Rewriting the Narrative: Empowering Communities Beyond Borders at the Youth For Change Workshop 2026

In a fast-paced world that frequently demands a linear, flawless trajectory toward success, choosing an unconventional path can feel like taking a massive risk. It is often through navigating unexpected disruptions and stepping far outside of our comfort zones, that the most profound change-making journeys are born. Earlier in March 2026, Make The Change had the privilege of inviting an insightful sharing session from Mr Imran Mean, the resilient 25-year-old founder of Signaturesofimran Group International and IM Volunteers Network (IMVN) at our Youth For Change Workshop 2026. Rather than recounting a predictable corporate climb, Imran shared a deeply personal, raw, and inspiring story defined by survival, entrepreneurial grit, and the courage to rewrite his own narrative.

From School Struggles to Business Instincts: Finding Grounding in Chaos 💡🔥

As a young business pioneer himself, Imran didn't have an easy start. He faced severe challenges back in his secondary school days, and he had to be held back an academic year by an order from the Ministry of Education. Compounding the academic struggles, his family was experiencing severe financial instability after moving from Johor Bahru back to Singapore with zero assets, forcing them to stay in a shelter home before moving to a rental flat in Woodlands.

However, it was precisely within all the challenges that his entrepreneurial spark ignited in Secondary 3. At just 16 years old, Imran launched Imran Snacks, selling viral street food like fried Oreos and corn dogs to his peers in school. When his school's discipline master halted his venture to force a focus on his N-Level Examinations, Imran chose to adapt and grow rather than stop. Upon moving onto his time at ITE, he pivoted entirely — shifting from physical products to a brilliant commission-based service brokerage model, proving that setbacks are often just setup points for smarter strategies.

Steering Your Own Ship: Erasing Stigmas and Championing Second Chances 🌟

Imran's business instincts quickly expanded. Established in July 2018, the Signaturesofimran Group International grew to encompass over nine diverse brands operating across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. But driven by a desire for a deeper and meaningful purpose, Imran chose to steer his ship toward a major social impact mission — which was founding the IM Volunteers Network (IMVN), an entirely youth-volunteer-led NGO. The network rapidly established specialized wings to address overlooked regional crises across the three Southeast-Asian countries:

Singapore (IMVN SG) 🇸🇬

• Focuses primarily on supporting youth-at-risks and fostering family development to those who are in need.

Malaysia (IMVN MY) 🇲🇾

• Launched actively around June 2023, the team focuses heavily on supporting the homeless community in Johor Bahru.

• Activities include providing feel haircuts, distributions of food (collaborating with major brands like KFC Malaysia), and the "Shop What You Want" initiative where beneficiaries are given monetary allowances to buy what they actually need.

• Their impactful work has recently earned them an official award from the Chief Minister of Johor, Datuk Onn Hafiz.

Indonesia (IMVN ID) 🇮🇩

• Focuses heavily on Batam, specifically aiding communities in Rumah Buluh (wooden stilt house villages) who face sudden displacement and homelessness due to sudden government demolitions.

  
  

To scale this massive operational footprint, Imran made the conscious choice to look past systemic biases and perspectives. He intentionally built an alliance with unconventional community groups — including local biker networks, van groups, and wrestling communities such as GrappleMax — offering individuals from the felony community with a genuine pathway to give back. Rejecting social labels, Imran actively leaned on their logistics, motor vehicles, and determination to deliver critical food rations directly to needy families, cementing his deep belief in human potential and second chances.

"I'm here not to support whatever you have done in the past, but I believe in second chances. If they have the vehicles and the drive to deliver food packs to families in need, why shouldn't we support them?" 

Charting New Horizons: The Non-Linear Road to Impact 🌍

Imran is far from finished charting his non-linear path. Looking to the immediate future, IM Volunteer Network is gearing up to pilot their next international chapter : IMVN Brunei 🇧🇳! The mission will focus heavily on improving community development and providing essential aid to the residents living within the unique, yet heavily isolated offshore water villages (Rumah Air).

In a fast-changing world where uncertainty is often the only constant, Imran's journey serves as a living reminder that the non-linear path is frequently the most rewarding. By stepping past the fear of failure and transforming personal challenges into shared purpose, we can all take complete ownership of our own narratives and rewrite what it truly means to make a lasting change.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Imran for his generosity in sharing his time, his vulnerabilities, and the invaluable lessons from his non-linear path. His story reminds us that our past detours do not define our destination — they simply give us the unique perspective needed to build a more empathetic future.