Singapore International Foundation

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Singapore International Foundation The SIF aims to build eco-systems to catalyse change for a better world.
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We bring together people from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors across countries to harness the collective strength to address shared environmental and social challenges

What does an F1 pit crew have in common with making a difference across borders? 🏁 More than you might think. Behind eve...
11/10/2026

What does an F1 pit crew have in common with making a difference across borders? 🏁

More than you might think.

Behind every great race is a team working in sync, each person playing a part to keep things moving. The same goes for every SIF experience: it's shaped by the people who walk the journey with you.

So, tell us: who's been part of your pit crew?

09/10/2026

After joining the inaugural edition of Asia’s Rising Circle (ARC) as a participant, Dominique Anne Suratos Aluquin (Nikki), a global health researcher at the National University of Singapore, will be joining ARC once again later this year. This time, she will be helping others find their ARC as a Human Library Book!

For Nikki, it is an opportunity to support to the ARC community, share her perspectives with a new group of young changemakers, and continue the conversations and exchanges that began with the first edition.

She joins a growing community of alumni across SIF’s youth programmes who continue to contribute, share their experiences, and learn from one another beyond the programmes that first brought them together.

As SIF marks its 35th anniversary this year, we're proud have alumni members across our many programmes, cohorts and borders join us in this year of growth, giving back, and making a difference.

Nikki's found her ARC. What will yours look like?

ASEAN’s influence is not about being the biggest player in the room. At the heart of its role is ASEAN centrality — and ...
08/10/2026

ASEAN’s influence is not about being the biggest player in the room.

At the heart of its role is ASEAN centrality — and the trust built among member states over decades of working through differences.

It is a reminder that influence can also come from being a credible bridge, keeping space open for dialogue and cooperation amid competition among major powers.

These were among the ideas discussed during SIF’s Journalist Visit Programme (JVP), themed ‘ASEAN Insights’.

At SIF, we work at the people-to-people level of that same regional landscape — creating opportunities for relationships, understanding and dialogue to grow across borders.

Read more here: https://www.sif.org.sg/Blogs/The-Threads-That-Hold-ASEAN-Together

Learning together also means finding new ways to see how far we’ve come. 🇸🇬🤝🇻🇳Over the course of Training Healthcare Pro...
07/10/2026

Learning together also means finding new ways to see how far we’ve come. 🇸🇬🤝🇻🇳

Over the course of Training Healthcare Professionals to Advance Nephrology Care (THAN) project, healthcare professionals from Singapore and Vietnam have exchanged experiences, shared practices and learnt alongside one another.

The latest chapter offered a chance to see that learning in action, and for our Singapore International Volunteers, to reflect on their own learning from working across cultures and healthcare settings.

As one volunteer shared: “It was rewarding to witness how the training programme had translated into tangible improvements in their clinical practice.”

Swipe to see this next step in the THAN journey.

What holds ASEAN together? In an ASEAN Insights-focused edition of SIF’s Journalist Visit Programme (JVP), experts and j...
01/10/2026

What holds ASEAN together?

In an ASEAN Insights-focused edition of SIF’s Journalist Visit Programme (JVP), experts and journalists explored how ASEAN’s Political-Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural pillars work together to support the region.

One takeaway: ASEAN’s strength lies not only in deeper integration, but also in staying open to the world.

And beyond geopolitics and trade, ASEAN’s Socio-Cultural Community brings regional cooperation closer to everyday life — through areas such as health, education, culture and social cohesion.

For SIF, this people-to-people dimension matters. For 35 years, we have built connections across the region through exchanges, volunteering, professional collaboration and programmes like JVP.

Because ASEAN is held together not only by agreements, but by relationships.

Read more: https://www.sif.org.sg/Blogs/Threads-of-Learning-What-Singaporeans-Gain-from-International-Volunteering

Distance couldn’t stop this conversation. The latest Youth Meets session brought SIF youth programme alumni together onl...
29/09/2026

Distance couldn’t stop this conversation.

The latest Youth Meets session brought SIF youth programme alumni together online for a time of meaningful discussion.

This time, the theme was leadership lessons learned; and empathy came up again and again. Rather than a typical panel discussion, we tried something different: panellists shared a bit of their own experience, then turned the question to the participants. This created an opportunity for everyone to share and exchange their perspectives.

Participants spoke about creating safe spaces for honesty, empathy that doesn’t excuse accountability, and as well as the need to shift from goal-oriented accountability to values-oriented accountability.

Instead of looking for answers, the conversation sought to explore the questions together. That's what Youth Meets is for: a space where young leaders can think out loud, learn from one another, and plant the seeds of friendships that outlast the session itself.

How do we lead and collaborate effectively across different communities and contexts? We were glad to exchange perspecti...
24/09/2026

How do we lead and collaborate effectively across different communities and contexts?

We were glad to exchange perspectives with a group of eight educators from primary and secondary schools who visited SIF as part of a professional learning programme organised by the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore.

The group comprised Ministry of Education, Singapore's Head of Departments and middle leaders working across areas including Humanities, Character and Citizenship Education, Islamic Studies, EdTech and Innovation, and Special Educational Needs. Despite their diverse portfolios, they share a common commitment to supporting the holistic development of students through inclusive, values-based, and future-ready education.

Through conversations with our team, they learnt more about SIF’s work across the region, including our Education projects and the experiences of our specialist volunteers who share their professional expertise with overseas communities. We also discussed how volunteers work alongside local partners to exchange knowledge, strengthen capabilities, and adapt their approaches to different cultural and community contexts.

The exchange sparked thoughtful conversations on leadership, collaboration, and the parallels between our work — particularly how we can empower the people we work with, create supportive environments for learning and growth, and help them navigate an increasingly complex world.

We hope the conversations and insights from the visit will contribute to the educators’ continued learning as they lead, support, and develop their school communities.

Technology can connect us across thousands of kilometres. But trust? That still takes a human touch.For Quah Zheng Wei, ...
22/09/2026

Technology can connect us across thousands of kilometres. But trust? That still takes a human touch.

For Quah Zheng Wei, Co-founder and CEO of Accredify, building a career across borders has taught him that some of the most important lessons cannot be picked up from a screen or textbook.

They come from learning to read the room, understanding perspectives different from our own, and sometimes putting ourselves in situations where we’re the ones who don’t understand.

At this year’s Asia’s Rising Circle (ARC), Zheng Wei brings these experiences to young leaders from ASEAN, China, and India, sharing why cross-cultural agility matters and what it takes to build trust and work effectively across differences.

His engagement with ARC also continues a connection with SIF that began through the ASEAN Youth Fellowship (AYF). As an AYF alumnus, Zheng Wei continues to contribute his perspectives and experiences to SIF’s wider youth network, creating opportunities for learning and exchange across programmes.

As SIF celebrates 35 years of bringing people together across cultures, we look forward to seeing how connections like these continue to grow and inspire others.

Zheng Wei found his ARC. What will yours look like?

Want to hear more from Zheng Wei? Read his SIF blog: https://www.sif.org.sg/Blogs/Rethinking-Technology-for-Inclusion-Across-ASEAN

How can youth empowerment move from self to society, and create positive impact that strengthen entire communities? At ...
09/09/2026

How can youth empowerment move from self to society, and create positive impact that strengthen entire communities?

At the first edition of Asia’s Rising Circle (ARC), we explored what it takes to turn individual growth into collective well-being.

During a panel discussion on youth empowerment as a catalyst for community well-being, panellists highlighted the importance of listening to young people’s dreams and aspirations. They also spoke about creating opportunities and mentorship, as well as empowering them with the skills and confidence to become changemakers. Just as importantly, sustainable impact cannot be achieved alone: it requires trust, collaboration, and an ecosystem of partners working towards common ground.

These reflections resonated with ARC alumna, Bernice, who writes about the ripple effect of youth empowerment in her blog, From Self to Society. Drawing on her ARC experience, she reflects on how personal development can flourish within supportive communities and spread through empathy, mutual encouragement and cross-cultural collaboration — with each empowered young person becoming a source of strength for others.

🔗 Read Bernice’s blog to discover her key takeaways from ARC, and why youth growth never exists in isolation.

This November, ARC returns for its second edition, bringing together youth leaders from across Asia to explore employability and adaptability — and how we can stay resilient, collaborative, and future-ready, while navigating change.

Stay tuned, as the next circle of changemakers comes together.

03/09/2026

This Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the teachers who keep asking themselves: How can I do better for my students? ❤️

For Ratika Philman Jong and Sophia Seranta Anak Eklip Briki, two Maths PLUS Master Trainers from Sarawak, a study visit to Singapore gave them the chance to step outside their usual routines and spend time with fellow educators.

Different classrooms. Different experiences. Plenty to exchange.

And sometimes, seeing how someone else approaches the same work can give you a fresh perspective on your own.

Here’s to Ratika, Sophia and all the teachers who keep reflecting, sharing and showing up for their students. Happy Teachers’ Day! 🍎

👉 Read Ratika’s story from the Maths PLUS Study Visit: https://www.sif.org.sg/Blogs/Redefining-Success-in-a-Mathematics-Classroom

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