We live in a generation defined by rapid change and complex challenges. From climate anxiety and systemic inequality to digital exclusion, mental health hurdles, and an ageing population, today's social issues demand more than just standard solutions. While traditional charities and government initiatives continue to play an important role in combating these issues in different methods, solving systemic problems requires a fresh perspective. This is where social entrepreneurship makes a huge difference! The Bridge where Business Innovation meets Real-World Purpose: What Makes Social Entrepreneurship Different? 🌟🌍 As its core, social entrepreneurship flips the traditional business mindset on its head. Instead of measuring success purely by profit margins, social entrepreneurs design sustainable revenue models that actively solve community problems. Purpose Driven Sustainability: Rather than relying entirely on donations, social enterprises generate income to re-invest directly into their cause, creating self-sustaining, long-term impact. Innovative Problem Solving: From reducing food waste through tech logistics to creating adaptive employment for underrepresented communities, social entrepreneurs rethink standard ways of doing good. Empowerment Over Charity: Instead of just offering a temporary safety net, social entrepreneurship equips individuals with concrete skills, financial independence, and personal dignity. Nurturing Next-Gen Changemakers with Social Entrepreneurship 🚀🔥 Singapore has rapidly transformed into a vibrant hub for social innovation. Supported by the forward-thinking educational institutions, government initiatives, grassroots leaders and community partners, the local ecosystem is empowering a new generation of youths to tackle social and environmental issues head-on. Social enterprises today are making more meaningful contributions across areas such as sustainability, education, healthcare, digital inclusion, and community development! At Make The Change (MTC), we believe that real impact starts with education, creativity, and opportunity. As a award-winning Singapore-based social enterprise, our mission is to equip youths and diverse communities with the tools to shape their own futures. Through hands-on projects, real-world industry exposure, and even mentorship/internship opportunities, Make The Change transforms learners into active changemakers who understand how to turn creative ideas into meaningful community solutions. Whether you are an educator looking to inspire your students, a teacher partner seeking impactful school collaborations, or a student ready to build solutions that matter — your journey starts here with us! Explore our website and , reach out to us and have a conversation to co-create an unforgettable learning programme for your students!

What if students did not just learn about real-world problems, but were given the opportunity to do something about them? At Make The Change, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens when students are given a challenge, the tools to explore it, and the freedom to create their own response. That is why Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) plays an important role in the way we design and deliver many of our education programs in Singapore. Rather than beginning with a list of concepts students need to remember, we often begin with something much more powerful: A challenge. A challenge that feels relevant. A challenge that connects learning to the world around them. And, importantly, a challenge where students can take action. What is Challenge-Based Learning? Challenge-Based Learning is a collaborative and hands-on approach to learning that encourages learners to identify challenges, investigate them, and develop meaningful solutions. The approach can be understood through three broad stages: Engage Students begin with a big idea or real-world issue and explore why it matters. Instead of immediately telling students what the answer should be, we encourage them to ask questions, share perspectives, and understand the people or communities affected by the issue. Investigate Students then explore the challenge more deeply. They research, observe, discuss, interview, experiment, and use digital tools to gather information. The objective is not simply to find information. Students need to decide what information is useful, evaluate different perspectives and develop a better understanding of the challenge. Act Finally, students turn their learning into action. Depending on the program, this could mean creating a video, developing a social media campaign, designing a prototype, producing a podcast, giving a presentation or proposing a solution to a real-world problem. This is where learning becomes tangible. Students are no longer completing an activity simply because a trainer asked them to. They are creating something for a purpose. Why We Use Challenge-Based Learning at Make The Change Young people are growing up in a world where knowing information is no longer enough. They need to ask better questions, evaluate information, collaborate with others, communicate ideas, adapt when something does not work, and use technology purposefully. Challenge-Based Learning gives us a framework where these skills can develop naturally. Instead of teaching creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving as separate topics, we create experiences where students need to use these skills to move forward. For us, that distinction is important. A student can learn the features of a video editing application. But give that student the challenge of creating a 60-second video that convinces their school community to reduce food waste, and suddenly they need much more than technical knowledge. They need to understand the issue. They need to identify their audience. They need to decide what message matters. They need to work with others. They need to make creative decisions. They need to communicate clearly. And they need to turn an idea into something other people can see, hear, and respond to. That is where digital skills become changemaker skills. From Digital Consumers to Digital Creators Technology is an important part of many Make The Change programs, but it's rarely the final objective. We want students to understand what they can do with technology. An iPad can be a camera, an editing studio, an illustration canvas, a research tool, a presentation platform or a way to prototype an idea. Artificial intelligence can help students brainstorm, research, organise information and explore possibilities. Digital drawing can become a way to communicate an important message. Video can become advocacy. Photography can become storytelling. A presentation can become a pitch for change. By placing these tools within a challenge, students begin to see technology differently. They move from simply consuming digital content towards becoming intentional digital creators. What Challenge-Based Learning Looks Like in Our Programs CBL does not mean every program looks the same. The challenge changes depending on the students, learning objectives, school context, and program. Students might be challenged to: Create a digital campaign encouraging positive online behavior. Develop a solution to improve an aspect of school life. Produce a video advocating for an environmental or social issue. Design content that raises awareness about a community challenge. Interview people and create a story around their experiences. Develop and pitch an idea addressing a Sustainable Development Goal. Use digital media to encourage their peers to take positive action. The digital output might be different, but the learning journey follows a similar philosophy: Understand. Investigate. Create. Act. Reflect. The Trainer Becomes a Facilitator Challenge-Based Learning also changes the role of the trainer. In a traditional classroom, the trainer may be expected to have the answers. In a challenge-based environment, our trainers spend more time asking questions. Who are you designing this for? Why does this problem matter? What evidence supports your idea? Is there another way you could approach it? What would make someone care about your message? How will you know whether your idea works? The trainer provides structure, introduces tools and techniques, facilitates discussion, and supports students when they encounter difficulties. But students increasingly take ownership of the decisions. This is particularly important because real-world problems rarely have one correct answer. Students learn that different teams can approach the same challenge in completely different ways and still create meaningful solutions. Learning Through Iteration One of the most valuable parts of Challenge-Based Learning happens when an idea does not work the first time. Students may discover that their original concept is too complicated. Their prototype may not work. Their video may not communicate what they intended. Their audience may interpret their message differently. Their team may disagree. Rather than treating these moments as failures, we use them as part of the learning process. Students are encouraged to reflect, gather feedback, make changes, and try again. This helps develop something that is increasingly important in education and the workplace: the confidence to adapt. Building Future-Ready Changemakers At Make The Change, our goal is not simply to prepare students to complete a workshop. We want to help them develop capabilities they can carry into school, further education, the workplace and their communities. Through Challenge Based Learning, students have opportunities to practise: Critical thinking by investigating problems and evaluating information. Creativity by imagining different possibilities and developing original responses. Communication by turning ideas into messages other people can understand. Collaboration by working with different perspectives and responsibilities. Adaptability and resilience by responding to feedback and improving their work. Empathy by considering the experiences and needs of other people. Digital literacy by using technology intentionally rather than simply knowing how to operate it. Leadership by taking ownership of ideas and turning them into action. These capabilities are closely connected to the Changemaker Skills we aim to develop across Make The Change programs. From "What Did You Learn?" to "What Did You Do With What You Learned?" There will always be a place for learning knowledge and developing technical skills. But we believe education becomes more powerful when students can apply it. That is why one of the questions behind many of our programs is not simply: "What do we want students to learn?" It is also: "What do we want students to be able to do with what they learn?" Challenge-Based Learning helps us bridge that gap. Students learn. They investigate. They create. They collaborate. They make mistakes. They improve. And ultimately, they take action. Because when young people are given meaningful challenges and the tools, guidance, and confidence to respond to them, learning can become much more than an activity inside a classroom. It can become an opportunity to make a change. Bringing Challenge-Based Learning to Your School Make The Change works with primary schools, secondary schools and educational institutions across Singapore to design hands-on learning experiences that combine digital creativity, future-ready skills and real-world challenges. Our programs cover areas including digital storytelling, video production, photography, artificial intelligence, design thinking, digital advocacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability, leadership and other future-ready skills. Each program can be adapted to the age group, learning objectives and context of the school. If your school is exploring Challenge-Based Learning, digital learning or future-ready skills programs in Singapore, we would be happy to explore how we can design a meaningful learning experience for your students. Contact Us

We are excited to share that Make The Change is now part of Discover, the National Youth Council’s digital platform supporting young people as they navigate their education, careers, aspirations and journey into adulthood. This collaboration represents another meaningful step in our commitment to empowering young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities to create positive change. Discovering What Comes Next Developed by the National Youth Council (NYC), Discover is a one-stop digital platform supporting youths aged 15 to 35 through key life transitions. Through resources, programmes, career exploration, mentorship and opportunities delivered together with partners across Singapore, Discover helps young people broaden their horizons, explore different possibilities and build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the future. For Make The Change, this closely reflects something we have always believed that — Every young person should have the opportunity to discover their potential and turn their ideas into action. Whether it is learning a new digital skill, exploring a future career, developing an idea for social impact or simply finding someone who can help them navigate their next step, access to the right opportunities and guidance can make a meaningful difference. Supporting the SG Youth Plan Our participation in Discover also gives us an opportunity to contribute to the wider SG Youth Plan, a five-year roadmap designed to support young Singaporeans in becoming Confident, Connected and Contributing citizens. These three aspirations strongly resonate with our work at Make The Change. Through our programmes with schools, youths and community partners, we aim to help young people become Confident by developing future-ready skills, creativity and the courage to explore new possibilities. We help them become Connected by creating opportunities to collaborate, communicate, understand different perspectives and build meaningful relationships with their communities. And most importantly, we encourage young people to Contribute, using their skills, ideas and creativity to address real challenges and create positive social impact. From design thinking and digital storytelling to artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, leadership and social innovation, we want young people to see technology and creativity not simply as skills to learn, but as tools they can use to shape the world around them. Mentorship That Turns Experience Into Possibility We are also proud that Pedro Aguirre, Co-founder and Community Development & Impact Director of Make The Change, is now one of the mentors available through Discover. Pedro brings more than a decade of experience working across education, technology, media, social impact and community development. Through Discover, youths can connect with Pedro for mentorship around areas including business and enterprise, digital and technology, education and careers, social impact, volunteering and philanthropy. His mentorship reflects the same approach we bring to our programmes at Make The Change: helping young people identify their strengths, explore possibilities and move from ideas towards meaningful action. Whether a young person is considering a career in the creative industries, exploring entrepreneurship, interested in social impact, curious about emerging technologies such as AI, or simply unsure about what their next step should be, mentorship can provide an important space to ask questions, gain perspective and build confidence. Building Singapore's Future Together The SG Youth Plan was shaped through contributions from more than 60,000 youths, alongside the support of more than 200 partners, reflecting the importance of building Singapore's future together. At Make The Change, we are excited to be part of this growing ecosystem. Our work has always been grounded in a simple idea: young people should not only be prepared for the future. They should have the opportunity to help create it. Being part of Discover gives us another avenue to support that mission, connecting young people with learning opportunities, mentorship, experiences and pathways that can help them discover what they care about and what they can contribute. We look forward to collaborating with the National Youth Council, the SG Youth Plan and fellow partners across Singapore to create more opportunities for young people to learn, explore, connect and make a difference. Because when young people are given the skills, support and opportunity to act on their ideas, they do more than prepare for the future. They become the Changemakers who shape it. Start Your Journey. Explore opportunities, resources and mentors through Discover by the National Youth Council. Discover: https://discover.nyc.gov.sg Meet Pedro on Discover: https://discover.nyc.gov.sg/mentors/pedro-adrian-aguirre-gomez Learn more about the SG Youth Plan: https://www.youthplan.gov.sg

From 17 to 21 November 2025, Wayne from Yio Chu Kang Secondary School joined the Young Changemaker Programme for a five day internship. Throughout the week, he worked alongside students from other schools, explored social issues and strengthened his communication and media skills. Wayne collaborated in a team to explore the experiences of parents with disabilities. The group considered the challenges these parents might encounter. Over several days, Wayne and his teammates developed and refined a presentation based on their findings. On the final day of the internship, Wayne and his teammates presented their work. Through collaborating on the project, he learnt to contribute within an unfamiliar group, exchange ideas, and work towards a shared outcome. "I found the internship very interesting as I met multiple different types of people who had their own unique strengths and weaknesses" Wayne's experience reflects how meaningful learning can emerge when young people are encouraged to move beyond what is familiar. The Young Changemaker Programme creates space for youths to question assumptions, explore community issues and learn from people outside their circles.

In this episode of Conversation of Change, we had the honor to talk to Chis Marchant (CEO of Vitasoy) and David Bensadon (Managing Director of We Are Caring). They shared their journey to becoming a certified B Corporation and how their organisations Go Beyond!

Written by Kanishka Selvakumar What if the key to solving most societal problems isn’t just plain old problem-solving but empathy? No, we’re not talking about the future but the present. Problem-solving through design thinking is becoming increasingly prominent and is likely to lead to revolutionary changes in the future. Design thinking is a user-centred problem-solving approach grounded in empathy, which seeks to understand and meet the needs of customers to develop creative solutions. Curious to find out more? Learn about the 5 phases of design thinking here. In this article, we spotlight three success stories of how Singaporeans have applied design thinking to devise innovative solutions to address day-to-day problems related to wellbeing. Bus Stop Replicas help Patients with Dementia You may have read about a bus shelter that has appeared in the dementia ward of Yishun Community Hospital (YCH). The identified problem was that the patients with cognitive impairments often became disoriented and expressed a strong desire to go home. Thus it was difficult for the hospital staff to control their behaviour. Grounded by creativity, Ms Julia Lau (senior staff nurse at YCH) and her team decided to work with Shincon Industrial and the Land Transport Authority to install a customised bus stop in the dementia ward. How does the solution work? It distracts patients with the desire to go home by prompting them to look for a way home. The bus stop also plays a role in validation and reminiscence therapy, sparking natural conversations between healthcare staff and patients and triggering memories of past routines. This initiative is undoubtedly an excellent example of design thinking in action. By deeply understanding the emotional needs of dementia patients, Ms Lau and her team were able to innovate and improve their solution to support the needs of both patients and caregivers alike. Princess Elizabeth Primary School Students Foster Inclusivity If you have been reading our past articles, you would have understood that design thinking is not only used in solutions that “transform the world” but also in solutions in smaller contexts, such as schools and workplaces. In fact, it has been used by students from Princess Elizabeth Primary School to address a societal concern close to their hearts. A group of Primary 5 and 6 student leaders were required to work with patients from St. Luke’s Hospital. In the “Empathise” phase of design thinking, students interviewed patients to gain a deeper understanding of their user experience surrounding physiotherapy. In the “Define” phase, they identified the problem as patients being unmotivated to attend physiotherapy sessions. In the “Ideate” phase, they decided to turn physiotherapy exercises into tactile games, which were popular among the patients. In the “Prototype” and “Test” phases, the students created interactive games using the resources available to them. It is notable that they didn’t stop there but also solicited feedback from the staff at St. Luke’s to refine their solutions. Ideally, the patients enjoyed playing the games while undergoing physiotherapy. Through their design thinking experience, the students sparked change in the lives of the patients and developed a practical understanding of the innovation tool. My Animal Buddy Programme by the Singapore Zoo Now, this is a problem that kids have faced for a long time. They want pets, but their parents don’t. However, parents agree that having a pet is suitable for their child’s development. To address this specific issue, Mandai Park Holdings established the My Animal Buddy Programme. Using the “Empathise” phase of the design thinking process, the team began by gathering insights into parental concerns from social platforms such as KiasuParents and Singapore Motherhood, as well as through interviews and observations. During this phase, Belina Lee, who heads the Group Strategy & Innovation Division, and her team made a significant discovery. In reality, parents are more concerned about their children’s development, not very much aligned with the aim of valuing and conserving wildlife. They used this insight to frame the correct problem statement. “The difference with design thinking is having deep empathy for the guest right at the start of any problem-solving” The insightful problem statement led to the concept of My Animal Buddy, which is a free-to-subscribe programme. To explain simply, children can befriend one of the zoo animals and interact with it from home through online messages, videos, articles and more. This initiative served as a stepping stone to achieving the goal of providing more opportunities for children to interact with animals. Hope you’ve gained some inspiration from reading these stories, which have taken place close to home. These serve as a reminder that anyone can use design thinking, regardless of age or profession, to catalyse positive change. This change is not only possible but already underway. So what are you waiting for? Start your personal design thinking journey now. References: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/design-is-not-just-a-job-its-a-way-of-thinking-lawrence-wong https://designeducationsummit.sg/past-summits/design-education-summit-2021/social-change.html https://www.straitstimes.com/life/whats-a-bus-shelter-doing-in-a-dementia-ward-in-singapore https://www.mandai.com/en/about-mandai/media-centre/jurong-bird-park-sets-up-retirement-home-for-senior-birds1.html https://designsingapore.org/stories/how-the-singapore-zoo-is-using-design-thinking/

A new generation of changemakers is redefining what it means to do business. Driven by purpose and passion, today's youth are fusing entrepreneurial strategy with social impact to create sustainable, scalable solutions for local and global communities. The rising cohort of youths are leveraging creativity, technology, and design thinking to tackle some of society's most pressing issues. Social Entrepreneurship allows young people to transform bold ideas into concrete action, building sustainable models that generate both social value and economic viability. In Singapore, this movement is backed by a world-class ecosystem—supported by initiatives like the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE) and vibrant community incubators. From driving environmental sustainability and mental health awareness to bridging the digital divide and advocating for inclusive education, young social entrepreneurs are proving that enterprise can be a force for good. Success is no longer measured solely by the bottom line, but by the lives touched and systems transformed. You Don't Need to Start a Company to Be A Changemaker 💭🌱 A common misconception is that social entrepreneurship requires launching a startup from scratch. In reality, entrepreneurial thinking is a mindset, not just a job title. Youths can drive powerful social impact as intrapreneurs — innovators within existing corporations, government agencies, schools, or non-profit organizations. Whether designing an inclusive internal policy, streamlining sustainable supply chains, or initiating community outreach projects, young professionals can lead systemic change from within established institutions. Ultimately, social entrepreneurship is about creating sustainable, high-impact solutions to systemic problems. It shifts the paradigm from traditional corporate philanthropy to embedded, long-term societal value. Empowering the Next Generation of Young Changemakers with Make The Change (MTC) 🌟🔥 Transforming a passion for social good into a viable, lasting initiative requires more than enthusiasm — it requires practical execution, strategic skills, and the right ecosystem. This is precisely where Make The Change bridges the gap! As a dedicated social enterprise, MTC is committed to equipping youths with the tools, digital skillsets, and leadership frameworks needed to become effective changemakers. Rather than confining learning to traditional textbooks, MTC provides hands-on, experiential learning environments. Students engage directly with non-profits and social enterprises, applying design thinking, digital marketing, and creative problem-solving to real-world community challenges. Partner with us and Inspire Future Changemakers in Your Classroom! 🚀 Empowering youths with an entrepreneurial mindset prepares them to navigate a complex, rapidly evolving global workforce with agency and empathy. Are you an educator that wants to inspire the next generation of social innovators in your school? Don't let your students' passion for social good stay trapped in textbook theory. Discover how Make The Change can help your classroom apply creative problem-solving and design thinking to real community challenges. Head over to our website to see how MTC partners with educators to deliver our Social Entrepreneurship workshops, or contact us directly to discuss how we can bring a more customized experience to your student leaders!

Photography is more than simply taking a picture. It is about noticing details, making creative choices and using images to communicate a story. That was the focus of Make The Change’s recent Photography Workshop at Red Swastika School, where students explored how an iPad can become a powerful tool for observation, creativity and visual storytelling. Throughout the workshop, students were encouraged to move beyond simply pointing the camera at a subject. Instead, they learned to LOOK, THINK and CAPTURE, considering what they wanted viewers to notice, how they wanted a photograph to feel and which photography techniques could best communicate their ideas. Learning to See Like a Photographer The programme introduced students to the foundations of iPad photography and the elements that can make a photograph more effective, including subject, composition and lighting. Students then discovered five key photography composition techniques, introduced as their Photography Superpowers: Rule of Thirds Framing Creative Perspective Leading Lines Diagonals and Triangles Rather than learning these concepts only through explanation, students analysed photographs and considered questions such as “Where are your eyes going?” and “What did the photographer do differently?” before experimenting with the techniques themselves. Students then explored the school environment with their iPads, taking photographs and applying the different composition techniques they had learned. This gave them the opportunity to immediately put their learning into practice while looking at familiar surroundings from completely new perspectives. Turning Photographs Into Stories The second part of the programme moved from individual photographs into visual storytelling. Students discovered that while one photograph can communicate an idea or moment, a sequence of photographs can tell a much richer story. Using a simple Story in 5 Photos framework, students learned to structure their photographs around five steps: 1. Set the Scene Show where the story is happening. 2. Show Something Capture the main action. 3. Show a Detail Move closer and highlight something important. 4. Add Feeling Capture an emotion or moment that gives the story meaning. 5. End the Story Finish with an image that leaves the viewer with a clear final message. Working in pairs, students explored themes such as A Day at Red Swastika School, Kindness, Friendship, Nature Around Us and Hidden Beauty. The activity encouraged them to think not only about whether a photograph looked good, but also about how different photographs could work together to communicate an idea and tell a story. What the Students Said The feedback from the programme was very encouraging. A total of 16 students provided feedback, with the workshop receiving an average class rating of 4.3 out of 5. In addition, 87.5% of students said they would recommend the workshop to their friends. Students also demonstrated that they were able to remember and apply the photography techniques introduced during the workshop. Framing was one of the most frequently mentioned techniques, while students also highlighted creative perspective, rule of thirds, leading lines and triangles. Some students were particularly proud of photographs they captured around the school’s eco-garden and of a turtle, while others highlighted photographs where they successfully framed their friends, experimented with interesting angles or applied the rule of thirds. Perhaps one of the most meaningful outcomes came from the students’ reflections on what they would see differently after the workshop. A recurring idea was that they had discovered that photos can tell stories. Students also shared that they now had a better understanding of how framing, angles and other photography techniques could change the way an image communicates with its audience. Building Creative Confidence Through Digital Media At Make The Change, our digital media programmes are designed to go beyond learning how to use a device or application. Through photography, students practise observation, creative thinking, communication and storytelling. They learn to slow down, notice details and make intentional choices about what they want others to see. The Red Swastika School photography workshop was a great example of how familiar environments can become creative learning spaces when students are encouraged to look at them differently. As we shared with the students at the end of the session: Before today, you looked at your school.Today, you learned how to SEE it. We would like to thank Red Swastika School for giving Make The Change the opportunity to work with the students and support their journey as young photographers and visual storytellers. We look forward to creating more opportunities for young people to explore photography, videography, digital art, animation, storytelling and other forms of creative technology. Do you want to bring this experience to your school? Get in touch with us!

In November 2025, we had our Young Changemaker Camp again! Through hands-on activities, digital storytelling and real world exposure to social enterprises, the participants were challenged to think deeply about the world around them 💡 What’s in store this time? Social Enterprise Scoping - Day 1 The camp began by introducing students to the idea that everyday choices can create impact. From choosing inclusive cafes and restaurants to sourcing gifts and entertainment from mission-driven businesses, the youths learnt how purpose can be embedded into even the simplest celebrations. Thinking Deeper, Designing Solutions - Day 2 The second day shifted the focus towards critical thinking and problem solving. They were introduced to digital tools such as Miro, Procreate to map out cause-and-effect relationships and visualise how different factors are connected. These exercises pushed students to move beyond surface-level thinking. Learning from Real Changemakers - Day 3 A highlight of the camp was the social enterprise visit to Foreword Coffee, a cafe that empowers persons with disabilities through meaningful employment. By Jiayin, Iva & Liqing from Zhenghua Secondary School These three days proved that the youths today are the changemakers of this generation. What started as a three-day camp became a reminder that when they're given the space to explore, create and communicate, they don't just imagine change. They begin to lead it! We'll be running more Young Changemaker Camps in 2026, and we would love for you to be a part of it. See you in the next run!

The world is changing faster than ever before. Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, new careers are emerging every year, and today’s students will likely work in jobs that do not even exist yet. In a future filled with uncertainty, one question remains: How can schools prepare students not just for exams, but for life? Recently, Make The Change had the opportunity to conduct a Future Skills Workshop for students from Anglican High School. Designed to help students explore the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world, the workshop combined real-world examples, interactive discussions, future career exploration, and hands-on team challenges. Looking Beyond Academic Results While academic knowledge remains important, employers and industry leaders consistently highlight the importance of human skills that cannot easily be replaced by technology. During the workshop, students explored five future-ready skills identified by global organizations such as the World Economic Forum: Adaptability Communication Creativity Collaboration Resilience Through engaging activities and discussions, students examined how these skills are used by content creators, startup founders, healthcare professionals, and social entrepreneurs to navigate challenges and create meaningful impact. Exploring the Future Together One of the most engaging parts of the workshop challenged students to imagine what the future might look like. Working in teams, students explored themes such as: Future schools AI and student life Future careers Building a better future society Students were encouraged to think critically about how technology can improve lives while also recognising the importance of empathy, human connection, and responsible innovation. The result was a room filled with creativity, thoughtful discussion, and exciting ideas about the future. What Students Took Away The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. The workshop received an average rating of 4.37 out of 5, with 95% of participants saying they would recommend the session to their friends. Students shared that they learned: The core pillars of future readiness The importance of empathy and service How technology is shaping future opportunities One student reflected: “It was refreshing to have real-world insight instead of everything being very theoretical.” Another simply described the experience as: “It was very fun :)” Beyond the positive feedback, it was encouraging to see students identify adaptability, communication, and resilience as both strengths they already possess and skills they want to continue developing. This demonstrates a strong awareness of the capabilities needed to succeed in the future. Future Skills Are Human Skills As AI and automation continue to reshape the world, the most valuable skills may not be technical alone. The ability to adapt to change, communicate ideas, collaborate with others, think creatively, and persevere through challenges will remain essential no matter how technology evolves. These are not just workplace skills. They are life skills. At Make The Change, we believe students should be empowered not only to prepare for the future but to actively shape it. Bring Future Skills Learning to Your School Our Future Skills Workshop helps students explore emerging trends, understand the changing world of work, and develop the human skills needed to thrive in the future. Whether your school is looking to introduce future readiness, career awareness, leadership development, or AI literacy, we can customise the programme to meet your students’ needs. To learn more about bringing the Future Skills Workshop to your school, contact us today. Together, let’s prepare students not just for the jobs of tomorrow, but for the opportunities they will create.

Yesterday, the Make The Change team had the privilege of attending the SG Youth Plan engagement event, where youth organisations, community partners, and government agencies came together to discuss a shared vision for empowering the next generation of Singaporeans. The event was an inspiring reminder that building a better future cannot be done by any one organisation alone. It takes collaboration among communities, schools, businesses, and young people themselves to create meaningful opportunities for every young person to discover their potential and make a positive impact. A National Vision for Young People The SG Youth Plan represents a collective effort to shape Singapore into a place where young people are empowered to contribute, lead, and thrive. More than just a policy document, it reflects the voices, aspirations, and ideas of youths across the country. Throughout the discussions, a common theme emerged: today’s young people are not simply preparing for the future. They are already creating it. Whether through volunteering, entrepreneurship, sustainability initiatives, digital innovation, or community leadership, youths are demonstrating that they have the passion and creativity to make a difference. Proud to Be Part of the Journey One of the highlights for our team was seeing our Youth For Change programme featured among the initiatives supporting the SG Youth Plan. It was an encouraging moment that recognised the work we have been doing to equip young people with the mindset, skills, and confidence to become changemakers in their own communities. Since launching Youth For Change, we have seen students identify real-world challenges, develop innovative solutions, collaborate with industry mentors, and transform their ideas into meaningful action. For us, innovation has never been about technology alone. It is about creating positive social impact. Supporting the Youth Ecosystem At Make The Change, we believe that every young person has the ability to create change when given the right opportunities. This belief guides everything we do. Across our programmes, we help young people develop future-ready skills, including: Design thinking and problem solving Leadership and collaboration Digital creativity and storytelling Social entrepreneurship Sustainability awareness Empathy and community engagement Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality These are not just technical skills. They are the capabilities that help young people navigate an increasingly complex world while contributing positively to society. Collaboration Creates Greater Impact The conversations during the SG Youth Plan event reinforced something we have always believed: no single organisation can achieve lasting impact alone. Real change happens when schools, businesses, social enterprises, community organisations, and government agencies work together with young people at the centre. We are grateful to be part of this growing ecosystem and look forward to collaborating with even more partners who share the vision of empowering youths to become active contributors to Singapore. Looking Ahead As Singapore continues to shape the future through the SG Youth Plan, Make The Change remains committed to supporting this national movement. We will continue creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire young people to think critically, act compassionately, and innovate for good. To everyone we met at the event, thank you for the conversations, ideas, and shared commitment to investing in the next generation. Together, we can empower more young people to become the changemakers our communities need. Interested in partnering with Make The Change? Whether you are a school, community organisation, company, or youth group, we would love to explore how we can work together to empower young people through innovation, leadership, and social impact. Let’s build the future, together.

In November 2025, two Dunman High School students joined Make The Change for the Young Changemaker Programme that introduced them to the work of a social enterprise. Crystal interned from 2 to 13 November, while Jazenne joined from 17 to 28 November. Although they participated during different periods, both explored how empathy, creativity and practical skils can be used to support communities. What Happened Crystal began her journey with us at the Digital for Life Festival 2025 held at Heartbeat@Bedok. As a volunteer, she facilitated mini digital-drawing sessions for members of the public using Procreate on iPads. Wendy, Crystal, Lafaye, Pedro (from left to right) The experience allowed her to interact with participants of different ages and guide them as they explored digital art. She experienced the fulfilment of helping others build confidence with technology, something she described as a rewarding start to her internship. Crystal subsequently took part in the Young Changemaker Camp, where she explored the thinking behind community-focused work. Through empathy mapping and discussions about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, she learnt that creating meaningful solutions begins with understanding the people affected. Jazenne contributed to several aspects of Make The Change's work throughout her two weeks. This included supporting administrative processes, updating programme databases and developing digital drawing content for upcoming programmes. She also worked with people she had not known before. Through these interactions, she strengthened her communication and teamwork skills while forming new friendships. Finding Their Own Ways to Make a Difference An internship may be measured in days, but its impact often extends far beyond the final one! For Crystal, the internship connected learning about social impact with the experience of contributing directly to the community. "MTC also allowed me to help seniors and children to pick up basic digital skills, which made me really heartened as I got teach valuable skills to people" - Crystal Jazenne's journey showed her another side of growth. While some tasks were challenging, she found satisfaction in working through them and valued the friendships she formed along the way. "Though it was tedious, I enjoyed the process. Throughout my journey, I met many friends that I am thankful for. Overall, this experience is meaningful" - Jazenne Their journeys proves that there is no single way to make a difference. Some contributions are seen immediately in the confidence of someone you have guided. Others take shape quietly through patience. Wherever it begins, every thoughtful action has the potential to become meaningful change.