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How Make The Change is Empowering Organisations to Embrace Diversity through Inclusive Hiring At Make The Change, we believe that creating a truly inclusive society begins in the workplace. That’s why we were proud to contribute to the Inclusive Hiring Toolkit , a comprehensive guide designed to help organisations transform their hiring processes and workplace culture to support talents from diverse backgrounds. Developed in partnership with social enterprises, corporates, and community organisations, the toolkit offers actionable insights and practical tools to support inclusive hiring—from the first job post to long-term retention. 🌍 What is Inclusive Hiring? Inclusive Hiring is the intentional practice of recruiting and retaining talents with diverse needs —including persons with disabilities, seniors, ex-offenders, caregivers, individuals with mental health challenges, and youth-at-risk. It moves beyond charity and CSR, shifting the focus to dignified employment and mutual value creation . 💡 Key Learnings from the Toolkit Start with the “Why” Many misconceptions still surround inclusive hiring—such as the belief that it’s too costly, difficult to implement, or a form of charity. The toolkit helps organisations reframe these myths by showcasing how inclusive practices: Increase innovation and productivity Enhance brand reputation Reduce turnover and absenteeism Attract young and socially conscious talent Inclusive Hiring Is a Journey The toolkit outlines a 3-stage roadmap: Pre-Boarding : Rethink job roles, partner with job coaches, and prepare inclusive-friendly policies Preparation : Train staff, redesign workspaces if needed, and align internal expectations Onboarding & Retention : Provide buddy systems, mentorship, regular reviews, and career development pathways Empathy, Not Assumptions Using tools like Empathy Mapping , organisations can better understand the needs, fears, and strengths of both inclusive talents and existing teams. This fosters mutual respect and smoother integration. Assets Matter The Asset-Based Assessment tool shifts the focus from “what’s missing” to “what’s strong.” Whether it’s existing technology, flexible work policies, or team culture—every organisation has strengths it can leverage. Plan for the Risks The Risk Assessment tool supports thoughtful decision-making. By identifying potential challenges—such as miscommunication, integration concerns, or mismatched expectations—leaders can put proactive support in place. 🚀 From Toolkit to Transformation One inspiring example is Genashtim, a B Corp-certified company employing more than 50% persons with disabilities across 20 countries. Their roadmap—built on empathy, structure, and strategic planning—demonstrates what’s possible when inclusion is a business priority. 🛠️ How Make The Change Can Help At Make The Change, we continue to walk the talk: We design inclusive training programmes for persons with disabilities and youth-at-risk We consult companies on inclusive hiring strategy and job redesign We co-develop tools like this toolkit to make inclusion practical and scalable 💬 Join Us in Making the Change Whether you’re just starting or looking to deepen your inclusive practices, this toolkit is a powerful first step. 📥 Download the Inclusive Hiring Toolkit 📧 Contact us to explore inclusive hiring strategies or customised training for your organisation. 🌱 Let’s build a future where every talent has a place to grow and thrive.

Are you an educator looking to transform your classroom management skills? Or perhaps you're a professional seeking to enhance your communication abilities in any setting? Our Vocal Techniques Workshop is designed just for you! Unlock the Power of Your Voice Voice control is more than just speaking; it’s about commanding attention, conveying authority, and fostering a positive environment. Whether you’re teaching a class, leading a meeting, or speaking in public, the way you use your voice can make all the difference. Why This Workshop is a Game-Changer In our workshop, you'll dive deep into essential vocal techniques that go beyond traditional classroom management. You’ll focus on these key areas: Clear Communication:  Practice clear and concise verbal communication to ensure students understand expectations and instructions Deliberate Pausing:  Explore the power of pausing to emphasise critical points, manage classroom attention, and provide students with time to process information Use Non-Verbal Communication:  Combine vocal techniques with non-verbal cues (body language) to reinforce your messages effectively Beyond the Classroom While our workshop focuses on classroom applications, the skills you’ll gain are invaluable in any context. These techniques are essential for effective leadership, public speaking, and professional presentations, making this workshop beneficial for anyone looking to enhance their vocal presence and confidence in various settings. What You’ll Gain Enhanced Classroom Management:  Use your voice to create a positive, engaging learning environment. Improved Public Speaking:  Captivate any audience with dynamic and confident speech. Better Personal Interactions:  Communicate more effectively in everyday conversations. Register Now! Whether you’re an educator, a professional, or anyone looking to improve their communication skills, take the first step towards mastering the art of vocal control. Click here  to register and unlock the power of your voice!

The Youth For Change   (YFC) program, powered by the National Youth Council (NYC) , successfully wrapped up its latest edition, leaving a lasting impact on young changemakers. Over the course of the program, participants gained invaluable skills in critical thinking, project management, and collaboration , while working on real-world community initiatives. Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders At its core, YFC is more than just a youth program—it is a launchpad for action . Participants engaged in hands-on learning, guided by experienced mentors who provided structured training in leadership, problem-solving, and social impact strategies. Beyond the Showcase: Inspiring Long-Term Impact One of the highlights of the program was the Final Showcase , where participants presented their projects and shared their journey with an audience of peers, industry professionals, and community leaders. However, the impact of YFC went beyond the showcase, inspiring more youths to explore opportunities and collaboration to sustain their initiatives. Building a Stronger Youth Community Through YFC, we saw the power of collaboration, with participants forming lasting connections, turning ideas into action, and creating tangible impact in their communities. The enthusiasm displayed by the youths reinforced the importance of sustained engagement, and we are excited to further scale these initiatives. As we celebrate the success of this cycle, we are already looking ahead to welcoming the next batch of passionate youth. We are committed to refining the program further, expanding outreach efforts, and bringing in even more opportunities for young changemakers to thrive. If you are eager to drive social change, develop essential skills, and be part of a vibrant, impact-driven community, keep an eye out for our next call for applications! 🚀 Check out what happened!

The conversation around ageing has broadened, which encompasses emotional and mental well-being. In recent announcements, Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung , emphasises a shift towards integrated care, calling for strong collaboration among providers. As part of this vision, Mr Ong introduced the CHOPE framework, focusing on five pillars: Coordination, Health, Outreach, Partnership and Engagement . At its core, CHOPE reflects a commitment to working together, ensuring that services are not just available, but meaningfully connected and responsive to the evolving needs of seniors. The Growing Need for Mental Wellness Support Despite expanded services and improved accessibility, many seniors continue to face emotional challenges such as loneliness, anxiety and depression. The silent weight of these struggles often goes unnoticed, yet their impact is profound—affecting quality of life, motivation and overall health. This is where community-based programmes that focus on mental wellness and emotional expression become essential. Introducing Digital Journaling Here, we are committed to supporting seniors not only through skills-based workshops but also through initiatives that promote inner well-being and self-expression. Our hands-on programme, Mindful Moments , introduced seniors to digital journaling as a creative and therapeutic outlet. The goal is to create safe, accessible space for seniors to reconnect with their thoughts, reflect on their lives, and express themselves in a way that is modern and meaningful. Unlike traditional tech classes, Mindful Moments centres around emotional empowerment. Many seniors would enter the programme unsure about using a tablet, but soon discover the joy of creating something uniquely theirs. Aligning with National Goals As we embrace the CHOPE model and integrated care, mental wellness will remain part of the equation. Every senior deserves the opportunity to feel heard, valued and engaged. Interested in bringing Mindful Moments to your centre or organisation? Contact us today to explore how you can be a part of this journey towards holistic aging!

Written by Hazel Tan, Guan Ziyue, and Ng Yennzy from Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) In the course of the past two weeks during the June Holidays, we have had the opportunity to intern under Make The Change and our experience has been nothing but fulfilling. To enter the office and meet great supervisors, friendly peers and a soft hot pink sofa was more than we could have ever asked for. During our internship, we had the chance to learn and develop a diverse set of skills, including Wix, Procreate, AR Makr, Clips and more! Together with the visual literacy workshop we attended, we discovered new ways to express ourselves. The first thing we were tasked with was to sort out Padlet creations by both primary and secondary school students, under the New Media programme by MTC. This allowed us to gain exposure to the sheer number of people that MTC reaches out to. However, as we began to delve deeper into how the organisation functions, we quickly realised that schools were merely the tip of the iceberg. MTC’s extensive efforts to make a difference in the lives of countless individuals were inspiring, and left us in awe of their commitment and dedication to empowering others. Paying it forward, we also had the chance to help facilitate a workshop for children aged 7-12 at IMDA’s Bring your Kids to Work Day. We had a lot of fun interacting with the children, and assisting them with Clips and AR MAKR to create their own virtual zoo. We also learnt more about classroom management by observing how our supervisors carried out the session. We also had the opportunity to attend the online graduation ceremony of the refugee beneficiaries of M.A.D School’s job readiness creative programme. Throughout the ceremony, there was a constant outpour of gratitude in the chat, as the beneficiaries thanked the trainers for their support throughout the programme, which made us realise that we had to appreciate the finer things in life. It made our hearts full and we better understood how a single programme could make a huge, lasting difference in someone else’s life. Seeing the tremendous impact this programme had on the beneficiaries, we are inspired to make a difference in someone else’s lives too. Over the two weeks, we also aided MTC’s outreach efforts in various ways. We wrote articles summing up the Social Innovation Hackathon and IMDA workshop, coupled with Instagram posts on MTC’s Instagram. We created a promotional video for Younite, posting this on both @younite.sg on Instagram and @makethechangesg on Tik Tok. We also assisted MTC by updating their website and more! Overall, interning at Make The Change has shown us how a social enterprise functions and the potential each and everyone of us has to create positive change in the community and beyond. This multifaceted programme has pushed us to develop our critical thinking and acted as a safe space for us to explore our interests, which is something we are very thankful for. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity that has proven to be a memorable one. We couldn’t have asked for a more meaningful way to spend our June holidays. As they always say, once a changemaker, always a changemaker!

This November 2024, we had the pleasure of welcoming six enthusiastic students from Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) for their internship. Each student brought their own spark, energy, and creativity to our initiatives throughout the month. The students: Chloe, Van, Odelia, Megan, Anantika, and Charlotte —joined us across different weeks and contributed meaningfully across various projects and workshops. Chloe , our first intern, started even before November officially began. Despite being only a Secondary One student, she demonstrated an impressive level of commitment and independence, balancing school responsibilities with her internship both remotely and in-person. Chloe supported external activities, helped design brochures for our programmes, handled data entry, and volunteered during our Digital Arts For All sessions. Her dedication and proactive spirit were deeply appreciated by the entire team. Anantika  joined in the first week of November and quickly impressed us with her artistic flair. She created custom digital stickers for our media programmes, imaginative visuals that will continue to be used in our future content and workshops. By the second week of November, we welcomed Van, Odelia, Megan, and Charlotte , who jumped straight into hands-on volunteering activities. They supported our Digital Drawing Workshop for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)  held at the Enabling Village, assisted in our iPad for Learning sessions for teachers at Qihua Primary School, and contributed to senior workshops at various active ageing centres focused on digital literacy and online safety. A highlight for many was the opportunity to connect and collaborate with students from different schools through our Youth For Change  interactive workshop. These inter-school bonds created a memorable and empowering experience, showing how young people from different schools can come together with a shared purpose to drive social impact. Van, Odelia, Reese & Amanda (from left to right) We also want to give a special shoutout to two amazing Youth For Change teams, Project Unbottled  and Project Hustle , for being a part of this changemaker journey. Their presence and initiative were an inspiration to their peers. It was a month of growth not just for our team but for the students too, who gained firsthand experience in community work, tech-enabled education, and inclusive engagement. To our RGS interns, thank you for your time, heart, and willingness to learn. We’re so glad to have been a part of your journey!

What does it mean to walk alongside someone in their moment of greatest need? For the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Singapore , it means offering help, hope, and dignity to refugees and displaced people—no matter who they are or where they come from. A Catholic organisation with a global mission, JRS is part of a larger network that accompanies, serves, and advocates for people who have been forced to flee their homes. In Singapore, JRS operates as a proud member of CHARIS  (Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore), the humanitarian arm of the Catholic Church. Together, they extend a compassionate hand to communities affected by displacement, conflict, and crisis. Honouring Resilience Through Art Each year on June 20th , the world comes together to mark World Refugee Day —a time to reflect on the courage, struggles, and hopes of millions of refugees around the globe. For 2025, JRS Singapore hosted a Digital Art Competition  to commemorate this important day, calling on the public to express solidarity in creative and meaningful ways. As partners for this initiative, we had the honour of serving as judges for the competition. We selected winners based on three key criteria: creativity, message, and impact . The submissions moved us deeply—each one telling a unique story that captured the strength and resilience of refugee communities. The winning designs were nothing short of powerful. Through bold colours, symbolic imagery, and heartfelt captions, these artworks shed light on the journey of displacement and the unwavering spirit that persists in the face of adversity. To learn more about the winning entries, the artists behind them, do check out their social media platforms ! Though World Refugee Day 2025 has passed, the need to stand in solidarity with refugees continues. Through creativity, compassion and every day actions, we can keep their voices heard and their stories seen.

In June 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting a student, Jhananya, from Singapore Chinese Girls’ School  for a two-week internship at Make The Change. Though brief, she had a fulfilling experience learning various skills and connecting with the people around her. Jhananya's Involvement One of the highlights of the experience was taking part in the Digital Arts For All (DAFA) Workshop  at Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore (MDAS). Jhananya volunteered at MDAS and assisted the beneficiaries. This hands-on involvement served as an excellent opportunity for her to gain a profound sense of empathy and have a deeper understanding of the challenges they face in daily life. Also, this gave her a renewed appreciation for accessibility in the arts. Another key experience was the Procreate Workshop at Apple Orchard as part of the Creative Confidence activity .  During the session, Jhananya had the opportunity to discover how drawing on Procreate empowers artistic and imaginative expression. This workshop sparked insights into the scope of creativity in technology. Jhananya was then encouraged to use the knowledge gained in this workshop to brainstorm solutions that help students feel less stressed during examinations. She fulfilled the assignment by presenting a thoughtful visual in the form of a drawing illustrating one of the myriad solutions brainstormed. It addressed a common and relatable issue faced by many students by blending arts and empathy.  Through these enriching experiences, Jhananya was not only able to develop her artistic and technological abilities, but also grew communication and innovation skills, thus emerging with a more confident voice. Going Above and Beyond Jhananya stood out for her genuine commitment to understanding MTC and how social enterprises worked. Her eagerness to gain insights into what working life truly entails was evident as she frequently asked thoughtful questions about working culture and day-to-day operations. She even volunteered her Saturday to support the MTC team at the NTU Social Science Challenge Networking Day, highlighting her unwavering dedication towards making a meaningful impact.  Beyond that, Jhananya’s positive energy was contagious. Her efforts to encourage others, foster a sense of camaraderie and take the lead in group settings helped the June interns grow more bonded. Her qualities indeed reflect the very essence of the Changemaker skillsets  we aim to cultivate in our interns.  Jhananya's Reflection "The various tasks that were given to us helped to train us to expand our worldview and to think more critically about the various challenges faced by various groups in the community around us." Despite some of the initial challenges faced, Jhananya took them in her stride, seeking support from the mentors and her fellow interns. From the chaotic lunches and insightful conversations to working together on various tasks, she found her experience to be extremely beneficial and fun.  We are heartened to see how open she has been in embracing different working styles and exploring multiple perspectives in various situations, and we look forward to welcoming more interns in 2nd half of 2025!

Jacky, Rachel & Nabilah (from left to right) In June 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting two students from Etonhouse International School  for a three-day internship. During these three days, they attended a workshop and worked on a Social Innovation project. Overall, they had a rich and fun-filled experience with Make The Change (MTC). Reimagine Change with Design Thinking Through an interactive Social Innovation workshop, they explored key concepts such as social entrepreneurship, social innovation, and social enterprise. They eagerly worked on their real-world project  about water scarcity and undernourishment. They made extensive use of design thinking to come up with two solutions to address these issues – a water sensor and hybrid food technology. After that, they did prototyping and presented their products enthusiastically. With the feedback given, they demonstrated a thoughtful and detailed approach to improving their work. They reflected on their progress and research, and were appreciative of the opportunity to explore real-world issues in depth. The highlight of their project was learning how to develop practical and feasible solutions that could benefit the community in the long run.  Their Reflections “I gained many valuable experiences – such as learning how to cooperate with others and how to identify global problems…” – Jacky “I truly enjoyed my time at MTC, and I plan to apply the skills I’ve gained, especially in critical thinking, creativity, and communication, to future projects and in school.” – Rachel Jacky and Rachel certainly learnt many useful skills and are empowered to contribute more to their school and community. Their journey reminds us that even short-term internships can bring about many small yet meaningful experiences. We hope that they will continue to explore their passions and create innovative solutions as young changemakers of our future!

Bella, Ru En, Deshna, Gwendolyn, Nathaniel, Jayden (from left to right) Six students from Serangoon Garden Secondary School completed a week-long internship (Young Changemaker Programme). Let's hear from some of them as they highlight the variety of skills they were able to hone through the program, as well as the significant contributions they made to the organisation.  Students' Reflections "I learnt so many new things about this company (Make The Change) and I learnt more about my strengths and what I am good at. They are an amazing company and I would do it again!" (Gwendolyn) "I've learnt how to work with people with different backgrounds. I have also learnt more about my skills and improved on them, as well as come up with solutions for different innovative social areas such as animal welfare." (Bella) Students developed their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as they had to identify the social challenges faced by different communities, whilst ideating solutions. A Meaningful Journey  Through the internship, the students were able to get a taste of what it is like to run a social enterprise in Singapore and conduct initiatives to benefit various vulnerable groups. To find out more about the other stories Young Changemaker Programme, read here !

Note taking has been one of the longest and most popularly used methods for studying across generations for decades. However, as we step into the digital age, note taking has evolved and integrated itself into the digital space. There are now dozens of apps available on the market to create notes, organise notes or even generate notes. Note taking can be intensely personal, with different people preferring various mediums or forms. Everyone has their own note taking rituals, whether that is writing things down or typing it into a document with just a few bullet points and text. So what is the best digital app for you? Here are the Top 5 Digital Note taking apps in 2025.  What makes the best note taking app? Note taking apps have to be good at the features that they claims to have Every note taking app has its speciality and unique style. If a note taking app is not good at what it claims to do, then it becomes clear that the app has no profound value to add to your set of digital tools. As simple as it may seem, many apps fail to fulfil this simple criteria. Look out for the apps just looking to get clicks and not delivering on their promises.  It has to be easy and quick to use  I’m sure that we have all experienced having to scramble to take notes spontaneously such as when we get an unexpected phone call. It's no secret that we need to be prepared to have our notes anywhere and at any time. So what good is an app that doesn't deliver on this? Penning down quick notes shouldn't be just scraps of papers or having to struggle with terrible user experience. It should be convenient and quick to use.  It has to be accessible and flexible  Adding on to what was said before, apps that do not require the internet could be useful when you are on the go. Whether that is when you are on the train or at a restaurant, your digital note taking tools should cater to your locational needs.  What are the Top 5 note taking apps? Freeform : An effective collaborative tool to illustrate and map out concepts Notion : Your digital workspace or digital ‘brain’ to organise your professional or personal life  Apple Notes : A highly integrated digital note taking app that can be used on any apple device OneNote  : A more corporate note taking app that has a more minimalistic and professional feel to it.  Obsidian : a highly customisable and expandable app that helps you to create an integrated digital workspace Obsidian like notion, is an app that strives to try and create your entire life in a digital sense, and it succeeds in doing so.  Which app should you choose?  Freeform:  Pros:  Freeform has a  highly expandable and unstructured canvas , allowing for people to easily organise and map out ideas. It also offers a collaborative approach, with multiple people being able to work together on a singular board, making it a  useful workplace tool . It also has a good i ntegration of text and markup  notes, allowing for someone to combine the two effortlessly. Offering various desired features such as i nserting images  also makes freeform a desirable tool.  Cons: Freeform is a platform specific  app for Apple. Thus, it may be difficult as a large workplace application especially considering that its main selling point is being a collaborative tool . Unless your school, institution or workspace is exclusively apple, freeform may not be the choice for you.  Notion :  Pros: Notion serves as almost a second brain , organising all your projects , schedules , and notes  into a single platform . Notion serves as a collaborative tool  as well, having team note taking features and databases  available for you to create. Notion serves as a one stop shop for all ; digital dashboard, project management, personal planning and more. It also embraces AI tools , with a lot of features dedicated to using AI to make your digital space easier  and to lighten  your workload as well. Notion also has a free version , making it cost friendly. Cons: If you are looking for just a note taking app, Notion might be a bit too overwhelming  and unnecessary  for you. In the case that you just need a platform to store and organise your notes, you may be better off with simpler  apps such as goodnotes. If you are someone that wants Notion but with the added ability to customise  your interface  or have more features similar to evernote, Obsidian (also on this list) may be a better fit for you.  Apple Notes :  Pros:  Apple notes, while being platform specific  as well, still has a huge benefit for apple users  and that is the seamless integration , making it easy to access your notes from anywhere  and from any device , which as discussed earlier, is an immense advantage  for an app to have. Furthermore, being part of a large corporation allows it to consistently improve  itself with features like tags , collaboration  and the ability  to combine audio and visuals  into your notes as well. While one could argue that other apps like Bear have the same function while serving multiple operating systems, Apple notes still have a leg up for being free  and built in .  Cons: Getting Apple Notes to work for android  devices is a lost cause and a waste of time . If you are a person that owns different types of devices, Apple Notes may not  be the best service for you. However, if you own any Apple Device, Notes can be a quick and easy  option for you to go to.  Obsidian :  Pros: Obsidian allows you to customise  anything you want while providing you with the basic functions  of any digital note taking app. It has everything  imaginable such as AI Chatbots , a completely personalised approach to the interface , as well as organising your life and notes into one seamless  platform. A unique  feature of obsidian is the ability to cross link  between notes using hyperlinks . This could be useful when dealing with large projects  with many moving parts. It could also be useful if you have many components  or perspectives  to your notes that you need to explore. For example, If you need to compile a list of book reviews for a subject with a list of books, the hyperlinks could be used to separate  the two parts. Just as a cherry on tip, obsidian is free  for personal use. If you are willing to put in the time and effort , obsidian has the potential to change  your digital workspace entirely .   Cons: It requires you to have to be dedicated  to discovering how to use its interface and tools  effectively. If you are someone who feels that the learning curve  that obsidian poses is not  appealing or worth it, you should probably give this a miss .  OneNote :  Pros:   Microsoft OneNote is on the market to be the best  notetaking app of all time. This is a must , especially if you are someone who is exploring the digital note taking space  for the first time . OneNote is incredibly flexible , adapting  to your preferred   design for the interface  as well as your specific needs . You can integrate images , toggle between using a stylus for both  handwritten notes and text based   notes, as well as the added benefit that it is compatible with any system . The canvas itself has no defined structure , allowing you to add  the notes anywhere  on the page and arrange  it however you like, making it perfect  for students  who have to take long  and different forms  of notes such as mindmaps and lecture notes . Furthermore, in this evolving day and age the integration of AI  through the collaboration with copilot serves as an additional bonus  to an already comprehensive app. The most attractive benefit is that it is free , making it highly accessible. OneNote is also extremely integrated  with other apps such as notion or google calendar, helping you create the perfect digital workspace  for yourself and your needs.  Cons: While OneNote seems perfect on paper, we have to consider the storage  that it may take up. While it does feed off the free 5GB OneDrive storage, those with a large volume  of notes or larger files may need additional storage which has to be purchased at a cost. Furthermore, it could slow down your system  if the storage is exceptionally large in proportion.  Other apps to consider Goodnotes : A digital note taking tool that prioritises handwritten notes with tools to aid the user to draw on their screens. It is suitable for those who feel that writing is the best and easiest method of note taking. However, it is important to note that you have to have the right tools to be able to utilise this tool effectively. It may be difficult for computer and phone users to make the greatest gain from this app as possible.  Joplin : A free app similar to Evernote that is useful when dealing with books and notes. However, joplin has a huge advantage over evernote as it supports markdown, meaning that it combines the note taking aspect of the book into the same file.  Which app should you choose?  If you value a simple but integrated platform, go for something that is more platform specific such as freeform or Apple Notes .  If you want to expand into the territory of creating a digital workspace or life, consider Notion  or Obsidian   If you just want a simple yet integrated, personalised and specialised app for note taking Microsoft OneNote , Joplin  or Goodnotes  is the way to go.  Digital note taking is just as personal or detail oriented as handwritten or material notes so its important to find the best note taking app for you. Good note taking apps will feel natural and easy to incorporate into your daily life. In all, trial and error and see what works!

In June 2025, we had two batches of students from Hwa Chong International School for our Young Changemaker Programme . Each individual brought their own unique strengths, and energy to the team, and we couldn't be more grateful. Batch 1, Matthew & Tomi Our first pair of interns hit the ground running with a strong focus on digital storytelling and content creation. Matthew, along with Temasek Junior College students, took charge of the social media marketing to curate engaging content for our social media platforms. From brainstorming reel concepts to executing them, his contribution helped to amplify our outreach. His understanding of what resonates with Gen Z audiences brought a creative spin to our marketing efforts. Check out the vidoes on our Instagram ! Tomi, on the other hand, played a pivotal role in refreshing our website visuals. He was not only behind the camera, but also took the initiative in directing scenes to ensure they reflected our brand values authentically. His attention to detail and creative direction helped us capture the spirit of our work in a whole new light. The highlight of their week was attending a Today at Apple workshop at Orchard, where they learned how to use Procreate on iPad. Through experimentation with brushes, colours and textures, each student created a self-portrait reflecting their personality and imagination. Batch 2, Qixuan & Ziyuan Our second batch of students continued the momentum with a focus on creative skills. As part of their experience, they delivered a presentation on Empathy Mapping, exploring how understanding the emotions, needs and behaviours of others can shape more inclusive initiatives. In addition, they supported our team by assisting with database clean-up, a task that might seem mundane, but is crucial to the long-term efficiency of our operations. A Standout Moment Tomi, Jhananya, Nabilah, Pedro (from left to right) Among our interns, one moment that truly stood out was when Tomi volunteered to support our team at the AIESEC Social Science Challenge Networking Day, a weekend event that brought together changemakers and social impact leaders. His willingness to step up outside of his internship hours, contribute meaningfully, and represent the organisation speaks volumes about his character and leadership potential. A Grateful Reflection "Throughout the internship, I faced challenges like unfamiliar tasks and tight deadlines, but I learned to adapt quickly and stay open to feedback. This experience not only gave me practical skills but also helped me grow personally. I left the internship feeling more capable and motivated." - Qixuan "There were times when things didn’t go as planned, but I learned how to stay calm, find solutions, and support my teammates. I now understand better how real-world work differs from school, and I feel more prepared for future challenges." - Ziyuan What began as a short internship experience turned into a journey of shared learning, creativity, and purpose. We were deeply inspired by the ideas and energy these four young individuals brought to the table, and the experience reminded us of the importance of mentorship, hands-on opportunities, and trusting youth with real responsibilities. To the HCIS interns, thank you for your contributions! You’ve left a mark on our team, and we hope this experience has sparked something meaningful in your journey ahead.