Cultivate SG

04/06/2026

“A lot of things we can do better and help one another if we start to forge this kampung spirit back again.”

Kelvin Seah, who attended our latest Cultivate Commune about sandwiched families, believes deeply in creating closer friendships in the community that can be helpful in times of need.

02/06/2026

“The relationships that you build with the elderly, with the children, are the most important.”

Tan Xue Ting, who was a speaker at our latest Cultivate Commune on sandwiched families, emphasised how trials in caring for different generations can result in stronger families.

31/05/2026

“Have fun!”

Caring for the young and old entails many responsibilities and considerations. For Colin Ng, the journey is all about doing what works best for the family.

Colin Ng, who was a speaker at our latest Cultivate Commune about sandwiched families, is a product leader with extensive experience at companies like Grab and Western Union. He and his wife care for a son and three elderly parents.

29/05/2026

“Do the best you can. Roll with it.” “Embrace the unknown.”

“Finding people that you can feel comfortable with, and share your journey with, is important.”

These were just some of the many inspiring quotes shared at our Cultivate Commune on the topic of "sandwiched families".

With delayed marriages and parenthood, low fertility rates and a rapidly ageing population, the number of sandwiched couples who have to care for both young and old is projected to increase. On 16 May, two speakers - Colin Ng and Xue Ting - shared from their respective family situations having to care for both young and old, and left us with much encouragement and food for thought.

🔗 Read more here:

With delayed marriages and parenthood, low fertility rates and a rapidly ageing population, the number of sandwiched couples who have to care for both young and old is projected to increase. At our Commune on 16 May, we had a candid and uplifting discussion with two speakers in these circumstances,....

13/05/2026

Professor Lily Kong, president of the Singapore Management University, cited our studies in this article “Can a 15-minute city push up a 0.87 fertility rate?”, to note that financial concerns remain significant among couples who are considering parenthood.

📖 For more details and insights into our findings, check out our latest study “Eyes on the Price”!

🔗 Read it today: https://cultivate.sg/research-recommend/eyes-on-the-price-supplementary-analysis-of-the-marriage-parenthood-and-success-survey-2025/

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today we appreciate mothers of every age and life season 🌷

May you continue to cultivate lots of love and strength in this mothering journey!

#2026

08/05/2026

NEW ARTICLE!

Out of care for their children, parents may use extra efforts to protect them. ❤️

With inspiration from Risky Play: An Ethical Challenge (Kvalnes and Sandseter 2023), we explore how, as a community, we can empower children to enjoy play and explore the world around them.

Read our article: https://cultivate.sg/how-helicopter-parenting-harms-children-and-the-culture/

04/05/2026

Our Executive Director Darius Lee shares his thoughts in the Straits Times Forum The Straits Times on two key focuses: What it truly takes to support parents in Singapore, and why normalising career detours is only part of the picture.

Real change begins with reshaping our attitudes toward marriage, parenthood, and the roles we play at home and at work.

🔗 Read his full letter: www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-career-detours-have-an-undeserved-bad-reputation

22/04/2026

Living in the “in-between” isn’t easy.

Distributing tasks between spouses. Caring for children while supporting ageing parents. Showing up at work while holding everything together at home.

In Singapore, over 100,000 households are part of this “sandwiched” reality.

Join us for Cultivate Commune - a breakfast conversation as we unpack the stress, sacrifice, and everyday realities of being caught in the middle.

Hear from Xue Ting and Colin as they share lived experiences of their respective sandwiched families and practical ways their families navigate careers, caregiving, and parenting.

🗓 16 May 2026 (Sat)
⏰ 10am – 12pm
📍 8 Burn Road, Trivex #10-15 (near Tai Seng MRT)

🔗 Register today at bit.ly/communemay26

SandwichGeneration

21/04/2026

How are places around the world faring in total fertility rate (TFR)? 👶🏻

The TFR of a population is the average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime.

With Singapore’s TFR of 0.87 in 2025, much conversation surrounds the issues of fertility, family and priorities in life.

May we continue to cultivate a culture of openness in dialogue with those around us! 🌱