Nithesh receiving his certification of completion at the last day of his internship. From 12th - 23th January 2026, we hosted Nithesh from Victoria Junior College for a two-week internship journey under our Young Changemaker Programme at Make The Change. Throughout his internship, he developed practical skills in research, presentation, digital design and video production while learning more about how does a social enterprise operate. His internship began with an activity focused on empathy and communication. As part of an introductory activity, he interviewed a fellow intern and created a presentation to introduce his partner while sharing his findings using the Empathy map template. This encouraged Nithesh to listen attentively, organize information and to communicate someone else's story respectfully. An example of how the Empathy Map Template looks like He then worked with his teammates to examine the challenges faced by migrant workers. The group researched the topic, discussed different perspectives and presented their findings to the rest. Through this assignment, Nithesh strengthened his research, teamwork and public-speaking skills while learning more about the importance of empathy in community work. One of Nithesh's main assignments during his internship journey with us was to create an educational recycling video for primary school students using AR Makr — an interactive tool used to build augmented reality content. He participated in the creative process by developing the script, designing visual assets, filming scenes and video editing. Using the augmented reality tool allowed him to experiment with presenting two-dimensional illustrations within a three-dimensional digital space. Along the way, he developed greater confidence in using creative tools such as Canva, AR Makr, and CapCut. Working this project together with his fellow intern buddy -- Advaita from Anglo-Chinese School Independent (ACSI), he also discovered how planning, design and editing come together to transform an initial idea into a completed digital product. Beyond just filming a video project, Nithesh and his fellow interns attended a digital drawing workshop — Today @ Apple Workshop at Marina Bay Sands, where they explored how to express their creativity and draw digitally using applications such as Freeform and Procreate on iPad. Using the skills he learnt from the workshop, he took the initiative to take on another project involving designing a birthday card for persons with disabilities. Nithesh's Reflection "During this internship, I gained a vast multitude of skills that allowed me to further enhance my workflow and optimize my skills in social entrepreneurship. Overall, this internship was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and further myself in social entrepreneurship skills." Nithesh's internship experience at Make the Change highlights how trying unfamiliar tasks can open doors to new skills and perspectives. We are grateful for his enthusiasm and creativity that he brought to MTC, and we look forward to seeing how he continues using his skills to create positive impact!

Advaita receiving her certificate of completion at the end of her internship at MTC. From January 12th to 30th, we had the privilege in welcoming Advaita from Anglo-Chinese School Independent for a three-week internship programme under our Young Changemaker Programme. Through digital content creation, community research and administrative support, Advaita gained a well-rounded understanding of how different roles come together within a social enterprise that gives back to the community. Advaita began her internship with an empathy-mapping activity, where she interviewed a fellow intern and shared what she had learnt with her peers. This encouraged her to listen attentively, understand other person's perspective and communicate her findings clearly. She later worked with her teammates to explore the challenges faced by a certain marginalized community in Singapore. Together, they researched the issue and developed a presentation, an interactive quiz and a website mock-up proposing a possible solution. During her internship journey with us, Advaita was involved in producing an educational recycling video for primary school students using an application called AR Makr -- a software that enables users to creative interactive augmented reality experiences. From illustrating visual elements and creating digital assets to filming and editing, Advaita explored how augmented reality could make an educational message more engaging for younger audiences. The project also strengthened her ability to translate an idea into a clear and age-appropriate digital content. Advaita later continued with a task on researching social media trends. She took part in filming and editing short-form content, gaining a better understanding of how businesses or organizations uses digital platforms to communicate their publicity works and connect with wider audiences. At the same time, Advaita discovered that impactful work also relies on strong organization and coordination behind the scenes. She contributed in several administrative and operational tasks during her time at Make The Change. She helped updated numerous Google Forms and Padlet for our partnered schools, organized administrative information on our databases on Notion and Google Sheets, and even supported our manpower schedule coordination. One particularly challenging assignment that was given to Advaita and her fellow intern peers -- Anirudh and Shaurya from Temasek Junior College, involved using JavaScript/Google Apps Script to automate birthday greetings for our community of persons with disabilities. With no to little coding experiences, Advaita and her peers continued experimenting and making adjustments until they found a successful solution. The experience strengthened their patience, resilience and critical-thinking skills in solving unfamiliar challenges. Advaita's Reflection "I gained valuable exposure to both creative and administrative aspects of organizational work. Overall, the internship strengthened my communication skills, adaptability, and appreciation for purpose-driven work." Advaita and her fellow intern peers in a group photo. Advaita's journey demonstrated that creating change requires both creative ideas and consistent work behind the scenes. We truly appreciated her enthusiasm, perseverance and positive energy she brought to Make The Change, and we look forward to seeing how she continues applying what she has learnt to make a difference in her future endeavours!

How do we help young people understand accessibility, not just as a concept, but as something that affects the way people experience everyday life? That question led us to create the Empathy Box, one of Make The Change’s latest social impact initiatives. Developed in support of The Purple Parade movement, the Empathy Box is a ready-to-run Accessibility and Inclusivity Booth in a box, designed for schools to create an interactive experience where students can explore disability, accessibility and assistive technology through hands-on activities. The Purple Parade champions inclusion and celebrates the abilities of persons with disabilities. Through the Empathy Box, we hope to extend that message into schools and create more opportunities for young people to learn about inclusion in a practical, meaningful, and engaging way. Rather than simply telling students why inclusion matters, we want to give them opportunities to explore barriers, ask questions, and discover how thoughtful design and technology can make everyday experiences more accessible. From Awareness to Experience Accessibility can sometimes feel like an abstract topic, particularly for students who may not have had many opportunities to think about the barriers faced by persons with disabilities. The Empathy Box brings the conversation into a familiar environment. Schools can set up the booth in a canteen, during recess or lunch, at a school carnival, or as part of a Values in Action or assembly programme. Students can move through different stations, take on challenges, and discover the assistive technologies that can help address those challenges. The activities are organised around five areas of accessibility: Vision Hearing Speech Mobility Cognitive At each station, students are encouraged not only to participate in an activity, but also to reflect on a bigger question: What is creating the barrier, and how can we design a more inclusive experience? That shift is important. The objective is not to imitate what it is like to live with a disability. A short activity could never represent someone else’s lived experience. Instead, the activities provide a starting point for students to recognise that people interact with the world in different ways and that environments, products, and systems can either create or remove barriers. Discovering the Role of Assistive Technology One of our favourite parts of the Empathy Box is the connection between a challenge and a possible solution. Students may encounter an activity related to vision, hearing, or mobility, and then explore examples of assistive technology that support people in navigating similar barriers. This creates an opportunity to introduce accessibility from a different perspective. Technology is not only about having the newest device or learning the latest digital skill. At its best, technology can help people communicate, participate, learn, and become more independent. It also encourages students to think differently about design. A feature that may seem unnecessary to one person can be essential to another. Captions, voice control, screen readers, text-to-speech, adjustable text sizes, and many other accessibility features are examples of how thoughtful design can make technology useful to a much wider range of people. Designed So Schools Can Run It We also wanted the Empathy Box to be practical. Schools do not need to organise a full-day workshop or bring in a team of external facilitators every time they want to start a conversation about accessibility. The box is designed so that a teacher, Special Needs Officer, or parent volunteer can facilitate the experience. Inside are resources to help schools get started, including: An illustrated Accessibility and Inclusivity Booth poster Empathy Bingo cards Station cards connecting challenges with assistive technology A facilitator guide with reflection prompts Hands-on simulation materials, including eye masks, simulation glasses, and ear mufflers Stickers for participating students This allows schools to adapt the experience to their own community and timetable while still having a clear structure to follow. Creating Conversations Beyond the Booth For us, the most important part of the Empathy Box happens after the activity. A student might spend only a few minutes at a station, but that experience can lead to much bigger conversations. Why are some spaces easier for certain people to navigate than others? Who might be excluded by the way something has been designed? What could we change? How can technology help? And perhaps most importantly: What role can I play in making my school or community more inclusive? These are questions that connect naturally with Values in Action, character and citizenship education, digital literacy, design thinking, and social innovation. They also connect closely with what we believe at Make The Change: meaningful change often begins when people start seeing the world from perspectives other than their own. Supporting The Purple Parade Movement The Empathy Box is also our way of supporting the broader work of The Purple Parade movement, which brings Singapore together around inclusion, accessibility, and the celebration of persons with disabilities. We hope schools can use the Empathy Box not only as a one-off activity, but as a starting point for ongoing conversations about how students can contribute to a more inclusive Singapore. By helping young people recognise barriers, understand the value of accessible design, and reflect on the experiences of others, we hope to strengthen the culture of inclusion that The Purple Parade movement continues to champion. Building a More Inclusive Generation The Empathy Box is a small box with a much bigger ambition. We hope it can help schools create spaces where conversations about disability and inclusion become normal, where students become curious about accessibility, and where young people begin to recognise that they can contribute to creating more inclusive communities. Because empathy should not stop at understanding. It should lead us to think differently, design differently, and act differently. Bring the Empathy Box to Your School Schools interested in running the Empathy Box can learn more about the programme, upcoming briefing sessions, and how to receive a box on the Make The Change Empathy Box page. The experience can be facilitated by teachers, Special Needs Officers, and parent volunteers, making it suitable for recess activities, school carnivals, Values in Action programmes, and other school-wide initiatives. Through the Empathy Box, and in support of The Purple Parade movement, we look forward to seeing more schools create meaningful conversations around accessibility, inclusion, and the role every one of us can play in building a more inclusive Singapore.

From left to right: Advaita (from ACSI), Anirudh, Shaurya, Young Sunn, Le-Lynn (TJC) In January 2026, we had the pleasure of welcoming four students from Temasek Junior College — Anirudh, Shaurya, Le-Lynn and Young Suun — for a three-week internship under Make The Change's Young Changemaker Programme. During their time with us, the students gained first-hand exposure to the daily operations of a social enterprise and discovered how business, creativity and community impact can come together. They contributed a wide range of projects involving community research, empathy mapping, article writings, programme outreach and workflow automation. More importantly, the internship experience encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones, collaborate with people from different backgrounds and apply their ideas to real projects. Each assignment given to them presented a new opportunity for them to develop their communication, problem-solving, adaptability and creative confidence. The students began their internship by exploring the importance of empathy in creating community-focused solutions. They worked in teams to explore employment challenges faced by different communities. They learned to consider different perspectives and propose solutions based on the needs of the communities that they have chosen. Shifting from research and presenting their findings, the students were then delegated with tasks ranging from content creation to youth outreach. Anirudh and Shaurya worked with their fellow intern friend — Advaita from Anglo-Chinese School Independent (ACSI) to produce an augmented reality video about the three Rs -- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Designed for primary school students, the video had to be both educational and entertaining. Anirudh and Shaurya also challenged themselves with unfamiliar tasks such as working on using Google Sheets and JavaScript to automate birthday greetings for our community of persons with disabilities. Although they had little coding experiences, they continued researching, testing and troubleshooting until the workflow operated successfully. Le-Lynn and Young Sunn supported Make The Change's youth outreach efforts by researching potential workshop locations and youth content creators. They considered factors such as affordability, accessibility, relevance and alignment with the programme's purpose. This gave them a closer look and understanding of programme planning and coordination. Le-Lynn and Young Sunn also wrote articles featuring our previous interns under our Young Changemaker Programme. After developing and refining their drafts, they learnt how to format articles using Wix.com and explored the basics of search engine optimization (SEO). The project helped them to improve their writing while discovering how digital stories can celebrate youth's contributions and inspire others to become young changemakers. Beyond their assigned projects, the four of them attended the digital drawing workshop — Today @ Apple Workshop at Marina Bay Sands, where they explored Apple applications such as Procreate and Freeform using iPads. This hands-on session introduced them ways in expressing their ideas through creativity, digital art and visual storytelling. Their Reflections "I gained many valuable insights from this eye-opening experience, which broadened my perspective. Gaining real-world experience in the community sector also helped me prepare for the future and understand that pursuing my goals requires my full commitment and effort." -- Anirudh "Overall, the experience helped me grow both personally and professionally. It made me think more about the kind of work that I might want to do in the future and showed me that even small contributions can make a difference." -- Shaurya "It has truly been an eye-opening as well as a transformative journey. I am grateful for the experiences and opportunities. Thus, I will carry the knowledge I gained here at MTC and apply it in my future endeavours." -- Le-Lynn "My 3 weeks at Make The Change was fulfilling and educational as it allowed me to experience how it was to work in the community sector and made me look foward on what the future has to offer in this sector. All in all, this internship broadened my horizon and I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone interested." -- Young Sunn Anirudh, Shaurya, Le-Lynn and Young Sunn's journey at Make The Change shows how empathy, creativity and perseverance can help young people contribute meaningfully to their communities. Their journey showed that creating change does not always begin with a big idea. We are proud to have supported their growth and hope that the skills, experiences and friendships gained at Make The Change will continue to guide them in school, their future workplaces and the communities around them!

How can a rough idea become a product concept that others can understand? Secondary 3 Design and Technology students from Hai Sing Catholic School explored this question through a four-hour Digital Product Sketching programme conducted by Make The Change. Across two hands-on sessions, students used SketchBook to develop their ideas, construct product forms and communicate their designs digitally. Building ideas through digital sketching The first session focused on ideation and product form development. Students began by learning that product sketching is more than creating an attractive drawing. Designers use sketches to explore possibilities, solve problems and communicate how a product could look and function. Through guided activities, students learnt how to: Generate multiple ideas through rapid thumbnail sketches Develop ideas using the Double Diamond design process Draw with more confident and controlled strokes Use construction lines and one-point perspective Build product forms from simple geometric shapes Organise rough and refined sketches using layers Rather than trying to perfect their first idea, students were encouraged to sketch quickly, compare different possibilities and select a promising concept for further development. Making product concepts look more realistic During the second session, students developed their line sketches through colour, lighting, texture and material rendering. They explored how light and shadow help a flat drawing communicate depth and volume. They also learnt that different materials require different visual treatments. For example, students used: Smooth highlights to suggest plastic Strong contrast and reflections to represent metal Grain lines and warmer colours to communicate wood Shadows to give products a sense of volume Annotations to explain important features and benefits These techniques helped students move beyond basic digital drawing and begin using SketchBook as a tool for design communication. What the students learnt Feedback collected after the programme showed strong engagement and meaningful learning. Across 31 feedback submissions, the programme received an average rating of 4.52 out of 5. A total of 84% of the submissions awarded the sessions four or five stars. In their written responses, students frequently highlighted learning about: Perspective lines and vanishing points Ideation and brainstorming Rough and construction sketching Confident line work Rendering and shading Light sources and highlights Textures and material representation Drawing plastic, metal and wood One student shared that the programme helped them learn about “perspective lines, how to evaluate ideas, and how to make new ideas from one main idea.” Another student highlighted learning “how to render different materials, why certain materials are rendered in certain ways, and the different parts of rendering.” The responses showed a clear progression from understanding how to construct a product form to learning how to present it more convincingly. Learning through demonstration and practice The workshop combined live demonstrations, guided exercises, independent practice and individual feedback. Students had opportunities to show their work directly to the trainer and their teacher during the sessions. The programme also reminded us of the importance of breaking digital techniques into clear, manageable steps. Future sessions will include even more live, projected demonstrations so students can closely follow each technique before applying it independently. Supporting future-ready creative skills Digital product sketching brings together creativity, technology and problem-solving. By learning how to generate ideas, use digital tools and communicate design decisions, students develop skills that can support further learning in design, media and technology. We are grateful to Hai Sing Catholic School for the opportunity to work with its Secondary 3 D&T students. We look forward to supporting more young people as they use technology to transform their ideas into meaningful creative work. Bring digital creativity to your school Make The Change develops hands-on programmes that equip students with creative, digital and future-ready skills. If your school is interested in digital drawing, content creation, design thinking or creative technology programmes, contact Make The Change to explore a programme for your students.

How can students use their voices, creativity and digital skills to make their school a better place? That was the challenge at the heart of our Young Changemakers: Digital Advocacy Challenge, a two-day programme delivered by Make The Change for Primary 5 student leaders at Lakeside Primary School. Rather than simply teaching students how to create a poster or edit a video, the programme challenged them to think differently about what it means to be a student leader. Over two mornings, students became community detectives, campaign creators, and young advocates, identifying meaningful issues, understanding the people affected, and turning their ideas into digital campaigns designed to inspire positive action. And judging by what students told us afterward, the experience made an impact. ⭐ 4.56 / 5 average student rating ❤️ 96.3% rated the programme 4 or 5 stars 🙌 100% would recommend it to their classmates From Student Leader to Changemaker We began with a simple idea: A leader doesn't just notice what could be better. A changemaker does something about it. Students explored advocacy through a four-step journey: SEE IT → CARE → SPEAK UP → TAKE ACTION They learned that advocacy is not simply about having an opinion. It involves recognising an issue, understanding why it matters to others, communicating a clear message and encouraging positive action. Working within themes relevant to their school community, students explored areas including anti-bullying, cyber wellness, inclusivity, sustainability and school values. The goal was not to give students the answers. Instead, we gave them the tools to investigate, question and develop their own perspectives. Becoming Community Detectives One highlight of Day 1 was the Community Detective Challenge. Working in teams, students looked at their school through a different lens. They observed their surroundings, considered what was working well, and identified opportunities where student action could make a difference. But noticing something was only the beginning. Students learned to ask: Who is affected? Does this happen more than once? Would improving it make our school community better? This helped students distinguish between a personal preference and an issue that could genuinely benefit their community. Learning to Walk in Someone Else's Shoes Changemaking begins with empathy. Before deciding what their campaign should say, students considered how different people might experience the same school environment. Using an empathy mapping activity, they explored: SEE → FEEL → THINK → NEED Students learned that an effective campaign should not begin only with what we want to say. It should begin by understanding the people we hope to reach. From there, teams developed their advocacy challenge, identified their target audience and crafted a clear campaign message and call to action. From Ideas to Digital Campaigns Day 2 was all about turning those ideas into something real. Students became Campaign Creators, using the thinking and planning from Day 1 to develop their own digital advocacy materials. Using Canva, students designed campaign posters and explored how visual communication can help an important message stand out. Their challenge was simple: STOP → UNDERSTAND → ACT Could their poster make someone stop? Could someone quickly understand the message? Would they know what action to take? Students then moved from visual communication into digital storytelling. Teams planned short advocacy videos using a simple four-part structure: 1. The Problem2. Why It Matters3. The Solution4. The Message They storyboarded their ideas, assigned roles, filmed their stories and used CapCut to bring their campaigns together. The objective was never to create the most complicated video or use the most effects. It was to learn how to use digital tools with purpose. What Did the Students Learn? After the programme, we asked students to tell us three things they had learned. Their responses showed that the experience went beyond learning how to use Canva or edit a video. 59% of respondents mentioned digital creation skills, including Canva, CapCut, poster design, video creation, editing, and storyboarding. 48% mentioned learning related to changemaking and advocacy, including planning campaigns and taking positive action. Another 48% described learning connected to positive and safe behaviours, including inclusion, kindness, empathy, anti-bullying, cyber safety and sustainability. Students also mentioned planning, observation, brainstorming, teamwork and even developing the confidence to work with classmates they did not previously know well. One student reflected: “I learned how to be a changemaker, how to plan a campaign, and how to make a poster.” Another shared: “I learned to work with people I am not really familiar with, create a poster on Canva, and make new friends.” And one student's takeaway captured the purpose of the programme particularly simply: “We must include everyone. Stay safe online.” Finding Their Voice Creating a campaign is one thing. Encouraging others to care about it is another. Students therefore also developed their presentation and communication skills before taking part in the Young Changemakers Showcase. Teams presented the challenge they had explored, explained why it mattered, shared their campaign and encouraged their audience to take positive action. It was rewarding to see students move from investigating an issue on the first morning to standing in front of their peers and advocating for something they believed could improve their school community. More Than Digital Skills The student feedback reinforced something that is central to how we design programmes at Make The Change. Digital skills are most powerful when students understand why they are using them. Canva and CapCut were tools. The bigger learning journey was about: 🔎 Observation and critical thinking❤️ Empathy and perspective-taking🤝 Collaboration and teamwork💡 Creative problem-solving📣 Advocacy and communication🎨 Visual communication🎬 Digital storytelling🎤 Public speaking The programme concluded by bringing students back to the same idea with which we began: SEE IT → CARE → SPEAK UP → TAKE ACTION Each student made a Changemaker Action Pledge, identifying something they could personally do to contribute positively to their school community. Bring Young Changemakers to Your School The Young Changemakers: Digital Advocacy Challenge can be adapted for Primary and Secondary school students, student leaders, Peer Support Leaders, CCA leaders and other youth leadership groups. Schools can customise the programme around themes that matter to their community, including: Cyber wellness and responsible digital citizenship Inclusivity and belonging Anti-bullying and positive relationships Sustainability and environmental responsibility School values and culture Student wellbeing Community issues and social impact Depending on the school's objectives, age group, and available time, students can develop advocacy campaigns through Canva, CapCut, digital storytelling, posters, short-form video, and presentations. At Make The Change, we believe young people should not only learn how to use digital tools. They should learn how to use them to make a difference. If your school is looking for a hands-on programme combining student leadership, advocacy, empathy, digital literacy, creativity and communication, we'd love to explore how the Young Changemakers programme can be adapted for your students. Get in touch with Make The Change to bring the Young Changemakers: Digital Advocacy Challenge to your school.

What happens when students can look closely at their school community, identify something they care about, and use their creativity to inspire positive change? That was the idea behind Voices for Change, a four-session changemaker program delivered by Make The Change for students at Lakeside Primary School. Across the program, students moved through a complete changemaking journey. They explored their community, developed empathy for others, identified causes worth supporting, planned advocacy campaigns, designed digital campaign posters in Canva, and finally presented their ideas to their peers. More importantly, students discovered that creating positive change does not always begin with a huge project. Sometimes, it begins with noticing something that could be better and deciding to do something about it. Mission 1: Becoming Community Detectives The program began by asking students a simple question: What could make our school community even better? Students became Community Detectives, learning to observe their surroundings and recognize both their community's strengths and opportunities for improvement. They explored what makes a community and considered the many different people who contribute to school life. Through empathy activities, students were encouraged to look at situations from perspectives other than their own. They considered the experiences of people such as a new student, a teacher, a cleaner, a student using crutches, someone who may feel lonely, and members of the school's environmental community. Using an empathy map, students explored four important questions: What might this person see? How might they feel? What could they be thinking? What might they need? This helped students understand an important principle of changemaking: before designing solutions, we first need to understand the people we hope to help. Mission 2: Designing a Campaign for Change Once students had identified causes they cared about, their next mission was to become Campaign Designers. Students learned that an effective campaign is more than an attractive poster. A good campaign needs a clear purpose. Working in teams, students developed five important elements of their campaign: Cause. Problem. Audience. Message. Action. They considered who they wanted to reach, what message they wanted people to remember, and most importantly, what action they wanted their audience to take. Students explored campaign examples around themes such as kindness, sustainability, keeping the school clean, saving energy, inclusion, and community responsibility. They then began planning their own campaigns, developing messages and sketching how their final posters could communicate their ideas clearly. Mission 3: Becoming Creative Communicators With their campaign ideas ready, students moved into the program's creative phase. Their third mission was to become Creative Communicators. Using Canva on iPads, students transformed their campaign plans into digital posters. Rather than simply learning software tools, students explored how design can influence communication. They considered questions such as: What makes a poster easy to understand? How can an image communicate an idea quickly? How much text is too much? What colors support a campaign's mood? How can a strong call to action encourage someone to do something? Students learned to work with text, images, graphics, backgrounds, colors, shapes, and layout while keeping their campaign message at the center of their design decisions. The result was a collection of student-created advocacy posters representing issues they genuinely cared about. Mission 4: Using Their Voice The final mission brought everything together. Students became Changemakers. Each group prepared a short presentation explaining the cause they had chosen, the problem they wanted to address, their campaign message, the action they hoped to inspire, and the design decisions behind their poster. Students practiced speaking clearly, making eye contact, supporting their teammates, and communicating with confidence. At the same time, the audience also had an important role. Students listened to the presentations of other groups and considered: What is this group's cause? What action are they asking people to take? What is something I like about their idea? The program therefore ended not simply with a presentation, but with a celebration of student voice, creativity and ideas for improving the school community. Learning Skills Through Real-World Challenges Throughout Voices for Change, students were developing much more than digital design skills. The program intentionally develops a broader set of changemaker capabilities, including: ❤️ Empathy: Understanding different experiences, perspectives, and needs. 🧠 Critical Thinking: Identifying meaningful problems and considering possible solutions. 🎨 Creative Confidence: Turning ideas into original visual communication. 🤝 Collaboration: Making decisions, sharing responsibilities, and creating together. 🗣 Communication: Expressing ideas clearly through both visual design and public speaking. ⭐ Leadership: Taking ownership of an idea and encouraging others to participate. 🌍 Civic Responsibility: Recognizing that everyone can contribute to creating a stronger community. By combining these skills within one project, students could immediately see how what they were learning could be applied to the world around them. From Students to Changemakers One of the most rewarding parts of programs like Voices for Change is seeing students realize that their ideas matter. Young people do not need to wait until they are adults to contribute to their communities. They can observe. They can listen. They can create. They can speak up. And they can inspire others. The program concluded by reminding students of the journey they had completed: You investigated problems. You planned a campaign. You designed a message. You shared your voice. That is what changemakers do. Bring Voices for Change to Your School Make The Change works with schools across Singapore to design hands-on learning experiences that combine creativity, digital skills, communication, social impact and student leadership. Voices for Change can be adapted for different student levels, school priorities, and themes, including sustainability, kindness, inclusion, school culture, community leadership, and student advocacy. Schools can run the program as a short enrichment series, CCA program, leadership program, advocacy project or customized student development experience. If your school would like students to move beyond simply learning about social issues and instead identify challenges, develop ideas, create campaigns, and confidently advocate for positive change, we would love to explore how Voices for Change could work with your students. Get in touch with Make The Change to bring Voices for Change to your school. Small ideas can create big impact. And every student has the potential to become a changemaker.

We’re back with a fresh wave—literally. Our latest episode of Conversation of Change kicks off a new season, a new look, and the same bold spirit of storytelling. Who better to headline this next chapter than Ben Conniff, co-founder & CEO of Luke’s Lobster? The Journey of Luke's Lobster From freelance food writer to co-building a sustainable seafood business, Ben shares the real story behind the brand that’s now synonymous with traceable, responsibly-sourced lobster rolls. In this candid conversation, he dives into: The early grit and vision that shaped Luke’s Lobster. How sustainability and fair treatment of fishermen are core to their mission. Lessons in leadership, humility, and staying authentic amidst rapid growth. Purpose-Driven Ventures This episode highlights how purpose-driven ventures can ride against the current—and still thrive. It’s not just about business; it’s about making a difference. Whether you're a changemaker, foodie, or entrepreneur at heart, this one’s for you. The Importance of Sustainability Sustainability is more than a buzzword; it’s a necessity. As consumers, we have the power to support businesses that prioritize the environment. Choosing sustainable seafood means supporting fishermen who practice responsible fishing methods. This choice helps protect marine ecosystems and ensures that future generations can enjoy seafood. Lessons from the Sea Ben's journey is filled with valuable lessons. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's values. In a world where trends come and go, authenticity remains crucial. Businesses that prioritize their mission over profits often find greater success in the long run. Join the Conversation 🎙️ Tune in now and be part of this new tide of transformation. Discover our podcast on your favourite audio apps now! 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/make-the-change-conversation-of-change-podcast/id1511455099 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FPfumkodY86gN9wUBUgYV?si=ff0560b50aff4c30

In today’s climate-conscious world, sustainability has become more than just a buzzword, it is a growing responsibility that organisations across all industries are expected to take seriously. In this episode of Conversation of Change, we speak with Audrey Yang, a climate educator from Clean Creatives, to explore how individuals, creative professionals, and businesses can move beyond performative sustainability towards credible, values-driven impact. Understanding the Role of Creative Advocacy Communicators, marketers, and creatives play a powerful role in shaping public perception. The campaigns we design, the brands we work with, and the narratives we amplify all contribute to how sustainability is understood, or misunderstood by wider audiences. Audrey highlights how creative advocacy can be used not just to promote products or services, but to influence systems and encourage responsible business practices. By leveraging storytelling and communication strategically, creatives can support organisations that are genuinely committed to sustainability, while also challenging practices that may contribute to environmental harm. The Clean Creatives Pledge One of the key initiatives discussed in this conversation is the Clean Creatives pledge, a global movement encouraging agencies and creative professionals to commit to refusing work from fossil fuel companies. The pledge represents a growing collective effort within the creative industry to align professional values with climate responsibility. More than just a symbolic gesture, this initiative demonstrates how industry-wide commitments can create pressure for change, influencing how businesses operate and communicate their environmental impact. If you are looking to start making credible sustainability commitments within your organisation, or to better understand how communication can influence environmental outcomes, this episode offers practical insights to guide your journey. Tune in now and join the growing movement of creatives using their influence to drive real climate action. Discover our podcast on your favourite audio apps now! 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/make-the-change-conversation-of-change-podcast/id1511455099 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FPfumkodY86gN9wUBUgYV?si=ff0560b50aff4c30

How do you move from a thriving career in media to building a purpose-driven social enterprise that champions sustainability? Christina Lee knows the answer first-hand. After more than a decade leading powerhouse brands like Bloomberg Businessweek, Yahoo!, and Star Television, she made a daring decision in 2012 to step away from the headlines and toward a higher purpose. Today, through Global Green Connect and GGEF, Christina channels her business expertise into empowering youth, women, and companies to build a more sustainable future. Turning ESG into Economic Value In this podcast episode, Christina shares how her team works closely with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to address Scope 3 emissions—the indirect emissions that occur across a company’s entire value chain. By helping organizations translate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals into tangible economic value, Global Green Connect proves that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet—it’s smart business. Learning Through Action Education is at the heart of Christina’s approach. From workshops to interactive programs such as the SDG Open Hack, she empowers participants to explore creative, hands-on solutions to global sustainability challenges. These initiatives don’t just spread awareness—they spark innovation and community action. Your First Step Starts Now Christina also offers practical tips and simple actions that anyone can take to begin their sustainability journey. Whether it’s making mindful consumption choices, engaging in local green projects, or advocating for climate-conscious policies, each small step contributes to a larger impact. Tune in to the full episode to hear Christina’s insights and take your first step toward a greener, more sustainable future. Discover our podcast on your favourite audio apps now! 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/make-the-change-conversation-of-change-podcast/id1511455099 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FPfumkodY86gN9wUBUgYV?si=ff0560b50aff4c30

In the second episode of our B Lab Stories series, featuring Benjamin Chua, Founder & CEO of Speco, for an honest and thoughtful conversation about building a company rooted in both social impact and sustainable innovation. Benjamin reflects on Speco’s early beginnings and how the company was first shaped by a desire to create meaningful employment opportunities. What started as an effort to empower people through work gradually evolved into a larger mission one that considers the well-being of people, communities and the wider ecosystem. Throughout the episode, Benjamin shares practical insights into Fair Work practices and the importance of creating inclusive workplaces through JEDI principles. He also speaks candidly about the realities of navigating changing expectations within the B Corp movement, and how businesses today are increasingly challenged to stay accountable, adaptable and purpose-driven. The conversation also explores Speco’s B Corporation journey, from first becoming certified in 2020 to successfully recertifying in 2023. Benjamin shares reflections on what the process taught him as a leader, and why impact should never be treated as a one-time achievement, but rather an ongoing commitment. More than just a conversation about certification, this episode is a grounded reflection on the everyday decisions, challenges and responsibilities that come with building a business centred around people and purpose. Discover our podcast on your favourite audio apps now! 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/make-the-change-conversation-of-change-podcast/id1511455099 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FPfumkodY86gN9wUBUgYV?si=ff0560b50aff4c30

We are excited to kick off the very first episode of our Youth Matters series on Conversation of Change! This new series spotlights young people who are driving meaningful social impact in Singapore and we couldn’t have chosen a more inspiring story to begin with. In our debut episode, featuring Aarav and Dylan, the co-founders of Expedition Joy, a youth-led initiative dedicated to creating memorable birthday celebrations for children and seniors. What started as a simple idea between two friends has blossomed into a movement of kindness, connection, and community-building. A Journey Rooted in Compassion During the conversation, Araav and Dylan open up about how Expedition Joy first began, the early challenges they faced from fundraising hurdles to learning how to work as a team and the heartwarming moments that remind them why their mission matters. Their stories reflect the resilience and sincerity that define many youth-led projects today. Small Acts, Big Impact Beyond their personal journey, the episode also shares practical ways for listeners to get involved. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, contributing resources, or supporting their expanding efforts, there are many ways to help spread joy to more communities across Singapore. Why Youth Voices Matter Youth Matters aims to showcase how young people are not just future leaders. They are already creating change in real and powerful ways. Expedition Joy is a beautiful example of what happens when passion meets purpose, and when empathy is turned into action. If you’ve ever wondered how youths can spark meaningful social impact, this episode offers a heartfelt and hopeful glimpse into the possibilities. Discover our podcast on your favourite audio apps now! 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/make-the-change-conversation-of-change-podcast/id1511455099 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FPfumkodY86gN9wUBUgYV?si=ff0560b50aff4c30