Empowering Empathy, Citizenship, and Digital Fluency: Supporting Singapore’s Youth Vision

At the National Day Rally 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong laid out a bold vision for Singapore’s future — a society where we put “We-First”. A future where our youths are not only digitally savvy, but also empathetic, responsible citizens who actively co-create solutions for our nation.

This resonates deeply with us at Make The Change. For more than a decade, we have been designing programs that prepare youths to thrive in a fast-changing world while instilling values of empathy, sustainability, and civic engagement.

Building Empathy and Citizenship

One of the key messages from the Rally was the importance of nurturing empathy and citizenship. Beyond academic success, our youths must learn to understand different perspectives and work together for the common good.

Through our Changemaker and Social Innovation workshops, students engage in real-world issues — from sustainability to social inclusion. Activities like design-thinking challenges and empathy walks encourage them to step into the shoes of others, cultivating compassion and a sense of responsibility for their communities.

Strengthening Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking

PM Wong also emphasized the need for youths to be digitally resilient, not just skilled at using AI and technology, but capable of critiquing, questioning, and using tech responsibly.

Our iPad for Learning programs help students explore photography, videography, podcasting, and augmented reality — all while sharpening their digital storytelling skills. More importantly, we integrate critical thinking by guiding students to evaluate content, question biases, and consider the impact of technology on society.

This approach doesn’t just build skills — it builds confidence, creativity, and discernment in a digital-first world.

Inspiring Active Civic Engagement

The Rally also spoke about creating more platforms — councils, hackathons, and youth panels — to give young people a real voice in shaping policies and initiatives.

We echo this through our Young Changemaker Programme, where students co-create solutions for pressing social issues and present them to community partners. These projects not only empower youths to lead but also bridge them to civil society, government, and industry stakeholders.

This is how we transform students from passive participants into active contributors of Singapore’s future.

A Call to Collaboration

Singapore’s next chapter will be defined by how well we empower our youth to live out empathy, citizenship, and digital fluency. At Make The Change, we are committed to walking this journey together with schools, corporates, and community organisations.

If you share this vision, we invite you to collaborate with us — to design programs, mentor young changemakers, and co-create a brighter future for all.

Closing Thought

As PM Wong reminded us, building a “We-First” society means ensuring that no one is left behind — and that starts with our youth. By equipping them with empathy, citizenship, and digital skills, we give them the tools not only to succeed, but to lead Singapore forward with heart and purpose.