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Zayn Toghyan MTC Freelance Writer Nowadays, when we open our mobile phones, ads from different brands approach us from everywhere. Sometimes, we get attracted to things that we have no intention to buy. Social media marketing and advertising is a part of every company now. They invest a significant amount of their money on publicity for their products. Therefore, even brands that are not as known might distract you to buy their subpar quality products. Now, the question is, how to avoid buying things that do no good to us or the environment that we are living in? To answer the question, we must know ourselves and our desires first. Then, it will be much easier for us to make decisions, whether to buy and consume the products or not. After that, we shall categorise and prioritise our needs. Then it will be much easier for us when it comes to choosing. When it comes to investments and creating businesses, consider the entire company’s ethic first. Sometimes, some companies' mottos may not suit your values. This may be a good enough reason to take a pause, consider your options, and alter your decisions accordingly. It is vital to know how and where your money flows. “I am not rich enough to buy cheap things,” said Vladimir Gendelman. I strongly support this ideology. To be a conscious consumer, we have to choose quality over quantity. Buying cheap things may cost you less at the moment, but it will not last long enough causing you to search for a replacement soon. Being a conscious consumer also requires you to not believe too quickly in people’s words or in anything that you find on the internet. Especially information that is related to values and beliefs. Many will say whatever they need in order to persuade others into ideas that they believe in. Most of the time, following such things blindly leads to bad consequences. Imagine, if people would spend their time reading up on information from various sources instead of just always believing in the words of others; would the world still be the same? The answer is simple. NO! Lives as we know would be completely different if individuals would just do some verification before following others. We should also not be wary of breaking the social chain of imitating the majority. If we follow the mentioned strategies, we can be a conscious consumer who does not cause any trouble for themselves or to others in society.

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With how the world is, we sometimes ask if social enterprises do really create a positive impact? Or do they have any impact at all? We all know that nonprofits and ‘well-meaning’ government bodies are just not enough to fix the issues in our world. In most companies, the social action they are a part of is through corporate social responsibility (CSR). But those are more of a side venture. What many don’t know is how there are social enterprises focused more on being forces for good than what we assume. It’s not simply lip service with certain companies, they are truly brands that advocate social responsibility. It takes commitment to truly take a social stand in the world. The ones who you can guarantee are walking the talk are those classified under Business Corporations. Today, the B-Corps are a pioneering movement for organisations to stake claim as socially responsible businesses. When they pass the rigorous testing, it means these companies meet the highest and best standards of verified social and environmental performance. There are over 3,500 businesses certified across the globe and there are B-Corps in our own backyard. In fact, we have one of the largest numbers in Asia - some by international companies but others started in Singapore. “For B-Corporations [and] social businesses it’s much more that the social mission, social impact focus is in the core [values] of the company.” expressed Christopher Marquis, professor at SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University and author of Better Business, during his interview with MTC during our podcast, Conversation of Change. How many of these companies do you know? SERVICES MAKE THE CHANGE © makethechange Make The Change (MTC) is a social enterprise that focuses on integrating their creative agency (with design, marketing, advertising) to aid in their continuous endeavours in community programmes. MTC Give Back has offered pro-bono creative services to agencies like Club Rainbow (Singapore), Silver Ribbon, YWCA Singapore and Bright Vision Hospital. On top of that, a major focus of MTC is educating people on the varying uses of iPads, such as In media literacy and digital art in primary and secondary schools; In content writing, communication design and marketing with persons with disabilities PWDs; and In social entrepreneurship, digital art and thinking and social media for good to the public MTC’s social initiative was even highlighted by Communications and Information Minister S Iswaran, saying that “The work of strengthening digital literacy in Singapore is an ongoing effort and we want to catalyse more ground-up initiatives.” Thanks to all the concerted effort, MTC is now B-Corp certified and continues to ensure that their belief and purpose will be what guides them moving forward. Another one of their arms, Design For Good, focuses on achieving sustainability through 3 areas: the product, process and people. They gave individuals in Cambodia a change to learn and develop handicrafts; a chance for student-initiated projects such as Xscape (raising awareness for the visually handicapped), Sondering Slate (conducting a digital art class for children from Beyond Social Services) and #YOLO2020 (raising awareness about mental wellness). Pretty obvious why they have such a high B Impact Score, no? VS STORY Vision Strategy Storytelling (a.k.a. VS Story) is a media company which helps brands get more visibility through innovative video, virtual reality, photography and social media campaigns. They have been rated as a service with a minor environmental footprint and certified as a B-Corps since Jan 2018. “I have always been driven to stand for a higher purpose, not take anything for granted and work hard to create a lasting impact.” said Jacqui Hocking, CEO and Storyteller at VS Story. “My personal objective is to get more people inspired to do the free B Impact assessment and start thinking about things beyond profit for their startups.” During her Conversation of Change podcast, Jacqui continued to say, “It’s the B-Corps spirit [we share]. All the B-Corps around the world have more or less aligned towards being carbon-neutral.” which is achieving a zero carbon footprint by ‘balancing’ any carbon emissions any organisation (or individual) produces through investing in environmental projects around the world. GENASHTIM Genashtim is a digital solutions provider. In 2015, it became the 2nd company in the whole of Southeast Asia to be a B-Corps, named ‘Best for the World’ every year since. Their CEO Thomas Ng has an inclusive business model has provided employment for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), LGBTQ, HIV-infected, women in oppressed environments and elderly individuals remotely from anywhere in the world. During his Conversation of Change podcast, Thomas described how "When you are up-close with people and you understand how how they struggle ... To see them excel and see them happy, see them make something out of their lives, I think it’s certainly very rewarding.” BETTR BARISTA © bettrbarista There are so many of us who are serious coffee enthusiasts or simply caffeine addicts, but would we take the step further - to be like the founder of Bettr Barista, using her passion to create a social enterprise? “The financial crisis of 2008 ...eventually led me to my second and current social business,” says Pamela Chng, founder of Bettr Barista, in an interview with The Asian Entrepreneur. “[by] using coffee as a vehicle to change lives.” Bettr Barista is Singapore's first certified B-Corp, four years after they began their journey. They operate a coffee academy and a roastery. “At the heart of [the] business is a social programme that arms disadvantaged women and at-risk youth with vocational and life skills that pave the way for long-term careers in the specialty coffee industry.” continues Chng. MULLENLOWE SALT © mullenlowesalt MullenLowe Salt is part of one of the world’s most iconic brands in strategic communications, which is simply the Public Relations arm of Mullenlowe Group. They have offices in the UK and Singapore and have been a B-Corp since 2015. With this certification they wanted to demonstrate their commitment to making a positive impact. To their co-founder and B-Corp Ambassador Andy Last, “Being a B Corp sets us apart. Hopefully one day it won’t, but for now it helps differentiate us from competitors jumping on the purpose marketing bandwagon.” GOODS These are some recognisable brands in Singapore that have been selling goods to do good. “People are consumers, they buy products and they could be anything from pencils, pens to clothes and more expensive jackets; I personally always try to buy from a company with a social impact.” said Marquis. T2 © t2tea Tea brand T2 does tea differently. They have three sustainability ‘pillars’ involving people (where 50-percent of the leadership team is female), planet and product. Their teas are grown and cultivated in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. They’ve been reducing their footprint with a lot of their products and packaging being sustainably created and sourced, which include all their tea bags made from plant-based sources. “I believe the reach businesses have with the brands they sell enables us to have such a strong ripple effect across the community,” says T2 global CEO and newly appointed CEO of Unilever Australia Nicole Sparshott. “In making that commitment and wanting to be a force for good, we sought to have the highest accreditation possible and that’s what B Corp offers. A very holistic accreditation of a business that looks at corporate social and environmental responsibility.” BOXGREEN © boxgreen Started in 2014, Boxgreen came up with the idea of offering natural and nutritious snack subscriptions straight to their consumers and three years later they became B-Corp certified. A portion of the proceeds of each snack would go to providing meals for the needy plus their packaging boxes and cards are made out of recycled materials. They also work with ex-offenders through training programmes and hire refugees, asylum seekers in disenfranchised communities. To them ‘it’s not charity; it’s honest pay for an honest day’s work’. BEN & JERRY'S © ben&jerry’s Ben & Jerry’s is renown all over the world for their luscious ice cream, unique names and quirky flavours, but how many of us can say “I also buy their ice cream because they’re a B-Corp”? All the way back in 1988, they were one of the first companies in the world to focus on a social mission and put it on the same level of importance as their products. Their current initiatives work around marriage equality, fairtrade for farmers, peace building and climate justice. In Singapore, Ben & Jerry’s had joined forces with environmental campaigners to create Up2degrees, which encourage a cutdown on Singaporeans’ use of air-conditioning. “We need to make sure that we are doing the hard work internally first before we pick an issue out of the sky and decide to champion it with ourselves and our products,” said Kalli Swaik, Senior Marketing and Social Mission Manager at Ben & Jerry’s Asia and New Markets. “It’s not an afterthought. It is a long-term commitment to use our business to drive positive change in the world.” CONCLUSION “I think this is the biggest thing we as individuals can do. What young people [like MTC’s Changemakers] can do is investigate companies and don’t just buy the things that look the best, but buy the things that are produced in a sustainable, ethical way.” according to Marquis. These philanthropic efforts show that these socially responsible companies don’t focus on profits alone, which is rare enough, but they are achieving so much by leading by example. The B-Corp community ‘works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose.’ There are more and more millennials leaning towards purchasing from and supporting socially responsible companies. “There’s a passion to make this their life work, to find a company and do a job that’s consistent with their values and way of living.“ expresses Marquis. So why not consider these enterprises to buy their products, use their services or find out about starting one of your own?

The holidays are here! A lot of us aren’t happy to be cooped up at home but it doesn’t mean you’re limited to doing the same old thing. This June, keep your kids’ spirits up by planning a fun-filled holiday. We’ve got a couple of ideas for creative activities just for you. What better way to make lasting memories than having your kids discover new experiences? Here are 5 of our suggestions on what you can do: Camp out in the living room We shouldn’t assume camping can only be done outdoors. You simply need the right ambiance. It all starts with food, especially s’mores (biscuits, toasted marshmallows and chocolate sauce) and hot chocolate (you can never have too much). Then you and your kids could have quality bonding by playing old school board games. Next, get out sleeping bags, pillows, blankets and pyjamas. If you have some fairy lights, stick them on your ceiling. To keep the forest feel, prepare a playlist with sounds of nature (we highly recommend rain!) and just push your potted plants together. And remember the most important thing: no WiFi or 4G! Paint It’s simple and one word but it can do so much for us. After all, “A true artist is not one who is inspired but one who inspires others.” says Dali. As we self-isolate at home, it’s obvious that what we see will become so incredibly mundane. Did you ever think, it doesn’t have to be? One landscape can be admired in many different ways and there’s a whole range of art styles to explore. You can let your creativity flow freely. Of course, there are always books and images online for more inspiration. Draw to your heart’s content Take part in MTC’S DFG Youth Competition! The design brief this year is a “Better Internet Campaign”, focusing on the core values of empathy, respect, responsibility and integrity. We want to raise awareness on media literacy, cyber wellness and how people can use the internet better. More details are found here: https://www.makethechange.sg/youthcompetition The poster can be crafted through any means of design including digital programmes (Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc), a poster colour collage, or water or pencil colours. The last day of submissions is 15 June. The 5 winning teams (or individuals) will receive prizes, award certificates and a Social Enterprise Mentorship Program by MTC. On top of that, their campaign ideas may be adopted and implemented by the NGO with credit given to the winning teams. “I will definitely support your organisation for coming up with such meaningful and value added events. My students and I have learned so much during the prize ceremony.” — Alan Huang, teacher at Methodist Girls’ School Be the next Junior Masterchef With so much time at home, wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity to hone your culinary skills? Even if you’ve never held a spatula, don’t be afraid to try. You could use this as a way to bond with your kids and educate them on their own culture. For kids who are more adventurous, you could cook dishes from international cuisines. It’s a different way to explore the world! Just make sure you take a detailed shopping list for your next large supermarket run. Knit your own accessories There are a myriad of projects to choose from and one unique idea is to DIY a knitted necklace. It’s versatile, gorgeous and a perfect addition to any wardrobe! What’s wonderful about knitting accessories is that you can use any yarn, fabric, ribbon and customise a gorgeous necklace in a myriad of colours. Even embellish the weave with beads, sequins, pearls or flowers. We hope you’re inspired to do something new; and for you and your family to have the best time this June holidays!

Kindness Day SG is a day to really show appreciation to one another. In 2021, we hope to “Make Life Brighter”. As a social enterprise, Make The Change has created many initiatives over the years focusing on the importance of kindness. We have developed projects which are aligned with our B-Corps certification. Companies are tested rigorously to meet high standards of social and environmental performance. Though we aren’t the only one in Singapore to focus on being part of a pioneering movement, we have one of the highest B Impact Scores around. One of our biggest initiatives is Digital Arts For All (DAFA). DAFA was kick-started by Make The Change in 2017 and within 6 months, we have reached out to nearly 3,000 people, 8 VWOs, and successfully trained 300 of them in the span of 24 workshops. It’s been going strong ever since. It was even picked up by IMDA! DAFA was created with the purpose of being an open space for ideas to flow and be expressed creatively. At every workshop, we advocate media and digital literacy through digital art. And we want participants to learn the importance of media literacy, which refers to the ability to critically understand the nature, techniques and impact of media messages; and exemplify the “DAFA DNA” of being safe, smart and kind. Another one of our initiatives is the platform Design For Good. “Design For Good is a marketplace to showcase the collaboration between the artistes, designers and community-in-need. We aim to achieve a sustainable model to provide financial independence to the communities we are trying to support.” said Michelle Lim, the co-founder of the award-winning M.A.D. School and social enterprise MTC. Through collaborations, DFG has brought people together to create lasting change for social good. We welcome aspiring people from all walks of life to co-create ideas by giving them the tools and opportunities to get started. One of the biggest projects initiated by DFG is Krafters. These are individuals from SMILE Village in Cambodia, a place where villagers brought in from the slums can stay for 3 to 5 years. They will learn different skills such as rug making, sewing and wood crafting. And their collaboration with us means they are able to learn, practice and develop handicraft skills for financial independence. At the end of the 3 to 5 years, they will leave the village and use the skills they have acquired to make a living and sustain their own livelihood. The main goal of SMILE Village is to impart skills in slum dwellers such that they have the ability to be financially independent and financially stable. To find out what else we’ve done so far, check out our first quarterly update for 2021! If you’d like to collaborate, please email us at info@makethechange.sg.

Sometimes life gets overwhelming and one of the go-to sources of chilling out is to scroll through social media. If you're wondering how that can decompress, the simple explanation is to customise your feed. There’s actually a good side to Instagram and we’re eager to show you some accounts that help you calm your mind and unwind. “The videos bring us into the creative process, which is an inherently intimate process. It feels like we are getting a secret peek in on a creative experience.” said Psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis, who specialises in creativity, happiness and mental health, notes that these videos also appeal to broad audiences because of their accessibility. “They allow people to feel like they can do these activities.” Paint Mixing @annettelabedzki Professional painter Annette Labedzki shares pictures of her work on Instagram, which includes her famous paint mixing videos. Oil Painting @alexandravelichko Alexandra Velichko’s focus is on oil paints, where she combines classic music and gorgeous seascapes to create relaxing videos. Kinetic Sand @sand.tagious One of the most satisfying ASMR clips on Instagram is the appealing fun of cutting kinetic sand, which is a special craft sand that contains silicone oil and makes it moldable. Inner Barista @coffeebae97 It’s quite serene to watch milk gently swirl and ice clink into a glass. And who doesn’t appreciate a good cup of coffee? Mirror Glazed Cakes @olganoskovaa Did you ever think about how soothing it is to watch the pouring of a mirror glaze? Olga Noskova’s designs have inspired bakers everywhere and when the polished cake is complete, it’s obvious why.

Everyday what we see, hear and experience changes our moods. A stressful environment causes us to even feel sad or helpless, which will elevate our blood pressure and even affect our immune system. A pleasing environment will help with that. There’s a calmness that overcomes us when we’re surrounded by verdant gardens and towering forests, especially when we’ve felt closed in by dense urbanisation and wall-to-wall HDB flats. Here are some parks and nature reserves you can visit, plus their highlights! 1. MacRitchie Reservoir Park / Central Catchment Nature Reserve Visit the TreeTop Walk — a free-standing suspension bridge connecting the two highest points in MacRitchie. 2. Tampines Eco Green An untouched ecological park, with marsh and forest trails, lakes and no man-made paths. 3. Fort Canning Park It features nine historical gardens and visitors can go through the AR trail, BALIKSG. 4. Bukit Batok Nature Park The quarry at Pond Plaza is filled with a tranquil, clear lake. 5. Kranji Marshes It’s Singapore’s largest freshwater farmland. Explore sites like Raptor Tower, Kingfisher Burrow, and the floating boardwalk at Reed Crossing. 6. Coney Island Rent a bike for a leisurely cycle and look out for the jetty and beaches. 7. Punggol Waterway Park Check out the Jewel and Sunrise bridges 8. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Trek up Singapore’s tallest hill, with trails and 163-metre high slopes. 9. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Try the Aerie Tower, Mid-Canopy Walk, Eagle Point Boardwalk and Kingfisher Pod, and the Junior Adventure Trail. 10. Chestnut Nature Park Their mountain biking trail is perfect for cycling enthusiasts (ranging from easy to extremely difficult paths) Whether you need a pause or to escape from your worries, let nature breathe life back into you. Just make sure you pack bug repellent before you go.

Greetings everyone! There are many advantages to online courses; they allow you to learn whenever, wherever, and however works best for you, making it easier to earn a degree while balancing work and family commitments. And without having to attend classes in person, online learning affords you access to top degree programs across the country that might have otherwise been inaccessible or highly inconvenient. During the Circuit Breaker lockdown period imposed in Singapore to combat the coronavirus pandemic, there was an even greater boom in online learning, especially when schools and institutions of learning were shut down, and students had no choice but to adapt to learning from home. Online classes can present unique challenges, if one is not prepared. But if you develop skills for effective online learning, you’ll find the courses can be an excellent alternative to a traditional classroom setting. Here are some handy tips for online learning success to make sure you get the most value out of your next class. 1. Approach an online course like you would an in-person course When it comes to online classes, you need to have the discipline to sit down and say, “I am going to work on this,” as well as the dedication to actually follow through. Though you can be flexible as to when you choose to complete your work during the week, you can’t put it off indefinitely. 2. Hold yourself accountable Set goals at the beginning of the semester, and check in with yourself weekly. In a traditional classroom setting, you’ll often receive verbal or visual reminders of an assignment’s upcoming due date. But without a professor actively reminding you, it’s up to you to make sure you’ve allotted enough time to complete the work so you’re not starting an assignment the day before it’s due. 3. Practice time management The flexibility to create your own schedule is often one of the biggest appeals of taking online classes. But that freedom can also be detrimental if you do not have solid time management skills. Without them, you might easily to find yourself cramming before classes or handing in subpar assignments. 4. Create a regular study space and stay organized Set up a dedicated learning environment for studying. By completing your work there repeatedly, you’ll begin to establish a routine. Whether your workspace is your kitchen table, a library, or the corner booth in a local coffee shop, it’s important to determine what type of environment will work best for you. Experiment to discover which type of setting boosts your productivity. Wherever you choose, make sure there’s high-speed internet access so you’re not trying to take an online course over a lagging connection. 5. Eliminate distractions From Netflix to social media to dishes piling up in the skink, you’ll be faced with many distractions that can easily derail your studies. The best online students know how to lessen these distractions and set aside time to focus. Exactly how much of a challenge these distractions will prove to be will depend on your own unique personality and situation. Some might find that they can tune out a noisy home by listening to music. Others might choose to work from a local coffee shop or library to eliminate their urge to multitask at home. Ultimately, you will need to find a strategy that works best for you. 6. Figure Out How You Learn Best Once you’ve established where you’ll learn, think about when and how you accomplish your best work. If you’re a morning person, make time to study first thing. More of a night owl? Set aside an hour or two after dinner to cozy up to your computer. If the kids require your morning and evening attention, try to carve out a study session mid-day while they’re at school. Brew your usual cup of coffee, put on your go-to playlist, and do whatever you need to get into the zone and down to business.

We’ve come so far since last year and we want to share the highlights of our first quarter with you. Check out our video to see what we’ve been up to! For the first quarter of 2021… our co-founder Pedro was a judge and final moderator for Singapore National Co-operative Federation and he spoke about Social Entrepreneurship at NTU’s Step Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue 2021 our CEO Michelle was part of the NUS Panel Dialogue: Youth Engagement in Community Development we launched season 2 of our podcast, Conversation of Change, featuring Jacqui Hocking (VSStory), Thomas Ang (Genashtim), Masami Sato (B1G1) our initiative Design For Good was also featured in The Business Times and we were selected to be part of the ASEAN Fellowship 2021, which develops women-led social enterprises we also continued conducting our Digital Arts For All media literacy lessons in primary and secondary schools we had a great time working on content for new and existing clients we launched our creative arm, Change Agency and we also set up our MTC Net Zero task force to go carbon neutral by 2030! If you’d like to collaborate, please email us at info@makethechange.sg. Here’s to more great work to come 😊

“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories” — Og Mandino The holidays are coming! Keep your kids’ spirits up by planning a fun-filled holiday this June. What better way to make lasting memories than having your kids discover new experiences? Here are 5 of our suggestions on what you can do: Winter Wonderland “Snowfall rouses your inner child to dream and play once more.” — Weiland-Crosby Two words: Snow City. What else can we do but slide down a mountainous hill made of ice? If you still want something truly exhilarating but could do without the blistering heat, Snow City opened its first ever sub-zero shooting arena - which has both target shooting and close quarter battle. There’s also Drift on Ice where you can ride a signature of carnivals: the bumper car. Imagine how hard that would be in a cold, icy environment. Snow City has many winter activities for both kids and adults, so that’s fun for the whole family! Rediscover our Earth Earth Alive exhibition “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.” The Singapore Science Centre created an exhibition in partnership with the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), a Research Centre of Excellence at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore. They’re organised into spheres, reflecting Earth sciences and systems like the Geosphere, Hydrosphere and Atmosphere; which means looking at how changes can manifest into volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and even mountain-building. The fourth, the Human Sphere, highlights the impact of the Earth on our lives and how we can affect the Earth. For an out of this world experience, kids can wander through life-size interactive displays such as a five-metre inflatable globe installation of ‘Gaia’; use a giant slinky to send P and S waves of an earthquake; understanding and working through a natural disaster by moving little human blocks to higher ground and save them from a flood. Draw to your heart’s content Digital Arts Workshop for Youths (7 - 16 years old) “A true artist is not one who is inspired but one who inspires others.” — Dali For decades, we’ve learnt and expressed ourselves through art using paper and pencil. But we’ve evolved past that traditional medium and are now experimenting with a digital canvas. We’ve been given the chance to explore and enhance our creativity while being sustainable in the process. What better way for kids to have a fun time learning than to try a workshop focused on Procreate? For 2 hours, kids will be introduced to a digital illustration app beloved by artists all over the world; and they will learn the innovative, artistic tools it’s so famous for. “My girl had learned a lot and she had enjoyed the class.” — from the March Holiday Procreate workshop, where the kids created their own art pieces and animated GIFs. For more information, head to the workshop dates: Friday, June 11, 10-12pm Friday, June 18, 10-12pm The Digital Arts workshop is run by Make The Change (MTC). MTC is an integrated creative agency that provides creative services and training programmes to corporates, social service agencies, government, and education institutions. Our programmes are designed by an Apple Professional Learning Specialist and the entire team is certified as Apple Teachers, which helps us bring the latest trends in technology into the classroom. In addition Make The Change is a Certified B Corporation, which certifies that all our programmes meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact. Explore amazing indoor playgrounds Kids will be spoiled for choice at these indoor play centres. Here are a few to check out: 1. Pororo Park Singapore The Pororo Park at Marina Square is an 11,000 square foot indoor edutainment playground. They’ve got a brand new merry-go-round ride, Gallop Station which is equipped with two carriages; a fully-padded toddler area with a mini slide; the Hinoki Pit, a sensory area file with Hinoki wood cubes from South Korea; and Poby’s Jungle Gym, full of mazes, nets and slides. 2. Kiztopia Also at Marina Square is Kiztopia, the largest indoor playground in any mall so far and home to humongous plushies. It’s made up of 18 themed play zones including AR/VR basketball, dress-up stations, spiral slides, trampolines, rock walls, and a ball pit moat. They have Learn-through-Play programmes specially curated by trainers, from drama to cooking to robotics. There’s also a café for parents, called Bell’s Pantry (named after Bell, an oversized bear). 3. PLAY by Kinderplay At Changi Airport’s T3, PLAY by Kinderplay is a dream to every fan of Ben 10 and Powerpuff Girls. It consists of five main areas including an obstacle arena with two sweeper arms, jungle gyms, suspended clear tunnels, and even a moving carousel for babies. Kids can even watch cartoons when they need to catch their breath. 4. NERF Action Xperience If the activities above aren’t intense enough, head to the NERF Action Xperience for that blood-pumping adrenaline rush. The giant indoor play centre has high elements, timed team challenges and even an arena to exterminate zombies. At their Camp Dune station, they’ve made Capture the Flag scary complete by adding NERF guns. You can choose between the Disruptor or Surgefire and get in touch with your inner hunter. Or brave The Summit, a 3-storey high beginner rope course with obstacles throughout, like the V-shaped pole and ringed foothold. It operates in a continuous belaying system and you’ll be hooked up to a safety line. Just be sure to hold on tight! A staycation perfect for kids Furama Shangri-La (CNN) “Give your kids adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.” Though it’s been awhile since we’ve had the chance to really travel out, it’s still a loss to have plans shelved. It may not be the same but sometimes we do need a break from the usual routine. When all else fails, take a kid-friendly staycation. Hotels, like the Shangri-La Hotel and Furama Riverfront, have themed suites and are the perfect getaway for your children. The rooms are all straight out of a child’s fantasy, with striking and dynamic furnishings and wall murals. Most of them come with packages, deals and if you haven’t used your SingapoRediscover vouchers, take a look at this list of kid-friendly staycations: 1. InterContinental Singapore 2. Sofitel Singapore City Centre 3. Shangri-La Hotel Singapore 4. Capitol Kempinski 5. Fairmont Singapore 6. Furama Riverfront 7. Fullerton Bay Hotel 8. Mandarin Oriental Singapore 9. D’Resort, Downtown East 10. Ritz-Carlton 11. Pan Pacific 12. Gallop Kranji Farm Resort We hope you and your family have the best time this June holidays!

We're excited to announce that MTC will embark on the journey of achieving Net Zero by 2030! This commitment to significant carbon reduction leading to a net zero future by 2030 is part of the most aggressive climate action effort by a constituency of businesses in the world and demonstrates true leadership in a time of severe environmental and economic unrest and uncertainty. As a Certified B Corporation, and in the spirit of MTC's motto of "Take The Chance, Make The Change", we'll be taking the initiative to bring the fight to Climate Change, and play a part to help Sustain our planet for generations to come. We will be brainstorming for ideas and ways that all staff of MTC and MAD School can do their part to help with this initiative, and coming up with a series of plans that we will follow. Ultimately, every little bit counts, and we may be small but our Impact sure isn't! MTC has also assigned several staff members to a Task Force, dedicated to achieving our Net Zero 2030 aim. Our Net Zero Task Force Team Members: From Left to Right: Shion, Pedro, Rona, Amanda and Xiner Moving forward, let's all do our best for the environment, and indeed Make The Change in Climate Change. Let's Get To Zero Together!

How would you tackle the goals of #1 “No Poverty”, #5 “Gender Equality” and #12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” with a focus on women and indigenous communities? 20 social enterprises were chosen from 170 applications to be part of the ASEAN Women Impact Social Entrepreneurship (WISE) Fellowship. This ten-month long incubator programme will help support changemakers who are tackling the UN’s specific Sustainable Development Goals. Angels of Impact, a social enterprise that focuses on putting an end to poverty by uniting women and indigenous communities. Their focus is on those three key aspects of improving the world, so through their support they will enable partnering organisations like Make The Change, to work at achieving our SDGs.