responsibility, guidance, and trust, they often demonstrate capabilities that surprise even themselves.
Our Young Changemaker Programme: Learning Through Real Experiences
At Make The Change, these principles are central to our Young Changemaker Programme.
Designed for young people aged 13 to 19, the programme introduces students to the operations of a social enterprise while helping them develop skills that extend beyond traditional academic learning.
Participants have opportunities to experience how creativity, education, business and social impact come together to address real community needs.
Depending on their interests and the projects available, students may contribute to activities involving digital content creation, research, social innovation, community engagement and educational initiatives.
More importantly, they are encouraged to develop the essential competencies of a changemaker, including empathy, critical thinking, creative confidence, communication, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Make The Change
Our approach is grounded in a simple belief:
Young people learn best when they are trusted to participate, encouraged to explore, and supported in turning their ideas into action.
We want students to leave the programme not only with new skills but also with a greater sense of confidence, curiosity, and purpose.
From Internship Experience to Personal Growth
Over the years, we have welcomed students from different schools and educational backgrounds into our Young Changemaker Programme.
Each student brings unique interests, perspectives, and strengths.
Some arrive curious but unsure of what to expect. Others already have strong interests in areas such as design, technology, entrepreneurship, or community service.
Throughout their internship, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and take ownership of their learning.
For example, participants have explored social issues through empathy mapping, developed creative content, contributed to community programmes, and collaborated with students from other schools.
These experiences provide opportunities to practise problem-solving, communication, and teamwork while developing a deeper understanding of the communities around them.
Our previous internship stories highlight how students can grow when they are encouraged to engage with real-world challenges and contribute to meaningful projects. Make The Change
The most valuable outcome is not necessarily the final project they produce.
It is often the confidence they develop, the perspectives they gain and the discovery that they are capable of contributing something meaningful.
Starting Early Is Not About Growing Up Too Quickly
One important message from the MONEY FM conversation is that encouraging early work exposure does not mean rushing young people into adulthood.
Teenagers should have space to explore, make mistakes, enjoy their youth, and gradually discover who they want to become.
An internship should support that journey rather than place unnecessary pressure on students to decide their future careers prematurely.
At 15, young people do not need to know exactly what profession they want to pursue.
However, experiencing different environments can help them ask better questions about their interests, abilities, and aspirations.
They might discover a passion for creative work, develop an interest in social entrepreneurship, or realise that they enjoy working with people and communities.
They might also discover that a particular field is not what they expected.
Both outcomes are valuable.
Early exposure is not about making career decisions sooner. It is about helping young people make more informed decisions when the time comes.
Empowering the Next Generation of Changemakers
At Make The Change, our purpose is to empower and transform communities through design and Education.
We believe that education should provide people with opportunities to discover their potential, develop meaningful skills, and contribute positively to their communities.
Our Young Changemaker Programme reflects this commitment by bringing together experiential learning, creativity, and social impact.
By introducing young people to the world of social enterprises and purpose-driven work, we hope to inspire them to think beyond traditional definitions of career success.
A successful future is not only about the profession someone chooses.
It can also be about how they use their skills, creativity, and knowledge to create value for others.
When young people begin to recognise that possibility, they take an important step towards becoming changemakers themselves.
Listen to Our Conversation on MONEY FM 89.3
We thank MONEY FM 89.3 and Hongbin Jeong for the opportunity to participate in this meaningful conversation about youth development and early workplace exposure in Singapore.
As more young people explore internship opportunities, we hope the discussion encourages educators, parents, and organisations to reflect on how they can create supportive, purposeful learning experiences.
Because sometimes, the most important thing we can give young people is not another lesson, but an opportunity to discover what they are capable of achieving.
Join Our Young Changemaker Programme
Are you a student interested in gaining real-world experience, developing new skills, and learning how social enterprises create positive change?
Or are you an educator looking to introduce your students to meaningful experiential learning opportunities?
Discover how our Young Changemaker Programme helps young people build confidence, develop essential skills, and take their first steps towards creating social impact.
