Be Movement SG50 Issue

IN FOCUS : SINGAPORE
Newspaper Permit: 092/08/2015
Be Movement
www.be-movement.com
SINGAPOREAN
IDENTITY
EXPERIMENTAL
TRAVEL
To develop deep roots you

need to have locals who
speak the language, who
understand the culture, who
live in that space.
The moment you want to

be somebody, you are no
longer free.
Professor Wong Poh Kam,

Director of the NUS
Entrepreneurship Centre
Jiddu Krishnamurti,
Writer, speaker and
philosopher
ORGANISATIONS
COMPANIES
What is going to be the

future? How we will organise
ourselves? For Singapore,
that is the most challenging
point for the nation and for
the coming generation.
We want to keep our

presence open in each
country for as long as
possible. That shows
commitment.
Fumio Otani,
President of JCCI, Singapore
A Socially Conscious Publication

www.be-movement.com
movement
Celebrating the courage to be
50 RED DOTS
AROUND THE WORLD
Singapores 50th birthday
SGD 18.90
VOL. 6
Yukiyasu Nishio,
GM of BTMU,
Singapore Branch
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Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be
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Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be 3
ADRIAN YAP, JAPAN, PG 31
AIHUI ONG, US, PG 33
BEN CHEONG, THAILAND, PG 69
CAROL TAN, US, PG 35
CHERYL CHIN, US, PG 78
CHEW CHIA SHAO WEI, US, PG 73
CHRISTINE CHIA, US, PG 74
CIEL LIU BEI, CANADA, PG 62
CLARA YEE, UK, PG 26
10 DARRELL ANG, FRANCE, PG 76

11 DIANA SAW, CAMBODIA, PG 182
12 EVAN FOO, US, PG 63
13 FAIROZ AHMAD, INDONESIA, PG 197
14 FIONA SZE-LORRAIN, FRANCE, PG 66
15 GEOFFREY K. SEE, NORTH KOREA, PG 12
16 GOURI MIRPURI, INDONESIA, PG 196
17 HAKIM YOUNG, AFGHANISTAN, PG 22
18 HANJIN TAN, HONG KONG, PG 20
19 HIU ZHI WEI, US, PG 148
20 IVYONE KHOO, UK, PG 71
21 JACK SIM, INDIA & WORLDWIDE, PG 194
22 JANANI SRIDHAR, US, PG 68
23 JEANINE LIM, NEW ZEALAND, PG 109
24 JENNIFER LIM, UK, PG 157
25 JOHN CLANG, US, PG 159
26 JON MAX GOH, US, PG 106
27 JOSEPHINE TAN, INDIA, PG 153
5 0 RED DOTS
If courage was a
Singaporean person,
who would it be?
To celebrate SG50,
Be Movement uncovers
50 red dots whose
courage and action goes
beyond our shores
28 KATHY XU, INDONESIA, PG 115

29 LAURENTIA TAN, UK, PG 178
30 LEE MIN XUAN, US, PG 180
31 MARK SIN, US, PG 151
32 MINA ELLEN KAYE, US, PG 108
33 MICHAEL ONG, VIETNAM, PG 116
34 NATASHA LATIFF, AFGHANISTAN, PG 120
35 NAZYA AYAZ, US, PG 28
36 ND CHOW, JAPAN, PG 111
37 NELLIE HUANG, SPAIN, PG 118
38 NICHOLAS LEONG, KENYA, PG 155
39 RAMESH MEYYAPPAN, SCOTLAND, PG 14
40 SHARLIZA RAHMAN, UK, PG 142
41 SHARON LOW, AFGHANISTAN, PG 186
42 SHER CHEW, US, PG 113
43 SIOW LEE-CHIN, CHINA, PG 145
44 STEFEN CHOW, CHINA, PG 122
45 TAM WAI JIA, UGANDA, PG 16
46 TING SIEW LEE, TIMOR-LESTE, PG 191
47 VEMALA VALAS, INDIA, PG 149
48 WAN FONG WOO, GHANA, PG 188
49 XIE SHAOGUANG, MALAYSIA, PG 210
50 ZHANG TINGJUN, SEA, PG 144
Written by ERICA LIM & CASSIE LIM

Edited by MICHAEL LAIDLAW, KAH GAY NG,
DANIEL WHITTINGTON & CASSIE LIM
Photography by DAVID LALANNE
CONTENT
PAGE
PEOPLE
EXPERIMENTAL
TRAVEL
POEMS
COMPANIES
ORGANISATIONS
58
82
38
90
40
170
More Than a Scholarship
St Johns Island
Through the Window
(Joshua Liaw)
by Cassie Lim
by Nawan Poovarawan
A Safe Harbour
(BTMU)
Making Giving Easier

(GIVEasia)
by Jacinta Plucinski
Photography by Nicholas Koh
by Cassie Lim & Alexis Lion
Adding Colour to the

Kaleidoscope
(JCCI Foundation Singapore)
& Simon Tay
by Cassie Lim
172
176
96
Horoscope
(Lim Kian Fong)
COVER &
BACK COVER
by Kah Gay Ng
Invisible Influence
(BTMU)
Photography by David Lalanne
60
A Life Changing Experience
Take the Chance. Make the Change

(M.A.D. School)
42
Insights from Fumio Otani
(JCCI Singapore)
by Jacinta Plucinski & Rachel Ong
134
126
206
125
Building an Ecosystem
(Prof. Wong Poh Kam, Director of
NUS Entrepreneurship Centre)
Scene Singapore
Songs Beneath the Strings
Photography by Jon Siegel
by Michael Laidlaw
Capturing Great Moments

(NIKON SG)
Edited by Kah Gay Ng
by Miriam Yeo
200 & 201

Photography by Simon Tay
Building Indispensible
Relationships
(NUS LKYPP)
162
A World of its Own
(Asiamalls)
202
48
by Cassie Lim
Melting Pot
52
Nurturing Hidden Talent
(SDSC)
164
Farewell Note
Be Movement Battleship Island

Contest
(Liang Court & Right-Space)
by Cassie Lim
by Cassie Lim & Jacinta Plucinski
210
CONTRIBUTORS
Be Movement is a movement to celebrate the courage to be.
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inspiring stories and photography in a socially conscious publication. We also cover
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Be Movement would not be what you see now if not for all
our contributors, interviewees and the following good folks
who gave us a hand when we needed it most: Cindy Ng,
Lawrence Lim, Nora Tann, Charlie Supapodok, Prof. Noam
Chomsky, Prof. Wong Poh Kam, Hakuei Kosato, Haruhisa
Takeuchi, Naohiro Tsutsumi, Ando Toshihide, Junichi Sasaki,
Junichi Azuma, Nagao Kentaro, Ringo Lee, Goto Shiho, Jenny
Lim, Heather Chua, Stephanie Wong, Yuki Taniguchi, Misako
Ito, Charmaine Low, Prisca Lim, Jolia Tan, Low Li Li, John
Yang Jiashun, Mark Tan, Richard Tan, Syarikat Evergreen, Loi
San San, Anthony Ang, Mic Tay, Aloysius Chong, Samantha
Chan, Sunny Ng, Valerie Goh, Doris Wong, Jeremy Wong,
Jeffrey Wong, Marianne Wong, Alvin Chia, Fanny Chia, Choo
Phaik Ai, Daniel Whittington, Erica Law, Nadia Dawood,
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Goh, Dulcia Lim, Willie Loo, Eve Chen, Margaret Tan, Vicky
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Love, Kairos, Rajesh and Diana Sabari, Huiwen, Gina Lau,
Chicabee and Singapore Polytechnic team - a very BIG
THANK YOU to all for supporting Be Movement.
ISSN- 2301
3990 Newspaper
Be Movement
Celebrating
the CouragePermit
to Be 092/08/2015 Official Print Partner Syarikat Evergreen
Design & Layout Cleo Ngiam
DAVID LALANNE
NAWAN POOVARAWAN
Associate Partner
Official Photographer
Associate Partner
No matter where in the world

Jacinta is, a little part of
Singapore remains with her. As
her first overseas home nearly
10 years ago, she credits this
little red dot for launching her
on an international journey
of serendipitous mishaps and
intrigue, connecting her with
remarkable and life-long friends
and expanding her vocabulary
with words like aiyoh and
wah ! Thank you and
Happy SG50 Singapore!
David first discovered

Singapore and its tropical
weather 11 years ago. Little
did he know at that time that
this connection would become
a life-long affair. Thank you,
Singapore, for the beautiful
friendships, the lovely
memories and the amazing
food. Happy SG50 and see you
soon!
16 years ago, Singapore

offered Noom an opportunity
to live overseas for the first
time in her life for 5 months. 7
years later she returned. This
time Singapore offered her
an opportunity to define her
individuality, uniqueness and
maturity. Thanks to Singapore,
she found herself, her passion,
her life-long friendships, and her
partner for life.
BE FRIENDS
HARD COPIES
SGD 18.90 / issue
JACINTA PLUCINSKI
Web Development Cleo Ngiam, Gedas Vol and SOSdigital
MICHAEL LAIDLAW
KAH GAY NG
CLEO NGIAM
Editor
Editor
Designer
Michael iscurrently working

at the International Criminal
Court.I love words and they
hopefully rest easy under my
fingertips.The spirit of BEing
is a journey of truth within and
without.You may be reluctant,
but as Winston Churchillonce
said, I am always ready to learn,
although I do not always like
being taught.
At Ethos Books, Kah Gay works

with a team different in their
individual talents and similarly
committed to publishing voices
and stories that matter. He
hopes that SG50 will prompt
Singapore to not forget the
contributions and stories of
people, regardless of their
country of origin.
Cleos goal in life is to wander,

ponder and possibly conquer
design, food, comedy and
travel. From product to digital
to user research, she has spent
years in design and it still never
ceases to amaze her. So far
she has worked on a farm in
Sweden, built a playground in
Chile, mastered British food
in an English Bed & Breakfast,
exchanged knowledge in
Chicago and explored the world
with newfound backpackers.
DANIEL WHITTINGTON
NICHOLAS KOH
SIMON TAY
ERICA LIM
RACHEL ONG
Editor
Photographer
Photographer
Writer
Writer
Sailing, fencing, adventure and

rum are his passions, Daniel
could easily have been a pirate
in a former life. A lawyer by
training, Daniel forged his way in
the world of television and after
a decade working with major
industry players in the U.K, he
made the move to Singapore
in 2009. He now works for
an international broadcaster
liaising with documentary
makers across the Asia Pacific
region, ensuring that they
navigate the tricky world of
media law with aplomb.
After falling in love with nature

as a result of his rock-climbing
hobby, it was only a matter
of time before Nicholas fell
victim to the allure of solobackpacking. With the camera
playing Tonto to his Lone Ranger,
Nicholas aims to document
people and cultures wherever
he visits.
A self-taught street and

documentary photographer
who doesnt like to write bios.
Since picking up photography
in 2012, Simon has been using
traditional black and white film
as his main medium. He seeks to
use photography as a visual art
to translate the intangible.
Erica loves to read, converse

and dance. During her spare
time she can be found with her
friends, or watching RuPauls
Drag Race. She is constantly in
the process of defining her own
success. In-between attempts,
she naps.
JON SIEGEL
ALEXIS LION
MIRIAM YEO
CASSIE LIM
Photographer
Writer
Writer
Founder
Jon Siegel is a creative director

and photographer based in
Singapore. His life is a balance
between a love for digital
production design and directing
and a passion for explorative
photography. Through the
camera lens he chases unique
human interactions in hidden
places and spaces, weaving a
narrative that tells of his travels,
life and the people he meets.
Style trends. Musicals.

Museums. Cafs. Books. Music.
Knowledge. People. A lover
of many things, Alexis is often
known to be flaky and indecisive
to the people who know her
well. She also holds a Bachelor
in Communications in Media
Studies & Public Relations from
Murdoch University.
A student of English Literature,

Miriam finds resonance in
words and sees them as the
most lasting and elegant
way of communication.
Passionate about humanitarian,
environmental and cultural
causes, she wields words as a
tool to create stories to inspire.
Setting up Be Movement and

especially producing the SG50
issue is Cassies small way of
giving back to her home country
which has given her so much. It
is also a culmination of thoughts
from the wonderful team and
people whom she has met and
learnt from around the world.
Curiouser and curiouser, she
echoes Alices sentiments as her
journey continues.
Rachel majored in English

Language at the National
University of Singapore. Her
interests lie in craft making and
writing and she is fascinated
with both the animal kingdom
and the underwater world.
She hopes to one day bring
her varied interests together
to speak for the animals and
perform a greater role in the
conservation cause.
Photography Danny Santos II
50 RED DOTS
AROUND
THE WORLD
Written by CASSIE LIM
Edited by MICHAEL LAIDLAW
Photography by NICHOLAS KOH
At the beginning of this year we asked everyone

we knew, If courage was a Singaporean person
living and contributing overseas, who would it
be? Being such a small country that is invisible
and could only be represented by a red dot on
the world map, weve unearthed Singaporeans
thrown like dice from the sky around the globe.
Of diverse ages, ethnicities and fields, from North
Korea, to Uganda, to Afghanistan and big cities
in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the
places these people have gone and what they are
doing surprise us.
Having travelled and lived overseas for the most
part of my life, I am filled with an inexplicable
feeling of warmth whilst producing this special
SG50 issue with my team. I share many of the
sentiments expressed by these 50 red dots, from
being more appreciative of Singapore to loving
the freedom and space that comes from letting
go of our familiar shore. It is as if I have never felt
more Singaporean than when I am away from
Singapore.
10
The modern history of Singapore is intrinsically

linked with our first prime minister since
Independence 50 years ago, Lee Kuan Yew. There
was an outpouring of public grief, never seen
before on this island, at his funeral in March this
year. Much has been said and written about this
unique individual, who exemplified the courage
to be during the separation from Malaysia and
shaping Singapore to what it is today.
As the bubble burst, I began to see Singapore in relation to the world,

rather than the world in relation to Singapore. Consequently, I am filled
with a deep sense of pride and belonging to this tiny corner on earth.
As such a young country, weve come so far and we did the impossible.
We had nothing, not even sufficient water. Fast forward 50 years, with
the help of many people, companies and organisations, we are now a
model city state; one that has become the worlds most expensive city
for the second year running, according to research by the Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU).
In our race to be the best, the first-ever, the world number one,
Singapore has been busy broadcasting to the world how we have arrived
to this position, but being in places that are less developed, such as in
India, I am deeply humbled. If people can share a cup of chai amongst the
chaos of cows, stray dogs, trucks, tuk-tuks and detritus and smile
why arent Singaporeans smiling more when we are surrounded by shiny
buildings, clean paths, greenery and rubbish bins?
Since Be Movement is about celebrating the courage to be and
connecting different countries, we thought producing this SG50 issue
would be the best way for us to contribute to Singapores golden jubilee.
Rather than focusing on these 50 peoples achievements, awards won,
famous affiliations, we strip away the layers to hear their personal
insights, who they really are and their journey. Hopefully by peeling the
onion we can discover what it means to have the courage to be.
As a result of his policies, Ive received a bilingual

education that allows me to stand shoulder to
shoulder with people around the world. Growing up
in a harmonious multi-cultural environment, I was
surprised to find out that this is an exception to the
rule and not the norm globally. On the other hand,
it was hard for me to reconcile the open criticism
and debate of government policies in Western
countries, even on public television. Is that allowed?
While living in Holland, where anything goes, I
began to understand the importance of making
your own decisions and taking responsibility
for them, rather than being absolved of that
responsibility and being told what not to do.
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
from the train. The security staff stopped the

entire train, kicked everyone off and questioned
me with four accompanying soldiers. At first I
was scared for myself, then for my North Korean
guides.
GEOFFREY
K. SEE
12
I FEEL SG50 SHOULD BE A CAUSE FOR

CELEBRATION, BUT EVEN MORE SO a period
But then I got angry. While most of us live with

too much information, it was hard to imagine
that a small amount of knowledge could mean so
much to some people and yet be so out of reach.
This inspired me to create Choson Exchange to
bring entrepreneurship to North Korea through
economic policy, business and legal knowledge
sharing. In addition to training, I also seed and
mentor start-ups in the country.
NORTH KOREA & CHINA
Geoffrey K. Sees path to success

seems gilded. Ivy League schools
and scholarships abound. Rising
from humble beginnings - the
very definition of the Singaporean
dream - this clear-cut road to
a comfortable life left Geoffrey
feeling empty, especially because
there was much more he wanted to
accomplish. Overseas experiences
with inner-city poverty, violence
and an inquisitive North Korean
business undergraduate changed
his trajectory. Since his first visit
to North Korea in 2005, Geoffrey
persevered to set up the Choson
Exchange five years later in
2010. It is a gateway to business
and entrepreneurship for young
North Koreans, enabling close
to 100 North Koreans to visit
Singapore and has over 1,000
direct participants. Determined
and capable, Geoffrey uses his
opportunities to empower others,
instead of hoarding his success for
himself.
the trajectory we took, especially after working

in frontier economies where daily living is a
struggle for many people.
WHEN I MENTION ENTREPRENEURS AND

NORTH KOREA IN THE SAME LINE PEOPLE
I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A
REACT WITH DISBELIEF. But at many levels
SUMMER ACADEMY AT THE WHARTON SCHOOL
entrepreneurship is taking place and is changing

the country. Convincing people that this exists
and is important is difficult when elite politics,
the nuclear issue and images of goose-stepping
soldiers dominate our perception of the country.
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA IN

JUNIOR COLLEGE. At that time, Philadelphia was
considered too dangerous for teenagers to stay in
and we were housed off-campus in the suburbs.
Every morning we would be bussed through
North Philadelphia, a dilapidated and dangerous
part of town, to get to Penn. On one trip, I saw
a funeral march for a 12 year-old girl who was
gunned down in the area. This inspired me to learn
more about inner-city poverty. I yearned to get
involved with this community and to learn from it.
I received a partial scholarship from the University
of Pennsylvania and ended up overseas for my
undergraduate studies. A scholarship from Yale
University and work continue to keep me abroad.
WHEN I VISITED NORTH KOREA. TWO THINGS
HAPPENED TO CHANGE MY LIFE. I met a university
student who wanted to learn about business

and economics. She wanted to be a successful
businesswoman to show that females can be
business leaders in a patriarchal society, but she
could not get access to learning materials. On the
way out, I was briefly detained at the border. A
plainclothes security staff saw me taking pictures
OVER 1,000 NORTH KOREANS HAVE ATTENDED

CHOSON EXCHANGES PROGRAMMES, most
in the last three years. We have brought close

to 100 persons abroad to Vietnam, Malaysia
and Singapore for exposure. Many of these
people have introduced new business models
and concepts in North Korea, worked on new
laws and helped set up Special Economic Zones.
Choson Exchange has shown that a sustained
and consistent relationship with this country is
possible. I have also innovated by creating a legal
structure that I hope will be the platform for a new
generation of entrepreneurs in the country, and
an incubator that will mentor and seed this new
generation of start-ups.
HOW SINGAPORE HAS DEVELOPED ITS ECONOMY
OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS IS A STORY THAT
UNDERLIES A LOT OF WHAT WE SHARE WITH
of reflection on how our society can be more

inclusive and mature heading into the future.
AS SINGAPORE MATURES, SOCIETAL CONCERNS
AND PEOPLES NEEDS CHANGE. At the same
time, I fear we do not have robust enough

institutions and values to mediate polarised
opinions and beliefs. I also fear that we have
not invested enough in developing a broad
intelligentsia who can engage in debate
on Singapores future beyond government
institutions and elite families.
SINGAPORE SHAPED ME WITH BOTH pragmatism
and anti-pragmatism. On one hand, when we
discuss economic policy with North Koreans
we often emphasise the importance of results
and reality over ideological approaches. This is
the pragmatic side Singapore gave me. On the
other hand, choosing this idealistic line of work
is almost a rejection of the conventional success
story Singapore culture often espouses and
celebrates.
I THINK I MATURED MORE QUICKLY MOVING
BETWEEN COUNTRIES. Seeing parallels or
differences there has given me a better

perspective for understanding emerging issues
in Singapore. I also gained an appreciation for
the four seasons.
I MISS THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY FROM BEING
IN A SMALL COUNTRY LIKE SINGAPORE. It
feels like everyone knows everyone else! Also
I miss the architecture of the city, where many
commercial areas still preserve communal areas
where people can gather and interact for free!
You dont find this as much abroad.
NORTH KOREANS. It is hard not to feel proud of
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
NORTH KOREA HAS DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS
I DO THINK TOO MANY HEARING SEE US DEAF AS
WITH MANY NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. Many
A BIT OF A GRAVY TRAIN. They develop projects
North Koreans I meet care a lot about their

international relations. I think most Singaporeans
do not think enough about our foreign policy and
relations with our ASEAN neighbours. North
Koreas difficult international position should
remind us how important these are.
to empower while being paid themselves in the

meantime. I find this incredibly patronising we
deaf empower ourselves, we dont need others to
do this for us.
RAMESH
MEYYAPPAN
WE ARE ALL HUMAN! WE ALL HAVE SIMILAR

THOUGHTS AND ID SAY EXPERIENCES. I have
I LIKE HOW I FOUND SOMETHING I TRULY CARE

ABOUT THAT INNER COMPASS. I have done the
prestigious path in life (the right universities,
the right strategy consultancy) and realised that
it is far more important to find something to be
passionate about and intellectually engaged with.
SCOTLAND
STARTING A CAREER IN PLACES UNKNOWN CAN
SEEM DAUNTING AND REQUIRES SOME COURAGE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FIND

SOMETHING THEY TRULY CARE ABOUT. There is an
inner peace that comes from having a vision that

matters to you personally and is not driven by the
need to seek social approval or applause.
TO A YOUNGER ME. Life is too short to pursue
other peoples definitions of success. Be less afraid

of the unknown path.
I THINK OUR INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT IS STILL
TOO LIMITED AS A FIRST-WORLD NATION. We
need our citizens to be engaged in a wider range

of international issues. When I visit DC, Seoul or
Shanghai, I meet people discussing and working
on international issues ranging from human
trafficking to nuclear proliferation. Compared
to our potential, there are too few Singaporeans
working on international issues and through too
few channels. When we think of the social sector
here, we have a tendency to think within a box of
well-defined issues to pick and work on.
14
Ramesh Meyyappan bucks

the stereotype of what being
physically disabled means. He
uses his deafness as a tool for his
art, tapping upon the physicality
of theatre in ways that transform
what it means to be a thespian.
Ramesh does not apologise for
his deafness, like how many of
us apologise for our differences;
he embraces it. His work, like
snails and ketchup and butterfly,
navigates themes of estrangement,
love and loss. Rameshs love for
Singapore is palpable, yet one
gets a sense that our burgeoning
theatre scene is, for now, much too
small to contain his vivacity for
the arts.
Particularly in the arts when you have not even

established who you are and what you do. It is
hard when you are rejected because you are
not known. It takes courage to keep going and
continue to try. Working in the arts generally can
be quite daunting; especially creating your own
work theres always a question whether folks
will respond to it and allow you to continue to
create!
I HAD AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE. Born in a rural
village in South India, I moved to Singapore at the

very young age of 5. This was a decision my father
took to ensure a better education for both my
sister and myself - we are both deaf. I loved the life
in Singapore; childhood is full of good memories.
BEING DEAF CAN THROW UP A HOST OF
OBSTACLES. Like many other deaf people Ive
become resilient and got on with things! After all,

whats the point of failing or indeed falling at every
obstacle thats thrown your way? I think as well as
being resilient, Ive become optimistic, and dont
consider lifes challenges as obstacles its the
challenges that help us become who we are. Life
would be boring if there werent challenges to face
and work out.
found that within each country Ive visited, there

are clear cultural similarities whilst there are
differences too. In theatre terms, the UK has a
very strong and continually growing physical
theatre community and network of innovative
creators I dont think Singapore has entirely
embraced this yet.
Scotland has a great literary tradition and this is
evident in much of its theatre. I think it is wrong to
compare this with Singapore though, given that we
are such a young independent nation.
I AM PROUD OF SINGAPORES DIVERSITY. The
cultural mix and indeed the harmony that
exists within cultures is unique. I have travelled
rather far and I have to say that NOWHERE
beats Singapores food culture my view is that
Singapore is the food capital of the world!
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope Singapore continues
to accommodate its increasing population. There

are many challenges for Singapore, being a small
island with limited resources. I can imagine that
a steadily increasing population could cause
concerns. Singaporeans have been resilient and
can find solutions to the many challenges faced. I
hope positive solutions are found.
Id like to see more investment and funding to
further develop the arts in Singapore. Singapore is
not alone in NOT prioritising budgets for the arts.
Id like to see more value placed on the arts across
Singapore, supported with a commitment from the
government for increased arts funding.
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Nonetheless, there were real challenges. With

my husband having had a liver transplant, it was
medically unsafe for him to take the Yellow Fever
vaccine, which is a mandatory requirement for
entry into several parts of Africa. Malaria was also
a real risk to his health, as it can wreak havoc in
the liver. As a medical doctor and his wife, I was
torn.
SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED ME TO BE resilient and
courageous. Perhaps more importantly, it made

me tolerant of other cultures and appreciative of
cultural diversity. Singaporeans have an excellent
work ethic I take that with me in every project.
I THINK SINGAPOREANS COULD LEARN ABOUT
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT FROM SCOTLAND.
Sometimes I feel Singaporeans are complacent

we rarely question or engage politically, we tend to
just accept. There is something in understanding
how politics impacts every aspect of our lives.
Scotlands political landscape has changed, and
with so much engagement at the moment it will
continue to evolve.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I LIKE THAT I AM DEAF I
cant imagine myself being any other way.

Working things out for ourselves only helps us
mature and become more rounded individuals.
GIVEN YOUNG SINGAPORES INDEPENDENCE ID
SAY ABSOLUTELY FIRST WORLD. There may have
been tears from a young Lee Kuan Yew when he
realised wed have to do it alone but he, like his
fellow Singaporeans, dried his eyes and worked
it out.
FUNNY, I DONT THINK IVE ENTIRELY MOVED
AWAY, SO I CANT REALLY MOVE BACK. If I felt a
career in the arts could be entirely sustained in

Singapore alone, Id be back in a heartbeat but for
the moment Im pursuing the development of my
work here in Scotland.
TAM
WAI JIA
UGANDA & SINGAPORE

HAVING TRAVELLED ON MORE THAN 16 SHORTTERM HUMANITARIAN TRIPS AROUND THE
Dr Tam Wai Jia chose a different

journey from the path laid out
before her. Newly married, she
made the decision with her
husband to move to Uganda for a
year, in spite of their reservations
and her husbands chronic health
conditions. In a world where
narratives of poverty and strife
run amok, her words are welcome
drops of rain for the parched
souls among us. She speaks of
hope, purpose and meaning
elevated by her faith, but rooted
to this earth to serve humanity.
Optimistic and curious, it will not
be Wai Jias accolades that form
her legacy. It will be her courage.
WORLD , I had a yearning to do something more.
Yet leaving Singapore was harder than I thought.

With an apparently noble cause of serving the
poor in Africa, many might think it would have
been easy. But I am no Mother Teresa I enjoy
Singapores predictability, comfort and security.
Climbing the ladder of success to be respected in
the eyes of others held great allure for me at the
time. My husband and I had just married and set
up a home. I struggled deeply with letting go of
what I had so strongly tied my identity to.
MARRYING MY HUSBAND, WHO HAD SURVIVED
LIVER CANCER AS A CHILD, CHANGED MY
WORLDVIEW. When he encountered another
medical crisis after we met, it was a turning point
in my life. Having had a glimpse of the brevity
of our lives, we decided we would pursue our
dream of serving the poor in an underprivileged
community not tomorrow or in future but today.
We wanted to live our dreams while we could.
WE WERE OPEN TO SERVING THE POOR ANYWHERE
IN THE WORLD. Africa, however, with its deep
poverty and rich beauty and culture, captured our

hearts.
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Yet we realised that no matter where we served,

there would be geographical, political and health
risks. We felt we could not choose our destination
based on our convenience. We felt that in some
way, it was Uganda that chose us so we decided
to go where we felt God was calling us to. When
we followed our hearts we knew that together, we
could overcome the challenges ahead.
MOVING TO UGANDA HAS GOT TO BE THE
CRAZIEST DECISION OF OUR LIVES. I went through
a period of grief, as I grappled with letting go of

what I had so strongly tied my identity to my
career and achievements. The fear of an uncertain
future and the unknown gripped my heart. At one
point, I felt utterly lost.
However, my husband and I strongly believe
that serving the poor is Gods call for our lives.
Nothing worth doing ever comes without risk. So
we took the leap of faith. Weve never regretted
our decision. When you follow your heart to do
what you know God has created you to do, there
is a deep sense of purpose, fulfilment and joy. Its a
magical feeling nothing quite describes it.
IVE LEARNT NEVER TO LET ANYONE DEFINE
YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS OR JOY. When I
graduated as a medical doctor, I bought into the

belief that with more, I would be happier. With a
higher specialist degree, a better paycheck and
more things, I thought I would find contentment.
But I did not.
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When I answered Gods call for my life to serve

the needy in Africa, I realised that true joy and
fulfilment comes not from riches or achievements,
but from answering the song of your heart. It
might seem too much to sacrifice initially, but
nothing compares to the joy of finding your
purpose in life and discovering what you were
created for. Nothing even comes close to it.
MY HUSBAND, CLIFF, IS A GREAT SOURCE OF

INSPIRATION TO ME. He lives without limits. Since
surviving liver cancer at 10 years of age, he went

on to do an Iron Man event at the age of 27, which
is a 4-km swim, 180-km bike ride and a 42.4-km
run after. Despite having to take lifelong immune
suppressants for his medical condition, he does
not take it as an excuse to hold back from serving
the needy.
MY DESIRE IS NOT TO SEE HOW MUCH IMPACT IVE

MADE DIRECTLY IN AFRICA OR SINGAPORE but
to see the community Ive impacted, impact the

world. As a single person, I know that whatever I
do is just a drop in the ocean. What motivates me,
however, is when I see the incredible ripple effect
of anything we do.
When I hear the village widows from our weekly
craft ministry in Uganda share with me how
theyve used their newly-learnt skills of beading
and saving to pay school fees for their children for
the first time, I realise that they have become the
change-makers of their community. When I see
how the healthcare partnership Ive established
between Uganda and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
in Singapore has blossomed into an ongoing
distance-learning programme to train healthcare
professionals in East Africa, I see the power that
empowered teams have to make a difference to
the international community. When I see young
people being inspired by our journey to embark on
their own selfless adventures to impact the needy,
I marvel at the potential they have to impact this
world.
SINGAPORE AND UGANDA COULD NOT BE MORE
DIFFERENT. While Singapore is a tight, bustling
red dot on the world map, Uganda is a sprawling

country 200 times the size of Singapore, running
at a completely different pace of life. There are
many nuances of each culture that are vastly
different, and yet deeply beautiful. One learns to
appreciate the differences with time. Neither is
better or worse they are simply different.
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Because he feels God has given him a second

chance at life, he lives to the fullest, living
purposefully to serve, help and influence others.
I continually draw from that. He inspires me to
reach my fullest potential, and to live life with
deep gratitude, humility and joy.
HAHA! I HAD A CULTURE SHOCK ON EVERY
LEVEL IN MY FIRST FEW MONTHS IN UGANDA.
When I started to experience irritability, I

realised I was experiencing what is known as
cross-cultural stress. Any stranger on the street
would greet me and say hello gregariously as if
we were family, schedules would run hours late
without raising an eyebrow, and work was far
more efficiently done over a cup of tea and a
samosa, than done via email. Instead of viewing
these events negatively, I learnt to change my own
lenses through which I saw the Ugandan culture
and people they were not wrong, but different.
Im sure, at some point, I must have seemed
strange to them too! As I learnt to respect their
intensely relational and communal culture, I was
humbled by their selfless love for their community.
It changed my heart to be more patient, kinder and
more gracious. The Ugandan people have changed
a part of me forever.
When youve lived in developing countries all

over the world, experiencing water and power
cuts, unsafe roads, bomb blasts, street riots and
corruption, its hard not to feel proud of Singapore.
Im proud of the hard decisions Singapore made,
and by how far we have come.
SG50 IS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR MY HUSBAND
AND I. After living in Africa for a year, we both
finally adjusted to Uganda and were content to

continue serving the poor there. Nonetheless,
though it was the harder choice, we both decided
to return to Singapore for me to serve out another
year of my bond as a medical doctor, and to launch
my next picture book entitled Savour. Its my
fourth book and it challenges our generation
and the next to redefine our ideals of success,
and to step out of our comfort zones to make a
difference to others. Upon my return to Singapore,
I was pleasantly overwhelmed with the number
of SG50 events designed to meaningfully engage
young people to rethink how they want to shape
Singapores future. I feel that God has called
me back to Singapore this SG50 for the specific
purpose of sharing, teaching and imparting
my experiences serving in needy communities
abroad, to inspire young people to dare to make a
difference.
MORE THAN ACHIEVING ITS GOALS, MY HOPE
IS TO SEE SINGAPORE DEVELOP INTO A SOCIETY
life, but instead give thanks for all he had made

Singapore to be. I could not believe that halfway
around the world away from home, Africans were
coming up to me to convey their condolences.
They would tell me, Back in history, Singapore
and Uganda were in the same difficult situation.
Because of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore has advanced
to become a great country, but we are still
struggling today. You have a great leader. Thank
you for serving in Uganda. It brought tears to my
eyes.
As much as I enjoyed serving overseas among the
poor, I had a profound revelation that I would not
have had that opportunity and privilege, if it were
not for the foundation, education, and security
Singapore had given me. My heart is forever
changed and humbled with gratitude to Singapore.
IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT
SINGAPORE, it would be for Singaporeans to slow
down and take joy in the little, simple things in

life. When I was trapped in the rat race working
90 hours a week, I realised that while I worked
more, I had less to give. I looked around me and I
saw people working harder to earn more money to
maintain a more expensive lifestyle. But they were
not happy. In Africa, with much less, I found myself
learning to take joy in simple things a sunset, a
smile, having running water for the day. Materially
I had much less but I felt much richer.
KNOWN GLOBALLY FOR ITS PEOPLE AS BEING

RESILIENT, UNSELFISH, COMPASSIONATE, FILLED
UGANDANS ARE A JOYFUL, CONTENT PEOPLE,
WITH INTEGRITY and ever-willing to lend a hand
WHO ARE DEEPLY RELATIONAL. Because of
to communities across the globe. I want us to be

role models not just for what we do or accomplish,
but for who we are.
their communal culture, they unselfishly share

everything they have. Perhaps because of the
instability, poverty and vulnerability of life
in Uganda, they constantly give thanks for
everything, and cherish relationships deeply (you
just never know who might pass away suddenly
from malaria or an accident). Ugandans hardly
complain they are full of gratitude and joy, in
whatever situation they are in, with however little
or much they have.
ONE OF THE GREATEST PERSONAL LESSONS IVE
WHEN MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW
LEARNT FROM MY FATHER IS: STICK TO WHAT
PASSED AWAY WHILE I WAS IN UGANDA, A
YOU BELIEVE IN , in spite of naysayers. Some may

scorn or mock our chewing gum ban, our fine
city, our strict laws, but Im proud that when
Singapore makes a decision, we stick by it because
we believe in its values and what we stand for.
PART OF ME WAS FILLED WITH DEEP GRIEF,

WHICH BLOSSOMED INTO DEEP GRATITUDE
FOR EVERYTHING SINGAPORE IS. I learnt to stop
complaining the way I used to, before I moved
away, about the little inconveniences of modern
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time working on that in the hope that it will also

make the people around me happy.
FEW MIGHT GUESS THAT I STRUGGLED DEEPLY

WITH DEPRESSION AND ANOREXIA DURING
MY GROWING YEARS. At one point, I lost hope. I
doubted if I could complete medical school, much

less engage in bringing hope and joy to others
through humanitarian work. I grappled with
despair and low self-esteem. It was only through
the encouragement of friends, family and church
that I recovered.
Looking back, I would tell that younger me that
your value isnt measured by what you can do or
what people think of you, but by who God made
you to be. Anyone, with whatever scars from
whatever background, can bounce back stronger
and make a difference.
I LIKE THAT I TAKE RISKS AND I AM NO LONGER
BOUND BY WHAT I THINK SOCIETY EXPECTS
OF ME. Previously, I used to be preoccupied
with the approval of others. But my journey in

humanitarian work has changed me deeply I now
feel free to draw my own definitions of success
and fulfilment, to take less-trodden paths. I like
that, in spite of the odds and societal expectations,
Ive learnt to go against the grain and take the leap
of faith, to fulfil what I believe to be Gods calling
on my life.
MY INSPIRATION
As a singer, Barbara Streisand for her technically

refined lyricism.
As a producer, Rick Rubin for his bold simplicity.
As a guitarist, Tuck Andress for showing me that
the guitar can mimic an entire band.
As a mixer, Mike Spike Stent for the humility that
his genius and flexibility inflicts on me.
As an actor, Gary Oldman, Daniel Day Lewis ... I
dont think I need to explain this one.
As a person, Chow Yun-Fat and Gandhi.
HANJIN
TAN
HONG KONG
HAVE I LEFT SINGAPORE? Not in my heart, I have
not! Hahahaha.
Hanjin Tans dulcet tones have
garnered much fanfare, but its his
winning personality that steals the
show. An actor, singer, songwriter
and producer, he has created
over 400 songs that dance across
genres. Yet the star still takes the
time to laugh at himself. When
asked about how to expand the
Singaporean music scene he jokes,
Hire me. Hire me. Hire me. Ive
been dying for an opportunity to
make my humble contribution.
Hire me, please. Having found
success in Hong Kong, this
Singaporean personality yearns to
find his way back home.
My first gig as a producer was for a Taiwanese

album, Eason Chans Its Me. The gigs that
followed were mainly from Taiwan. This meant I
travelled to Taiwan a lot. Subsequently, Hong Kong
singers and record labels became increasingly
interested in getting me to make Mandarin albums
for them. This meant that I began to travel a lot
to Hong Kong as well. I met my wife, who is from
Hong Kong, and she asked me to stay.
Im still open to working in Singapore. I hope this
could be a good place to get the word out. Movies,
TV series, concerts, music production, events,
anything. Anything to get my wife to spend more
time with me in Singapore.
WHEN I WAS STILL IN UNIVERSITY, I TOLD MY
DAD ONE EVENING THAT I WANTED TO DROP
OUT OF SCHOOL AND BECOME A PROFESSIONAL
MUSICIAN. He did not take it as well as I had
hoped, so I completed university. That was

probably one of the most courageous things Ive
ever done.
I THINK THE HARDEST THING TO ACHIEVE
CONSISTENTLY IS HAPPINESS. YOU ARE ONLY AS
GOOD AS YOUR LAST GIG ... Id like to spend more
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OTHER THAN THE CANTONESE AND THE PRICE OF

PROPERTY , Singapore and Hong Kong are really
quite similar.
HAVING EXPERIENCED BULLYING AND SETBACKS
IN LIFE, I MAINTAIN A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
BECAUSE you get used to it. Life is like a box of
chocolates. You never know what youre gonna
get. You learn to deal with it. It gets easier.
HONG KONG PEOPLE WALK FASTER, TALK FASTER.
Yet they do not get paid as much for overtime and

seldom take No for an answer.
FIRST AND FOREMOST IM PROUD OF MR LEE
KUAN YEW ... And then there are my parents
and my family and my teachers and my friends.
Singapore is about people. Its always about
people.
ABOUT SG50 I FEEL proud, happy and homesick.
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS I HOPE THERE IS MRT TO
SELETAR. Im not kidding. MRT to Seletar.
SINGAPORE HAS MADE ME a culturally open-
minded person.
TO HELP THE MUSIC SCENE GROW IN SINGAPORE
Hire me. Hire me. Hire me. Ive been dying for an
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opportunity to make my humble contribution. Hire

me, please.
shared Zarghuna, now a 21 year-old Afghan Peace

Volunteer.
I MISS the Merlion. I dont even see it much when
In 2009, I found a privileged opportunity to bring

a small group of these Afghan youth together
to build peaceful relationships. The shared
motivations for starting the group crystalised
through the years into our wish to build a critical
mass of nonviolent relationships for a green
and equal world without war. We say, Enough!
Enough global warming, inequality and wars!
Im in Singapore. I find myself missing it when

people talk about it and people talk about it a lot.
GROWING UP I IMAGINED MYSELF AS A
ROCKSTAR , like Axl Rose. It was great while it
HAKIM
YOUNG
lasted and then I looked in the mirror.

SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM HONGKONGERS
how to walk faster, talk faster, take less for

overtime and perhaps sometimes its OK to not
take No for an answer.
I CANT GRADE COURAGE , but I recall that in
AFGHANISTAN
HAKIM IS A NAME GIVEN TO ME BY MY AFGHAN
FRIENDS, MEANING LEARNED ONE AND LOCAL
WOULD I ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO TAKE MY PATH?
Yes and no.

Yes, if you have a high threshold for pain, because
youll probably have fun along the way. No,
because your parents probably wouldnt like me
very much for encouraging you.
IN FIVE YEARS I SEE MYSELF alive, I hope. It doesnt
matter where as long as Im alive and healthy.

Health and happiness go hand in hand.
TO A YOUNGER ME I would say success does not
come entirely from hard work. What hard work

will earn you is self-respect. Success also requires
luck.
Before you go on stage tell yourself, This is not
gonna be your best show, but its not gonna be
your worstshow either, and then just go out there
and do what you rehearsed so diligently for.
GIVEN A CHOICE, YES, I WOULD DEFINITELY MOVE
BACK TO SINGAPORE! Better air. Family. Teh Tarik.
The Singapore Zoo. For some reason, even KFC

tastes better in Singapore!
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Dr Hakim strives for peace,

love and compassion. While
this sounds pleasant, putting
this philosophy into practice is
anything but. As the founder of
the Afghan Peace Volunteers
(http://ourjourneytosmile.com),
Dr Hakim has established literacy
programmes, social enterprises
and sewing projects to help the
community. That being said, these
werent the obstacles that he found
the most difficult to surmount. The
hardest things he had to face were
his own feelings the helplessness,
anger, frustration and guilt he
often feels during his journeys. For
navigating his inner terrain, Dr
Hakim expresses the courage to be
through compassion.
DOCTOR. Before I left Singapore in mid-2002, I
was running a private general practice clinic.

I HAD BEEN THINKING HARD ABOUT HOW
NONVIOLENCE AND HUMANE RELATIONS COULD
BE APPLIED TO THE ORWELLIAN WAR TRAGEDY I
WAS WITNESSING IN AFGHANISTAN. The energies
and love of Afghan youth were the sparks that

moved me to think, This could change things! This
could make a sleeping or busy world listen up!
Again and again, Afghan youth told me, We
are very tired of war! They want a better life,
different from what their families have been
experiencing for more than 40 years, through
which they have lost at least 2 million loved ones.
But the youth faced a global dilemma: our elitist
systems of governance do not heed the wishes of
the people, especially the most vulnerable.
Ordinary Afghan voices are seldom, if ever, heard
in mainstream media, especially female voices!
My father was killed by the Taliban, and I cant say
that Im not angry about it. I cant say that my hurts
or grudges will go away completely, but there
should be a way of forgiveness and reconciliation.
If I took revenge, the violence will go on, and I
may lose my mother or other family members,
the many instances when courage was called

for, I was seldom alone. I catch courage from
others. A year after I had started working among
Afghan refugees in Quetta, Pakistan, a Pashtun
student invited me to have dinner with him, his
brother and some Taliban friends. I was worried.
Colleagues in the Pakistani NGO I worked with
discussed the potential risks What if?
We decided that I would go, but not alone. One of
my Pakistani colleagues, Peter, would go with me.
I was curious. I had read about the fierce tribal
reputation of the Pashtuns and their special code
of conduct, the Pakhtunwali, which stipulates
codes for revenge and refuge. I felt that a faceto-face experience would stretch my ability to
be friends with all and teach me much about
humanity and everyones capacity to love.
It was a warm and humanising time for me. Over
dinner, I conversed with the Pashtun student and
his Taliban relatives about many things, including
how and why they learnt about waging jihad
(struggle) in various religious schools. On the mud
walls of the dining room were photos of mines,
weapons and various battles.
What food do the people in your country like to
eat? asked one of the Talibs (Talib means student).
Er some of the food is a little hard to describe,
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but one popular dish is made from frying a white,

flat, macaroni-like noodle in black soy sauce, eggs
and bean sprouts. Its called char kway teow, I
explained. I could tell they were lost. We were
enjoying palao (oiled rice with meat), shlombe
(like yoghurt) and pomegranates.
My fears dissipated. They were fellow human
beings with similar needs. It shouldnt be so hard
to trust or feel safe with others if we recognised
our common concerns. But mainstream media
often parrots conventional views which
dehumanise and demonise the other, including
Afghans, so that were not so ready to see the
human imprint they clearly bear. Perhaps the
capacity to reach out to those we perceive as
dangerous isnt courage, but empathy. Many
healthy doses of empathy make vials of courage.
The wise Mayans of South America have their
traditional way of greeting, Im another you.
Youre another me. Its saying to the billion
strangers on our planet, I love and I hurt like you
do. Fear gets dismantled.
I HAD TO BE RE-EDUCATED. THE FORMAL
EDUCATION I RECEIVED DIDNT LIBERATE ME
ENOUGH TO QUESTION, DISSENT AND THINK
CRITICALLY AND COMPASSIONATELY. In the last
two years, Ive also had to face my ugly anger,
from which Im now healing. A psychologist-peace
activist, Dr Patricia Cane of Capacitar, shared
with me, The two most common emotions that
activists all over the world deal with are anger and
fear. They are natural feelings, but we need to find
healthy ways to release them and to find healing
before these feelings become destructive.
ANOTHER STARK LESSON IS THAT I CAN ONLY
CHANGE MYSELF AND SYSTEMS OR SITUATIONS,
Singapores Mass Rapid Transit system.

I understood my own complicity in the gravely
militarised and unequal global systems of
governance, economy, environment, education
and conflict resolution, under which many people
are not able to even ensure their basic human
needs. For example, the use of drones by U.S. and
NATO forces in Afghanistan and the Singapore
militarys collaboration at one point of time
weighed heavily on me. The civilian brother-in-law
of one of my Afghan friends was killed by a drone,
in what is officially termed collateral damage.
My humanitarian and social entrepreneurial work
eventually led to peace building. Ive assisted in
Afghan refugee relief, taught basic health care
in remote Afghan villages, co-proposed the
establishment of a health training centre, given
microbusiness loans, mentored multi-ethnic
Afghan communities, partnered with international
peace groups, facilitated the development of
Global Days of Listening skype conversations,
supported the Afghan Winter Duvet Project;
developed the Borderfree Afghan Street Kids
School and helped establish the Borderfree
Nonviolence Community Centre in Afghanistan.
Ive experienced inner and mutual changes
in myself and my Afghan friends. These inner
changes are revolutionary on a person-to-person
level, like invisible inner storms that cant be
measured.
I RETAIN MY FAITH IN HUMANITY WHEN
EMBARKING ON HUMANITARIAN WORK BY
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IM PROUD OF THE HONESTY OF SINGAPOREANS
and the low prevalence of corruption.
I can see love in every person I meet, even if the

person is irritating to me. I believe that love is the
subatomic power that, when fused, can change
everything.
LOVE IN EGALITARIAN RELATIONSHIPS INSPIRES
YOUNG COUNTRY. Im grateful to our forefathers

who have worked very hard to make life for most
people living in Singapore a dignified one. I hope
that as Singapore matures in the interconnected
context and society of the wider world, more and
more Singaporeans will seek the well-being of
nature and all human beings, and consider the
well-being of others as a success more valuable
than our own.
I HOPE THAT SINGAPORE WILL NURTURE
PACIFIC RELATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLES, SUCH
THAT WELL NO LONGER NEED THE MILITARY
AS A MEANS OF DEFENCE. Our defence will
be our civility and friendship with all. I hope
that Singapore will resolve the socioeconomic
inequalities prevalent today, to enjoy a nonmaterialistic lifestyle and a sharing economy
which includes vulnerable persons like the elderly,
the disabled and the needed foreign worker.
Income inequalities can be narrowed significantly,
taking into account that of elected officials, and a
minimum living wage determined.
I hope Singapore will become even greener, with

urban planting of food and vegetables, including in
the HDB flats, and switch promptly to renewable
energy. Last year, I made a request to the HDB
office asking if I could install a solar panel for my
3-room HDB flat. The answer was no.
ME. In a time of the Russian Tsar and significant
state violence, Leo Tolstoy spoke of love through

nonviolent resistance, pacifism and anarchism. At
the height of British imperialism in India, Gandhi
maths and sciences, and to an overload of nonuseful information in school curriculum.

Peace education can be included comprising of
discussions on humane values and nonviolent
responses to global crises. The education system
can move away from being a predominantly
economic-driven system to one which nurtures
young Singaporeans to be people of service to
humanity.
ABOUT SG50, IM REMINDED THAT WERE STILL A
GRITTING MY TEETH IN THE PRACTICE OF LOVE.
I CANT CHANGE OTHERS. Part of the story
behind the web-blog Our Journey to Smile is the

recovery of our smiles. But it was hypocritical of
me to ask my mother to rid herself of her frown,
while I myself still carried the same sort of frowns
I see on many tired, humid faces travelling on
gathered large numbers to practise love through

a nonviolent struggle for independence. Martin
Luther King Jr sacrificed his life for the conviction
that all men, black, white and others, are free and
equal and that love through nonviolence was the
force that could fulfil that dream.
MERIT IN SINGAPORES PURPORTED

MERITOCRACY CAN MOVE FAR BEYOND THE
NARROW CONFINES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
Elitism together with its tendency to haughtiness

can be discouraged. An increasingly participatory
and consultative process can be sought after at
smaller town groupings, using the digital platform
as experimental means for direct democracy.
Take, for example, Icelands direct democracy
online constitution project. If central governance
persists, serious thought can be put into a working
class cap for the salaries of politicians, taking
reference from Zapatista communities whose
representatives arent paid and are chosen based
on community service records.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM AFGHANS
NOT TO BE RIGIDLY OBSESSED WITH PLANS,
OBJECTIVES AND TIMETABLES. They can also
rediscover village or kampong-like community
relationships through imaginative ways, even
among housing board apartments.
I encourage everyone to take the paths they are

passionate about and not to allow pragmatic or
monetary considerations to get too much in the
way. We dont need the 5 Cs to have a fulfilling
life.
TO A YOUNGER ME, KEEP LIVING LIFE FULLY
AND PASSIONATELY. Dont fret too much or be
A critical, creative and compassionate pedagogy

can be applied in education as a viable alternative
to a test-obsessed system that over-values the
too serious. Connect with humanitys critical

challenges. Be grateful for life. Remember our
mortality. Nurture the art and music thats within
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you. Listen. Lean on love.
A conversation with a friend overseas reminded

me not to be so critical.
IM BEGINNING TO SENSE MY PLACE IN THE

HUMAN FAMILY AS MORE BASIC THAN MY PLACE
I HOPE THAT SINGAPORE CAN BUILD STRONGER
IN ANY ONE COUNTRY , as I work towards the
AND BETTER TIES WITH its Southeast Asian
vision of border-free relationships of nonviolence

in a green and equal world without war.
CLARA
YEE
neighbours, and open up for more mature debates

on policies to inspire positive changes and
development in politics that are sensitive to the
changing needs of Singaporeans and the global
climate.
I GREW UP IN SINGAPORE, BUT I ONLY TRULY
STARTED LEARNING IN LONDON. Going to
UNITED KINGDOM,
MEXICO & SINGAPORE
RIGHT AFTER MY DIPLOMA, I DID NOT FEEL
READY AS A PERSON AND A PROFESSIONAL TO
Clara Yees work crosses

boundaries - cultural and artistic.
Having lovingly crafted exhibits
such as Pasar Singapura in Mexico
and the Pop-Up Singapore House
in London, Clara has flown the
Singapore flag proudly, all the
while learning more about the
nuances of the international
community. She challenged her
own self-doubt to land a place at
Central St. Martins, University
of the Arts, London, and has
developed a maturity in her work
and self-conception. Creative,
candid and personal, Clara is a
good omen for Singapores creative
arts scene, forming part of the
new wave of artists who blend
influences from around the world.
26
CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY. I knew I needed to learn

more about my craft and to mature mentally. It
was my tutor at Temasek Polytechnic (Design
School) who recommended going to college in
London to expand my mind and horizon.
university in London forced me to unlearn set

ideas and ways of thinking, and opened my mind to
a much wider diversity of concepts, opinions and
values. It was where I understood the importance
of independent thinking, and explored different
schools of philosophy. All this contributes to my
character and how I choose to navigate life.
SINGAPORE, IT IS to be less self-conscious and
At the age of 19, I was faced with financial

uncertainty and the burden of an immensely
expensive education in an industry that is
traditionally perceived as unlucrative in Singapore.
Despite my own fear of stepping out of my
comfort zone, I took the plunge with the support
of my family, and flew to London. The process was
torturous and filled with self-doubt and anxiety.
Yet deep down, the desire to strive for the best
and my passion for my craft granted me the
motivation to continue.
BACK TO SINGAPORE AND bring with them a new

wave of ideas imported from overseas. At the
same time, locally, the movement to rejoice in
Singapores own identity really gained momentum,
whether in nostalgia, Singlish, objects or material
culture.
BEING CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO SG50
LONDON WAS A HOTBED FOR POLITICAL REFORMS
CAMPAIGNS IN SINGAPORE , one does get a
SO IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT THEY ARE SENSITIVE
sense of overkill and it being an over-the-top

celebration, which comes with a mixed bag of
emotions. There are certain SG50 projects that
are simple gems of delight, and the idea as a
whole is uplifting and telling of a nation where
practicality and pragmatism rules the decision
making process.
TO ISSUES LIKE NON-DISCRIMINATION OF RACIAL
uptight.
A LOT MORE SINGAPOREANS WHO HAVE STUDIED,
LIVED OR WORKED OVERSEAS STARTED HEADING
MINORITIES, GENDER AND DISABILITIES. That
is
not to say that discrimination does not exist,
but rather it is not a taboo topic and can be openly
discussed. People are more aware of such issues,
with measures and unions in place to prevent such
discriminations, especially in the workforce.
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An ex-colleague even said to me, You could wear

a gunny sack and it would become a trend, Nazya.
I launched a fashion blog, FATWardrobe.com, that
served as my outlet for writing about fashion and
styling. This also drove me to make connections
in the industry with designers, photographers,
makeup artists and models to collaborate with on
projects, and to expand my creative horizons in the
field. Earlier this year I decided to launch my own
label, StyleMeister, which promotes independent
design talent and supports the sustainability of
the local garment industry by having products
designed, sourced and manufactured locally.
NAZYA
AYAZ
UNITED STATES
IT IS VERY PERSONAL, BUT THE MOST
Nazya Ayaz is courageous both in

public and in private. She broke
away from a very comfortable
lifestyle to pursue the life of her
dreams, having realised that
conspicuous consumption and
an unsatisfying marriage are not
her versions of happiness. Nazya
is a fervent lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and queer (LGBTQ)
rights activist and champions
transgender equality, something
that is often neglected even in the
queer community. Recognising
that many women give up their
own dreams, she is a maverick
who is unapologetic in doing
what she wants. Of course, that
also includes giving up-andcoming designers a chance with
her independent fashion label,
StyleMeister. Although society
values competition, compassion
and co-operation are the rules of
Nazyas game.
28
COURAGEOUS THING IVE DONE IS GET DIVORCED.
SINGAPORE AND NEW YORK ARE AS DIFFERENT
I was married for four years and lived a very

comfortable life (if I wanted to buy a Chanel bag
every month I could, and still have a few grand
more to play around with), before it became clear
to me that was not what I wanted.
AS THE SUN FROM THE MOON. The similarity

between Singapore and NYC ends at both being
metropolitan cities, because there are some
incredibly stark contrasts between the two. A key
difference is that NYC has an incredible amount of
freedom of expression in art, politics and social
issues. Singapore is not there yet, but I believe
is making headway in this area. Singapore is also
impressively clean, well regulated and orderly.
NYC is like a jungle chaotic, dirty and combative.
At first, these moments were fleeting at best, and

with every passing day my goals and dreams would
get buried a little more. I began to recognise that
who I truly am was not aligned with the path I
had taken and, as this realisation grew, I started
to feel incredibly suffocated. So I ended the
marriage and, despite having the right to alimony
and a 50% share of all our assets (personal and
business), I asked for nothing. Some would call this
foolish, but I consider this being true to myself. I
gave up everything for a chance at a life that truly
belonged to me; one that I had shaped out of my
achievements and my efforts. I gave up the empty,
comfortable life for one that is difficult but free
and fulfilling.
The saying, If you make it in NYC, you can make

it anywhere, is indeed very true. Not everyone is
cut out for this city. Its cut-throat, aggressive and
there are no rules to follow to get ahead. You make
your own rules. You come with a dream and you
make it work. If you dont, you leave. Thats why
people either love NYC, or they hate it. No one
ever hates Singapore (aside from Michael Fay).
I COME FROM A MALE DOMINATED CULTURE,
ESPECIALLY ON MY PAKISTANI SIDE. IM OF
I ACTUALLY JUST FELL INTO THE FASHION
MIXED PARENTAGE PART PAKISTANI AND PART
INDUSTRY, TO BE HONEST. I came from the
MALAY. Ive seen many women in my family kill
corporate events world. I didnt go to a design

school and I have never worked for a fashion
company, but I would always have people telling
me, Wow, I love your style, or I love your outfit.
their dreams to fit in or pay a steep price to live a

life of their choosing, and it happens everywhere
even in NYC. Women are trapped in loveless
marriages because they are dependent on their
spouse for a roof over their heads; smart, teenage
girls dumbing themselves down to attract boys

and getting pregnant because they dont know
any better; single mothers juggling four jobs and
barely making ends meet to support their children,
who then repeat the same poor decisions of their
parents. Its a vicious cycle and the severity of this
became apparent to me only in NYC. I never really
thought about female empowerment and equal
rights prior to my own personal shifts in life, and
something like this needs to run true to a persons
heart and value system. It cannot be regarded as a
trend or a fleeting commitment, because then you
are doing those youre trying to help a disservice.
Since Im the only one in my family to have made
such unconventional (and disapproved of) life
decisions, I must lead by example for the women
in my family who were unable to make similar
choices in their lives.
MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT LGBTQ RIGHTS AND
A KEY FOCUS OF THE COMMUNITYS FIGHT HAS
BEEN AROUND MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN THE
UNITED STATES - which Im sure you mustve heard
was achieved by the recent ruling of the Supreme
Court legalising same-sex marriage across the
nation. This is a giant step towards advancing
human rights and a great victory, but I think we
need to remember that this is only one battle,
not the war. Most of the focus of the community
has been around the needs of the LGBTQs. The
Ts often get marginalised, and therefore what
has resulted is the transgender community has
become withdrawn and isolated.
IM VERY PROUD OF THE STUNNING SINGAPORE
CITYSCAPE DOWNTOWN. It has changed
beautifully over the years and is truly world-class.
The structures themselves resemble art if you look
at their architectural design, and collectively the
view of the skyline is simply breathtaking.
I WAS VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE SG50
ISSUE. After reading up on Be Movement, its
brand philosophy and what it promotes, I was
delighted to see the spotlight fall on the works
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and contributions of my fellow Singaporeans, who

like me are demonstrating the courage to be true
to oneself against all odds and tirelessly working
to realise ones true calling. I hope the impact of
our work goes beyond the communities we work
in and that the stories shared will inspire other
Singaporeans to also live a life without fear and
limitations.
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I do hope that some of our
rich Singaporean heritage will be preserved. This

is extremely important for future generations to
connect with our culture, traditions and history.
We have some great iconic structures and
landmarks, which remind us of our diverse cultural
and traditional background, and I hope that these
historical buildings will be retained for our kids
to see one day. I also understand that of late,
numerous social issues have risen to the surface,
and I hope that we can grow to be a community
that embraces and celebrates diversity and equal
rights for all, regardless of race, gender and
religion.
ONE KEY THING SINGAPORE HAS SHOWED ME
IS RESOURCEFULNESS WITHOUT HAVING ITS
OWN RESOURCES. What I mean by this is having
a clear understanding of your strengths and

weaknesses, and leveraging opportunities to close
gaps and achieve goals. Singapore is so tiny that
one cant even find Singapore on the map, yet it
is richer than many nations 10 times its size
Now, this applies directly to entrepreneurship
too and especially if youre an entrepreneur
without resources like me. Whenever I doubt
my endeavours, I think about Singapore, and I
get reminded that entrepreneurship is about
resourcefulness and making things happen
without resources.
ONE THING YOUD NOTICE ABOUT NEW YORK
IS THAT EVERYONE IS DOING SOMETHING ELSE,
ASIDE FROM THEIR DAY JOBS. It really is a capital
of side-gigs. A lot of people hold down day jobs
to pay their bills while they pursue their passion
30
on the side, and this is the energy that people talk

about: that energy of taking risks and the energy
of Go forth and conquer. Singapore has this
energy too, but I think the mindset needs to shift
a little bit so it is more perceptive to creative ways
for achieving goals, and that the path on which
everyone is travelling may not be suited to you.
Another thing that Singaporeans can learn from
New Yorkers is being less passive aggressive and
practising more courtesy. I understand the whole
kiasu mentality is so true to being Singaporean,
and it was quirky 20 years ago. I think, as the
generation changes, this kiasu mentality needs
to shift into something that is cultured and
admired.
ADRIAN
YAP
JAPAN
I LEFT SINGAPORE BECAUSE as a child I always
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT MYSELF MORE SO

THAN MY ACHIEVEMENTS ARE THE MISTAKES
IVE MADE. There is a constant emphasis in society
to be perfect and seek validation, and honestly

not wanting that can be quite liberating. Mistakes
change you, shape you and force you to grow and
indeed this can be quite scary, but whats even
more frightening is living a life of half potential.
Ive always been a risk taker and Ive never shied
away from taking the road less travelled. Yes,
that means arriving at your destination with some
battle scars, but its not all that bad when you have
achieved growth, self-awareness and stayed true
to yourself along the way.
One thing is clear for Adrian Yap:

Singapore has the hardware,
but not the heartware. Adrian
is a PhD candidate at Waseda
University. Comparing the
attitudes of teachers in Japan and
Singapore towards students with
special needs, Adrians words are
marked with a tenacity and clarity
that projects a sense of hope that
things can be better than the
status quo, no matter what the
status quo is. As a deaf individual,
he knows that Singapore is not
the best version of itself, especially
for people who are physically
or mentally disabled. Adrian is
truly an ordinary individual with
extraordinary courage to speak his
truth, a clarion call to compassion
for us all.
yearned for overseas experience and, after living

in Singapore for more than 30 years, it was time
for me to stop being a frog in the well. I did not
want to restrict myself to overseas travel. I wanted
to bring myself out of my comfort zone and to live
in foreign countries. Moreover, I always wanted
to do something where I could learn by living in
a foreign country, and then bring back and apply
that knowledge in Singapore.
I CHOSE TOKYO BECAUSE it is a world within a
world, in my sense. A truly vibrant and dynamic

city that never lacks creativity and is full of
contradictions. Moreover, as I am a hearing
impaired individual, I wanted to learn from one of
the top Asian countries well-established in welfare
support and the provision of disability support for
disabled people.
In Singapore I honestly feel that the progress to
make it fully inclusive for disabled Singaporeans,
permanent residents (PR)s and foreigners who
are living in Singapore has not yet reached the
high standards set in Japan. Therefore, I made a
hard decision to apply for a Japanese government
scholarship to study a Masters degree in
International Relations at Waseda University and
then reapplied for the same scholarship to do my
PhD.
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FROM LIVING IN TOKYO FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS ,

I have received tremendous help from many
people, especially deaf Japanese and care givers.
I have learnt so many things about the Japanese
disability welfare system that Singapore could
consider, for example, Japan has a comprehensive
welfare support system for Japanese disabled and
foreign disabled who have been living in Japan for
at least 2 years.
I ALWAYS FEEL PROUD OF SINGAPORE BECAUSE
the greenery and unique vibrancy here is not to

be found anywhere in the world. Whenever I am
back in Singapore, I always feel that Singapore is
my home. Singapore Girl, Singlish, Singapore food,
HDB, mind-boggling abbreviations like CTE, CPF,
MC and so on. I dare to call Singapore my home.
I FEEL SG50 IS a good way to bring Singaporeans
together to celebrate Singapores hard work, and

what the nation has striven to create: the best
living conditions, education system and medical
care system, and first-world infrastructure.
SINGAPORE HAS INDEED BEEN BECOMING MORE

EXPENSIVE THAN TOKYO and when I was back
in Singapore for vacation, I felt utterly poorer in

Singapore than in Tokyo. [grins]
SINGAPORE CAN LEARN FROM JAPAN ABOUT
omotenashi. It is kind of a unique approach to

display warm hospitality as a host country. It
also refers to the subjugation of self in service to
a guest, but it does not need to be subservient
or servile. It is an act of showing courtesy,
consideration and gracefulness to others who are
in need of help. It is something that we can learn
from Japanese society.
YEARS is that if Singapore remains competitive,
lacking genuine care for vulnerable groups, I fear

that the gap in society will get wider and more
people with special needs will never catch up with
the majority. My hope is to see more Singaporeans
show greater compassion and care towards our
community members with their diverse needs.
SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED MY thinking to learn to
tolerate diverse views and be unafraid to stand

out in the crowd, unlike in Japanese society where
you cannot afford to be a nail that sticks out.
Otherwise, you will be hammered down.
UNITED STATES
I WAS OFFERED 7 JOBS IN THE U.S. I worked for
SINGAPORE AS A FIRST-WORLD NATION? I
guess that we have a long way to go. We could

be a first-world nation in terms of hardware
economic, education and many you can name
but I think in terms of software there is room for
improvement, for example in customer service and
transportation.
YES, I WILL MOVE BACK TO SINGAPORE. I feel that
MY CONCERNS FOR SINGAPORE IN THE NEXT 50
AIHUI
ONG
I have not yet made any positive contribution to

Singapore. It is time for me to do something to
improve the lives of disabled people, especially in
the education arena.
Life is much like a lunch box

sweet, salty and everything in
between. Despite having her
pick of jobs in the US, Aihui Ong
decided to be her own boss and
started a culinary fusion business.
This seismic shift emerged from
many life changes, including
breaking away from an abusive
marriage and caring for her friend
who had breast cancer. Melding
her foodie sensibilities, computer
skills and a desire to do good,
she created Love with Food. The
company is a subscription-based
organic and natural food box
business that donates one meal
to food banks in America with
every box sold. Its been massively
successful, having donated
700,000 meals ... and counting.
https://lovewithfood.com/
NCS as a software engineer right after graduating

from NUS. My focus was the implementation of
enterprise software that specialises in HR, payroll
and finance. My skill set was highly sought after in
the U.S. and as a young graduate with a hunger for
adventure, I decided to take the leap of faith and
explore the American shores.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE NAYSAYERS. People
objected to my decision to move to the U.S. but
Ive learned to ignore such noise and make the
best decision for me, that Ill have no regrets
making. This is true for everything in life; there will
always be naysayers in this world.
AFTER 4 YEARS IN THE US, I STARTED MY OWN
ENTERPRISE CONSULTING COMPANY , winning
projects from Fortune 500 companies and

government bodies in the U.S. After 8 years
in the enterprise world, I decided to leave this
comfortable position, even though I had a really
well-established reputation, and venture into the
world of start-ups, which I knew nothing about.
YET, MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE MADE ME
MY TWO BIGGEST PASSIONS HAVE ALWAYS
more tolerant and respectful towards different

cultures. I would not say that something is so
wrong in Japan, but I have learnt to accept it
gracefully even though it might clash with my
personal beliefs.
BEEN FOOD AND TECHNOLOGY. When I saw
32
how inefficient the food system was in the U.S.,

I decided to use my technology skills to try to
reinvent this archaic industry. In 2012, I launched
Love With Food, a technology platform that
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reinvents the product sampling game for the

millennial generation. Today, Love With Food is a
multi-million dollar business with a social mission.
For every sampling snack box that we ship to
consumers, we donate at least one meal to food
banks in USA. To date, weve donated almost
700,000 meals nationwide.
SINGAPORE - FOR A NATION WITHOUT NATURAL
RESOURCES, IT SHOULDNT EXIST; LET ALONE
BE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD. Singapores success and prosperity
is all attributed to hard work and wit. Building
something out of nothing is extremely hard
and entrepreneurs like me feel it first-hand.
Its definitely not a catwalk, thats why the
achievements of Singapore inspire me every day.
I tell myself every day, If Singapore can do it with
nothing, I can too. I even wrote a post on my blog
(http://aihuiong.com) about Lee Kuan Yew being
one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the world.
I worked for a year, home-schooled myself and

decided to retake my O Levels and re-entered the
education system on my own accord.
I WAS BORN IN THE 1970S. My parents never had
the chance to go to school. Im the first generation

that had proper education. Life was tough then,
thats why I dont take anything for granted. With
the success and great achievements of Singapore,
I hope the new generation who have never seen
how Singapore struggled, do not take all the
success for granted.
Both my aging parents had suffered critical
illnesses and had been admitted to the ICU.
Navigating the medical system in Singapore was
efficient and flawless, which gave me a peace of
mind in such difficult times.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE , thats how Singapore has
shaped me.
PEOPLE IN THE U.S. ARE VERY OPEN TO NEW
SINCE MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE , I
IDEAS AND EMBRACE FAILURES IN AN EQUALLY
appreciate Singapore more.
CELEBRATORY MANNER. I believe thats the
foundation of a fearless culture, especially in the

start-up world.
THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN A
LOT OF EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CITIZEN
GETS A GOOD EDUCATION regardless of income
or background. Thats the natural resource of
our nation: an educated population. I dropped
out of secondary school after my O Levels. (Yes,
I was a troubled teenager who loved sports more
than I loved books). My choices then were either
nursing school (because I scored an A for biology),
or stay in my current school and repeat a year.
Both choices given to me were the governments
attempt to keep me educated. I chose neither, and
decided to drop out.
SINGAPORE IS DEFINITELY MORE AFFLUENT

NOW AS COMPARED TO 16 YEARS AGO. Many old
buildings that I grew up with are no longer there,

like the old National Library. I hope as we progress
as a nation, we preserve our heritage.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN TO complain less,
appreciate more. If you live in a country where you

can walk around at 3am and not worry about your
safety, life is REALLY GOOD.
FIRST, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF what makes
you happy and then give it your all to pursue it.

I WOULD TELL MY YOUNGER SELF TO believe in
myself more.
SINGAPORE IS definitely a first-world nation.
34
CAROL
TAN
UNITED STATES
I LEFT SINGAPORE BECAUSE I needed to
Carol Tan speaks in equal parts

with kindness and tenacity.
Feeling the need to act on the
Syrian refugee crisis in 2014,
she embarked upon a year-long
programme, focusing on how
to manage social tensions in
the host countries of refugees,
as well as the long-term needs
of those affected by the crisis.
Her career has been studded
with prestigious institutions like
the Prime Ministers Office, the
Harvard Kennedy School and the
International Committee of the
Red Cross. Neither prestige nor
ambition drives her career, what
drives it is an earnest desire to help
those on the margins.
grow in knowledge and empathy. Head-wise,

I left Singapore to pursue graduate studies
in International Development and Conflict
Management; I had been consulting primarily for
public sector clients and wanted to develop more
rigour in crafting policies, as well as gain more
perspective of the interlocking forces at play, in
order to have a better shot at making lives better
for those affected by poverty and conflict.
Heart-wise, I also felt too comfortable back in
safe, clean, prosperous Singapore to contribute
to crafting practical solutions for problems I
didnt FEEL. I had been sitting in a beautiful office
in Lisbon working on the most exciting project
to develop a measure of national development
trajectory, but was punched in the gut when the
daily digest on Syria landed in my inbox how far I
was from the lives that most need our compassion
and efforts.
MANY SINGAPOREANS ignore the challenges that
plague the majority of the planets inhabitants.
Either we assume that the rest of the world leads
similar lives to us, or we jealously guard what we
think weve earned. We might know about hunger,
poverty, illness, war and violence; but we dont feel
the urgency. I needed to really empathise in order
to try to solve some of the toughest problems that
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human beings encounter. When you realise that

each second of inaction costs someone his/her life
or prolongs his/her suffering, you would feel that
pain and your decisions and actions would be very
different.
IT TOOK COURAGE TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE
OF ADDRESSING THE POLITICALLY GRIDLOCKED
SYRIAN REFUGEE SITUATION IN THE FACE OF
SOMETIMES HOSTILE AND POWERFUL ACTORS.
While my classmates were busy interviewing

and preparing for potential jobs, I was managing
study groups, talking to practitioners in the field,
interviewing experts, writing decks, reports and
articles sometimes it felt like all this work was
going nowhere as we encountered obstacle after
obstacle.
I did it because the initiative was the only one that
we were aware of that was working on the longterm rehabilitation needs of refugees (beyond
humanitarian aid), as the situation became
increasingly protracted. There was a burden in
knowing that if we did not do it, despite having
identified this gap between needs and responses,
it was possible that no one might, and there are
four million refugees out there with more to come.
SMART POLICY IS IMPORTANT BUT THAT IS AT
BEST 30% OF THE WORK. Messaging around why
it is important and acceptable to stakeholders

accounts for almost everything else. You might
have the right answer but if you have the wrong
packaging, all the effort is worth naught.
MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP TAKE
situations. We are now looking into consolidating

the innovations in the hope that our work can be
accessible to those empowered to act.
IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT 50 YEARS AHEAD FOR

SINGAPORE AS THE REST OF THE REGION
WITH LEE KUAN YEWS RECENT PASSING THERE IS
TRAVELLING OVERSEAS , Singapore is way cleaner

and better maintained than almost every other
country. However there is greater volatility
in beauty much more ugliness and dirt but
also much more random spots of greatness,
unexpected loveliness in a patch of wildflowers or
the witty signs of the homeless people.
DEVELOPS AND CATCHES UP. The markets

and talents of an increasingly educated and
sophisticated 90 million Vietnamese, 180
million Filipinos and 250 million Indonesians
dwarf us. While it wont be a zero-sum game,
for Singapore to expect to continue to be ahead
without rethinking the meaning of wellness and
competitiveness is ludicrous.
MORE AWARENESS AMONG MY GENERATION OF
AMERICANS HAVE LOWER OUTER WALLS BUT

HIGHER INNER WALLS. They are extremely
friendly but difficult to truly get to know.

Singaporeans/Asians are the opposite, often much
more reserved but you are much more likely to
establish a genuine relationship when you manage
to bridge the outer wall.
I AM PROUD OF OUR UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT
STORY AND THE STRONG DECISIONS THAT
ACCOMPANIED IT. Although mistakes, big ones,
have definitely been made, I am fiercely proud of

the legacy. I am always asked questions about the
history and growth of Singapore when the people
I meet learn that I am Singaporean. Unlike many
Westerners, I have never been afraid to share that
I am Singaporean when abroad.
And I am super proud of the amazing food our
melting pot of a city has produced. I desperately
miss walking into a hawker centre and being
puzzled over whether to eat char kway teow or
laksa.
ISSUES AT THE NEXUS OF HUMANITARIAN AND
SG50 SEEMS SURREAL. I felt quite removed from
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS FORWARD. However, it
the happenings until now. I think the question

to ponder at this milestone is what decisions
Singaporeans will make will we be a society that
fulfils the test of progress? Franklin D. Roosevelt
said, The test of our progress is not whether we
add more to the abundance of those who have
36
resolution world because our development

story is so well known but there are so few of us
working in this field.
AS MANY SINGAPOREANS HAVE NOTED WHILE
THE CONVERSATION ON ADDRESSING THE
has not been enough to change the fate of most

of the Syrian refugees, and learning the limits
of my own, my organisations and our partners
influence only spurs me to keep learning about
managing, shepherding and implementing change
with societies and decision-makers in crises
much, it is whether we provide enough for those

who have little.
Ive heard many local policy-makers talk about the

way that Singapore has become more populist as a
bad change. Although it could make policy-making
more difficult, I think it is wise and essential for
the government to be listening. The concern is
whether the government will also be a leader that
recognises when a society needs to change and
adapt, or be left behind if left to its own default
responses. There are times when leaders must
exercise moral leadership, craft narratives and
convince their fellow countrymen that there are
good reasons for acting against instinct. In that
regard, the xenophobia and antipathy to migrants
amongst Singaporeans is alarming; whats
more alarming is the heavy-handed approach
the government has taken. I think we need
visionary, enlightened leadership and an informed
citizenship to navigate the coming challenges.
I AM A PRODUCT OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE
POLICIES AND, LIKE IT OR NOT, THE POLITICS. We
are famous for effectiveness, efficiency and hard
work; having benefitted from that, I am also partial
towards methods that produce effectiveness and
efficiency even if there is short-term pain. I have
had to learn how to mitigate and manage the pains
of change for the communities I work with.
SINGAPORES JOURNEY OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.
Of course, it is SG50 so theres a buoyant mood.

Concurrently, there appears to be less optimism
about the competence of the political opposition
after an initial peak in the early 2010s. Wisdom
and excellence are learnt with experience though.
I love that the sports and arts scenes have grown
particularly strong! It is the harvest from hard
work put into nurturing talent and cultivating
partners, but it also speaks to a coming of age of
Singaporeans I think.
MY MENTORS HAVE ADVISED THAT I WOULD NEED
TO GROW USED TO THE PATH OF UNCERTAINTY.
My career hasnt been and isnt going to be linear

so I would say whoever is interested in this path
needs to be prepared to change constantly. It is a
portfolio of skills and experiences youll be seeking
to acquire in order to be ready for that one day;
dont expect a career ladder.
HOW WOULD YOU MEASURE WHETHER A
COUNTRY IS A FIRST CLASS ONE? Singapore
bears most, if not all the hallmarks of a first world
nation, with enviable economic success. Yet, it
was only in leaving that I learnt how much more
Singapore has to offer to the rest of the world
besides our economic success, and yet how fearful
we are of doing so. Southeast Asia and certainly
Asia is dotted with many low-level conflicts and
humanitarian situations, Singapore now plays a
subtle hand in these sensitive issues. I think there
is room for greater leadership and generosity
among Singaporeans and among nations.
Interestingly, being Singaporean has also made

me unique in the humanitarian and conflict
THROUGH
THE WINDOW
Written by NAWAN POOVARAWAN
Through the window I see the past.

The eyes encumbered by emotions and tears.
Through the window I see memories that last.
The love of sacrifice, only hope conquers fears.
Through the window I see the moment.

The cushion of comfort, the blanket of pride.
Through the window I see the present.
People at a crossroad, steps turn to strides.
Through the window I see the future.

Rainbows between blue ocean and cotton cloud.
Through the window I see adventure.
The unknown journey that makes one proud.
38
ADDING
COLOUR TO THE
KALEIDOSCOPE
Written by JACINTA PLUCINSKI
Edited by KAH GAY NG
funding events such as the Festival of Asian Performing Arts in 1994

and 1995, Special Olympics Singapore in 2005, 2007 and 2009, and
bodies such as The Chinese Opera Institute, Singapore Kendo Club,
The Esplanade and National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew
School of Public Policy.
Each year the Foundation disburses between SGD200,000 and
SGD460,000 to an eclectic array of organisations and individuals
working within the art and cultural domains.
Be Movement has been able to celebrate courageous individuals,
organisations and companies in Singapore, Bali, Japan, India and
Hong Kong, all through the Foundations support.
Look through the kaleidoscope of Singapore

and youll see a myriad of influences. Australian,
British, Chinese, Eurasian, Filipino, French, Indian,
Japanese, Malay, Peranakan, Thai and diverse
cultures overlap, refracted and reflected through
the countrys way of life its art, music, language,
theatre, dance, sport, and film; its policies
concerning basic needs such as housing and
education.
For more than 25 years, the Japanese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Singapore
Foundation has been supporting organisations and
individuals in Singapore, imparting a Japanese hue
to the nations cultural and sporting tradition.
JCCI was established in 1969 to be the collective
voice of Japanese businesses in Singapore, and
to promote and expand trade and investments
between Singapore and Japan for mutual benefit.
For more than 40 years, its activities have
included exchanging views with the Singaporean
government through bodies such as Singapore
Business Federation (SBF) and National
Wages Council (NWC), running seminars and
40
networking sessions, conducting wage surveys,

visiting industrial parks and estates, developing
handbooks on how to set up businesses in
Singapore and consulting with Japanese
companies on general business management in
Singapore.
Apart from its business-orientated functions,
JCCI established the JCCI Singapore Foundation
25 years ago, when Singapore celebrated its
25th anniversary of Independence. The first of
its kind established by an overseas JCCI, the
mandate of the Singapore Foundation was to
provide a channel through which the Japanese
business community can put forth their support
for Singapores vision of a dynamic and culturally
vibrant society.
Built with the annual donations of JCCIs
membership (822 in 2015), the Foundation
supports the development of arts, culture, sports
and education in Singapore.
Since its inception in 1990, it has given SGD6.79
million in financial support and awards to
Singapores cultural and sporting community,
The Foundation also supports JUGAS, an alumni organisation of

Singaporean residents who have completed their tertiary education
in Japan, and Luna Films, an organisation that brings independent
films to Singapore and organises an annual Japanese Film Festival.
Consistent with JCCIs relationship with Singapore, the
Foundations support is a long term commitment that recipients
have come to value and depend on. The Singapore Disability
Sports Council, Singapore Arts Festival, The Philharmonic Winds,
Singapore Film Society and Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO),
have all received multiple grants and donations.
In 1995, to celebrate Singapores 30th anniversary of Independence
and its own 5th anniversary, the Foundation added a scholarship
scheme for Singaporean students to study in Japan. Through
the scheme, students are sent to universities including Waseda
University and Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and Ritsumeikan
Asia Pacific University (APU) in the Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. The
Foundation believes such exchanges are necessary in fostering
mutual understanding and trust between the two different cultures
that is fundamental for business growth.
The Foundations support of art and culture in Singapore has a
deeper significance beyond business. For it is through the soft
power of cultural support, exchange, understanding and assimilation
when parts of ones own culture merge with that of another that
lasting respect and friendship is forged.
ORGANISATIONS
INSIGHTS FROM
FUMIO OTANI
P RESI D E NT OF JA PAN E S E CH AM B E R O F CO M ME RCE A N D IN DU S TRY, S IN GA PO RE
Written by JACINTA PLUCINSKI & RACHEL ONG
Assuming his new appointment in March this year,

Fumio Otani is the new President of Japanese
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in
Singapore. His 1-year tenure spans across two
historic milestones.
This year is a very special year for Singapore and
Japan, Otani says. It is SG50 and next year will
be Japan and Singapores 50th anniversary of
diplomatic relations [SJ50].
He pauses, then adds humbly, If I could contribute
by further bridging the relationship between the
Japanese and Singaporean communities, that
is the part that I will do. To expand Japanese
collaboration beyond the economy, to reach for
greater impact in both cultures.
Otani has lived in Singapore for three years and is
also the Managing Director of Toshiba Asia Pacific.
He shares with Be Movement JCCIs own history
in Singapore, what Japan and Singapore can learn
from each other, and his personal hopes for the
future.
Fumio Otani, President of Japanese Chamber of
Commerce & Industry, Singapore
42
ORGANISATIONS
ORGANISATIONS
WHAT ROLE HAS JCCI PLAYED IN SINGAPORE

OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS?
HOW HAS SINGAPORE INFLUENCED THE GROWTH

OF JCCI?
JCCI has been the communication bridge between

the local Japanese business community and the
Singapore government. Through JCCI, the voices
of Japanese companies on the current business
environment and problems faced can be heard by
the Singapore government.
The growth in the number of JCCI members

explains it all [JCCI membership totals 822 in
2015].
JCCI also strives to contribute to the growth of

the local Japanese business community in a way
that benefits Singapores economy.
Of course global development over the last 50
years might be very tough but visibly, Singapore
has developed very well. And I think the Japanese
people have been cooperating closely to help
develop Singapore.
HOW HAS JCCI HELPED TO DEVELOP SINGAPORES
ECONOMY AND CULTURE OVER THE PAST 50
YEARS?
Singapores well developed infrastructure, highly

educated labour force, strategic geographical
position, transparent and flexible governing
system and openness to foreigners, are just some
of the attractive factors that draw Japanese
companies to Singapore.
Many have strong faith in this country.
WHEN IS A TIME THAT JCCI SHOWED COURAGE
DURING ITS HISTORY IN SINGAPORE?
JCCI showed courage and perseverance in

bringing together existing Japanese companies,
spending a great deal of time explaining to the
Singapore government about the purpose of this
organisation, negotiating with different agencies
and finally getting the approval and recognition
from the Singapore government to establish JCCI
in July 1969.
In the early days there were the electronics

companies who came into Singapore to establish
manufacturing facilities.
Nowadays most of the
What is going to
electronics companies have
be the future? How
shifted from a manufacturing
we will organise
to regional headquarters role in
Singapore.
ourselves? For
In 1990, JCCI set up the
Singapore Foundation, as
a channel to give back to
the society on behalf of the
Japanese business community.
Singapore, that is
the most challenging
point for the nation
and for the coming
generation.
The Foundation also supports

young Singaporeans to pursue higher education in
Japanese universities, such as Waseda University
and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.
JCCI believes that such contributions are
necessary in fostering mutual understanding and
trust between the two different cultures that is
fundamental for business growth.
44
Because of the efforts in the

past, JCCI is what it is today.
JCCI is thankful for Singapores
listening ears.
WHAT HAS JCCI LEARNT FROM
SINGAPORE?
Singapores openness to
on-going global changes and
receptiveness towards different
voices is something that weve
learnt.
WHAT DO YOU THINK JAPAN CAN LEARN FROM

SINGAPORE ABOUT DEVELOPING AS A MODERN
NATION?
The Singapore government has designed the

Smart Nation Programme a project headed by
Infocomm Development Authority [IDA]. That is
the future, and a plan that is very well organised.

Japan can also follow.
Moreover the Singapore government is
transparent with the budget and its very easy to
understand what they want to do, what is going
to be the direction, why we need to do this. So its
similar to company management how to earn
money, how to grow the company, how to develop
the country in the world.
Japan has some very big political parties, which
sometimes bring hurdles in driving things.
WHERE DO YOU THINK SINGAPORE COULD
IMPROVE AS A COUNTRY?
Most of the time I am in the business scene since

Singapore is quite young, there were not so many
cultural activities that have taken root here in
Singapore. So the culture part might be one area
Singapore can grow a little more.
WHAT SHOULD JAPAN AND SINGAPORE BE
CONCERNED WITH IN THE FUTURE?
Twenty years ago in Japan, people were only

thinking about domestic issues. They wanted to
provide money to the local people, and they did
not emphasise foreign affairs so much.
Foreign affairs is very important for a country
and this applies to both Japan and Singapore. And
thats also what our, JCCIs, role can be. What
is going to be the future? How we will organise
ourselves? For Singapore, that is the most
challenging point for the nation and for the coming
generation.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST

OPPORTUNITY FOR SINGAPORE IN THE NEAR
FUTURE?
The ASEAN countries are coming together to

establish the ASEAN Economic Community [AEC]
and that is a very big event. I believe Singapore
will have a very big role in organising or leading
the ASEAN countries. This is because it is the most
economically successful country in the region and
can be an example for other countries.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
SINGAPORE FACES IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS?
Singapore may face a little bit of difficulty to

continue the momentum of growth, because
everyone thinks that it is already developed. If
people think that theyve reached a goal, then the
growth will stop. Development is a pathway and
the leader needs to continue showing that path to
the people.
But I think Singapore will always be ahead of
other countries because you have a very strong
leadership thinking about the future.
IS THERE ANYONE IN SINGAPORE WHO YOU
ADMIRE?
We admire and respect Mr Lee Kuan Yew because

he had a very strong mind, and a very clear
decision making process, and a very clear direction
to go.
That is what I really like and I want to emulate
that.
HOW DO YOU THINK JCCI CAN HELP SINGAPORE

IN THE FUTURE?
We are providing services to Japanese companies.

However the market size is very small, so we
also assist Japanese companies in developing
collaborations with Singaporean companies to
expand their business outside of Singapore. That
also matches most of the Japanese companies
vision for their future growth.
ORGANISATIONS
ORGANISATIONS
Left Top to Bottom
Right Top to Bottom
Recipients of JCCI Foundations grants in 2014,

ex-President of JCCI, Junichi Sasaki and Founder
of Be Movement, Cassie Lim
Speech by Minister of the Embassy of Japan in

Singapore, Naohiro Tsutsumi & Performance by
NUS Guitar Ensemble
46
ORGANISATIONS
ORGANISATIONS
HOW HAS THE JCCI SINGAPORE FOUNDATIONS
GRANT HELPED THE JAPAN STUDY TRIP?
T H E 5 T H JAPAN STU DY TRIP
BUILDING
INDISPENSABLE
RELATIONSHIPS
Learning from another countrys experience is one

of Singapores strengths, and a key objective of the
Japan Study Trip (JST) project.
Run by the Japan Study Trip Committee, comprising
a voluntary group of students studying at the
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP),
the annual trip sends students to Japan where
they learn first-hand about Japanese policy
making in response to recent events, such as the
reconstruction effort after the March 2011 Japan
Earthquake.
The JST project has been running since 2011, and
been supported by the JCCI Singapore Foundation
since 2012. The Committee shares with Be
Movement the impact the grant has had and the
contribution the trip makes to Singapore and
Japans relationship.
48
Singapore has always

been courageous
enough to seize
hope towards its
future. Even in such
predicaments, the
leaders and people
made their best
efforts to improve
society and the
economy.
Without grants from JCCI, it would have been

impossible for us to carry out the Japan Study
Trip project. Many students, who are prospective
public officers from Asian countries, cannot afford
to bear the entire cost of a study trip to Japan. The
grant enables us to provide those students with
precious opportunities to learn a lot from Japan.
HOW HAS THE JAPAN STUDY TRIP PROJECT
CONTRIBUTED TO SINGAPORE AND JAPAN?
The Japan Study Trip is a joint project of LKYSPP

and the University of Tokyo, aiming to further
collaboration in the field of public policy study.
Through the JST, our committee has contributed
to Singapore and Japan by providing opportunities
for opinion exchange, cultural understanding and
site visits. Moreover, sessions and discussions in
the previous study trips have incubated networks
between prospective Asian students and Japanese
politicians, businesspersons and public officers.
The networks will be an indispensable asset for
Japan, Singapore and the other Asian countries in
the future.
WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE ON A
JAPAN STUDY TRIP?
Participants on the trip learnt about recent

policy issues facing Japan, as well as experienced
Japanese history, tradition and culture both in
metropolis Tokyo and local prefectures such as
Miyagi and Nagano. In Tokyo, sessions with policy
practitioners from both public and private sectors
gave profound insight into policy problems and
possible solutions, which we all have in common
as citizens living in the Asian region. In Miyagi,
the participants came to know a strong sense of
belonging to a community and the indigenous
motivation for recovery from the Tsunami. In
Nagano, especially through homestays in the
houses of local citizens, the participants were
touched by the heart of the Japanese and the real
way they live.
ORGANISATIONS
WHEN HAS THE JAPAN STUDY TRIP COMMITTEE

SHOWED COURAGE?
Although we were established only 5 years ago, as

a voluntary student group we at first faced some
problems in organising it. From a mere studentled study trip to a schools official event, we had
to deal with a variety of issues occurring one
after another. However, our committee members
never gave up on realising our project and have
continued the Japan Study Trip for five successive
years.
SINGAPORE IS CELEBRATING ITS 50TH
ANNIVERSARY AS A NATION. IN YOUR OPINION,
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN
SINGAPORES HISTORY THAT HAVE MADE THE
COUNTRY WHAT IS IT TODAY?
Everybody admires that this little red dot has

become one of the most promising economic
centres in Asia in only 50 years. Though it is
difficult to point out the exact factors that
drove the country to enormous success, one of
the reasons may be the great determination of
the people to achieve any necessary reform or
innovation in society, such as the adoption of
English as an official language and a strict anticorruption campaign. This has been orchestrated
by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his successors, and thus,
in our opinion, is why Singapore has become one
of the most competitive countries in the world.
ORGANISATIONS
WHEN HAS SINGAPORE SHOWN COURAGE?
Experiencing race riots between ethnic groups and

divorcing from Malaysia, the 1960s was a period
of hardship for Singapore. It is easy to imagine the
disappointment that spread over the country at
that time. However, Singapore has always been
courageous enough to seize hope towards its
future. Even in such predicaments, the leaders and
people made their best efforts to improve society
and the economy. These moments seem to be the
bravest in the history of Singapore.
WHERE DO YOU SEE SINGAPORE AND JAPAN IN
THE NEXT 50 YEARS, CULTURALLY, ECONOMICALLY
AND GLOBALLY?
Japan and Singapore have developed as economic

hubs in Asia. Now the business relationship has
become indispensable for both countries. Thirtyfive thousand Japanese are residing in Singapore.
The relationship will become more indispensable
and important in the next 50 years, and we
believe that both countries can learn more from
each other with regard to governance, social
architecture and economy. May further prosperity
be brought to Singapore and Japan in the future.
Top
NUS LKYSPP on the 5th Japan Study Trip
50
NURTURING
HIDDEN TALENT
S I N G AP O RE D I S AB I L I T Y S PO RTS CO U N CIL

Photography by SINGAPORE DISABILITY SPORTS COUNCIL
Jovin Tan, Sailing at the 2nd Asian Para Games

2014
52
ORGANISATIONS
ORGANISATIONS
When Jovin Tan and Yap Qian Yin won gold for
Singapore in Sailing at the 2014 Asian Para Games,
the nation cheered their achievement, talent and
perseverance.
Standing behind them, along with the coaches,
family, friends and fans who had pushed,
supported and encouraged them, was the
Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC),
who catalysed Tans growth through its Project
Abilities programme.
SDSC is Singapores national sports association for
persons with disabilities, catering to persons of all
disabilities across 17 different sports. Its Project
Abilities programme identifies and nurtures
sporting potential in persons with disabilities.
The organisation has received an annual grant
from the JCCI Singapore Foundation since 1997.
It shares with Be Movement the impact the grant
has had, and what it has learnt from Japan.
Right
Para Athletes at the National Para Athletics
Championships 2014
54
ORGANISATIONS
WHY DID SDSC REACH OUT TO THE JCCI
SINGAPORE FOUNDATION?
In 1996, The Hiroshima Wheelchair Tennis

Association conducted a one-week wheelchair
tennis workshop in Singapore to introduce
wheelchair tennis to persons with disabilities.
This fitted well with SDSCs sports programme
and we registered ten persons with disabilities
for the workshop. The Japanese tennis coach
recommended that SDSC approach JCCI for
sponsorship of tennis wheelchairs to start our
own programme. With the initial six wheelchairs
donated by JCCI, SDSC was able to get the
programme started.
WHAT HAS THE GRANT ALLOWED SDSC TO DO?
With the annual grant, SDSC has been able to

increase the number of players in the wheelchair
tennis programme. In 2007, SDSC bought
basketball wheelchairs for the Wheelchair
Basketball Association to help the team play
better. The grant has also enabled SDSC to
conduct Learn to Play workshops, introduce
games to more persons with disabilities, and
add more games to its sports and outreach
programme.
HOW DO SDSC ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTE TO
SINGAPORE AND JAPAN?
SDSC has contributed more to Singapore than

Japan. The annual grant from JCCI allows SDSC
to conduct sports activities as part of a higher
level of rehabilitation. This has helped persons
with disabilities overcome the initial denial stage
and get back to their normal lives. Sports have
encouraged them to meet challenges and opt
for alternatives in life. With exposure to sports,
many gain self-confidence, make new friends and
optimise their potential. SDSCs contribution
to Singapore is in encouraging persons with
disabilities to lead normal lives, participate in
healthy activities, and represent Singapore in
international competitions bringing glory in
many instances.
56
WHAT QUALITIES HAS SDSC LEARNT FROM JAPAN?
Japan is known for its disciplined workforce,

high quality products and innovation. These
qualities are also seen in Japanese sportsmen
and sportswomen who compete in international
competitions, not excluding athletes with
disabilities. SDSC tries to emulate these qualities
and inculcate them among our athletes.
WHEN HAS SDSC SHOWED COURAGE?
SDSC had always depended on volunteers who

worked from home. It was only in 1995 that
SDSC rented an office and employed two staff to
oversee its sports programme. With limited funds,
it had the courage to engage staff and increase
its range and scope of activities. Within a decade,
SDSC had ten full-time staff looking after ten
sports and games. It was this bold decision that
enabled SDSC to reach out and impact a larger
number of persons with disabilities.
ANNIVERSARY AS A NATION. IN YOUR OPINION,
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN
SINGAPORES HISTORY THAT HAVE MADE THE
COUNTRY WHAT IT IS TODAY?
ORGANISATIONS
polices, unpopular though they might seem, have

served the nation well. Having national service,
building a formidable defence force, focusing on
quality education, and nurturing an excellent civil
service, needed courage to implement.
Bottom
Yip Pin Xiu (left) at the IPC Swimming World
Championships 2013
WHERE DO YOU SEE SINGAPORE AND JAPAN IN

THE NEXT 50 YEARS, CULTURALLY, ECONOMICALLY
AND GLOBALLY?
Singapore and Japan are developed countries

facing different sets of challenges. Japan has
been the forerunner in technology and could
possibly set the pace for development in this
area. Singapore has to be innovative and creative
to stay ahead of other nations and continue to
develop its economy. Both nations face similar
challenges with their aging populations and will
have to find ways to maintain their GDP with a
limited workforce. There has always been a good
relationship between Singapore and Japan, and
with the rest of the world. I see that this trend will
continue in the next 50 years.
Singapore is land scarce and has no natural

resources except for its good harbour. Singapores
success is due to the visionary leadership of the
politicians and a hard working population that
persevered with determination to meet the
challenges. Without these qualities, Singapore
would not have developed so rapidly. Our people
believed in the politicians who have sacrificed for
the nation.
WHEN HAS SINGAPORE SHOWN COURAGE?
It took a lot of courage for its leaders to decide

that Singapore should break away from Malaysia.
Knowing its limitations, the leaders took pains
to develop parts of Singapore from swamps to
industrial estates. Singapore has shown courage
in many aspects of its development. Building
flats to house its population, expanding its ports,
improving the airport, and building a disciplined
workforce needed pragmatic leadership. Many
PEOPLE
PEOPLE
WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR THE JCCI SINGAPORE
FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?
MORE THAN A
SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship is well regarded and the

opportunity to study at Waseda University was
an attractive one for any university student.
I thought that the prestige of being a JCCI
Singapore Foundation scholarship recipient and a
Waseda University student would place me well
for my future career. The ability to utilise course
credits obtained at Waseda University for my
studies at the Singapore Management University
was also an important decision factor this had
allowed me to maintain my objective of graduating
from university within three years. The terms of
the scholarship offered by the JCCI Singapore
Foundation were also very generous.
HOW HAS RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIP
BENEFITTED YOU?
On a personal level, it was my first time away from

home for an extended period, and it made me
more independent and made me take personal
accountability for my own lifestyle. Academically,
it was very fulfilling as well. I fondly recall taking
a class in post-war intellectual history (taught in
Japanese) and was able to compare how the war
events were presented to post-war generations
in history and social sciences school textbooks.
Through this class, I had the opportunity to
research and learn about the Japanese occupation
years in Singapore, and also understand the
different perspectives presented on the Second
World War.
WHY ARE YOU ATTRACTED TO JAPAN?
Joshua Liaw received a General Study Scholarship

to Waseda University, Tokyo from the JCCI
Singapore Foundation in 2003. He shares with
Be Movement how the experience changed him,
his thoughts on SG50 and his hopes for the future.
58
I like how the Japanese are considerate in their

actions this includes little things from not
speaking loudly in a shared elevator to how
society cares and gives back to nature.
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN JAPAN CHANGED
YOU?
to call home and to feel the most comfortable in,

other than Singapore.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS
APPLYING FOR THE JCCI SINGAPORE FOUNDATION
SCHOLARSHIP?
It is important for the applicant to make himself/

herself stand out from the other candidates. The
grades and entry essay are qualifiers but are not
the clincher the applicant should differentiate
himself/herself either through community service,
social work, a unique skillset or capability, and be
able to articulate his/her thoughts well.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SG50?
I think SG50 is an important milestone for every

Singaporean. Singapore has come a long way and
there are many things that we should be, and are,
grateful for. If you think about what the country
has achieved in the short span of 50 years, it is
truly amazing.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR
Japan and Singapore have maintained peaceful

relations since Independence. My hope is for this
to continue in the future. It is of concern that there
are members in the current Japanese cabinet who
are pursuing an agenda for a greater involvement
in military missions in the region, and seeking a
revisionist view of Japanese military history.
WHAT CHANGES DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN
SINGAPORE IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS?
I would like to see more diversity in Singapore

and more acceptance of diverse cultures in
the country. I feel sad for Singapore when I see
irresponsible or disparaging comments about
foreigners living in Singapore. Part of Singapores
success today is due to its origins as an open,
accepting and neutral immigrant society.
When I was studying in Japan, I never felt more

Singaporean. I learnt to appreciate all the family,
friends and familiarity that Singapore offers. I
keenly felt that there is no other place in the world
PEOPLE
PEOPLE
WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR THE JCCI SINGAPORE
FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?
A LIFE
CHANGING
EXPERIENCE
I have always had a keen interest in Japan and

its language from pop culture influences and
had wanted to experience living in Japan as a
student. When I found out that the scholarship
provided that opportunity, moreover in a reputable
university like Waseda University, I jumped at the
chance.
WHAT DID THE GRANT ENABLE YOU TO DO?
It allowed me to not worry about basic finances

to spend a full year in Japan as a student and to
focus on experiencing Japan. It also provided me
with the support from the scholarship manager
from Japanese Studies Association (JSA) whom I
continue to keep in touch with regularly.
WHAT INTERESTS YOU ABOUT JAPAN?
Japan has had a profound influence on pop

culture in my growing up years and I have always
been fascinated by Japans unique society and
people. I wanted to experience these beyond the
impressions we have.
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN JAPAN CHANGED
YOU?
It continues to change my life. I stayed on after

the one year programme and am still in Japan,
working. I also met my wife who is a lovely
Japanese lady here in Tokyo.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO
CONNECTING SINGAPORE AND JAPAN?
I have always held issues linking Singapore and

Japan close to my heart. For example, I went
on a trip to Tohoku organised by the Singapore
Embassy in Japan to help out after the 3.11
Earthquake.
Kian Fong Lim received a General Study Scholarship
to Waseda University from JCCI Singapore
Foundation in 2010. With Be Movement, he reflects
on his experiences in Japan, the most difficult
challenges he faced, and considers what changes he
wishes to see in Singapore over the next 50 years.
60
the wall definitely enabled me to do things I did

not think possible and pull it off.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO APPLY FOR THE
JCCI SINGAPORE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?
You must be able to demonstrate a keen interest

beyond how the programme is going to benefit
you. Anyone can be keenly interested in a fully
paid programme to spend a year in Japan, but how
are you different from the rest of the candidates?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SG50?
Proud but I have a sense that its a pity that Mr Lee

Kuan Yew could not join us in the celebrations.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR
I hope to see Japan solve some of its chronic

structural issues such as demographics and
attracting women into the labour force, as well
as some of the issues associated with a deadlock
in decision making in the government. I hope
Singapore can continue to improve its position of
strong and inclusive economic growth.
WHAT CHANGES DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN
Sometimes it might be difficult to realise, if we are

living in Singapore within the system, that having
decision makers who take a 20 to 30 year view on
what is best for the country is a luxury most other
developed countries do not have. I hope Singapore
can continue its amazing run as the little red
miracle dot in the next 50 years, as it has done for
the past 50 years.
WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE YOU

FACED SINCE GETTING THE SCHOLARSHIP AND
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?
It will have to be finding a job in Japan. Since I was

here on a one year programme there was minimal
career guidance support and I was not that fluent
in Japanese at that time. Having my back against
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time on the intangibles rather than seeking

immediate returns, and I am confident and eager
to seek answers to my future in the world.
VANCOUVERITES ARE VERY AWARE AND
CIEL
LIU BEI
RESPECT OTHERS WHO MIGHT LIVE DIFFERENT

LIVES, OR HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS FROM
THEMSELVES. The Chinese, Japanese and Indian
communities had their struggles about 100 years

ago, but after many lessons Canadians have
learnt to respect each other and the meaning of
equality. (Reference can be found on http://www.
rightsandfreedomsmarch.com/ which my husband
and I played a part in organising.)
CANADA
EVAN
FOO
UNITED STATES
RESIGNING FROM MY JOB AS A TV REPORTER IN
Ciel Liu Bei doesnt like labels;

indeed it is difficult to describe
her work. A videographer and
photographer by trade, her
work spans the commercial and
socially critical, all the while
bearing her trademark selfawareness. One of her projects,
Original Consciousness, featured
participants in foetal positions,
symbolic of the vulnerability of
the human condition. It poses
the question: Who are we when
our worldly markers are stripped
from us? Ciel is currently based
in Canada, but travels frequently
for her photography and video
projects.
MEDIACORP WAS A BIG DECISION. It was my first

full time job, a good job and I was finally starting to
pick up momentum after spending 2-3 years there,
but I knew I wanted to give myself the chance to
be something more, something unimaginable.
Instead of prostitutes, we use the term working

girls. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer (LGBTQ) community is also well accepted.
We do not have to see eye to eye to co-exist. An
openness towards others brings beauty and grace.
I ORGANISED A MEMORIAL FOR MR LEE KUAN
I LIKE MY WILLINGNESS TO LEARN FROM
YEW IN VANCOUVER AFTER HIS PASSING
OTHERS WITH HUMILITY , which means endless
Because a man like him truly deserves our respect,

but when it comes to my own impact? Everyones
life experience is different and I am just as ordinary
and as extraordinary as everyone else.
possibilities.
OUR SIZE DOES NOT LIMIT OUR DREAMS. People
from other countries also envy many of our

policies. We have created a good impression
globally.
SINGAPORE DOES NOT FAVOUR ANY PARTICULAR
I HOPE I WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP

YOUNGER ARTISTS. Many people have given me
opportunities based on their trust in me. This

means a lot to me.
WE ARE A FIRST-WORLD NATION. Many Europeans
envy us and want to go to Singapore. We need to

maintain our advantages as well as experiment
with new concepts.
GROUP. We understand that, if we want to
succeed, we owe it to ourselves to create our

future. I learnt to trust my ability and always strive
for the best. Also, our multicultural environment
made the transition to other countries a lot easier.
I am flexible and curious and have made friends
from many different parts of the world.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE WE CAN EASILY TRAVEL

ANYWHERE FROM SINGAPORE. So I think it would
be a great idea to enjoy the beautiful environment

and awesome food in Singapore, but also be able
to travel to other countries to work on projects.
The choice will be based on where the best
opportunities and friends are!
Combine precision and business

acumen and what you get
is the ARCHT One project
(pronounced Ark One and set
up by ARCHT Audio). Created
by tech entrepreneur Evan
Foo and a fellow Singaporean
inventor, the venture illustrates his
simultaneous attention to detail
and his big ambitions. The ARCHT
One projects speaker delivers
realistic surround sound in any
room, at less cost. Most speakers
on the market require four or fivefigure sums to achieve the same
result. It was successfully backed
on the crowdfunding website
Kickstarter in late 2014, raising
nearly 250,000 US dollars. Foos
propensity for hard work, grit and
bold endeavours make him an
entrepreneur to watch.
MY MENTALITIES HAVE HAD A TRANSFORMATION

SINCE STUDYING AT GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF
LONDON. I start to question everything, spending
62
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The hardest lessons therefore have actually been

dealing with myself when leading others. When
you dont have a large organisation behind you,
your strengths and weaknesses are very exposed.
Ive received strong doses of humility and had to
live with the punches, learn and grow quickly.
BIG DREAMS CREATE BIG COMPANIES, BUT
SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH INCREMENTAL
STEPS. There are no shortcuts. Quickly understand
BEING IN THE US THE FIRST TIME WAS A DREAM

COME TRUE. It was where my wife and I got
together and where I bought a Porsche Boxster

for USD10,000. Cars are on a lifetime Great
Singapore Sale in the US, coupled with activities
like surfing, snowboarding, the great outdoors and
In-N-Out burgers.
Professionally, I chose the US to learn about doing
business in one of the worlds largest economies.
While ARCHT Audio is headquartered in Singapore,
we decided to launch in the US because it is the
largest audio market and our brand building
efforts would reap global visibility.
your strengths and keep doing what you do well.

Build a team to complement your skill sets and
find the right mentors who will help guide you
through the storms, or spot them from a mile
away. Last but not least, have fun while embracing
failure. Mistakes are opportunities to learn. All
this will hold you in good stead on what can be a
lonely and arduous adventure.
SINCE SPENDING A YEAR IN SILICON VALLEY, IVE
BEEN FASCINATED BY ENTREPRENEURS. People
who dare to dream, follow their passion, push

boundaries and change the world. They dont
have to be the whos who. My colleague is a father
of four, is the sole breadwinner of his family and
joined us anyway because he believes in our
project. Ultimately I believe we should find our
passions, live with purpose and be positive change
makers.
But the best is yet to be and, compared to other

countries, our story has just begun.
have until its gone. Also, no food in the world can

beat our local hawker fare.
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope to see Singapore
THE SINGAPORE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECO-SYSTEM
blossom into a hub for entrepreneurship and

venture capital in Southeast Asia. It provides
much needed diversity, an alternative to the tried
and tested corporate/government paths. We
have plenty of thinkers, but we need more doers.
We cant depend on the government forever,
regardless of whether there are one, two or more
credible political parties competing. The future of
Singapore will continue to depend on the strength
of its people. The more diverse the expertise the
better.
IS GROWING AT A TREMENDOUS PACE. Whilst

the community has grown larger, it has also
grown wiser, with several successful exits from
local start-ups and an influx of international
stakeholders. This will continue to attract talent
and capital from all over Asia, where seasoned
entrepreneurs and investors can guide and
inspire their peers. Singapore has become the
entrepreneurship hub for Asia and thats fantastic.
SINGAPORE EQUIPPED ME FUNDAMENTALLY TO

SUCCEED ON A GLOBAL SCALE. Growing up in the
90s, the system taught us to study hard to get a

good job. That was the one true path to success,
but when youve had a comfortable upbringing,
there exists a higher purpose beyond a good job.
At that time, it was a rigid system, and this helped
me realise this truth sooner rather than later.
So Ive spent a significant time of my childhood
figuring out, What am I living for? That has
prepared me to forge my own path.
LIVING OUTSIDE SINGAPORE, I CANT LEAVE HOME
WITHOUT CHECKING THE WEATHER CHANNEL
IN TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, ATTICUS FINCH

DESCRIBES REAL COURAGE NOT AS A MAN WITH
SG50 IS A FANTASTIC TESTAMENT TO THE VISION
APP. In Singapore everything is efficient, even
A GUN IN HIS HAND Its knowing youre licked
AND HARD WORK OF OUR PARENTS AND
before you begin but you begin anyway and you

see it through no matter what. Knowing that 95%
of all start-ups fail, I left a leadership track in the
public service to join one anyway. Life is not about
the end result, but the journey that got you there.
GRANDPARENTS GENERATIONS. With the passing

of our founding father, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew,
Singapore is stepping into a defining moment in
its history, where every generation can identify
with and be proud of the Singapore story. When
the next generation sees the videos and photos of
our entire nation (and some say India) in mourning
for a founding father and the ensuing parade to
celebrate fruits of a nations labour, they will learn
of a moment in time when the Singapore story was
big enough to form a dot in world history.
the weather. Its hot and humid, but when you

see dark clouds, you know its going to rain and
when it rains, it is only for 1-3 hours. Mentally, Im
more patient when dealing with the unexpected
and have grown accustomed to uncertainty. Its
something you expect. Id like to think I take fewer
things for granted too.
BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS LIKE CHOOSING

TO TAKE THE RED PILL IN THE MATRIX. It is
learning how the world really works and figuring

out how to change it. To do so, Ive learned that
you need a large network, a touch of good timing
and a dash of luck. People skills are absolutely
critical.
64
AMERICANS BRAND THEMSELVES WELL. They
paint the world in colour instead of black and

white. Its largely about messaging, confidence and
knowing your audience.
I LIKE TO BE CLUTCH , to take responsibility and
perform under high pressure. The term clutch

derives from sports, which has taught me a lot and
shaped who I am: how to win, how to lose, what is
teamwork, how it feels to sit on a bench, how to
lead and what it means to be part of something
greater than yourself.
Desiring to be clutch can be a huge burden, but
Im a competitor and so its a great challenge and
each failure is preparation for the next clutch
moment.
WHILST ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS A PATH THAT WILL
RESULT IN MANY LESSONS LEARNT AND SOME
HARD TRUTHS , the worst case scenario is not as
bad as we fear.
BY WORRYING, CAN ANYONE ADD A SINGLE HOUR
TO THEIR LIFE? Being in the start-up business,
WHAT I MISS IS MY FAMILY AND THE

CONVENIENCE OF GETTING ANYWHERE WITHIN
40 MINUTES. It is so much easier to get things done
and most things work more efficiently than in
other cities. Its a case of not knowing what you
one can do a lot of worrying when situations are

seldom within your control. Ive been down that
road, but its extremely unproductive. Focus on
taking things one step at a time and celebrating
small wins.
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I CANT SAY I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENCOURAGE
Also, never doubt yourself. One who doubts is

like a single wave in the ocean that is driven and
tossed by the wind. Once you doubt, especially as
a leader, youve lost the plot. That being said, when
you are wrong, be responsible, take ownership and
try again.
SINGAPORE WILL ALWAYS BE HOME.
OTHERS TO TAKE MY PATH (SINCE I STILL DONT

KNOW WHERE MINE IS GOING OR WILL END UP).
But Id certainly encourage others to take their

path, or the one that seems happiest for them. It
does need some self-knowledge though.
FIONA
SZE-LORRAIN
TO A YOUNGER ME , it is alright to be vulnerable.
FRANCE
TRUST AND TRUST is what Ive learnt in my
Fiona Sze-Lorrain is a sensitive

soul. Her words are precise
and chosen with a care and
judiciousness that befits her
professions: translating, playing
the zheng and writing poetry. She
does not disclose much verbally,
yet her sincere silence speaks
volumes. A distilled lucidity
permeates the interview, and one
gets the impression that Fiona has
great wisdom in her awareness
that she knows nothing at all, and
that life will take her where she
needs to be. For more information
about her extensive and diverse
body of work, visit
http://www.fionasze.com/
Photography by R. Gentile.
journey. Courage because I figured Ive just this

one lifetime.
SILENCE is what inspires my work.
SINGAPORE IS small but independent and
consistently seeking possibilities.
SG50 TO ME ILLUSTRATES THAT time is a long river
that leads to the sea.

AGING AND HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES, AS WELL AS
POLLUTION, are what I am concerned about in the
next 50 years for Singapore.

SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED ME to accept failures.
SINCE MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE I live life
more slowly.
SINGAPORE HAS BECOME MORE POPULATED AND
MANY SITES OF MEMORY AND HISTORY I GREW
UP WITH SEEM TO HAVE DISAPPEARED. Itd be
gentler for our hearts if we could live close to

things or sites that remind us of our humanity and
fragility.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN environmental
consciousness from France.
66
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entertain an opposing thought and talk about it,

without needing to accept it.
WORK HARD AND KEEP THE FAITH. If things are
meant to be, they will be.
JANANI
SRIDHAR
BEN
CHEONG
THAILAND, LAOS,
MYANMAR & NEPAL
UNITED STATES
THE MOST COURAGEOUS THING IVE DONE IS
PURSUE MUSIC FULL TIME. I was on the path to
Janani Sridhar defies what is

expected of her. Garnering acclaim
in Singapore, the United States and
Europe, she almost went into the
field of biomedical science before
embracing her operatic talents
as a career. Janani was the first
Singaporean to win the top prize at
the 58th Llangollen International
Musical Eisteddfod for singers
under 16, and is perhaps best
known in Singapore for her part
in the 2007 National Day Parade
song, Will You. Her enthusiasm
is delightful and Janani is clearly
someone who doesnt take life for
granted, but instead takes life by
the horns. To find out more, you
can visit Jananis website at
jananisridhar.com.
do Biomedical Science, so I thought that was

what I was going to pursue as a full-time career,
but music is truly my calling. I did it because even
though I knew that the performing arts is not
the most stable of careers, society needs it!
David Rubenstein said it well with, The world is
a complicated place, and theres a lot of division
between people. The performing arts tend to unify
people in a way nothing else does.
IVE LEARNT THAT faith, determination, intelligent
practice and gumption are imperative to success.

THERE IS AN INTANGIBLE BOND THAT CONNECTS
US ALL, AND I FIND IT IN THE MOST SURPRISING
OF WAYS. Truly, inspiration is around us.
I AM SO IMMENSELY PROUD OF HOW WE GREW
FROM A LITTLE FISHING VILLAGE TO BE ONE OF
THE BIGGEST POWERHOUSES IN THE WORLD IN
SUCH A SHORT 50 YEARS. The Singaporean spirit
and drive is one in a billion.

FEWER PEOPLE ARE READING ON THE MRTS. Now
all I see are people playing on their handphones!
Boyish, exuberant and humble,

Ben Cheong is a light unto himself.
The founder of the Magical
Light Foundation, he set up the
non-profit organisation which
grants underprivileged school
children in Chiang Mai the gift
of education. Magical Light
refers to how the organisation
seeks to share and give hope,
peace and warmth to people in
need everywhere. This motto
is a testament to the immense
faith in humanity that Ben has,
in spite of having witnessed the
conflict and devastation of civil
wars and natural disasters. His
tirelessness speaks volumes and
has enabled thousands of children
to receive basic education such as
computer and language classes a
lighthouse of hope for Southeast
Asia, indeed.
FROM MY CURRENT PLACE OF RESIDENCE, I THINK

THAT SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN the ability to
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the situation, after news of a second earthquake

of magnitude 7.3 and the crashing of a US Army
helicopter on a relief mission, due to the bad
weather and unfamiliar terrain on 12th May. The
whole of Nepal was in a chaotic state and most of
the infrastructure had been destroyed.
SINGAPORE HAS BECOME A CONCRETE JUNGLE

BECAUSE OF ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND LAND
SIZE. More cultural platforms to encourage
the next generation to grow up to be proud

Singaporeans would be great.
SINGAPORE HAS TO EVOLVE TO STAY AHEAD
THE NORTHERN PART OF THAILAND, WHERE

MY FOUNDATION IS BASED, is the melting pot of
activities where many refugees, migrant workers,

hill tribes and poor Thai children are situated. All
the refugees and migrant workers in Thailand are
from neighbouring countries who are seeking
refuge from the constant civil unrest in their
villages. Chiang Mai also borders Myanmar and
Laos where many of my projects to help the
children in remote villages to get an education are
rooted. It is a natural decision to have a base in
Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Our group had made a promise to the village to

be there with relief items, food, tarpaulins and
funds, and we went ahead with the plan. We
arrived in Katunge village on 15th May via a
helicopter piloted by Captain Subek. Two weeks
later, I was devastated by the tragic news on 2nd
June that Captain Subek was killed in a helicopter
crash together with three other relief workers
from Doctors without Borders. If I had delayed
my trip by two weeks, I might have been on that
unfortunate flight. It did not occur to me that I was
courageous until the news of the crash hit me.
My most courageous encounter could be my

recent relief mission to Nepal on 15th May 2015,
20 days after the Gorkha earthquake which killed
over 10,000 people. We chartered a helicopter
to reach the village of Katunge, Nepal, where a
group of us had previously donated funds to build
a medical centre in 2014. The medical centre was
the only building standing after the earthquake
and was used as the relief centre for the villagers.
The 1,677 houses in the village had completely
collapsed and over 5,000 people were homeless.
The route to the village was deemed unsafe
due to the magnitude of the aftershocks and
landslides. Many of my friends asked me to cancel
or postpone my trip for a week or two to monitor
70
BECOME OBSOLETE AND FALL OFF THE RADAR.
However, sometimes I feel that it may be moving

too fast and risks losing its soul. Evolving does not
necessarily mean to do away with the old, but to
innovate and stay vigourous.
with a pinch of salt and dont complain about

everything.
ONE NEED NOT BE RICH OR FAMOUS TO REACH
OUT TO HELP A FELLOW HUMAN BEING WHO IS
LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES. Empathy
BUILD 17 SCHOOLS IN THE REMOTE VILLAGES OF
is the essence of every human being and any

ordinary person can become extraordinary if he
dares to use his heart, to feel the pain of those
whose hearts have no hope, to use his eyes to see
those whose eyes have been shaded by injustice,
and to use his hands to reach out to help those
whose hands have been handicapped by poverty.
MYANMAR. Every year, over 3,000 village kids

have a chance to be schooled through my school
building projects.
PRIDE. It is the place that gave me my heartbeat.

The neighbouring countries that I have to be in are
part of my soul and give me the zeal to be living a
meaningful life.
UNITED KINGDOM
LIFE IS NOT A BED OF ROSES. Learn to live life
SO FAR IVE MANAGED TO RAISE FUNDS TO
SINGAPORE WILL ALWAYS BE MY HOME AND

I HAD MANY RISKY ENCOUNTERS IN MY JOURNEY.
OF ITS CONTEMPORARIES, OTHERWISE IT WILL
iVYONE
KHOO
ivyone Khoo is a brave and curious

creature. Case in point: sleeping
on the streets of Venice to finish
her art installation, and busking
in Covent Garden. Her willingness
to push boundaries also extends
to her artwork, as she views the
world through a mechanical lens
and plays around with light. A
cross-disciplinary wunderkind,
ivyone is currently collaborating
with a group of scientists to create
an art project incorporating
bioluminescence, the production of
light by living organisms.
BASIC EDUCATION IN SINGAPORE IS A WAY OF

LIFE FOR ALL. Education in these remote areas
is a privilege. It is my personal goal to empower

the future and lives of as many children as I can
through education.
SINGAPORES SUCCESS STORY has made some of
us a bit complacent and the next 50 years may not

be as smooth as the last 50 years, where many
opportunities were out there for people to grab.
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workaholic and I have a very Kiasu Singaporean

streak, I am always fully committed to the task
in hand, I am a neurotic perfectionist. It has also
given me a distinctly beautiful and unchangeable
Singaporean accent when I speak.
SINCE MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE , I have
I LEFT SINGAPORE TO explore and go on an
adventure, so I followed my instincts.
learnt to live with less material belongings. My

priorities in life have changed too and as a result
I have a much simpler lifestyle. I certainly have
learnt to listen to my inner voice and have the
courage to pursue a path of my own. I have also
learnt how to cook and to take better care of
myself. I stopped watching television and started
reading more. Being away from Singapore made
me appreciate the things I take for granted in
Singapore even more.
I SHOWED COURAGE WHEN
Leaving Singapore and taking a leap into the

unknown.
Arriving in London with a laptop, my portfolio and
a very big suitcase.
Sleeping in the streets in Venice because I wanted
to finish my art installation.
Busking on the streets of Covent Garden.
I HAVE LEARNT TO BE adaptable and not be afraid
to ask for help.

IF GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE, I WOULD not bring
such a big suitcase.

LONDON IS A CITY THAT CELEBRATES
ECCENTRICITIES AND INDIVIDUALISM. People are
not afraid to be themselves, even if it means being

unpopular. London is a place where all cultures
meet and intertwine with endless inspiration and
possibilities.
WE ARE A NATION MADE UP OF extremely
hardworking and very clever people.
SINGAPORE HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY IN

THE PAST 10 YEARS. The urban landscape is ultra-
modern and is much more cosmopolitan. There

has been an increment in the influx of migrants
and this has changed the social-cultural fabric of
Singapore. The emphasis in developing the arts
sector is visible locally and internationally. To give
an example, to study the arts, say 15 years ago, is
not something many people would consider or be
encouraged to do. Fortunately it is very different
now. Creativity has become as an asset, something
that is worth investing in and is hence, now
supported.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM THE UNITED
KINGDOM THAT we are not better nor worse
than anyone. There is always something to learn

from other cultures. We should stay interested
and curious even though we may not understand
something.
TO A YOUNGER ME , time is precious, dont waste it.
Learn from your mistakes and accept your failures

so you will be better suited for the next challenge.
CHEW CHIA
SHAO WEI
UNITED STATES
LOVE IS COURAGEOUS. It scares the shit out of
In a world where loudness and

critical thinking are valued,
Chew Chia Shao Weis words are a
glimpse of another possibility for
our times. Laconic, yet lacking in
terseness, her responses embody
the ethos that less is more. A quiet
bravery and strength inhabits this
old soul. She penned The Rock and
The Bird [Epigram Books, 2014],
an enchanting childrens book
about an unlikely and poignant
friendship between the titular
characters. Based in the United
States, her homespun curiosity
is still evident and her love for
Singapore and its inhabitants is
crystal clear.
me because I discovered at fourteen that I didnt

believe it existed and I think it therefore takes a
certain bravery, or stupidity, to devote oneself to
what could be a delusion, to trade your defences
for the chance of devastation. But I think that the
opposite of fear is love and I refuse to succumb to
one without surrendering to the possibility of the
other.
I THINK I HAVE LEARNT TO LEARN FROM my
journey.
I MAY HAVE MADE A LITTLE IMPACT. But I think of
Yeats and feel there is value in treading softly.

I COP OUT ON THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT A
SECOND CHANCE because the variables are too
much for me.

SPACES AND SILENCES SHAPED BY THE
PROFUSION THAT IS INSIDE OF US AND THAT
ISSUES FROM US , that which inspires me is, in
short, anything.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO COMPARE CULTURES AS I
dont know how we Singaporeans are properly

characterised.
SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED ME INTO a balanced
individual with a strong work ethic. I am a bit of a
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IM PROUD OF OUR HISTORY and how weve made
LIVING ABROAD IS NOT THE SAME AS TRAVELLING.
our diminutiveness delightful. Also, the people

who strove and are striving to make it a place we
really can be proud of, not out of patriotism or
because they should, but because they want to
and care.
You begin to understand the values and mindsets

of a subset of people that you live, study and work
with when you are there for half-a-year or longer.
I think Im only now starting to understand a little
about New Yorkers.
FOR SG50 , I feel that a fifty-year-old could do with
equal parts celebration and reflection.
CHRISTINE
CHIA
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS FOR SINGAPORE , some
maturation would be nice. I hope we learn to trust

and earn that trust in our capacities as citizens.
UNITED STATES
SINGAPORE HAS GIVEN ME WHAT I THINK
CO-EDITING THE POETRY AND PROSE
WILL BE A LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR
ANTHOLOGY A LUXURY WE CANNOT AFFORD
WINTER. Singapores story has also taught me
that problems, even the inherent ones and the

seemingly intractable ones, have solutions.
THE PEOPLE I LOVE ARE EVERYTHING that I miss
about Singapore.
MAYBE SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM THE
US to be more engaged and to speak up a little
more for what we believe in, but I think if we are

speaking up more we need to listen a whole lot
better too.
AT 50 I SEE MYSELF at my birthday party.
Right
now it looks like it will be held outdoors and
everyone, except those who dont want to, will be
wearing hats of all different sorts and smiles. We
will play lots of games and have quiet corners so
that it is both fun and not too tiring.
KEEP BEING KIND is what I would like to tell a
younger version of myself.

I DO THINK WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO BE A
FIRST-WORLD NATION. But so does everyone else.
I think we are a first-world nation, but doesnt the

three-world model have to be revised with the end
of the Cold War and in light of todays polarities?
74
Christine Chia Yueh Chins words

cut a crisp and decisive line.
Having experienced a difficult
childhood, she has woven the
confusing threads of her history
into a rich tapestry of emotion,
producing works of poetry based
on her unique perspective. She has
impressive credits to her name,
like compiling the anthology of Lee
Kuan Yew-related writing, entitled
A Luxury We Cannot Afford,
which was the source of many legal
headaches and wringing of hands.
However, Christine deserves more
than literary accolades. She has
shown the resilience and courage
to be honest with herself and to
own her narrative, where others
have not.
(MATH PAPER PRESS, 2014), ABOUT SINGAPORES

MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE, IS PROBABLY THE
MOST COURAGEOUS THING IVE DONE SO FAR.
It was a controversial subject and the possibility

of legal repercussions was and remains real,
so my co-editor and I sought advice from two
different groups of lawyers. Were glad the
anthology is doing well and are very grateful to
all the contributors, our lawyers for the pro bono
advice and of course our publisher, Math Paper
Press. Due to the potential controversy Joshuas
application for NAC funding for the project was
predictably turned down, but Kenny Leck, our
publisher still persisted.
I did it because my time outside Singapore has
really helped me to see Singapore more clearly,
and love and appreciate Singapore more
when we did a soft open call for submissions we
knew we had struck a deep vein because the
submissions kept coming in and they were from
Singapores best writers. It was like everyone had
a piece about The Man in their drawer that was
waiting for our call.
Conviction, timing and support matter immensely
in the success of almost impossible projects.
New Yorkers work hard, like Singaporeans, but

employers in New York understand that you
have a rich social life outside of work. Many of
the workers get out of the office promptly at 6
p.m., unless its a big project, because there are a
million things going on in New York every night
and someone is doing them even if they have office
jobs.
On the negative side, job security in America is
generally very low which does not promote longterm planning for many people.
WHEN I WAS OVERSCHEDULED WITH WORK AND
STUDIES, ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID, HOW DO
YOU FIND TIME TO BE A NICE PERSON?
I found that very funny and true. It takes a lot

of time to build friendships and time is in short
supply in Singapore and New York. In that sense,
the time-poverty culture is common to both
Singapore and New York.
However New York culture is different in that
there are more subcultures where someone can
find a sizeable community if they are different and
they wont feel as lonely.
I hope that Singaporeans will reclaim time for
themselves and their loved ones, despite the
culture and pressures to devote all their time to
the job. Your job may determine your social status,
but you are more than your job.
IM PROUD OF THE HIGH QUALITY OF EDUCATION
IN SINGAPORE AND THE SACRIFICES OF THE
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS INVOLVED.
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
Im proud of the world class and hygienic street

food culture, the cleanliness of our public
transport system and the people: Singaporeans
love their families and friends and show it in
deeds, if not words. Ironically, as a writer, Im not
very impressed with words unless they are backed
up by actions.
in Singapore we had a little bit of all that, but such

rootedness is not so evident in Singapore now.
I AM PROUD OF WHAT THE NATION HAS
ACHIEVED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. In issues of
DARRELL
ANG
governance and economic success I feel Singapore

cannot be bettered.
I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS,
ABOUT SG50, FOR ME THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE
INCOME INEQUALITY WILL WORSEN SO BADLY
NOR SHOULD THERE BE ANY BETWEEN SG49,
THAT WE WILL NEED GATED COMMUNITIES.
SG50 AND SG51. Every year counts, every moment

of what we do as a nation should build towards a
greater future.
Related to that, that education is now less of a

leg-up for poor children than it used to be because
parents are gaming the system with expensive
pre-school education and tuition. I fear that with
growing income inequality education will become
increasingly less a tool for elevation, becoming
instead a symbol of the resources of the rich, and
that the property bubble and speculation will
make housing unaffordable for young couples.
SINCE MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE , Im more
aware than ever of how vast and varied the world
is and how unjust and egocentric people can be,
and how insignificant I am and yet how necessary
it is to do what I can to change what I can.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF
AMERICANS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM THEM. The
inspiring thing about America as both a reality
and a concept is that many (though not all) of its
citizens embrace the Margaret Mead dictum:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
its the only thing that ever has.
THE PRIVATE REALITIES OF THE PROBLEMS THAT
PLAGUE EACH SOCIETY ARE MORE DEEP-ROOTED
FRANCE & GERMANY

WHEN I LEFT SINGAPORE AT 16, I LEFT MY
SINGAPOREAN SELF BEHIND. I knew that in order
A conductor is someone who

conveys nuance, meaning and
direction, weaving the orchestra
into a cohesive whole. Darrell
Ang (http://darrellang.net/)
currently resides in France, where
he has been the music director
of Orchestre Symphonique de
Bretagne since 2012. He has
performed in renowned orchestras
worldwide, yet the magic is found
in his quiet passion for music.
Music has always been an avenue
for his emotions, originating
from his tender adolescence. In
Singapore, Darrell is enabling the
next generation of musicians,
having established the Young
Musicians Foundation Orchestra
(TYMFO).
(https://tymforchestra.wordpress.
com)
to survive alone overseas, and in order to be what

I wanted to be, I couldnt be the same me. And Im
glad for that. When I see other Singaporeans who
have studied overseas or are studying overseas,
they bring with them all their Singaporean-ness.
Many of them dont fit in, nor do they become
enriched by their stints outside of home because
their minds are not open. Leaving ones self behind
enables one to re-examine what exactly one
needs, and what one doesnt. Then one is able to
build an identity. I also left friends, relatives, and
memories behind: it was a clean break. Then, after
a few years, I started to pick up the pieces and
put them slowly back together. Its a process that
continues till today.
IF THERES ONE THING IVE LEARNT SO FAR, IT
IS THAT A JOURNEY LASTS A LIFETIME. There
are lessons to be learnt every day, and it is ones

prerogative to learn from them. I have also learnt
so far that there is nothing that one can control,
and things always happen for a reason whether
or not one likes those reasons.
THAN THE GLOSSY TOURIST BROCHURES WILL LET

YOU KNOW. At the same time, Singapore is better
I LIVE IN EUROPE MOSTLY IN FRANCE AND
placed and luckier than many countries and we

have much to celebrate and be grateful for.
GERMANY. The people in these two places are
76
very rooted in their respective cultures, traditions

and histories this includes their languages,
cuisines, and landscapes. When I was growing up
IDENTITY IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NEGLECTED

IN SINGAPORE , and the identity of a people is
an aspect that is inseparable from their history,
culture, art, literature and music.
Since we have very little of all that, then how can

we call ourselves a nation? Added to this is the fact
that with each year more and more new citizens
are introduced, and the majority of them have not
integrated themselves with Singaporean society
(nor do they seem to want to): they hardly speak
English nor do they intend to learn it, or the
other principal languages/dialects of the country;
they dont appreciate local food; they dont wish
to have friends across the broad spectrum of
races that is so characteristic of Singapore ...
and has anyone noticed that Singlish is also fast
disappearing? In the next 50 years (I would give
it less), the term Singaporean could just merely
mean that one possesses a Singapore passport.
We also lack a proper appreciation and
understanding of the arts - Western or folk.
This is largely due to the education system,
where more emphasis is placed on results and
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), rather than
artistic quality or gaining proper knowledge. If
Singaporean society is going to emerge in the
next fifty years as a learned, sophisticated and
intelligent society, then a new direction needs to
be found.
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE , I wouldnt have
pursued acting. Even though I was fairly successful
with it, behind the scenes, it only brought on
severe internal confusion during the most
precious years of my life.
SINGAPORE, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON DISCIPLINE,

HARD WORK, THRIFTINESS, INDEPENDENCE AND
OBEDIENCE AS WELL AS FILIAL PIETY has given
me strong fundamentals with which to grow as
an adult in an ever-changing world. As a classical
musician, one certainly needs discipline and
diligence, and the capacity to rely on oneself is
every Singaporeans birthright.
CHERYL
CHIN
AMERICANS: value individualism, promote it,
celebrate it.
SINGAPOREANS: value unity, promote it, celebrate
it.
SINCE MY DEPARTURE, SINGAPORE HAS LOST

A LOT OF ITS CHARM BUT GAINED OTHER
FORWARD-LOOKING ASPECTS. It has also gotten
more crowded, less gracious and more dissatisfied.

I wonder if these are signs of a nation coming
of age. I enjoy the fact that it has become more
cosmopolitan and more representative of a global
culture.
I WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FOLLOW
MY PATH. Its a difficult road and requires
superhuman patience, maturity and a lot of luck. In

the end, the sacrifices that one has to make could
be disastrous.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM EUROPE to
have an emphasis on things other than numbers

and money.
TO A YOUNGER ME , Id say change.
78
Both of which has its good and bad. The two if

married would make a well balanced couple.
UNITED STATES
I LEFT SINGAPORE FOR THE SECOND TIME TWO
YEARS AFTER STAR SEARCH. I was disenchanted
Cheryl Cunningham resembles the

noodles she makes: that is, DFG,
or Damn Fing Good. Better
known as Cheryl Chin, she was the
winner of Star Search Singapore
in 2003. Her eclectic career has
brought her from reciting lines
to rattling off recipes, serving up
Singaporean-style homeliness
in Texas. An irresistible mix of
charm and wit, her humour looms
large on the name of her awardwinning food truck, DFG Noodles.
Her personality bears the marks
of both Singapore and America,
having lived in The States for over
a decade. Yet Cheryl cannot be put
in a box, pursuing her dreams with
a courageousness that is uniquely
hers.
with the acting industry and realised it wasnt for

me. I had lost myself in the process and I needed to
leave in order to find myself again.
TO SET UP DFG NOODLES , I invested all the cash
that I had, maxed out my credit cards and credit

lines, threw in savings I had for my kids education,
asked everyone I knew for financial help, bought
a really crappy trailer, gutted it out, remodelled
it, and opened my food trailer with absolutely no
experience in running a food business ... all within
three weeks. I did it because I had a dream and I
pursue my dreams.
THE SURE FIRE WAY TO SUCCESS IS TO BELIEVE
WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT FAILURE IS NOT AN
OPTION. For me, failure meant not being able
to put a roof over my sons head or food in his
mouth. I was not going to let that happen no
matter what ... and so I fought. I fought hard and
I never gave up because I simply could not afford
to. Entrepreneurship (especially in the food
business) is not for the faint of heart, nor the weak
and weary. If you have made it as a successful
entrepreneur, then you have at the very least
earned yourself a doctorate in creative problem
solving and discipline.
I AM CRAZY PROUD OF OUR NON-CONFORMING

AND NURTURING GOVERNMENT. Implementing
strategies that take us by the hand like children

and lead us to green pastures. Its a much better
reality than a greedy capitalist government that
puts its citizens in constant peril under the guise of
a freedom fighter fighting for your rights. Pfff.
Take, for example, the median retirement savings
for families in the States. It is $42,700 for ages
35-44 according to The Motley Fool. This alone
should tell you how well you have been taken care
of.
It is no coincidence that Singapore has one of the
best transportation systems in the world, nor
a coincidence that we all have a roof over our
heads (including the homeless)! Be proud of our
government because you never want to bite the
hand that feeds you. Especially when the hand has
a good heart to accompany it.
SG50 IS 50 years of achievements. Not even Apple
has achieved this.
SINGAPORE HAS TAUGHT ME VALUES I WOULD
NEVER HAVE LEARNT IN THE U.S. Namely, non-
entitlement and to never abandon your elders.

50 RED DOTS
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE U.S. ARE FLEETING AND
TAKEN FOR GRANTED. Its as if the word friends
doesnt mean much here.

SINGAPORE HAS BECOME even more cosmopolitan
due to high growth which is good; however, the

growth means that our original food recipes are no
longer cooked by Singaporeans but by foreigners
who never knew what it tasted like before,
thereby eroding our original recipes slowly but
surely.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM THE U.S. THAT
whining, yelling at the top of your lungs, cutting

lines, pushing people in subways and eating with
your mouth open are behaviours that we should
rise above since we are humans and have the
ability to practise self-control.
YES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE MY
PATH IF you are sick of being a sheep and following
the herd.
TO A YOUNGER ME , you dont know sh*#. [smiles]
RATHER THAN MOVE BACK I would like to live in
Singapore for three months out of the year.
80
SWITCHING OFF THE WORLD FOR TEN DAYS AT A TIME

6.5 km south of Singapore, another world awaits: one with no
cars, no trains and no tall buildings. St Johns island is teeming
with big trees, whose roots run deep, and a bevy of cats that
follow you around for food. Eagles soar on the horizon during
sunset and a constant sea breeze carries you far away from the
hustle and bustle of city life.
Its tranquil surroundings belie its chequered history as a
quarantine station for immigrants, a penal settlement for
political prisoners and ringleaders of secret societies and a
rehabilitation centre for opium addicts until the 1970s. Signs
of its past can be seen in the chain-link fences, barbed wire and
dormitory compounds.
ST. JOHNS
ISLAND
Here ten-day Vipassana meditation retreats are regularly held

(dhamma.org). Vipassana means to see things as they really
are. There are no charges for the courses. All expenses are met
through donations from people who, having completed a course
and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others
the same opportunity.
It is fitting that the retreats are held here, where the shackles of
the past have given way to serenity in the present.

Photography by NICHOLAS KOH & SIMON TAY
82
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
If you want to be happy, be.

The moment you want to be
LEO TOLSTOY
somebody, you are no longer

free.
JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI
84
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
Im in no hurry: the sun and the moon arent, either.
To deal with things, knowledge of things is needed. To deal with
Nobody goes faster than the legs they have.
people, you need insight, sympathy. To deal with yourself, you need
If where I want to go is far away, Im not there in an instant.
nothing. Be what you are - conscious being - and dont stray away
ALBERTO CAEIRO
from yourself.
NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ
86
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
I am not an ornithologist. I am a bird.

SAUL BELLOW
88
A city isnt so unlike a person.

They both have the marks to
show they have many stories to
tell. They see many faces. They
tear things down and make new
again.
RASMENIA MASSOUD
A SAFE
HARBOUR
Written by CASSIE LIM & ALEXIS LION
Edited by MICHAEL LAIDLAW & DANIEL WHITTINGTON
Photography by NICHOLAS KOH & DAVID LALANNE
90
COMPANIES
In our rapidly shifting landscape, it is difficult

to find constancy and comfort in familiar faces
and associations. Take Singapores phenomenal
growth, for instance. The citys skyline over the
Marina Bay area has changed drastically in a mere
5 years, with a slew of high rise condominiums,
offices, malls and a casino rendering its silhouette
unrecognisable.
What stands out about BTMU is its permanent

presence in the region over the past century,
where the bank has ensured that the Singapore
Branch will always remain open even when
circumstances have become difficult.
We want to keep our presence open in each
country for as long as possible. That shows
commitment, says Yukiyasu Nishio, General
Manager of the Singapore Branch [2012 2015].
Closing and opening branches is easy, but the
network would not be as strong and reliable as
one that has been in operations for a long time.
Amongst the constant flux, The Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ(BTMU)s presence in Singapore
stretches far back to the early 1900s when
Singapore was still a British colony, a barely
developed plot of land yet to be
truly discovered and home to
It is easy to look back and see
One of the hardest
fishermen and other natives of
what was done right because
challenges
in
the
the era. Seemingly cast adrift
hindsight is always crystal clear.
after the demise of the British
However, it is in moments of
modern world is
East India Company which had
doubt that immense courage
to stay relevant
founded Singapore in 1819 and
and vision are required to bridge
among the everdissolved towards the end of
the then to the now. It took
the nineteenth century. As the
guts and vision to believe that
changing fads
banking arm of Mitsubishi UFJ
Singapore could progress from a
and instantaneous
Financial Group (MUFG), BTMU
fishing village to the cosmopolitan
connectivity.
is unlike other well-advertised
first-world city it is now.
counterparts in the banking
sector. Many would not know the countless
BTMU has demonstrated this by its consistent
courageous steps the bank has quietly taken to
financing of above and below-the-ground mega
stay deeply entrenched in the DNA of Singapore.
projects that have kept the country ticking over.
The trust and commitment to the region, and
Often a company takes on the qualities of the
especially Singapore, has paid off.
country and the people that it was founded upon.
Likewise, BTMU embodies the steadfastness,
In 2013, BTMU relocated its Headquarters for
reliability and long-term focus of Japan and her
Asia & Oceania from its head office in Tokyo
people. In 1916, the Yokohama Specie Bank
to Singapore. It has since fostered greater
BTMUs earliest predecessor opened its first
cohesiveness between the 13 different countries
office in Singapore. After several mergers and
in the region; namely Australia, Bangladesh,
renaming to the Bank of Tokyo in 1945, it officially Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
began operations as a fully fledged branch in 1957. New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore,
Yokohama Specie Bank opened in Singapore when Thailand and Vietnam.
exports from Japan were rising, and the bank
subsequently saw a need to lend financial support
Go Watanabe, Chief Executive Officer for BTMU
to the growing presence of Japanese corporations Asia & Oceania, says, Despite its size, Singapores
that had businesses in Singapore and around the
well-established business infrastructure, global
region.
connectivity and stable political environment
92
COMPANIES
make it an attractive place for global multinational corporations

(MNCs) to set up their regional headquarters (HQs) here.
Watanabe continues, Setting up our regional HQs in Singapore is
part of a strategic move to better accommodate BTMUs expanding
business in Asia. The positive growth momentum in the region
continues to attract other Asian and global corporates to pursue
business opportunities in Asia. Hence, it is vital for us to stay close to
the markets and proactively adapt our strategy and service offerings
that are in keeping with any changes and developments.
Left to Right
Yukiyasu Nishio, General Manager of the
Singapore Branch (2012 - 2015) and Naoya
Hiramatsu, Deputy General Manager of the
Singapore Branch
Pg 90 & 91
Singapore Sports Hub, the newest sports tourism
destination
Singapore continues to be well-regarded as a triple-A rated

economy, with strong growth potential. This makes it a sound and
stable location for business expansion as well as for investments.
Watanabe elaborates, It is an attractive destination for large
Japanese corporations to set up their regional HQ for Asia. From
our internal data, currently close to 200 Japanese corporates have
set up their regional HQ in Singapore. Given that our core customer
segment in this region is still Japanese corporations, it makes a lot of
sense for BTMU to also relocate our regional HQ for Asia & Oceania
to Singapore.
COMPANIES
Nishio observes that the Singapore government

is always on the lookout for more opportunities
to further the nations economic growth, which
in turn serves as an attraction for countless other
MNCs making Singapore their headquarters
for the Asia-Oceania region. We have many
corporations doing business in Singapore and from
Singapore. That stems from the governments
policy to attract both Japanese and other
international corporations to come into Singapore.
As a result of that, we also have more business
opportunities here.
Naoya Hiramatsu, Deputy General Manager of the
Singapore Branch, adds, Over time, the Singapore
government gives incentives to corporations
who establish their regional HQs here to manage
the finance and business for their subsidiaries in
other parts of Asia. This means we are in a better
position to support and advise such activities at a
regional level.
What is interesting about Singapore is that for
such a small country, where driving from one end
of the island to the other takes about 1 hour, it
manages to carve a space for itself as a hub for the
region. Its stance before the MNCs is to serve as
the brain for the region, transmitting instructions
to the rest of the countries with astonishing
efficiency and ease.
Nishio explains, Every time I visit my customers,
more than 90% of the discussion is about business
outside of Singapore because they oversee
operations in this region from Singapore. Of
course they have business in Singapore, but
they dont oversee only Singapore. They oversee
Singapore and other countries in this region.
They view this area as one market and they have
located their headquarters in Singapore.
Although operating costs for businesses in
Singapore are much higher than they are in
its Southeast Asian neighbours, for BTMU the
advantages outweigh the costs. Nishio observes
94
that, Singaporeans are more international. They

have a more globalised perspective and are able
to adapt to the changing business landscape more
quickly.
One of the hardest challenges in the modern
world is to stay relevant among the ever-changing
fads and instantaneous connectivity.
As Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and investor,
says of the effect of social media on businesses,
This means taking the long-term view and
avoiding short-term benchmarks to gauge
progress. It means allowing the personality,
heart and soul of the people who run all levels of
the business to show. What BTMU has done is
to keep to their principles in an industry that is
often associated with shifting moral standards.
Nishio continues, Some people say BTMU is
too conservative, but I say sustainability is more
important in the banking industry, so we take
appropriate risks to achieve the goals.
As we touched upon how BTMU dealt with the
post-2007 financial crisis after the collapse of
bank giant Lehman Brothers, both Nishio and
Hiramatsu unanimously replied, We are not all
the same.
According to Nishio, the other global banks had
much more severe repercussions than the Asian
banks. More importantly, during those tough
times we stood by our customers. We remained
firmly in Asia and helped customers through those
difficult periods.
Much as Singapore has been a safe harbour for
the past century, BTMU has played that role for
its customers and will continue to walk the testing
path to be The Worlds Most Trusted Financial
Group.
Left
Yukiyasu Nishio, General Manager of the
Singapore Branch (2012 - 2015)
COMPANIES
COMPANIES
INVISIBLE
INFLUENCE
Edited by DANIEL WHITTINGTON & MICHAEL LAIDLAW
Photography by NICHOLAS KOH & DAVID LALANNE
In society we place leaders in the spotlight, holding them in high

esteem. We admire their courage to stand unapologetic and
alone. We laud their singular dedication to make vision a reality. In
hindsight, we respect their foresight.
Yet leaders can do nothing without the invisible courage of
followers; especially the earliest followers, the ones who first
stepped behind the leader and supported their ideas despite the
uncertainty and potential adversity lying ahead.
The early followers are the quiet risk takers, those who give
credence to a leaders vision before it is safe or popular and who
doggedly work behind the scenes to bring it to fruition.
They are the designers, engineers, builders, manufacturers,
financiers, educators and storytellers; those who tipped the scales
and turned dreams of Singapore as a nation into a reality.
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) has been firmly rooted
in Singapore since opening its first branch here in 1957. As the
banking arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), BTMU,
through its belief in and financing of the nations dreams, has woven
itself into the rich tapestry that makes up modern-day Singapore.
Left to Right
BTMUs faith in Singapore has never wavered, says Foo Onn Siew,
Head of Corporate Banking Singapore.
96
Lily Tan of Corporate Banking Singapore, Joanna

Swee of Project Finance, Colin Chen, Deputy
General Manager for Structured Finance, Chong
Teck Wei, Head of Project Finance, Akihiro Kato,
Head of Planning for Structured Finance
COMPANIES
COMPANIES
UNDERGROUND, ON LAND AND IN THE AIR
In the early days the Japanese banking giant brought with it investors
and Japanese companies, boosting the local economy and industries.
Of the entire inconspicuous infrastructure we interact with hour-byhour, electricity is perhaps the most taken for granted.
Initially we were looking at helping Japanese companies set

up manufacturing facilities here and we gradually expanded to
infrastructure and real estate development, explains Colin Chen,
Deputy General Manager for Structured Finance. The banks business
in Singapore has grown significantly and the scope of its contributions
has also increased significantly.
We charge our laptops and phones at will. We rely on air

conditioning to keep the heat and humidity at bay and we suppress
the night, lighting our streets, shops and homes.
This is no accidental capability and if it were to come to a grinding
halt, Singapore as a modern nation would cease to function. Out of
the spotlight, the ongoing development, upgrades and maintenance
of Singapores power and electrical infrastructure literally keep
Singapore energised.
Singapores rapid industrialisation called for partners with vision and

imagination. As the country built up its industries, for example in the
semiconductor sector, and turned industrial sites like Jurong Island into
a petrochemical hub, BTMU provided financing for government linked
companies (GLCs) to create the required infrastructure. SembCorp
was the corporation responsible for developing and providing utility
infrastructure services on Jurong Island in the late 1990s and one of
the GLCs that BTMU supported.
When the Singapore government mooted the idea to start a chemical
hub on Jurong Island as one of the major international banks
with this kind of project financing capabilities we believed in this
Singapore story, says Lily Tan of the Corporate Banking Singapore
Team. With this foundation infrastructure built as well as the
leadership of the Singapore government, many international chemical
giants also believed and invested in this Singapore story.
Today, BTMU is recognised as one of the top project financing banks in
Asia.
Its Project Finance Division is divided into four sectors: infrastructure,
power, natural resources and real estate. Underground, above ground
and in the air, BTMUs contribution to Singapores infrastructure
touches almost every aspect of Singaporean life.
BTMU is actually quietly affecting peoples lives in Singapore, says
Onn Siew.
Chong Teck Wei, who heads the Project Finance Team, adds,
Commitment is very important in project financing. Unlike short-term
bank financing where the tenure is three to five years, the tenure
in project financing is more like 20 or 25 years and it involves a large
amount of money. There are not many banks out there who have the
capital to do this kind of business.
98
The underground Singapore Cross Island Tunnel project is a

SGD2 billion project planned for completion in 2018. Two 35
kilometre tunnels, located 60 metres underground and crisscrossing the island, will contain and isolate high voltage transmission
cables for electricity. Partly financed by BTMU, the tunnels provide
access for easy installation and upgrading of Singapores power
cable grid infrastructure.
We have to be the
trendsetter, rather
than to follow the
trend. If we always
respond to the
market changes, then
thats very difficult.
We therefore have
to look ahead of the
market and say, Ill
tell you where to go.
The tunnels are anticipated to support Singapores domestic and

commercial electrical requirements for the coming decades and
future generations to come.
If electricity powers Singapore, what powers Singapores electricity?
Once again, BTMUs subtle influence is strengthening Singapore.
Approximately 85% of Singapores electricity is fuelled by liquid
natural gas (LNG). Until May 2013, most of Singapores natural gases
were imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. To diversify the supply
and energy sources, a storage and regasification LNG terminal
was built on Jurong Island. BTMU, along with five other banks, was
involved in refinancing the SGD1.11 billion cost of the plant.
From the land to the skies, competition to be the best gets fiercer, yet
competition forces development. In 2013 the Singapore government
announced Changi Jewel, a project to connect all terminals at the
Singapore Changi Airport. The connection corridor will bring nature
indoors and include shopping, dining, hotels and airport facilities and
will increase Terminal 1s passenger capacity by 35%.
COMPANIES
The main reason for the project is to elevate

Singapore and ensure she remains one of the most
competitive cities, says Lily. Thats why were
behind this one.
ENRICHING A NATION
Whilst hard infrastructure powers a nation,
education and culture enriches it.
Here BTMUs unobtrusive presence is felt as it
gives financial breath and structure to sports and
educational projects, forming a backdrop against
which Singapore education and culture can
flourish.
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) that was
behind the design, build and operation of the
new ITE College West was the first of its kind in
the region. It is also the first public educational
institution in Singapore to be run by international
operators.
What the government wanted to do was bring
in the international expertise of how to improve
a technical college such that the post-secondary
students will be able to enjoy the best facilities,
explains Joanna Swee of the Project Finance Team.
The bank is one of the Mandated Lead Arrangers
(MLAs) for the project. It worked with other
investors to pull together an approximate 26-year
tenure. The college was completed in 2010 and
is significant because it is the first availabilitybased social infrastructure PPP in the region.
Under an availability-based arrangement the
private entities involved receive regular payments
from the public sector on the basis that agreed
service levels are met, rather than when the
facilities are simply being used. This helps to
maintain the quality and sustainability of the
project.
A similar desire to help fulfill Singapores vision for
itself was behind BTMUs involvement in the new
100
Singapore Sports Hub.

The government had the vision to build Singapore
into a sports tourism destination, so the Singapore
Sports Hub is part of the strategy to enhance and
realise this dream. We are helping to create the
infrastructure to allow the ecosystem for sports to
grow, says Teck Wei.
With a seating capacity of 55,000, the new Sports
Hub has become a focal point not just for sports
events such as the 28th Southeast Asia Games
or the Premier Leagues pre-season tournament,
but also a gig venue for international artists. Teck
Wei adds, Its more than a sporting stadium.
Its about bringing people together for lifestyle
events. Interestingly, the venue also serves as
a recreational mall with retail outlets to attract
people to combine sports with their lifestyle.
COMPANIES
Southeast Asia, says Akihiro Kato, Head of

Planning for Structured Finance. Its easier to
connect to other countries from Singapore. We
also have the experience, financial clout, and track
record to support various projects that are vital to
this nations infrastructure.
Singapore is a very small country and so it is very
important that it continues to stay relevant to the
big economies, adds Teck Wei. We have to be the
trendsetter, rather than to follow the trend. If we
always respond to the market changes, then thats
very difficult. We therefore have to look ahead of
the market and say, Ill tell you where to go.
Wherever Singapores vision takes the nation,
BTMU is going to be there quietly helping to make
it reality.
BTMU was one of six banks that initially

supported the underwriting and arranging for
the winning bidder. Its support for the project
continued after the 2008 financial crisis and
BTMU remains one of the leading MLAs for the
project today.
WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD
BTMUs stake in Singapores future remains
fervent. In many ways, the prosperity of Singapore
reflects the banks own success.
As Singaporean companies expand abroad, BTMU
has been actively involved, for example with
projects such as the Fujairah 1 Independent Water
and Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates.
Owned by Emirates Sembcorp Water & Power
Co, the plant is 100% operated by a subsidiary of
Sembcorp Industries.
But what does BTMU hope and see for the future
of Singapore locally?
As a hub, Singapore is the best location in
Top row
Bottom row
Foo Onn Siew, Head of Corporate Banking

Singapore
Lily Tan of Corporate Banking Singapore, Joanna

Swee of Project Finance, Akihiro Kato, Head of
Planning for Structured Finance
Middle row
Chong Teck Wei, Head of Project Finance, Colin
Chen, Deputy General Manager for Structured
Finance
COMPANIES
AGENTS OF
POSITIVE CHANGE
Just as BTMU strengthens its business ties in
Singapore and the region, it also stays connected
to the heart of the communities where it works by
giving back to society in ways that are meaningful
and relevant.
BTMU has two priority themes that govern all CSR
programmes, initiatives and projects: addressing
global environmental issues with a focus on global
warming, biodiversity and the preservation of
our natural habitats; and nurturing societys
next generation to empower them in addressing
todays challenges for a better world tomorrow.
Jenny Lim, Head of Corporate Communications
at BTMU Asia & Oceania says, As we continue
to engage our communities at a local level, there
is growing awareness that activities addressing
our global sustainability challenges whether
environmental or societal need to be more
sustainable and have deeper, long-term impact.
With Asias rich history and diverse cultures, there

are many opportunities for businesses, NGOs
and the public sector to collaborate and pave the
way for sustainable development. BTMU too will
play its part to build an inclusive and supportive
environment to build a better future.
Jenny adds, As the bank seeks opportunities
in the region, we are actively looking at
strengthening our existing presence. Committing
to a more sustainable CSR programme is one of
the strategies. Through CSR, we can strengthen
the MUFG presence at a local level. When we give
back to society, it is not just the MUFG name that
gains more recognition. It also empowers our staff
to be agents of positive change. There have been
many opportunities for our branches to engage
with the various stakeholders.
MYANMAR
Sanitation
Education
In April 2015, BTMU signed a Memorandum of

Understanding to commit INR105 million (about
SGD2 million) to start a sanitation project that will
create proper facilities for girls in schools in the
Indian State of Andhra Pradesh over an 18-month
period. This not only supports Indias goal of
improving national cleanliness and hygiene under
the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya (Come
Clean India) campaign, but also provides students,
especially girls, an equal opportunity to continue
studying in a safe and clean environment.
In Myanmar, BTMU has also pledged to fund the

development of a brand new learning centre at the
Myanmar Institute of Banking (MIB), which is the
training arm of the Myanmar Banking Association
(MBA). The learning centre, which is expected
to be ready in the second half of 2015, will be
equipped with the latest computer equipment and
training resources to provide computer literacy
and language training programmes to upskill the
MBAs member banks and improve the skill set of
Myanmars workforce.
APAC
Agricultural
On a larger scale, BTMU in Japan has been
collaborating with the Organisation for Industrial,
Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA)
International for the past eight years to conduct
a training programme for young leaders in the
agricultural sector across the Asia Pacific region.
For one year these leaders study the relationship
between farming practices, the ecosystem and
the community, and learn more sustainable
agricultural techniques to bring home with them.
Top
MUFG Gives Back 2014 Programme,
Go Watanabe, CEO for BTMU Asia & Oceania
(middle)
102
INDIA
Right
BTMU & OISCA - Next Generation Leaders
Programme 2014
COMPANIES
COMPANIES
SINGAPORE
Outreach
Many other projects and activities also take place
during the groups global volunteer month, an
initiative under MUFGs global CSR programme,
Gives Back, which was created in response to
the overwhelming international support Japan
received in the aftermath of the Great East Japan
Earthquake in March 2011. Since its inception
in 2013, staff under the MUFG group worldwide
have organised outreach events to connect with
the community. Singapore MUFG has also played
its part to engage the nations youth. It partnered
with YWCA Singapore and PEKIK (a Malay
support group) to make kites out of recycled
materials with children, and in 2014 the banks
staff raised SGD25,000 to buy daily necessities for
500 households-in-need receiving support from
Fei Yue Family Service Centre.
Jenny concludes, These initiatives are merely

examples of what our offices are doing globally.
We are now placing emphasis on sustainable
and responsible corporate practices. We must
continue to balance the needs of our business and
our community, before we can truly become the
worlds most trusted financial group.
We will work to
fulfill our inherent
mission in society
as a financial group
and to contribute to
the realisation of a
sustainable society.
NOBUYUKI HIRANO, PRESIDENT &
GROUP CEO, MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL
GROUP
Left and Right

MUFG Gives Back activities in 2013 and 2014
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need to fit into a certain mould or box in order to

belong. Being out of the norm is the status quo.
I THINK IVE NEEDED TO BE AWAY FROM

SINGAPORE TO GROW MORE COMFORTABLY INTO
MY OWN SKIN. Im finding my voice, and every day
IM PROUD OF OUR RICH HERITAGE, OF THE

COMPLEXITY AND DIVERSITY OF OUR HISTORY
JON
MAX GOH
THAT MAKES US SINGAPOREAN. Im proud of
Singaporeans and our drive that tells us nothing is

too big or difficult for us to achieve. Im also proud
of the brave and courageous individuals who are
constantly and painstakingly paving the way for
the arts in Singapore. Its not an easy task, and I am
proud of the trailblazers who are putting the work
of the creative and artistic fields in the spotlight.
UNITED STATES
Jon Max Goh is characterised

by his earnesty and sincerity.
He breaks the stereotypes of
callous fashion designers with
his spontaneous and candid
answers, leaving an impression of
idealism that is built on good faith.
Winner of the Parsons Menswear
Designer of the Year in 2015,
this homegrown talent seeks to
question norms, in fashion or
otherwise. Synthesising something
entirely new from the artificial
binaries we face every day, Jon
puts humanity and non-conformity
at the forefront of fashion once
again, a sharp contrast with the
fast fashion that is so ubiquitous.
is still a new learning in becoming the person I am

meant to be.
I THINK LEARNING TO BE INTUITIVE BREEDS A
ITS AMAZING TO HEAR ALL THE BUZZ SG50 HAS
CERTAIN KIND OF TENACITY AND ZEST FOR LIFE.
BEEN GENERATING BACK HOME and its crazy to
Its the one thing my parents taught me that would

give me joy and drive with whatever decision I am
faced to make.
think that while weve made it this far, we really

are so, so young.
you are true to yourself and true to your work, the

world will see it and they will feel it. Thats half the
battle won.
ON SOME LEVELS, BEING IN NEW YORK CITY
IS COMFORTING LIKE HOME - ITS FAST,
CONDENSED, IT NEVER SLEEPS. However,
culturally, its rich and vibrant, the smell of

freedom is rampant nothing on the street fazes
you. Every voice is welcome; every opinion has
space to be shared. Its tantalizing to the senses,
never stagnant, always shocking, always asking for
more.
PEOPLE INSPIRE ME. The way we interact and
the memories we share inspire me. The systems

we make for ourselves and the codes we share
culturally and historically, inspire me. Emotion
inspires me. The way we feel and live as humans
inspires me.
AS IT IS, NEW YORKERS ARE ALREADY CONSIDERED

ONE OF THE MOST IMPATIENT CITY-DWELLERS but
still I think Singaporeans take the cake. I think we

can learn to close an eye more often and let things
slide, to not be so uptight and impatient, and to
learn to find the positive in all situations, even
when it means the MRT has stalled for 5 minutes.
It might just make us a little bit happier. I know,
crazy idea right? Worth a shot.
I LIKE THAT I dont think like most Singaporeans
I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS

SINCERITY in everything that you do. Because if
SINGAPORE HAS GOTTEN really expensive!
do.
BUILDING A CULTURE THAT IS INCLUSIVE ALL

AROUND. I hope as we grow to understand and
ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. It doesnt mean
appreciate who we are as Singaporeans, we realise

that we were built on diversity, and that it is in
embracing diversity in all walks of life that will
truly make our landscape beautiful, more beautiful
than any state-of-the-art architecture, or ground
breaking technological creations can ever achieve.
being impractical; it just means that more often

than not, after youve weighed all your pros and
cons, that little something in your gut is usually
right. Thats a great compass, it really is.
IM GOING TO TAKE IT EACH STEP OF THE WAY,
ONE STEP AT A TIME. I dont know where life will
AS YOUNGER GENERATIONS BEGIN TO TAKE

CENTRE STAGE, NEW IDEAS AND OUTLOOKS ON
LIFE WILL SURFACE MORE AND MORE RAMPANTLY.
I hope we are ready to see that change, and

I hope there is a space for new voices to be heard.
I hope more voices can be included in writing the
next chapters of our history, with acceptance and
inclusivity.
take me right now, and I dont know where it will

take me in the distant future. But I do know that
I will be wherever I need to be at any given point
in time. And if that means returning to Singapore
for a purpose, then yes, I will. But until then, I want
to see more of the world. That has always been
my dream, and right now my heart is saying to
wander.
SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED ME TO RECOGNISE THAT

HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE WILL ALWAYS PAY
OFF. Work hard for what you want, and go get it.
IN NEW YORK , its a culture of open-mindedness
and acceptance. You arent made to feel like you
106
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IM PROUD OF HOW SAFE SINGAPORE IS AND
HOW YOU CAN WALK AROUND TOWN AT 2 IN THE
MORNING and not worry about getting robbed, or
having scary hobos following you home.
MINA
ELLEN KAYE
SG50 IS an exciting time for the country!Singapore
has come a long way in 50 years and the entire

country has an immense amount to be proud of.
I just wish I couldbe there to witness this huge
milestone!
JEANINE
LIM
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS? Flying cars, or maybe put a
giant air-conditioned dome around the island so it

doesnt get too hot or hazy!
UNITED STATES
DESPITE NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO
COVER TUITION FEES OR LIVING EXPENSES FOR
THE TWO ACADEMIC YEARS AT THE BOSTON
Mina Ellen Kaye is an effervescent

changeling. After all, its her
profession! Currently studying
at The Boston Conservatory for
her Masters in Musical Theatre,
Mina wowed local audiences
with her singing and acting
chops, impersonating divas from
numerous eras in The Rise and
Fall of Little Voice. Surprisingly,
Minas road to fame was dotted
with cupcakes. Lacking the
requisite funds for her time in
Boston, Mina tirelessly baked
thousands of cupcakes and staged
The Mina Kaye Show to pay
for her endeavour. Serving up
performances as delicious as her
baking, Mina has the courage to
pursue her dreams when others
would have balked at the price tag.
CONSERVATORY , I didnt want to miss out on the
opportunity. So I went in with faith and hoped

things would somehow eventually work out. The
risk paid off and Im ecstatic to say Ill have my
Masters degree in the subject I love by this time
next year!
IVE LEARNT TO NEVER BE AFRAID TO DREAM BIG
AND TO BELIEVE THAT I AM ENOUGH. I AM MORE
THAN ENOUGH. One of my big worries about
performing in America was that I wouldnt be

cast as leads or I would be typed as a foreigner,
however being cast in two different main stage
shows at The Boston Conservatory has so far
proven otherwise. I recently got cast to play
Queenie, the lead in the musical The Wild Party!
MY MOST CHALLENGING ROLE was Little
Voice in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by

Pangdemonium, where I had to impersonate over
ten iconic divas!
PEOPLE ARE MORE OUTSPOKEN HERE. Im also
surrounded by artists every day, so on top of being

outspoken they are very dramatic!
108
NEW ZEALAND
SINGAPORE HAS EXPOSED ME to a multitude of
different cultures which has helped me be more

culturally aware, understanding and respectful of
people and ways of life that may seem foreign to
me.
DONT BE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT AND DONT
BE AFRAID TO SAY HI TO SOMEONE YOURE
PASSING BY ON THE STREET. It could make
someones day and you might just make a new

friend!
GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND TAKE
SOME RISKS. At the very least youll learn
something about yourself and perhaps thats more

important than anything else.
WHEN IM 50 , I hope to be playing the role of Mrs
Lovett in Sweeney Todd!
TO MY YOUNGER SELF , Id say dont let anybody
crush your dreams, or bring you down. *Cue
Elphabas ending note in Defying Gravity!*
Jeanine Lim is the gift that keeps

on giving. An accomplished filmmaker, she founded Give Pray
Love with her mother, Monique.
The organisation helps needy
villages in Vietnam by donating
tuition fees, staple foods and
funds to build homes. The mother
and daughter duo had been
donating clothes and necessities to
Vietnamese villages on their own
accord since 1993, but Jeanine
wanted to engage more volunteers
in their cause. Since its inception,
volunteers have been embarking
on trips with the foundation,
learning about and engaging the
stakeholders, and seeing people
as more than mere statistics.
Currently a PhD candidate at the
University of Auckland, Jeanine
embodies lifelong learning and is
continually humbled by the things
she has yet to learn.
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SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND ARE POLES
LONG AFTER THEIR MASTERS TO GO FOR THE PHD.
OF LIFE. Singapore is very fast-paced and New
Its better to do it when youre younger as there

are fewer sacrifices.
Zealand is very laid back. The work culture is

much more stressful in Singapore than it is in New
Zealand. As such, it feels more competitive as well.
Although, having worked in Singapore at this fast
pace, I feel well equipped to work anywhere else
in the world. New Zealanders tend to be quite
conservative, so theyre not too different from
Singaporeans.
BEING AN OVERSEAS SINGAPOREAN, I AM
ESPECIALLY PROUD TO BE FROM SINGAPORE.
JUST BEFORE TURNING 40, I QUIT A VERY WELLPAID UNIVERSITY JOB TO LEAVE SINGAPORE AND
GO TO A COUNTRY ID NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE
TO PURSUE A PHD , which does not necessarily
guarantee a better future. I think if I did this as a

younger person who was just at the beginning or
in the middle of my career, it would not be such
a big deal. But I did it at the highest point of my
career, at an age when youre expected to settle
and lay down roots. So it was a very difficult
decision to make in order to follow my passion.
IVE LEARNT THAT THE TRANSITION FROM
A PROFESSIONAL HIGH FLYER TO A HUMBLE
STUDENT IS VERY DIFFICULT, mentally and
emotionally. But in life, you have to go after what

you want and you have to believe that all good
things take time. So the two most important
qualities Ive learnt since I started this journey are
patience and humility.
I AM BOTH AN EDUCATOR AND I RUN MY OWN
CHARITY ORGANISATION (PROJECT GIVE PRAY
LOVE) which helps the poor in Vietnam. So I feel
that I have made a significant impact both in my

professional life and in community service. I have
now taught at polytechnics, universities and
various other tertiary institutions for over 10
years and have been doing my charity work for
over 20 years.
110
I WOULDNT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WAIT TOO
APART IN TERMS OF THE CULTURE AND WAY
This is even more so when you hear about the

social or political problems in other countries and
the fact that many foreign students here want
to migrate to either Australia or New Zealand.
As a Singaporean, Ive never felt this inclination
because we have it so good in Singapore. Our
country is doing well economically, we have a
reliable government, a stable and transparent
legal system and Singaporeans live a relatively
comfortable life. There is much to be grateful for
in being a Singaporean.
I HOPE WE CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT
OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE STARTED IN BUILDING
SINGAPORE INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY. With nationbuilding, the emphasis has always been on the
economy. As a filmmaker, I hope that Singapore
will cultivate the arts in the next 50 years and that
our film industry will grow and make its mark on
world cinema.
SINGAPORE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOME. IT IS NOT
SOMETHING I CAN EXPLAIN but the more I am
DONT BE AFRAID TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS

EVEN IF ITS A NOT A DREAM THAT PEOPLE THINK
IS REALISTIC. Youll only be happy if you do what
you love, so dont worry too much about whether

you can make money in the future. All that will
come naturally when youre doing something
youre passionate about. Finish all your degrees as
early as possible. Get work experience in between
these degrees, but dont leave the gap too long.
ND
CHOW
JAPAN
I THINK AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE REACHED

FIRST-WORLD STATUS, BUT AS A SOCIETY, WE
HAVE SOME WAY TO GO. We need to develop
our heartware and be a more gracious and open

society.
ND Chow may be photographing

celebrities and staging his own
exhibitions, but this wasnt
always the case. Although now
based in Japan, he started taking
photos of families at a novelty
booth in Sentosa. NDs work is
versatile and always stunning. His
portfolio (http://www.ndchow.
com) combines the rawness of
his nomadic years with the glossy
sheen of editorial photoshoots. Yet
something is immediately obvious,
and thats the warmth and
intimacy he brings to his subjects,
be they landscapes or musicians.
He seems to communicate
through stanzas, not paragraphs,
consonant with the lyricism of his
persona.
away, the more I appreciate Singapore.

SINCE MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE , I have
developed a more open and accepting world

view. Singaporeans tend to be a highly critical,
complaining lot, so you learn to become less
critical and more accommodating when things
dont go your way.
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JAPAN HAS A LONG HISTORY COMPARED TO

SINGAPORE. Living here I have the opportunity
to see the origins of their culture, to imagine how
it was like living 200 years ago, to feel and touch
things that were found 200 years ago.
JAPANESE CULTURE AND SINGAPOREAN CULTURE
ARE 180 DEGREES DIFFERENT. Its another world.
ABOUT SG50 , I think that it is a good festival
and celebration. But with so many events
being organised and planned, and the lack of
coordinated effort to attract the attention of
foreign countries, it is a waste.
SHER
CHEW
UNITED STATES
I HAD REACHED AN IMPASSE IN MY WORK IN
BEFORE COMPLETING MY NATIONAL SERVICE. I

WANTED TO GO OUT OF SINGAPORE TO SEE THE
WORLD WITH MY OWN EYES. So I went for a 3
month backpacking trip to Nepal, India, and Tibet

after my national service. Before my 3 month
journey ended, I decided to extend my trip and
throw away my return ticket. My travels continued
for 2 years and my first photography book Roots
was published afterwards.
SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED ME TO BE ABLE TO

LANGUAGES AT A TIME , which is useful especially
when Im on set in China and Hong Kong. I am also

able to respond fast and be kiasu.
SINGAPOREANS ARE SO OPEN AND WARM TO
PEOPLE. We also have good hearts and can make
quick decisions.
TOKYO HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY DREAM CITY TO

LIVE IN. I was so attracted to Japanese culture,
fashion and music. Without speaking their

language or knowing their culture, I flew to Japan
to start my challenging life. I had no idea how
to survive in that big city or how to become a
photographer. So much courage was needed to not
give up on my dreams and purpose in Japan.
I WANT TO PROVE THAT WE SINGAPOREANS CAN
MAKE IT EVERYWHERE WE GO. Also my family
passed away just before I became a photographer,

so I have a very strong determination to fulfill my
dream. I know they are watching over me.
SINGAPORE AND OUT OF DESPERATION I looked
COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE IN AT LEAST 3
SINGAPORE CAN LEARN FROM THE JAPANESE TO

BE delicate in our work, to preserve craftsmanship,
and to maintain public toilet cleanliness.
Sher Chews work does not aim

to be timeless, but of its time.
Deconstructing what it means
to live in our hyper-saturated
digital sphere, she explores our
relationships forged by and to
social media. She creates art
that articulates the intangible,
using design to communicate the
things we often cannot see or say.
Unsettling and thought-provoking,
it is apparent that Sher considers
and reconsiders what it means to
be herself; a self-described late
bloomer, she admits she is where
she is now after 4 identity crises.
An observer with the world at her
lens, Sher is definitely someone to
watch.
to external sources to deliver me from my creative

rut. I applied to Parsons School of Design on a
whim, with no assurance of actually getting in.
When I got accepted I took a leap of faith, quit
school and moved to New York.
I GUESS THE BRAVEST THING I HAVE DONE AND
THAT I AM STILL TRYING TO DO PROPERLY (WITH
VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS) is doing what I
love for a living.

I TRY MY BEST TO MAINTAIN SOME TYPE
OF COGNITIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH MY
SURROUNDINGS, EVEN WHEN IT GETS
OVERWHELMING. The constant stimuli helps me
feel alive and fuels my work.
SINGAPORE IS A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE
SPACE THAN WHERE I AM NOW. Everything I need
is at my fingertips in Singapore, which can be a

double-edged sword. Time also passes a lot slower.
Over here, it is the complete inverse.
MY PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWS ME TO UNDERSTAND
MY WORK IS DRIVEN BY AN ESSENTIAL NEED TO
SOMEONE EASILY WITHOUT TALKING TOO MUCH ,
KNOW EVERYTHING, TEMPERED BY THE BELIEF
and to read a persons mind through their eyes.
THAT I KNOW NOTHING. I am just trying to make
sense of the world around me through multiple

frames of reference. My entire practice is loosely
112
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underpinned by systems theory; an exhaustive

examination of how things relate to and inform
one another.
TO A YOUNGER ME You only have a 3 day

bandwidth for regrets.
WHILE I STILL POSSESS THE ENERGY AND DRIVE , I
At present, what I am currently interested in

is the ethical and philosophical implications of
social media, given that our communication
channels are part of a generative macrocosm of
networked environments. Despite my interest in
the technologies of our present day, my methods
of output still remain very much analog. I have not
quite shaken off the fascination with trying to fit
the illimitable into a finite form.
want to travel and experience what the world has

to offer.
KATHY
XU
INDONESIA
THE PEOPLE HERE ARE LESS AFRAID TO MAKE
I LEFT SINGAPORE BECAUSE it just felt right to get
MISTAKES. Singaporeans are obsessed with
to the heart of the problem.
getting it right on the first try.

HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT SG50? An amorphous
sense of pride?
SINCE MOVING AWAY , on a fundamental level I am
still the same person, but I definitely have more

anxieties. The fear makes me sharper and forces
me to take greater ownership over my own life.
RECREATING SINGAPOREAN DISHES FOR MY
LOVED ONES OR HUNTING DOWN THEIR WESTERN
EQUIVALENTS has actually become a means by
which I preserve my connection to home.

SINGAPORE HAS BEEN UNDERGOING A SUBTLE
METAMORPHOSIS OVER THE YEARS. I am
more interested in observing how she changes

dynamically than to be too diagnostic about a
singular thing.
WHATS SOMETHING SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN
FROM CITIZENS IN NEW YORK? To be more
shameless.
I LIKE THAT I HAVE LEARNT HOW TO DEAL WITH
MYSELF even on the days when I personally find
me intolerable.
114
Kathy Xu was moved when she

swam alongside a whale shark
in Australia and she wanted to
preserve this natural beauty
for future generations. As a
schoolteacher, Kathy constantly
encouraged her students to be
the change they wanted to see in
the world. In 2013, she decided
to start her own social enterprise
called The Dorsal Effect. The
company hires fishermen to give
tours instead of hunting sharks in
Lombok. Visitors learn more about
finning practices, environmental
conservation and get a glimpse
of the unspoiled reefs of Lombok
by snorkelling. The Dorsal Effect
shows that we need to accept
responsibility, not blame. Only
then can we move past shame and
come up with solutions.
THINGS TAKE TIME AND patience can sometimes
take us so much further than we thought

impatience could.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FAR MORE AMAZING
PEOPLE DOING SO MUCH MORE FOR THE OCEANS ,
for the animals, for those who cannot speak up

for themselves. There is hope in the world for
betterment. I really dont think I am courageous
though ... right until today, I still have so much fear
for what I am doing and trying to do.
THE ONES WHO GAVE ALL THEY COULD TO
SUPPORT WHEN THEY FIRST HEARD ABOUT MY
STORY, THE STRANGERS WHO CHOSE TO BELIEVE
EVEN BEFORE KNOWING ME - they are the angels
who lift me up, and the giants who offer up their
shoulders for me to stand on, even before I get to
meet them in person.
ABOUT SG50, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY
ECONOMICALLY. Perhaps now its time to start
preserving ecologically.
SINGAPORE GAVE ME THE positive environment
to learn about anything I feel deeply for. Growing

up, I learnt freely in the public libraries that our
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comfort and help, even from the age of 12. That

is when I began to realise my calling to pursue a
career to help people. Initially, I had wanted to be
a pastor but later I felt that my call was to serve
a larger population, not just within the religious
setting. Thus, I became a social worker.
parents brought us to on the weekends, without

having to spend too much money.
I DIDNT WANT TO LEAVE THE WORLD IN WORSE
SHAPE THAN IT ALREADY IS AND WAS REALLY
HOPING I COULD DO SOMETHING ACTIVE to be
a part of the solution more than the problem.

I want to be able to make shark conservation
and sustainable fishing, alongside marine
conservation, a real thing among fishing villages
around the world, hence I set up The Dorsal Effect.
SINGAPORE, IT IS TO end all animal and marine life
MICHAEL
ONG
VIETNAM
captivity. Singapore could be a bastion of marine

conservation, the first Southeast Asian country to
take a stand against animal captivity.
THE DORSAL EFFECT IS SUSTAINED BY one-day
boat trips, its marine conservation school and
company travel packages to Lombok, shark love
merchandise and good hearted people. [smiles]
Although, I really dont dare to say I have reached

a sustainable level yet, we are definitely moving
more forwards than backwards. When you choose
to do something, go at it with all your heart and
all your conviction even if you dont have all the
necessary skill sets. When you push through and
persevere, many angels will appear and help you
fill in the gaps.
WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE FOR MARINE
CONSERVATION IN SINGAPORE? Dare to have
legislations that ends the importation of shark fins

and unsustainably obtained seafood, put an end to
aquariums and take a stand against captivity.
Meanwhile, well keep working towards capacity
building and a marine conservation curriculum for
fishing villages in Indonesia and eventually other
parts of the world.
50 IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER. The Jubilee Year
I LEFT SINGAPORE BECAUSE I want to use my
Tea Talk Hanoi is a safe space

where patrons can speak to social
workers honestly about what ails
them, over lovingly made desserts
and beverages. Michael Ong
recognised that there were not
enough social services in Vietnam
addressing mental health issues; he
began the Tea Talk journey to start
a conversation on the subject. The
cafe also hosts workshops about
psycho-social issues like marital
conflict and stress alleviation.
skills and training as a social worker to serve the

marginalised populations in Vietnam. Especially
since I grew up in the 70s, I can identify with the
challenging circumstances many Vietnamese had
to go through during the post-Vietnam War era.
AT ONE POINT IN MY CAREER AS A SOCIAL
WORKER , I had met up with a loan-shark to ask
him to leave my client alone. To protect myself,

I had two of my good friends stationed near by
to help should I get into trouble. The loan-shark
arrived in a sports car. I approached him before
he could open his car door. I told him that I was
a social worker and I would report him if he
continued to harass my client.
in the Jewish calendar celebrates the freeing

of slaves, where prisoners are freed and debts
forgiven. In the same light, I feel that SG50 is
a time where Singapore has come of age and
become a nation where we can reflect on how we
can serve the foreigners working in Singapore
better, a time to bring hope to those who feel
imprisoned by the worries of life, a time to pay
more attention to those burdened financially (the
low-income population).
TEA TALK CAFE WAS SET UP SO THAT CUSTOMERS,
WHILE ENJOYING A CUP OF COFFEE , can
be engaged in meaningful and professional

conversations that inspire personal hope.
I AM A VERY GOOD LISTENER. I listen with my
heart.
SINGAPORE , I would plant some mountains in
Singapore so that the landscape could be more

interesting.
I LEARNT TO LIVE LIFE WITH AN OPEN HEART, TO

EMBRACE THE PAIN AND CONFUSION THAT LIFE
THROWS AT ME because joy waits quietly behind
those challenges. I learnt that everyone has a

wonderful story to tell but they need a listening
ear.
IT IS IN HELPING OTHERS that the helper finds
help.
INTERESTINGLY, FRIENDS OFTEN TURN TO ME
TO SHARE WITH ME THEIR PROBLEMS AND I , for
whatever reason, seem to be able to bring them
116
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taking these detours, I wouldnt have gotten to

where I am today.
Singaporeans to be creative and vocal.

ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT SPAIN IS HOW THERES
NELLIE
HUANG
I WAS CONSTANTLY DAYDREAMING OF TRAVEL.
The day after graduation, I packed my bags and set

off for London to live with my husband, Alberto.
We both found temporary work and made use of
every weekend to travel around Europe. We then
spent the next few years living in Madrid, Tanzania
and Guatemala, working as teachers, translators,
and volunteers.
In 2008, I was back in Singapore and working in a
global bank as a project analyst. I was miserable
and I knew I needed to find a way to make a living
in travel. I had been blogging for a few years then,
just for friends and family but one of my friends
suggested I try travel writing. I then buried myself
in writing and researched on ways to get writing
gigs and eventually I found my way into travel
writing.
I LEARNED THAT I WAS CAPABLE OF DOING
ANYTHING AS LONG AS I SET MY MIND TO IT. I
I also didnt expect to go to Palestine but during a

side-trip from Israel to the West Bank, I met lots
of interesting Palestinians and it was refreshing
to hear their side of the story. I also recently
visited Iran, known as one of the Axes of Evil. It
completely surprised me with some of the most
spectacular architecture Ive seen, as well as
extremely hospitable and friendly people.
SINGAPORE USED TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN
AS MUCH AS I LOVE SINGAPORE, IVE GOTTEN

USED TO THE FREE AND UNCONSTRAINED WAY OF
LIFE THAT I LEAD HERE IN SPAIN. I love nature and
I like living in a non-consumerist society where

people value quality of life more than standard
of living. I wouldnt say I will never move back
to Singapore because you never know where
life takes you but I wont be returning to live
permanently any time soon.
MARSHLANDS AND JUNGLES. Now, after just 50
years, weve come so far and become one of the

most powerful nations in the region. Were now a
success story that many countries look up to. Im
very proud of how hard we Singaporeans have
worked to achieve our dreams.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL KEEP GROWING AS A
NATION BUT ALSO TAKE THE TIME TO EXAMINE
OTHER THINGS IN LIFE THAT MATTER. Preserving
our heritage, improving peoples quality of life

(rather than standard of living) and enhancing the
welfare of people.
HEAD ON. I have a lot more faith in myself now and

Im not afraid to be different.
I THINK THAT EVERY DECISION IVE MADE, EVERY
THIS LED TO MY EVENTUAL TRANSITION. Without
Spaniards lead a more simple way of life theres

less consumerism and more minimalism. People
work to live and not live to work, which is not the
case in Singapore. The pace of life is extremely
fast in Singapore and the majority of people are
stressed out and unhappy. I think we need to slow
down and embrace life more. Life is not just about
money and achievements.
guess its not just something about myself, but

more about life in general becoming a travel
writer made me learn that ANYONE can fulfill his/
her dreams if you are determined and you work
hard enough.
TRIP IVE DONE AND EVERY JOB IVE HAD BEFORE
118
A STRONG EMPHASIS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
NORTH KOREA. I ended up absolutely loving my
trip there. I dont support the totalitarian regime

of course, but visiting the worlds most isolated
country is definitely insightful and eye-opening. It
made me learn a lot about perspectives and how
its important to not completely believe what the
media says.
SPAIN
Nellie Huang is at once humbled

and emboldened by her travels.
Her job seems like a dream job:
pursuing something she loves and
learning more about different
cultures, without having her
worldview filtered through the lens
of mass media. Nellie left her job
at a global bank to become a travel
writer. Since her first assignment
for a Singaporean magazine, her
work has been featured in Lonely
Planet, National Geographic
Intelligent Travel and CNN, to
name a few. Nellies responses
radiate a warm wholeheartedness.
It is inspiring to see someone so
passionate and unafraid, especially
when cynicism is the easier choice.
ONE PLACE I NEVER EXPECTED TO VISIT WAS
MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE HAS TAUGHT

ME TO EMBRACE CHALLENGES AND FACE FEAR
SINGAPORE , it would be the strict laws. Sometimes

it can be very stifling to live under such an
authoritative governing system. It doesnt allow us
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and art to in the hill villages. I would have been

there for them and not let those relationships
lapse. I would have chosen to see them grow up
and be their sister.
NATASHA
LATIFF
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH AFGHANISTAN HAS

SPANNED A DECADE. Having lived there for three
years I know that where there is war, there is
hate, there is revenge and there is death. But I was
committed to Afghanistan and that meant I had to
refrain fromimposing my own morality as I have
never lived that history.
AFGHANISTAN & SINGAPORE

SKY-DIVING AND FALLING INTO A BOUNTIFUL
UNKNOWN, JUST LETTING MYSELF PLUNGE was
Natasha Latiff describes herself

as a nomad at heart. I can live
anywhere and with very little.
Having embarked on her journey at
the age of 17 to Afghanistan, she
spent her holidays with children
in Kabul, helping them acquire the
skills of literacy and storytelling.
Natasha now resides in Singapore,
but has advocated womens
rights in an Islamic context
internationally; a thorny issue that
takes much finesse and politeness
to tackle. An adventurous spirit,
she sees the nuances in issues
made one-dimensional. As a
result, she sees hope where others
see none.
how I raised funds for a girls school in Kabul,

Afghanistan, called the Zabuli Girls School.
I GOT MARRIED IN KABUL TO AN INCREDIBLE
PERSON, SCHOEIB SABRI, AND it has been a
helluva exhilarating life with him. I have lived in

the U.S., U.K., Egypt and Afghanistan. I worked as a
human rights adviser for three years.
AT AN ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL, MY TEAM HAS
REFINED WHAT IT MEANS TO STRATEGICALLY
ADVOCATE FOR A CAUSE IN OFTEN SENSITIVE
CONTEXTS. If you can imagine, we were dealing
with some of the most sensitive human rights

issues. Our job was to persuade community
leaders, judges and lawyers, and effect in them
a paradigm shift in the way they conceived the
rights of a person. It was no easy task.
At the individual level, we have petitioned for
people fleeing their countries from gender, ethnic
and political persecution and we have helped them
re-locate to Europe to start a new life.
GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE , I would have
asked for a second chance to re-live my time in

Afghanistan. I would have spent more time with
my children friends who I used to teach English
120
But I also saw hope. For every war that is waged,

there are plenty more people fighting for peace. I
chose to view Afghans by their peacemakers. Not
to do so would have denied them their agency to
decide who they are and what they stand for.
Mourid Al Barghouti, a Palestinian poet, captures
this poignantly:
The worst thing about wars is that they reduce
the enemy to a single characteristic. The country
ceases to be history, language, architecture,
theatre, gardens and legends; a heritage of love
stories, philosophy and science, shared ancestral
dreams and uncountable varieties of human
striving along the roads of the universe. Instead
every country becomes a mere label, blot, field of
battle.
I STUDIED GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING

AND HAVE MET PEOPLE WHO ESCAPED RACIAL
AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. If there is anything
I am most proud of Singapore for, it is not its

economic success but the racial and religious
harmony it has achieved for such a diverse society.
We must not take it for granted.
I FEEL EXCITED TO BE PART OF EXPERIENCING
SINGAPORES 50TH BIRTHDAY. It is a reminder
of the unprecedented leaps we have made since
Independence. My grandmother told me stories
of war and old Singapore, including the racial riots
at the Padang. SG50 is a moment for us to come
together to reflect Singapore values that define
our social fabric. A misstep in our values, we could
have been the next Bosnia. The descent is easy,
but it takes decades to reconcile a single event.
We prevented that history and created one that
we can be proud of; not one shaped by violence,
corruption and poor governance.
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope for better
integration with immigrants, greater participation

in world affairs, bridging the gap between rich and
poor and encouraging an active civil society. Also,
I think personally we need to re-define what it
means to be happy.
SINGAPORE, IT WOULD BE to tear down the malls
so we could breathe!
IT IS TOUGH TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS A YOUNG
FEMALE IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS/DEVELOPMENT
I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO READ MORE
SECTOR , as many of the decision-makers are
AND EXPERIENCE MORE OF THE WORLD AROUND
still men. Unless I have a microphone to speak

into my opinion often gets drowned in a flurry
of disapproving comments. How I hold myself
together at those breaking points can make all
the difference and I have to be tougher than my
natural disposition. In the scheme of human rights
work, womens rights are usually marginalised
(Something to deal with once we fix the war) but
womens participation is crucial to peace-building.
I am part of that.
US because difference is just so much more

beautiful. As Singaporeans we have the means
(both financial and knowledge-wise) to explore
outside and be changed. It will be such a humbling
experience.
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50 RED DOTS
expertise, and I find that this is the best way I can

communicate with our audience.
CHINA & WORLDWIDE

HOW DID THE PLAY AND POVERTY LINE PROJECTS
COME ABOUT?
Making a point through

photography, Stefen Chow
has been using this medium to
highlight both poverty around
the world and the changing
landscape in Singapore. These
two projects stem from a deep
line of questioning and reflection
on what it means to be poor
in different countries, and to
Singapores urban development.
Currently based in Beijing, Stefen
has exhibited internationally
and is named by Nikon as one of
Asias top photographers. Despite
his achievements, he has never
ceased to use his skills for the
greater good, to generate more
conversations on topics that he
cares deeply about.
These projects are personal projects that I

cofounded with Lin Hui-Yi, an economist by
training. We are both inspired to do projects that
serve a different purpose from our day jobs: I am a
professional photographer and Hui-Yi works in the
market research field.
The Poverty Line is a visual project looking into
the poverty situation using photography, and
it examines economics and food choices. We
started the project back in 2010 and we have
since expanded the project to 28 countries and 6
continents.
The Play project looks at one of the big unsung
heroes of Singapore and its urban development
the humble playground. Instead of seeing
it from the ground which we are used to, we
decided to look at the playground from the sky,
and photograph 100 of these playgrounds spread
across Singapore.
WHY DID YOU COME UP WITH THOSE IDEAS?
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH THESE
PROJECTS?
I am interested to look at topics which we think we

know, but when you dig a bit deeper, you realise
you have little impression of. Photography is my
122
AND WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF USING IT?
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING THAT YOU
I started using a Nikon film camera passed down

from my father when I was still a teenager. It
was my first camera and that opened my world
as I discovered life can be documented rather
permanently that way. I brought Nikon cameras
to the top of Mount Everest when I ascended
the mountain summit as part of a National
University of Singapore team and my career as a
photographer was born. I have since done fairly
well as a photographer juggling commercial,
editorial and personal projects, and everything is
done with a Nikon. I cannot be more proud about
my connection with the brand, and I have also
been an international judge for the global Nikon
photo contest for 4 years.
HAVE GAINED FROM DOING THESE PROJECTS?
IS THERE A SPECIFIC NIKON PRODUCT THAT IS
The most rewarding thing is that the biggest

student from these experiences is myself. I
learnt more about internationaleconomics,
sociology and local marketmovementsfrom
ThePoverty Line than from any book I have read.
The Play project got me in touch with urban
planners, architects,government people and
their knowledge and expertise was so helpful it
made me relook what a great job Singapore has
done.Talking to people outside my field gathers
the freshest ideas.
YOUR FAVOURITE? WHY?
Singapore has one of the highest density of

playgrounds in the world. 1497 playgrounds in
fact. We just became adults in our world, wary of
the things in front of us. When we photograph the
playgrounds from the air and from an interesting
perspective, it becomes a way for people to
know the playgrounds, but more importantly, to
understand the country we live in.
STEFEN
CHOW
WHEN DID YOU START USING NIKON EQUIPMENT
I definitely think that both projects have played

their part in changing the way people think about
things close to them, but are yet to be examined in
these particular ways.
Nikon creates products with the utmost care and

pride, and I have had theprivilege oftalking to
the people directly behind the brand. If there is
a singular product that I love, it would be their
35mm 1.4 lens. It is one of the most beautiful and
addictive lenses you can put on your camera. Your
eye changes, your world changes.
SINCE THIS IS AN SG50 ISSUE, WHAT CHANGES DO

YOU HOPE TO SEE IN SINGAPORE IN THE NEXT 50
YEARS?
SINCE BE MOVEMENT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE

COURAGE TO BE, WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT
CHALLENGE YOU FACED AND HOW DID YOU
OVERCOME IT?
The most difficult challenge was, 7 years ago,

jumping straight into Beijing, head first, with
my wife, knowing not a single person in the
photography industry. We had barely 6 months
of savings and I had no idea how the industry
worked. It was certainly scary looking back but I
also realised we need to push ourselves out of our
comfort zone every now and then!
I hope that most things will change, technologically,

socially, and that there will be more national
awareness. I hope that the country becomes
a more balanced one rather than besieged
by a widening social and income gap. I also
hope that other things that made Singapore
great in the last 50 years resilienceas
apeople, respect for various cultures,our
bilingualortrilingualcapabilities and our ability
to adapt to others, will stay the same or become
better.

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COMPANIES
CAPTURING GREAT MOMENTS
Nikon School
Nikon School encourages people to crystallise
lifes little moments and the world around us in
photography and videography by acknowledging
each individuals personal perspective. With
subjects ranging from sports and underwater
pursuits to fashion trends and nature enjoyment,
Nikon School programmes appeal to everyone.
The courses and programmes at Nikon School
start with the foundation of familiarising users
with their camera equipment of choice, controlling
exposure, creating the best possible composition,
and understanding how to manage and apply
lighting to achieve the best results in any form of
photography.
Aerial view of playgrounds in Singapore from

The Play project by Stefen Chow
124
Marketing Division Imaging Group, Nikon

Singapore. This is our aspiration, nurturing the
interest of visual storytelling on any platform, by
translating everyday experiences into outstanding
opportunities for photography, regardless of the
choice imaging device.
For more information about Nikon School and its
courses, please visit http://school.nikon.com.sg
We re-examined Nikon Schools foundation

to remind ourselves to share and re-ignite
the joy of everyday photography with those
around us. We would like to capture the heart
of every image by empowering a person with
the knowledge and ability to bring meaning to
the pictures or videos they choose to take, said
Hiroaki Ono, General Manager of International
SCENE
SINGAPORE
Photography by JON SIEGEL
A woman in a traditional Chinese outfit taking

a break outside a foot massage parlour in
Chinatown.
126
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
Left Top to Bottom
Right Top to Bottom
A young couple walking past a shuttered shop in

Chinatown. A Chinese singer waits outside a KTV
club for her turn on stage to sing.
A woman prays at an Indian Temple near Farrer

Park late at night. A bride looking out over the
water near The Esplanade.
128
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
Clockwise from Top Left

A biker with a wild helmet on his big Harley
motorcycle. A young family wait for the rain to
stop outside Bugis Street shopping area. A busy
man with his takeout food walking through Lau
Pa Sat before it was rennovated. Chinese chefs
hard at work in the kitchen of Crystal Jade in
Holland Village.
130
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
EXPERIMENTAL TRAVEL
Left from Top to Bottom

A young couple ordering dinner late at night at
a traditional Teow Chew restaurant in Kovan. A
taxi driver takes a break for a smoke along a road
through Chinatown. Ibrahim, the satay master,
working the bbq at Satay Power outside of Lau
Pa Sat.
132
Right from Top to Bottom

A chef preparing dim sum at Hua Nam
Restaurant along Upper Thompson Road. Kind
and friendly Cowboy Ong smoking a pipe outside
a Chinatown eatery. The view through the
window of a late night barber shop in Little India.
PEOPLE
A social entrepreneur is the worker bee in the

colony of society and, as Professor Wong Poh
Kam, Director of the NUS Entrepreneurship
Centre calls it, the ecosystem of social enterprises.
A worker bee toils assiduously for the hive,
performing work that will improve the life of the
colony. She is vital for the colonys survival. From
cell-cleaning to foraging for nectar and pollen,
she ensures that the colony wants for nothing.
Similarly, social entrepreneurs are the hearts and
minds of our community, providing a range of
products and services to plug any gaps in society.
Despite the integral part played by social
entrepreneurs in Singapore, misconceptions about
the nature of a social enterprise still arise. For
instance, many see it as a purely charitable pursuit.
BUILDING AN
ECOSYSTEM
Wong is well-versed in the topic of social

entrepreneurship. Having served as co-chair
of the DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge
Asia, and the winner of the prestigious Public
Administration Medal (Silver) in 2013, he is
happy to share with us his expertise. Humble and
congenial in person, he patiently explains the
labyrinthine process of social enterprise funding
and his passion for educating and nurturing a new
generation of social entrepreneurs.
In a candid conversation with Wong, we discuss
the meaning, practicality and purpose behind
social entrepreneurship.
When I say ecosystem, what I mean is all the

various relevant players supporting the growth
of a venture. As the saying goes, It takes a whole
village to educate a child, so it takes a whole
ecosystem to nurture a start-up.
Written by MIRIAM YEO

Top
Professor Wong Poh Kam, Director of the NUS
Entrepreneurship Centre
134
BESIDES SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS, WHO ARE THE

OTHER PLAYERS WITHIN THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
ECOSYSTEM?
You need impact investors, both at the angel

stage and the later stage. You also need a
variety of other forms of financing, from venture
philanthropy to corporate partners who are
willing to work with young social entrepreneurs.
In addition, you need government agencies for
support and infrastructure, and you may also need
programmes to educate people on the skills they
need to start up in the social entrepreneurship
space. You probably also need government
agencies as lead users of the services
provided by the social entrepreneur.
Impact investment in Singapore is at a very
nascent stage. We have a number of global impact
investors starting to set up operations in Singapore
targeting the region, but the number of deals
being done is small. There arent many angel
investors who are into impact investing yet.
WHY ARENT THERE MORE IMPACT INVESTORS?
WHAT IS A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ECOSYSTEM?
Interviewed by CASSIE LIM
at large. The first ten years focused more on

technological entrepreneurship, but now that
ecosystem has been well developed. Thats
why we have turned our attention to social
entrepreneurship. The ecosystem for social
entrepreneurship in Singapore now is what the
ecosystem for technological entrepreneurship
was fifteen years ago.
When the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre was set

up fifteen or sixteen years ago, the overall mission
was to promote entrepreneurial development
among the NUS community and Singapore
As with any sort of ecosystem development,

you need a cycle to take hold. You need some
successful examples of entrepreneurs, first as role
models to encourage others to do the same and
secondly, those who have been successful then
become investors for the next generation. That
process needs time to develop. We dont have so
much of that in place yet.
In the past many social enterprises have been
based on the model of charity, or Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) support, but the idea that you
PEOPLE
can do good as well as do well [be profitable] is

something that takes time to take hold. We feel
that this is the right time to start to nurture the
development of this. We are very conscious of the
fact that, as an educational institution, our role
should be to contribute to the development of
this ecosystem by encouraging and creating more
awareness among our students. The second part
is to provide some support to nurture early stage
social entrepreneurs. That is why we set up the
social venture lab.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST
MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SOCIAL ENTERPRISES?
(Laughs) Unfortunately social enterprise is used

by different people to mean different things.
People have taken social enterprise to mean
businesses that are not profitable and need to
be supported by charity, government donations,
grants and so on. There is some element of that,
but if you look at the business models adopted, it
is possible to solve social problems in a way that is
financially sustainable. Either because it produces
the goods and services for the targeted social
sector at low cost due to innovation, ensuring
that it is able to be profitable, and yet able to
provide the service. In other cases, it is able to
sustain sufficient corporate partnerships and
these partnerships will then ensure the financial
long-term stability and sustainability of the
organisation.
I would define social ventures in the sense that
you are trying out something new, so there is a risk
that it may not work. In this case the risk involves
understanding the behaviour of the target group
you are trying to reach. Unless one understands
how to work with them, there could be a mismatch
between the product or service and what is really
needed. Just like you have the World Bank funding
lots of toilets. You could count the number of
toilets installed, but if these are not efficiently
used, it hasnt achieved its impact. The ultimate
goal for social enterprises is to achieve social
impact.
136
PEOPLE
IM CURIOUS, WHY ARE THE TOILETS

UNDERUTILISED?
Either they are not designed understanding social

behaviour, or sometimes you need a change in
social behaviour and social acceptance, or the
locations are not appropriate, or maybe the toilets
require maintenance. There could be a variety of
reasons why. To really understand people, how
they respond to certain changes, you need to
understand socio-cultural context. Just because
everything is provided doesnt mean they will use
it.
Focusing on the dignity part is most

important because, if you get the objective
wrong, you end up pursuing activities that
may not lead you to the right goals.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE PRIORITY: THE

SUSTAINABILITY OF A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OR THE
MISSION?
First youve got to get your goal right. Your goal

ought to be to achieve a certain impact. Then the
question is how to achieve that. If you have your
priority wrong then you could be profitable, you
could even be successful, but thats not achieving
the impact you really want.
The elderly, for example, may have difficulty using
mobile devices, but experience shows in countries
where entrepreneurs try to introduce phones that
are seemingly more user friendly to the elderly
(with larger number pads), they are not used
because the elderly may find this gadget suggests
they are senile. The intention of the designer
and the functionality may work, but you have
neglected the social psychological dimension and
the elderlys needs.
Therefore, one has to start with an understanding
of what will be appreciated and accepted. For
example, in Singapore we have this social
enterprise providing training for disabled people
to become hawkers Dignity Kitchen.
I thought it was an interesting concept that the
entrepreneur focused on dignity. The goal is not
just to create income for disabled people. The
idea is to train them such that they are really
productive and therefore they feel that they are
earning income in a meaningful way. It is not out
of pity. They almost provide a normal service like a

hawker and cook food just as well. Therefore, with
that as a goal, you design your business model to
achieve that goal.
However, if your goal is just to create income for
these people, then it may lead to other business
models that increase the income but may not
create a sense of dignity among these people.
Focusing on the dignity part is most important
because, if you get the objective wrong, you end
up pursuing activities that may not lead you to the
right goals.
We may have intention, but we must find out from
the affected parties concerned what would really
be their goal. The issue of financial sustainability
would only come after you have defined your
social impact goal.
BE MOVEMENT MET THE FOUNDER OF DIGNITY
KITCHEN AND WAS IMPRESSED BY HIM AND HIS
MISSION. HE WAS EXPLAINING THAT IT WAS VERY
DIFFICULT BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO COMPETE ON
COMMERCIAL RENTAL AND THERE IS SO MUCH
MORE LEGWORK TO BE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO
TEACHING AND COACHING THE STAFF.
This is where we need the ecosystem. In the

start-up phase, we could raise funding to support
them over the initial stage. Even for normal profit
companies, they need a period of time to develop
the product, to test and validate that the product

works and so on. Thats why we have venture
capitalists who are willing to take this risk.
You cannot expect the start-up from day one to
be profitable. In the same way, social ventures
take time to achieve financial sustainability and in
the interim need impact investment. Maybe some
private charity or government support schemes
are needed to get over the initial start-up stage.
In this case we can make the argument that once
the initial cost of training and educating and
developing the system is there, then in a steady
state it could be profitable, although it may not be
as profitable as a normal business.
Hence the concept of impact investment and
venture philanthropy. Impact investment
essentially says that we want to discipline you
to achieve financial sustainability, but we dont
expect you to be as profitable as conventional
commercial businesses because you are achieving
a social goal. The fact that such impact investors
have existed in other parts of the world shows
that this model can work, but we need to convince
more people to adopt this approach, rather than
just seeing businesses as either based on charity
or completely commercial.
PEOPLE
The other way in which government support

is needed is just like how governments fund
universities to do research because you need the
research to create knowledge. You could argue
that the social entrepreneur is experimenting
and trying out new business models. The
government should support these initial social
experimentations to find out which social
innovation will work.
THROUGH COVERING STORIES FOR THE PAST

THREE YEARS, BE MOVEMENT HAS FOUND THAT
A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ARE VIEWED BY SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AS
EXCITING, AND POSSIBLY EVEN SEXY, BECAUSE
THE IMPACT CAN BE HUGE. WHEREAS A LOT OF
PROBLEMS IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, BE IT
AGING, OVER-POPULATION, POLLUTION, MENTAL
HEALTH AND SO ON ARENT, AND CAN BE VERY
DIFFICULT TO SOLVE.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING A SOCIAL IMPACT
IN A DEVELOPED COUNTRY LIKE SINGAPORE?
Lastly, venture philanthropy focuses on funding

the initial experimentation and development
Developed countries have significant pockets
cost of an innovative product or service, in the
of disadvantaged groups in a dense urban
belief that the subsequent operational costs
environment, which creates problems because you
will be low enough to be covered by revenue
lack traditional family support systems and so on.
generated from delivering the product/service.
The added complication to this, as you said, is that
For example, in the world of
they may not be seen as sexy.
drug development there are
They are not as desperate,
many poor-man diseases
and so the sense that you have
You cannot expect the
where the pharmaceutical
this major life-saving impact
start-up from day one to may not be there.
companies will not invest in
drug development because it
be profitable. In the same
is not that profitable.
But you also get back to
way, social ventures take

time to achieve financial
sustainability and in the
interim need impact
investment.
Then someone like Bill Gates

says, I will fund the initial
development cost of the drug.
Once the drug is developed,
social ventures can take over
and distribute and market
this drug to the targeted population. If the cost
of drug development is already paid for, the
actual production cost is very low and you could
manufacture and distribute these drugs at a price
that is affordable to the poor.
The problem now is that no-one will pay for the
initial drug development cost, which could be
quite expensive. But if a venture philanthropist
could underwrite this part you create a low cost
business that can pay for itself in the operating
part.
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the question about what

really motivates the social
entrepreneur: is it about
the impact or is it about you
making the impact? A lot of
times social entrepreneurs
have this sense of selfimportance, that these people are desperate and
Im their saviour, here to help them, but this
should not be the attitude. The attitude should not
be so much about you but about the impact.
In the world today, many social entrepreneurs
have created seemingly successful experiments,
but these dont scale because every social
entrepreneur wants to do it their way so that they
get recognised as the hero. That is part of the
problem. Many projects dont scale because they
are very dependent on the social entrepreneur
and the moment you take him or her out, the thing
doesnt work.
PEOPLE
From the standpoint of real impact that is suboptimal, whereas if you have a development where
you take out the social entrepreneur, and it still
works, that is the ultimate goal where you have
real impact.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS KIND OF MOTIVATION FROM
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS IN SINGAPORE?
Part of our education has to be that, whilst we

welcome social entrepreneurs with diverse
motivations, we also educate them to reflect on
what their real intention is. We see all kinds. It
is part of our job. If someone comes along and
wants to do this for their self-importance, we dont
say, No. Any positive contribution is important,
but in the long run the world would be better if
social entrepreneurs recognise that they make a
bigger impact if they dont just focus on their own
contributions.
FOR OUR BALI ISSUE, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS
OF MUNTIGUNUNG DIDNT EVEN WANT TO BE
INTERVIEWED BECAUSE HE FEELS THAT WHAT
HE HAS DONE IS NOTHING COMPARED TO HIS
TEAM, SO IF HE WERE TO GRANT BE MOVEMENT
AN INTERVIEW IT SHOULD BE HIS TEAM AND NOT
HIM. WE HAVENT HAD THAT EXPERIENCE
IN SINGAPORE YET.
WHAT CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN TO BRING
THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OR SOCIAL SECTOR IN
SINGAPORE TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
A necessary part of this development is that we

create a community of likeminded people, because
entrepreneurship is something that you learn by
sharing and learning from others who are trying
to do similar things. You need the social support
and this critical mass of social entrepreneurs, who
are trying to change the world in whatever modest
way, to share experiences and provide support
to one another. This is an important part of the
ecosystem and this is one area we [NUS] hope to
foster.
The other important part is to have the ecosystem
of financial support from impact investors to
venture philanthropy. In Singapore we have a
lot of wealthy people and a lot of them have the
intention to do good, but they tend to do it in the

traditional form of setting up foundations and so
on.
SOMETIMES THATS ALSO BECAUSE OF TAX
BREAKS.
Sure, partly its driven by tax break considerations,

partly driven by this sense that it is a way of
[pauses] You see, when you donate a building
and your name is on it, it is more about you rather
than about the impact, right? So again we need
to educate people to move away from being
motivated by that.
THE HUB [A CO-WORKING SPACE FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SINGAPORE] IS TRYING
TO BUILD A COMMUNITY AND IN FACT THEY
ARE MOVING ON TO A BIGGER SPACE. HOW
SUCCESSFUL DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE BEEN?
The Hub is an important contribution to the

development of the social entrepreneurship
community. My sense is that The Hub has been
particularly attractive to foreigners, because they
are new here and it provides a ready place to meet
other social entrepreneurs which is useful. But we
need to develop a similar kind of community for
locals. Some of the locals may be doing it in their
own humble way and we need to find effective
ways to reach out to them.
WHY DO YOU THINK THE HUB CONCEPT CANT
BE EFFECTIVELY TRANSLATED TO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY?
I actually dont see any reason why it cannot. It is

just the way The Hub has operated around the
world. It is built on a concept of international
linkages. You have hubs around the world and you
leverage on this network, which is therefore
its strength. Because of its network, social
entrepreneurs travel from one country to another
and they can readily be introduced and brought
into it, but its worthwhile to have it more deeply
rooted in the local community.
A lot of the people who move in the international
circle tend to look at the big problems and are
PEOPLE
motivated by glamour, whereas working on local

problems you may work on it for twenty or thirty
years with little international recognition. You
need to spend a lot of time developing deep roots
with the local community within the local context.
global university centred in Asia making impact. So

translating this idea to the social entrepreneurship
space, we believe that we can be a leading social
entrepreneurship knowledge hub in Asia and
therefore impact Asia through our influence.
The practical challenge is that to develop deep

roots you need to have locals who speak the
language, who understand the culture, who live
in that space. That is not easy for someone who is
internationally mobile, who may have grand ideas,
but who is not committed to be so deeply rooted
in a local community and who may have language
barriers and so on.

ANNIVERSARY. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN SINGAPORES
HISTORY THAT MADE SINGAPORE WHAT IT IS
TODAY?
WHAT DOES NUS SEE AS ITS ROLE?
As an educational institution, our first and

foremost focus is on our own students, alumni
and faculty, to inject interest, awareness and
engagement in social entrepreneurial activity
through our community.
AS WELL AS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN
GENERAL?
NUS is part of a larger society in Singapore and

the region, so we must reach out to the rest of
the region. Also, as an educational institution,
we believe in thought leadership. We focus on
challenges that are further down the road and get
people to focus on this.
Our role is going beyond raising awareness and
educating the NUS community to catalysing such
interest among other educational institutions
and other social enterprises. That is why we
started this DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge
Asia, to encourage and support the whole social
entrepreneurship movement throughout Asia.
We focus on Asia because we feel that Asia is
still at the nascent stage of supporting social
entrepreneurship. The NUS brand name can
contribute to catalysing this development. That is
a meaningful leadership role that we can play in
Asia, in line with our Universitys vision of being a
140
As our former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, has

said, a lot of it is about the pragmatic approach
to implementation. Its not just a vision. A vision
is obviously very important, but the willingness
to get down to nitty-gritty details, this focus on
getting results and not just empty sloganeering,
has been a very important part of the success of
Singapore.
Also we can learn from others and adapt what has
been successful, but adapt it to our context.
So Singapores success factors are an openness to
ideas from others, the way we have really learnt
from what others have done and adapted it to our
local conditions, not just copied others.
PROFESSOR WONG, MAY I ASK HOW OLD YOU
ARE?
I am 63.
DID YOU FORESEE THE PROGRESS THAT
SINGAPORE HAS MADE SINCE INDEPENDENCE?
I actually did not grow up in Singapore. I was born

in Malaysia, in Ipoh, and then went to study in the
US for seven years. Then I went back to Malaysia.
I only came to Singapore in 1988, so I cant vouch
for the earlier period when I wasnt here.
By the time I decided to move from Malaysia to
Singapore it was because I saw that Singapore was
making more progress than Malaysia, especially in
its meritocratic approach, and that attracted me
to migrate. That was soon after I got married and
decided to have children. I didnt want my children
to grow up feeling that they were second-class
PEOPLE
citizens in their own country. I was attracted by

the fact that Singapore was more meritocratic.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHEN HAS SINGAPORE
SHOWN COURAGE?
Singapore has been willing to stand up to

superpowers in matters of principle, as in the case
of the caning of Michael Fay. There is a need to be
firm on our principles.
We also had a strong focus in our initial years on
social engineering and social interventions to
ensure a more harmonious society; for example
the approach to our HDB development where
we have the racial quota to ensure that we
dont create racial enclaves. Those ideas were
not fashionable at the time. The fact that our
leadership was able to come up with our own
ideas was important.
deeply rooted in our own social values. Also I hope

that we can continue as the financial and
services hub and the education and knowledge
hub for the region, whilst maintaining our own
distinctive Asian values and viewpoints.
WHAT IS SINGAPOREAN IDENTITY?
Singapores unique identity would be a common

understanding of our history and culture. Even
the use of Singlish is an important part of the
Singaporean identity that we should not give
up. The common understanding of where we
come from, certain shared values like empathy,
meritocracy, integrity, self-reliance and the
tolerance of multi-racialism and religious harmony,
are some of the important values we need to hold
on to.
And, of course, you have the confrontation with

Indonesia, so you have the determination of the
government to create our own defence force to
ensure the sovereignty of the country. Those were
important decisions.
SINGAPORE HAS DONE REALLY WELL
ECONOMICALLY AND IN MANY OTHER AREAS, BUT
WHERE DO YOU THINK SINGAPORE COULD HAVE
DONE BETTER?
One area where Singapore can do better would be

to create more space for debate and discussion.
We still need to have clear boundaries and markers,
for example hate speech and things that may be
too sensitive in terms of race and religion, but
other than that we should allow much wider space
for debate and discussion. We have been moving
in that direction but we need to do more.
WHERE DO YOU SEE SINGAPORE IN THE NEXT

FIFTY YEARS?
What I would like to see in fifty years time

is a global city in terms of our influence and
connectivity, but yet at the same time a city that
has our own unique Singaporean characteristics,
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more open to inviting friends and relatives into

our homes and our lives.
I AM VERY PROUD OF SINGAPORES INGENUITY
and that when we say that our countrys main

resource is the people, we truly embody that.
SHARLIZA
RAHMAN
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , strengthening our sense
UNITED KINGDOM
I LEFT SINGAPORE to expand my world and to
Sharliza Rahmans personality

is cheeky and infectious. What
else would you expect? She has
a song entitled, Is That Your
Underwear on the Floor? A digital
professional and singer who left
Singapore during her tender
adolescence, Sharliza is a free spirit
who understands that the only
place you can call home is yourself.
She sagely tells us that well only
be carrying our own emotional
baggage across continents, if we
move overseas thinking it will solve
our problems.
pursue music. I was a recipient of the United

World College scholarship, so I went abroad
after my O Levels to do the International
Baccalaureate. Being amongst the brightest
students of 90 different nationalities in a castle on
a cliff in the UK, the land of my favourite musicians
as a teen, felt like a dream come true back then.
Also, both my parents had passed away so maybe
it was my part of my journey to heal the pain.
IN MY JOURNEY people come out of the
woodwork to help you and you learn how

compassionate people can be. You discover
that circumstance is just that - circumstance
and who you are as a person is shaped by your
interpretation of events and the reactions you
choose to enact, not the events themselves.
IN A PROFESSIONAL SENSE IT IS EASIER TO
QUANTIFY MY ACHIEVEMENTS , for example, Ive
increased viewership by 300%. But as for a wider
impact, Im too humble and mindful of so many
other people who have really given themselves,
heart and soul, to humankind, so only God knows
that answer!
SOME SINGAPOREANS APPEAR INSCRUTABLE ON
of identity through solidarity and culture is

important. What makes a country unique and
different, and therefore attractive, is its culture
and the dynamics between its people. Call it soft
power. Also, our citizens are going to want more
honesty in our governance. But can we handle true
honesty?
IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WHERE YOU

ARE , find out why and work out a way that will
take you closer to what makes your heart sing.

Some Singaporeans harbour a desire to relocate
overseas. I say go for it and youll grow to
appreciate Singapore better.
Also remember, you can leave the country but
if you have deep unresolved issues or learned
helplessness, you will still carry it with you until
you recognise it, do something about it and make
peace with it. Then you find, you can truly live
anywhere and be happy inside.
TO A YOUNGER ME, I WOULD SAY chill out and
dont worry so much! One key advice for success is
to get out of your own way.
SINGAPORE, IT WOULD BE TO take better care of
the amazing underwater wildlife that surrounds us

and to keep the land reclamation in check.
SINGAPOREANS OVERSEAS AS WITH A LOT
OF IMMIGRANTS WHO TRY AND MAKE A LIFE
OVERSEAS ARE GO-GETTERS, WITH A CAN-DO
ATTITUDE. Instead of complaining or playing the
blame game, they make the conscious choice
to be somewhere, and make the change they
want for themselves accordingly. Ive met many
Singaporeans who become more patriotic than
Singaporeans who live locally because they
miss home and they also take it upon themselves
to represent our country. Singaporeans are very
proud to be Singaporeans overseas. Im very happy
that as a tiny island nation we have managed to
rise and maintain our standing in the international
community, one that is reputable and aspirational.
GIVEN A CHOICE , I would go back to Singapore if I
had the opportunity to capitalise on building our

cultural power and shift, or at least equalise, the
cultural power balance from the West to the East,
beyond tokenism and clich. In simpler terms, I
want to inspire the region to tap into our creative
resources, connect with our Asian roots and show
the world how amazing we are!
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN road manners. With
the possible exception of London, motorists in

the UK tend to give way and have better lane
discipline. Hogging the third lane is virtually a
no-no.
THE SURFACE BUT DIG DEEPER AND as a whole, we
are warmer, more welcoming, more generous and
142
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EVERY COUNTRY WILL HAVE ITS GROWING PAINS
REGARDLESS OF THE LENGTH OF ITS HISTORY. As
long as we continue to grow in a positive direction
and work together to maintain a balance and
mutual respect among our people, I think well be
okay. Its also important that as we progress we
dont leave any groups behind.
ZHANG
TINGJUN
SIOW
LEE-CHIN
SINGAPORE , I would change how we treat our
SOUTHEAST ASIA & SINGAPORE

LEAVING A STABLE JOB TO START A NON-PROFIT
WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WAS PROBABLY
Were constantly told to stand

up for what we believe in, but
what about standing behind the
leaders and causes that we believe
in? This question underpins The
Chain Reaction Project (TCRP), the
non-profit organisation set up by
Zhang Tingjun with her friends in
2009. TCRP uses sporting events
to raise funds and awareness,
on causes like malnutrition and
special needs in Singapore and
other Southeast Asian countries.
Tingjun recognised the abundance
of visionaries, along with the lack
of support they often receive.
Instead of creating another NGO
to solve the worlds problems, she
started TCRP to lift up existing
organisations like HIAM-Health in
East Timor.
THE MOST COURAGEOUS THING IVE DONE. It

was something I was passionate about and I was
fortunate to have the support of family and friends
... Even if you dont start your journey with all the
answers, it propels you in your search for them.
In the grand scheme of things, weve not made

much impact. Thats why our organisation is called
The Chain Reaction Project. Its about inspiring
catalysts for change. Its not about how much
of an impact an individual can make, its about a
collective impact. There is power in numbers.
SINGAPORE ISNT PERFECT but Ive always been
very proud to be a Singaporean. Were a small
nation with a small population and all things
considered, I think weve done pretty well for
ourselves.
I RUN A SMALL ORGANISATION AND IT WAS HARD
ENOUGH GETTING IT STARTED AND GROWING
IT OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS. ITS BEEN 50 YEARS
foreign workers. I feel there is still a huge lack of

respect for the domestic workers and our foreign
labourers here in Singapore. How we treat this
group of individuals who often dont have the
ability to stand up for themselves is reflective of
the core of who we are as a nation, of the kind
of people that we are. Sometimes its deeply
embarrassing and worrying to see.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO TAKE THE PATH
IVE TAKEN but have a safety net. Its good to take
risks, but its even better when they are calculated
risks and where theres an environment created
in which its ok if you should fail. At least for me it
helps because as much as I succeed occasionally, I
fail a lot too.
IN 50 YEARS TIME I would probably be doing
outdoor gardening or something nature related
with my family and friends. Not that I like
gardening now This is based on the assumption
that in 50 years time I would have given up
mountain biking.
SINGAPORE FOR ALL ITS FLAWS, ITS MY HOME
and I like my home.
CHINA
How many of us would persevere if

our dreams were wrenched away
from us? Siow Lee-Chin (www.
leechin.com)faced this dilemma
when she broke her left arm
in a car accident in 2012. The
accomplished violinist had to begin
from scratch, an emotionally and
physically painful process.
Today, Lee-Chin finds herself the
Professor of Violin at the Soochow
University School of Music, Chinas
first English-medium music
conservatory. She also performed
in the opening ceremony of the
2015 Southeast Asian Games,
a homecoming after many years
abroad.
Photography by Alan Lim Studio
SINCE SINGAPORES INDEPENDENCE AND I can
only imagine the amount of perseverance and

hard work that has gone into building the nation,
over the years and on so many different levels. Its
definitely something to be proud of.
144
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myself and touch audiences with my music is

a magical feeling! When I connect with the
audience and they breathe as one with me these
are moments I live for as an artist and these are
the skills that I try to impart to my students.
IT WAS PURELY BY ACCIDENT THAT I DISCOVERED
MY LOVE FOR TEACHING BUT WHAT A BLESSING
IT HAS BEEN! Being a soloist is all about me,
WHEN I WAS 15, I WAS INVITED TO PLAY IN A

MASTERCLASS BEFORE FAMOUS AMERICAN
VIOLINIST AARON ROSAND, WHO WAS IN TOWN
TO PERFORM WITH THE SINGAPORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA. At that time, I did not realise that
he was recruiting for the prestigious Curtis

Institute of Music one of the worlds top music
schools which has produced legendary musicians
like conductor Leonard Bernstein and composer
Samuel Barber. On the spot, he offered me a place
to study with him at Curtis. I was stunned. At that
time, Singapore did not have a music conservatory
of its own and I had to go abroad if I wanted to
further my studies in music. It was a chance of a
lifetime I could not refuse!
me, me, but teaching and helping someone else

grow brings a tremendous sense of reward, the
realisation that whatever Ive learnt wont just
stop with me. I feel privileged to be part of a rich
musical tradition that goes back to the legendary
violinist and composer Eugene Ysaye, who was in
turn a student of Henri Vieuxtemps and Henryk
Wieniawski, composers who are still very much
played today. I feel a sense of responsibility to
pass on the trade secrets Ive inherited from my
teachers.
THE STUDENTS IN CHINA HAVE SUCH AN
INCREDIBLE HUNGER TO LEARN. I have a student
from Wuhan who travels 1500km every week just
to take a private lesson with me in Suzhou! Within
a few months, his playing improved tremendously.
Recently, he beat thousands of other violinists in
China to win the top 8th prize in the China Central
TV national violin competition. I am so proud of
him!
I LEFT HOME AND MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS IN

MY TEENS, PUT ASIDE MY ACADEMIC STUDIES
WITHOUT OUR PIONEER ARTISTS , Singapores arts
TO TAKE A RISK ON A CAREER WHICH HAD NO
scene would not be what it is today.
artist in the West, success was not guaranteed.

I faced many setbacks along the way. One of
the biggest challenges came when I met with a
career-threatening car crash in 2012. Both bones
in my left arm (the arm which holds my violin)
were broken. There was no guarantee I could play
again. It was a huge setback.I had no choice but
to draw on all the strength I had to stay positive.
I had to reach deep within me for the courage
to mend and to become whole again. Resilience
is a Singaporean trait that has taken us far as
a country. Having grown up in Singapore and
experienced how it rose from its challenges as a
young country, some of these qualities must have
rubbed off on me!
IVE WORKED WITH YOUNG SINGAPOREAN
MUSICIANS AND I SEE SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN
THEM! I think one of the biggest challenges is
changing the mindsets of parents and students
towards education. Many Singaporeans focus too
much on passing exams, getting distinctions, and
moving on to the next grade.Learning music is
more than that.Renowned pianist Murray Perahia
put it so well. At a masterclass he conducted in
Singapore, one participant asked, What can
parents/teachers do to nurture a world-class
artist? His answer was so simple and poignant, I
cant agree more: To instill a lifelong love of music
is the single most important lesson to teach a
young student.
FUNDAMENTALLY, ONE MUST LOVE WHAT ONE

DOES. Pursuing the creative arts must be a calling,
as there is no guarantee of success.You must love
it so much that life becomes unbearable without
it you must want to pursue it wholeheartedly
and not look back! With passion, patience and
perseverance, the skys the limit.
TO A YOUNGER ME , relax!
EVERY EXPERIENCE IS PRECIOUS, BUT TIMING IS
EVERYTHING. When I was growing up, the arts
in Singapore was not as thriving as it is now. The
opportunity to study at the Curtis Institute was
life-changing.
I would not be the same person I am now had I

not learnt to be independent from a young age
and made friends from all over the world, and
travelled to far-flung places. I believe I have more
to give now because of what Ive gone through.
My diverse experiences as a student, performing
artist, entrepreneur and fund-raiser for my
programmes, festival director and educator, along
with all the challenges that one faces in these
roles, put me in a unique position to share with
students and the arts community here.
I MISS BLUE SKIES, CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN
GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS! To be honest, I had

I HOPE THAT SINGAPORE WILL CONTINUE TO
WATER things which we take for granted when
HAVE THE HUNGER OF THE NEW KID ON THE
were in Singapore! On a more personal note, I

miss my moms home cooked food who doesnt?!
no idea what I was in for! But I have my dad to

thank for giving me a strong sense of self-belief.
Ever since I was a kid, he told me that I could do
anything I put my mind to. It was a precious gift
and in all innocence, I believed it! I think being
youthful and idealistic was my secret weapon!
SOCIETY. I wish for more glorious years ahead for

our little red dot!
CLASSICAL MUSIC IS A POWERFUL LANGUAGE
THE STORY OF SINGAPORES SURVIVAL AGAINST
MEDIUM OF EXPRESSION, AND THE VIOLIN IS MY
WHICH CONNECTS US WITHOUT THE NEED FOR
THE ODDS RESONATES WITH ME. MY OWN
VOICE. I cant imagine doing anything else!
WORDS OR TRANSLATION. To be able to express
JOURNEY HAS NOT BEEN A BED OF ROSES. When
BLOCK AS IT CONTINUES TO FLOURISH AND TAKE

ON THE GRACE AND COMPASSION OF A MATURE
WHILE THERE WERE MOMENTS OF DOUBT (IT

WOULD BE HARD TO LIVE WITH A PERSON
WITHOUT ANY SELF-DOUBT), MUSIC IS MY
I first started out as a young, relatively unknown

146
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SINGAPORE , it could be a little less perfect.
SINGAPORES VISUAL LANDSCAPE IS ALWAYS
CHANGING but beneath that its still the same
HIU
ZHI WEI
place.
SINGAPOREANS COULD LEARN FROM NEW YORK
to be more accepting of contrarian points of view.
VEMALA
VALAS
SUPAMANIAM
THE BEST THING ABOUT ALL OF US is that were in
a state of change.
UNITED STATES & SINGAPORE
TO A YOUNGER ME , make more bad decisions, the

MY BEST WORK IS MADE WHEN I CAN LIVE
OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE AND LOOK AT THE
Hiu Zhi Wei is a photographer

who splits his time between New
York and Singapore. His work is
a curious hybrid of stillness and
spontaneity; the subjects in Zhi
Weis photos are often aloof and
impart a coolness so often found in
city-dwellers, yet Zhi Wei captures
their poignant vulnerability. Selftaught since the age of 16, Zhi
Wei currently studies at Parsons:
The New School for Design and
makes New York his personal
photographic playground. While
he characterises one of the themes
of his work as discomfort, there is
a quietude to his photographs that
is often overwhelmed by the hustle
and bustle of the city.
WORLD THROUGH FRESH EYES. Moving between
New York and Singapore, this is the balance I am

searching for.
IT TOOK COURAGE TO MAKE THE DECISION
TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS ONLY FOR MYSELF.
Everything is harder when youre completely free.

WORK AND PLEASURE should never be mutually
exclusive.
SINGAPORE AND NEW YORK ARE worlds apart
but strangely familiar. While the pace of life is the

same, the people couldnt be any more different.
Everybody in New York is here for a purpose and
isnt afraid to pursue their dreams.
OUR OBSESSION WITH PROGRESS IN SINGAPORE
HAS SOMEWHAT IRONICALLY BROUGHT ABOUT a
collective nostalgia for what we no longer have.

IM CONCERNED whether the next generation will
receive an adequate arts education.

GROWING UP IN SINGAPORE GAVE ME a work
GERMANY & INDIA
sooner the better.

IDEALLY Id like to divide my time between New
York and Singapore.
When she was 30, Vemala Valas

Supamaniam spent six months
in Bangalore, India. A trained
English and Literature teacher,
she wanted to impart the skill
of literacy to children who could
barely read. Through the Singapore
International Foundation, she
found herself at the Parikrma
Learning Centre. The Centre
helps disadvantaged children
by teaching them life skills and
English, as well as giving them food
which they often lack at home.
Vemala gave her students the gift
of her attention, patience and
guidance, something which was
much needed as these children
often came from troubled homes.
Now residing in Germany, she
hopes to open a soup kitchen
one day, to provide at least one
nourishing meal to those in need.
ethic which never really left me.
148
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of the shock of a trauma. These kids are often

resistant to strangers and prefer to be alone.
Everyone is different, everyone just needs some
attention.
AFTER HAVING LIVED OVERSEAS IN INDIA AND
GERMANY , I feel that Singaporeans are very
BEFORE I LEFT SINGAPORE I HAD JUST RESIGNED
kind-hearted people and generous to others. For

a very young nation, this is a huge achievement.
I believe this strongly. I have seen Singaporeans
pool together to help one another and especially
the less fortunate.
FROM MY JOB AND FELT THAT I NEEDED

SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING, a job that fulfilled
SINGAPORE HAS GIVEN ME AN EDUCATION and
peoples lives, particularly that of youths and

children. I decided to leave the country to search
for a job elsewhere as I felt that there were more
needy people that needed attention and who lived
outside of Singapore.
meritocracy has given me equal opportunities.
with it. Its a positive though.

IN GERMANY, MOST PEOPLE BRING HOME LITTLE
CASH IN THEIR POCKETS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
TO INDIANS EASILY SINCE I TOO SPOKE THE SAME
TAXES. This means that they value the possessions

they buy and are not such a consumeristic society.
When they value their possessions, they take care
of them very well too.
possible to look away and ignore the problem of

illiteracy, as prevalent as it is in India.
Many times I gave tuition to a Grade 1 or 2
boy and taught him to read. The experience of
teaching a kid who has never touched a colourful,
illustrated book before ... He feels the book, gazes
and stares at the pictures and the alphabet, runs
his fingers over each letter and comes alive when
meaning begins to make sense to him, and he
connects with the pictures on the page.
Being able to read gives the child so much
satisfaction and self-confidence. This is especially
important when they come from dysfunctional
families in which they are continually put down as
not good enough.
IT WAS NOT EASY TO WORK WITH ABUSED
CHILDREN BECAUSE OFTEN THEY ARE
TRAUMATISED AND THIS SHOCK NEVER LEAVES
UNITED STATES
I WENT FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (PSC)
SCHOLARSHIP INTERVIEW facing a stern-faced
SINGAPORE IS ALWAYS CHANGING! I cant keep up
I FELT I SHOULD GO TO INDIA, AS I COULD RELATE

MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGE. It is simply not
MARK
SIN
I THINK MORE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD VENTURE

FORTH AND EXPERIENCE THE BIG, WIDE WORLD
BEYOND SINGAPORE. There is much in these
individuals that can be extremely useful to those

with less in this world.
IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS, GERMANY WILL BE MY
HOME. In my hometown I interact with asylum
seekers from Africa, Syria, East Europe and Sri

Lanka on a daily basis. My dream is to open a soup
kitchen in Germany so that the homeless, the
unemployed and the poor can eat one good meal
a day.
TO A YOUNGER ME , every person has the power
within themselves to contribute to the world at
large. Dream Big.
Mark Sin leads SingaporeConnect,

a grassroots organisation that
links Singaporeans in Silicon Valley
with those in the rest of North
America. He dispenses his time,
expertise and enthusiasm to serve
up a little slice of home. As the
president of SingaporeConnect,
he has spearheaded Chinese
New Year dinners and National
Day celebrations for his fellow
Singaporean expats. Singapore
has clearly shaped Mark and he
believes its his time to leave his
own legacy. He understands the
need for cross-cultural exchange,
while having Singapore firmly in
his heart.
panel, and was asked if I would consider a career

in the Prisons Department. Instead of accepting,
I spoke out that I wanted my future to be in
engineering products for people. The reply was,
Thank you, Mr. Sin.
I think it was the most courageous thing Ive done
as until then, my view of adult authority was that
they knew what was best for me. That day was
the day I decided to take my own view as valid
and worth charting a path for. Currently I am
a Hardware Engineering Manager at Apple in
Cupertino, California, USA.
YOU NEED TO WORK HARD just as we all were
told to in school. However, you must also be open

to and respectful of other peoples views and
concerns. In this way you can blend both your
ideas and theirs to build a successful product.
I WOULD DESCRIBE THE SINGAPOREAN ETHOS
AS target-oriented. Theres an oft-said story
of a sergeant who asked the recruit to jump.

The recruit replied How high? It may sound
simplistic, but I would use this to describe our
ethos as setting a goal and going for it. We wont
aim until we know the target.
THEM. One child lost his ability to speak because
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OUR GOVERNMENT LOOKS LONG-TERM. THEY
and a city-state that ought not to have succeeded

as an economic powerhouse.
data and past experiences. I enjoy exploring the

vast body of knowledge in the world and drawing
connections between domains that seem separate,
but perhaps arent so. Sharing, discussing and
building on these abstractions is what I like to do.
AS A PEOPLE, WE SOMETIMES LOOK SO MUCH FOR
I HOPE TO start a maker-movement of sorts
CHANGE TOWARDS THE FUTURE that we may not
through SingaporeConnect, to connect

communities, small and large. We need to kickstart the generation of successful events at a
higher rate by sharing templates and material
(both real and virtually). We can build multiple
communities like SingaporeConnect all over the
world, doing fun and crazy events, all attracting
and empowering Singaporeans to be creators, not
just consumers.
HAVE MANAGED TO PUT TOGETHER A SOCIETY

THAT OUGHT NOT TO HAVE GELLED AS A NATION,
dwell on the lessons from the past, nor see how

the world sees us in the present. By bringing all
these timeframes to the forefront of our attention,
SG50 feels like, Wow, we have come so far but
the world still sees us as a young nation and the
future is not a given make a new target.
OUR SHRINKING BIRTH RATE IS THE GREATEST
JOSEPHINE
TAN
NEPAL & INDIA

I STARTED BUSINESSES FOR SINGLE MOTHERS AND
LADIES TRAFFICKED TO THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
CONCERN to the core of the Singapore nation.

I WOULD MOVE BACK TO SINGAPORE BUT not for
SINGAPORE GAVE ME OPEN ACCESS TO THE
WORLDS FLOW OF INFORMATION AND PEOPLE.
Removing any bias towards favouring any one

ideology or race. The rapid progress I experienced
added an innate optimism to my thinking: plan to
succeed.
WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE TOPIC OF
DUAL CITIZENSHIP , I thought it was logically
inconsistent. Where do your loyalties lie?

However in further conversations I found far
more complexities in how the extended diaspora
of overseas Singaporeans, former Singaporeans
and permanent residents (PRs) look at their
connection to Singapore. I do not advocate
allowing dual citizenship, going back to my simple
reason for its logical inconsistency, but we need
to change the official attitude towards former
Singaporeans and PRs. I would advocate a third
category of status not as privileged as being a
citizen but according some reasonable privileges to give this large and powerful community a more
formal connection to Singapore.
MY CURIOSITY IN ANALYSING THE CONNECTIONS
IN THE WORLD means I like taking time to dive into
details, collecting and drawing conclusions from
152
nostalgic reasons. The Singapore I knew growing

up has changed and so have I. Singapore has
changed for the better of course, but I do miss
the various things that have disappeared. Yet,
I am optimistic that I will find a way to adapt to
the lifestyle and contribute wholeheartedly to
Singapores success story from within.
Josephine Tan has always known

that her true calling was to help
others. Witnessing the injustices of
the human trafficking industry, she
set up the social enterprise Touch
Nature (http://touchnature.com) in
2001. Touch Nature uplifts women
working in the sex trade industry
by equipping them with skills and
empowering their sense of selfworth. The social enterprise makes
aroma therapeutic products and
beaded jewellery. Witnessing the
gulf of opportunities between the
rich and the poor, Josephine hopes
that Singapore will adopt a more
equitable social model to ensure
prosperity for all.
IN A FOREIGN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE. I took on

the challenge of employing 60 to 70 ladies even
though it was new to me and I did not know if the
small business would succeed or not. I felt the
need to love the helpless and oppressed women
in practical ways. If I could do something to help
even one of them, I would bring hope and change
to their destiny.
I HAVE LEARNT THAT HELPING PEOPLE IS NOT
A FAIRY TALE. It requires a lot of hard work and
heartache. I had to face betrayals like when I

was deported twice from Nepal because I had to
confront dishonest staff for stealing.
Also, in 2011, half of my staff joined the Maoists
in order to get more benefits from our company.
It was painful to be bitten by the very people who
I have helped. However we always have to learn
to forgive and forget and continue to help others
who are in need. We are glad that we did not give
up after the Maoist situation.
After we were forced to close our businesses in
Nepal, we continued to look out for others who
are in need of an alternative livelihood. And that
is when we came to Kolkata and found out that
there are more than 300,000 Nepalese women
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who have been trafficked to Indian brothels.

We decided to continue to run Touch Nature in
Kolkata in 2012 to provide jobs for those who
wanted to come out of prostitution. Today, we are
glad that we did not give up as we can see that
many can be helped through our business.
I HAVE LEARNT TO ACCEPT ANOTHER CULTURE

AND OTHER WAYS OF DOING THINGS. I have learnt
to solve problems more creatively, complain less
and to be more appreciative of what we have.
SINGAPOREANS COULD TAKE MORE TIME TO REST
AND RELAX, WORK TO LIVE AND NOT LIVE TO
I DARE NOT SAY THAT I HAVE MADE A HUGE
WORK. I also would encourage Singaporeans to
IMPACT but I have certainly had the privilege
SINGAPORE WE CAN DO TEN THINGS IN ONE DAY.
be more flexible and contented. I live in countries

that have 12 hour power cuts per day. There is
often no clean water, electricity or petrol. I think
Singapore is a country that is well provided for.
Finally, I would encourage Singaporeans to be
more daring and not be afraid of dirt and germs.
Where I stay, we have to do one thing ten times a

day.
I AM WILLING TO LIVE SIMPLY to live out my
THE CULTURE WHERE I STAY IS MORE PEOPLE-
dream of wanting to help the poor and to make the

world a slightly better place.
to see many lives being touched and changed

through our work.
WITH MY HUSBAND I ALWAYS JOKE, IN
ORIENTED AND LESS TASK-ORIENTED. Sometimes
they can be over positive and promising.
I PROBABLY CANNOT MOVE BACK TO SINGAPORE

SOON AS I HAVE A MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH AND
I AM PROUD THAT SINGAPORE HAS A GOOD
THAT IS TO HELP TRAFFICKED WOMEN COME OUT
GOVERNMENT THAT CARES FOR ITS PEOPLE. A

government that does what it promises. It is a
country that has a good system and does not
encourage corruption.
OF DARKNESS. I think it will take a whole lifetime

to get this work established so I do not think that I
can move back to Singapore. However, I will when
my mother needs me around to take care of her.
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope that Singapore will
care for the poor and the lower income families

more. I hope that Singapore will be a good balance
between being socialist and pursuing economic
progress. I hope that the gap between the rich and
the poor will lessen.
I WAS BORN IN 1968. AS A YOUNG GIRL, I STAYED
IN A KAMPONG AND A ONE ROOM FLAT WHEN
I WAS GROWING UP. However, I always felt that
there is hope for a better future if I study hard, and

that is because of the meritocracy that Singapore
has. Growing up in Singapore has taught me to
be hardworking, honest and determined, and I
believe that has every bit to do with who I am
today.
154
NICHOLAS
LEONG
KENYA
I WAS A COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER FOR
ABOUT 15 YEARS, HUMMING ALONG IN LIFE, A
Nicholas Leong co-founded

the Kenyan Riders in 2009, a
professional cycling team that
enlists amateur cyclists from
Kenya. He noticed the dominance
of Kenyans in long-distance
running and wondered how this
could translate into long-distance
cycling. The Kenyan Riders have
since participated in races across
Europe and Africa and they hope
to be the first all-black African
team in the 2016 Tour de France.
A social enterprise that dreams
big, Kenyan Riders combines
foreign expertise with local
resources, allowing the fruits of
this co-operation to remain in
Kenya. Kenyan Riders poses a new
possibility for international aid
co-operation and collaboration,
instead of callousness and pity.
LITTLE ON AUTO-PILOT. In my late 30s, I had this
realisation that everything I did in my life would

have happened even if I hadnt been the one to do
it. Every single photo shoot, every single fashion
spread, every annual report or advertisement
would have happened without me. This realisation
conflated with a vague sense that I had the gift of
this one life and that one day I would have to give
it back. I guess I had decided that if I ventured on
my present path and made it work, I could have
done something that wouldnt have happened if
I never did it. Maybe then it might be a validation
of a life, and my purpose would be more than just
occupying space and consuming.
KENYA PRODUCES THE GREATEST ENDURANCE
ATHLETES ON EARTH , as evidenced by their
staggering marathon success. I thought they
would be terrific if someone gave them a bike.
I THINK ITS HARD TO JUDGE A COURAGEOUS
ACTION FROM AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE. For
some, my walking away from a thriving career at
40 to venture into something like this was, in equal
measure, courageous and foolish. I never thought
so. Its really not for me to say. Looking back, I cant
really think of a particularly courageous thing
Ive done. The longer I live in Africa, the more
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people I meet whom I would consider to be true

heroes courageous, ethical, determined toiling
in anonymity, though they would never think it of
themselves.
truism is eroding. Maybe its a reflection of what

the world is becoming.
BESIDES THE PHYSICAL CHANGES, SINGAPORE
HAS CHANGED IN TWO WAYS. Theres an
JENNIFER
LIM
you can get from Singapore
obsession with money that has always been

there, but its probably a lot more salient given
todays pressing realities. The other is, Im meeting
young Singaporeans who are more critical of
the status quo, who are vocal about it and who
openly question the stories their parents and the
government tell them.
WHERE I AM IN KENYA - ITEN THE RUNNERS
THERE ARE LIBRARIES FILLED WITH BOOKS
INSPIRE ME. You see these ordinary looking guys
DEVOTED TO THE TOPIC OF PURPOSE, MEANING
I ALWAYS KNEW, FROM AS FAR BACK AS I
walking around in this poor, nondescript African

hamlet and they are the best in the world in a
sport that matters: marathon running. Its inspiring
to see a World Champion or Olympic Champion
and he has got there from absolutely ZERO, on
few resources and lots of hard work, self-belief
and natural talent the sort of old-fashioned stuff
we might have believed in in a more innocent time.
It still happens in Iten.
OR SOME VARIATION OF THIS VEXING QUESTION.
CAN REMEMBER, THAT I WANTED TO HAVE A
IVE COME TO REALISE THAT LIFE HAS NO REAL

MEANING EXCEPT FOR THE MEANING THAT YOU
GIVE IT. All of us are fighting a personal battle and
all of us need hope.

I LIVE IN RURAL AFRICA. Its pretty much as far as
AT THE HEART OF IT, PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. They
want to get by, love their family, get a good job and
live with a little dignity. I know it seems facile to
say something this clichd, but after 7 years living
in Africa, I have nothing more profound to say than
this.
SINGAPORE IS A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME, AND
EVERYWHERE I GO, IM A HAPPY SINGAPOREAN.
My red passport confers on me a level of trust and

respect that I feel I have not personally earned, so
I do my best to behave well and respectfully when
Im abroad.
I GUESS I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AS MOST
SINGAPOREANS; that we continue to exist, that we
continue to evolve the more intangible qualities

along with our normal pursuits. That I am truly my
brothers keeper. A persons worth must be much
more than his economic worth, but this simple
156
A billion people will read these books, and there

will be a million answers. I dont know that I can
say anything useful on this question. It really
would depend on who my interlocutor is.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I WILL BE IN 5 YEARS
TIME. And thats why its such an interesting life.
UNITED KINGDOM
CAREER IN THE ARTS AND THAT A CORPORATE,
Jennifer Lim cant hide the fact

that shes an optimist. A multitalented theatre practitioner, one
can tell that she is always looking
on the bright side of life. One of
the founders of British East Asian
Artists (BEAA), she seeks to raise
the profile of Chinese people based
in the UK, creating projects that
feature fellow East Asians in a
heavily prejudiced acting industry.
Deeply passionate and committed
to her craft, she staged an
exhibition which wove together 50
theatre practitioners memories of
Singapore theatre at the local Arts
House. Jennifer is someone who
follows her heart and invites others
along in the process.
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE WASNT FOR ME. When
I left there wasnt much of an arts scene in

Singapore and I knew that in order to pursue
my dreams of being an actress, I needed to go
somewhere that has a long established acting
tradition.
YOU NEED TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART, ALWAYS!!
It may seem foolhardy and foolish to others and

your mind is always going to construct obstacles
to hamper you from taking the plunge. If you
listen to your heart, you will find the courage and
conviction that will show you the way. You always
feel more free and happier when you follow your
heart. Thats a guarantee.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE IMPACT? FAME? I DONT
SET OUT TO MAKE AN IMPACT SO TO SPEAK
BUT IF MY WORK AND MY ACTIONS HAVE AN
IMPACT ON SOMEONE FOR THE BETTER, THEN I
THINK THATS A BONUS. As an actress, its always
gratifying when people tell you that they enjoyed
your performance. More so, when little kids think
of you as a role model and say that they want to
have a career in the arts when they grow up.
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I went into producing recently, which I found very

empowering. I created opportunities for a few
people who said that they would like to follow
the same path but werent sure. I was mentoring
them and one of them gave up her job as a futures
trader to go into film distribution. I like to think
that its wonderful to help another person follow
their dream.
SINGAPOREANS ARE WONDERFULLY EFFICIENT
AND RELIABLE. ITS AS IF ITS IN OUR DNA. The
process to get things done is a lot slower when

youre working with non-Singaporeans. Singapore
is a young nation made up of immigrants and
meritocracy is highly valued. I think in a place like
Britain which has a long history and is very class
ridden, there are certain conditions and codes you
need to possess or adhere to in order to progress.
Race is a factor here in the UK. Im not saying
that it doesnt exist in Singapore. Race issues
exist everywhere but in the UK, its a lot more
pronounced compared to Singapore.
In terms of the culture, I guess there is a greater
respect and emphasis on the arts in UK than in
Singapore. I find that generally speaking, its still
slightly frowned upon when you say youre an
actor in Singapore. The next thought you can see
people forming in their minds is, how much do you
earn?.
the UK, it has stood before me in good stead when

I faced challenges in the West. Growing up code
switching or conversing in different languages
depending on who Im speaking to, and different
accents depending on where I am, makes me more
adaptable and versatile.
MY FORMATIVE YEARS WERE SPENT IN

SINGAPORE AND THE DISCIPLINE THAT WAS
INSTILLED IN ME HAS STAYED WITH ME.
Conversely the sheltered upbringing did me no

favours. Although the belief that you can achieve
anything regardless of your race may be naive in
158
NAYSAYERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE

WHEN YOU BUCK TRENDS AND CONVENTIONS.
HAVE FAITH AND KNOW THAT THINGS WILL
WORK OUT FOR YOU WHEN YOU FOLLOW YOUR
YOU CANNOT AVOID BEING INFLUENCED BY
HEART. Keep your chin up when the chips are
YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Having lived a great part
down. Listen to your instincts!
of my life in the UK now, it has helped to inform

my artistic sensibilities and politics. You realise
how big and diverse the world is. It has certainly
opened my mind. It also helps me see both sides
of every story and appreciate the complexities
of culture, national narratives and so on. Being
of Chinese descent, I belong to the majority race
in Singapore and yet when Im in the UK, Im in
the minority camp so it allows me to see things
from both sides. I am certainly more aware of my
Chinese privilege whenever Im back in Singapore.
On another level, you can take the girl out of
Singapore but you cant take Singapore out of
the girl. I will, and always remain, a Singapore
girl at heart, passionate enough about food to
travel great distances to sample them. Also, my
appreciation of food is based on its flavours and
not where its served.
ADMITTEDLY, THE ARTS SCENES DEVELOPMENT
HAS COME ON LEAPS AND BOUNDS WHICH IS
Whereas here, the benchmark for success isnt

always about how big your wage packet is. Its
about job satisfaction, following your dreams and
if you make money from it, thats an added bonus.
There is also more room to take risks here in the
arts than in Singapore, where every venture in the
arts has to have some form of economic return.
HOPEFULLY SUMMER IN LONDON and winter in
Singapore.
VERY IMPRESSIVE. The growth of Singapore is
very exciting but it also brings about a whole set

of challenges that werent there before I left. The
population has increased and there are now more
foreign expats living in Singapore.
JOHN
CLANG
AS A COUNTRY WITH ITS ECONOMIC,

TECHNOLOGICAL AND TRANSPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE, SINGAPORE IS WITHOUT
A SHADOW OF A DOUBT: ABSOLUTELY FIRST
UNITED STATES
WORLD! I do believe that we can catch up with
other first world nations in other respects as

Singapore gains confidence and trust that greater
openness and tolerance isnt necessarily going to
be detrimental to society.
John Clangs work defies

dimensions, yet it touches a
tender humanity in us all. One of
his exhibitions, Being Together,
featured John posing with
projected webcam footage of
his family in Singapore. The end
result: family portraits that capture
simultaneously the distance
and the intimacy governed by
technology. His photographs are
vignettes of impermanence and
the human condition. Although
John currently lives in New York,
the questions put forth in his
photography ponder the important
questions of identity - something
that Singaporeans must grapple
with as the country celebrates its
50th anniversary.
I think the world is fast becoming a global village

and there arent many countries left in the world
that havent encountered an influx of immigrants
and outflow of emigrants. This can understandably
cause tension but we have to embrace change and
welcome diversity.

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internationally.
MY CONCERN FOR SINGAPORE IN THE NEXT 50

YEARS IS THAT we are not hungry anymore and we
become stagnant.
SINGAPORE HAS SHAPED ME TO fail and stand up
again and again. It gave me a head start when I

competed with my peers in NYC.
I MISS the people. Things do not matter.
LIFE WAS TOO COMFORTABLE IN SINGAPORE SO

I LEFT. It was a time when I felt very strongly that
I need to be hungry again and NYC is the city that

provides the toughest challenges and competition
for what Im doing.
I HAD LITTLE SAVINGS AND WENT TO NYC WITH
MY WIFE, WITHOUT KNOWING ANYONE. In my
mind, I was constantly thinking how I am going to
support my parents and my wife.
I DONT KNOW WHAT KIND OF IMPACT I HAVE
MADE but I do know I like myself better.
SINGAPORE, IT IS TO relocate SMU and have that

space as a public park. I wouldnt change anything
else about Singapore. It needs to grow through
phases to become what it will be eventually.
SINGAPORE HAS BECOME MORE developed and
gained more recognition worldwide, though its

more recognised for the material bit than the
cultural aspect.
THE PROFILE OF SINGAPOREANS LIVING ABROAD
People from a small and rich country with an

unknown cultural flavour and unsure political
stance. People know about us but they are not
curious.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THE IDEA OF SUCCESS .
In NYC, success is measured by the scope of your

dreams and talent, less so by the merit of your
fame and wealth.
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM NYC TO
embrace life and freedom.

I DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE MORE RISK IN
PEOPLE LIVE MORE RECKLESSLY IN NYC and yet
LIFE. You live only once and taking responsible risk
embrace life at the same time. In Singapore, we

tend to live in more calculated way.
is also a form of success.
IF I LOOK AT SINGAPORE AS A HUMAN , Im very
While waiting, do something useful and something

you enjoy.
proud of what he has endured. There are many

things I can learn from him.
TO A YOUNGER ME , time will erase all uncertainty.
YES WE ARE FIRST CLASS NATION, NO DOUBT

ABOUT SG50 I FEEL we spend too much money
celebrating it. We could have made use of the

funds for better causes and made a statement
160
but that doesnt mean we are any better than the

neighbouring countries.
COMPANIES
COMPANIES
A WORLD
OF ITS OWN
WHAT ROLE HAS LIANG COURT PLAYED IN

SINGAPORE?
Liang Court has been serving shoppers from

every corner of Singapore for the past 30 years.
Shoppers visit the mall for its unique events
and activities which delight and enhance their
shopping experience.
HOW HAS LIANG COURT CONTRIBUTED TO

SINGAPORE AS A COUNTRY, ITS BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND CULTURE?

Photography by DAVID LALANNE & LIANG COURT TEAM
Leveraging on its positioning and the strength of

Japanese tenants, over the past few years Liang
Court has designed quality Japanese cultural
events that provide a learning experience for all
our shoppers.
ALL THINGS JAPAN
WHAT QUALITIES HAS LIANG COURT LEARNT

FROM SINGAPORE?
An oasis of Japanese culture, food and

entertainment, Liang Court mall takes pride
in carving a niche for itself within Singapores
crowded retail environment. Singapores only
Japanese supermarket, Meidi-ya, with its huge
array of Japanese products unavailable elsewhere,
can be found here. Liang Court has also been a
great supporter of Be Movement. It is home to Be
Movements first pop-up store which showcases
products from an eclectic mix of independent,
social and artisanal organisations from Singapore
and Japan.
In addition to quirky retail offerings, Liang
Court organises novel events tied to Japanese
culture and festivals, such as the Hinamatsuri
(Doll Festival) and Kodomo No Hi (Childrens
Day). Occasionally special events are hosted by
Japanese Prefectures where fresh food from
various prefectures are flown in, sometimes
along with the producers. As the physical retail
environment continues to evolve with changing
consumer behaviour and online retail trends,
we speak with Stephanie Ho, Deputy CEO of
AsiaMalls Management, which oversees Liang
Court, on how they stay abreast of market trends
and Liang Courts contribution to the Singapore
retail scene.
162
To keep up and sustain the business. There is a

need to evolve and listen to what people, our
shoppers, want.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY THAT
SINGAPORE HAS IN THE FUTURE? HOW CAN LIANG
COURT HELP SINGAPORE ACHIEVE THIS?
We are currently in the digital age and there is

already a huge shift in shopper behaviour. This is
especially so in Singapore, where technology and
mobile penetration is high. Shoppers expectations
will be different and this creates an opportunity
for Liang Court to be the champion in this area.
With successful digital strategies, Singapore retail
sector can be in the lead once again.
WHATS YOUR VISION FOR SINGAPORE AND
LIANG COURTS FUTURE?
To create unique and memorable experiences and

offer services that exceed expectation.
WHY DID LIANG COURT CHOOSE TO SUPPORT BE
MOVEMENT?
Top
Hinamatsuri in Liang Court
We wish to support social organisations that

provide products or services with a worthy cause.
Be Movement is one such inspirational business
partner.
Left Bottom
Kodomo Fiesta Campaign in Liang Court
BE MOVEMENT
BATTLESHIP ISLAND
CONTEST
164
COMPANIES
COMPANIES
Be Movement brings one of the

most fascinating places in the
world, Battleship Island in Japan,
to Liang Court mall in Singapore
Top
Be Movement store at Liang Court (#01-20)
Step into an abandoned island that looks like a battleship from afar. Go
back in time to the densest mining town ever built in that era. Witness
how nature reclaims a concrete fortress.
For the contest, participants explored a maze, searching for answers
to questions about Battleship Island. Entries were submitted at
Be Movements store in Liang Court (#01-20). A lucky person won
a trip for 2 to Battleship Island, and a Nikon COOLPIX AW130 to
document the experience.
Be Movement was founded after a life-changing experience during
the March 11, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. When we produced our
Japan issue to share the untold stories of courage in Japan post the
disasters last year, we discovered the fascinating Battleship Island.
We wanted to share with Singapore this unforgettable island, unlike
anything in the world. Through the sales of our Japan issue, we also
donated part of the proceeds to earthquake-stricken areas.
Over 500 participants joined the contest and wandered through the
maze. Displaying photographs never before seen in Singapore, the
event attracted much interest and gave all Singaporeans a taste of
how nature is reclaiming this once indomitable fortress.
Top
Be Movement Battleship Island Contest
166
COMPANIES
RIGHT-SPACE
COMPANIES
Right-Space was Be Movements partner in

constructing the maze for our Battleship Island
Contest held at Liang Court mall in May 2015.
Working closely on the maze design, layout and
flow, Right-Spaces created a series of life-size
panels for participants to walk through. Each panel
displayed Be Movements impactful photography
and haikus inspired by Battleship Island.
WHY DID RIGHT-SPACE CHOOSE TO SUPPORT
SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS LIKE M.A.D. SCHOOL
AND BE MOVEMENT?
Every year as part of our corporate give back

initiative, Right-Space helps organise a selected
number of key projects with non-profit/social
organisations like M.A.D. School, Be Movement
and Very Special Arts (VSA) Singapore. We
help these organisations achieve greater public
awareness of their programmes. In return, these
events provide a platform for Right-Space to
promote itself as a leading events and exhibition
production house in Singapore.
WHAT DOES SG50 MEAN TO RIGHT-SPACE?
As the nation celebrates its 50 years of

Independence, Right-Space too celebrates our
15 year anniversary. We have grown from a small
company incorporated in 2000 to being a leader
in the local event and exhibition industry today,
offering our partners complete turnkey solutions.
With the increase in the number of events
celebrating SG50 this year, we too have been busy
supporting the various events island-wide.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE HAPPEN IN
Our vision for SG100 is for Singapore to continue

to prosper and be a first-world nation. Likewise, as
the nation grows and prospers, we at Right-Space
strive to improve our offerings and grow our client
base with each challenging new project.
168
OTHER PARTNERS:
LIANG COURT
Liang Court is managed by AsiaMalls Management
(AsiaMalls). AsiaMalls manages over 1.6 million
square feet of retail space across six malls and an
office tower (www.asiamalls.com.sg). Liang Court
is a mall for families, business executives and
Asian culture fans to discover good quality unique
products and services.
www.liangcourt.com.sg
NIKON
At the Heart of the Image. Nikon is the world
leader in digital imaging, precision optics and
photo imaging technology. Nikon is globally
recognised for setting new standards in product
design and performance for its award winning
consumer and professional photographic
equipment. Nikon Singapore distributes consumer
and professional Nikon cameras and equipment
to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region, reaching
over 50 countries.
www.nikon.com.sg
KAIROS BOATS
Kairos Boats represents various brands of
rotomolded polyethylene boats such as Pioner
& Whaly. Kairos also supplies its own brand
of kayaks and canoes that can be used for
expeditions and during floods. Kairos focuses on
shallow water use for such crafts.
www.kairosboats.com
NAGASAKI CITY, NAGASAKI PREFECTURE
TOURISM ASSOCIATION AND GUNKANJIMA
CONCIERGE
Hashima (Battleship Island), also known as
Gunkanjima, is located in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki
Prefecture, Japan. Nagasaki Prefecture Tourism
Association, Nagasaki City and Gunkanjima
Concierge are proud partners of this event.
www.visit-nagasaki.com
ORGANISATIONS
ORGANISATIONS
MAKING
GIVING EASIER
Edited by DANIEL WHITTINGTON & CASSIE LIM
Photography by GIVEASIA
WHY DID YOU SET UP GIVEASIA AND WHAT DO

YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?
Toothpaste is peddled with far more

sophistication than the lifesaving work of aid
groups, declared one writer in the New York
Times. Troubled by this statement, Yu Ming (my
co-founder) and I sought to create a platform that
would make donating easier and more accessible
for people - a simple idea but one that snowballed
into a greater cause.
This was back in 2009 when we were still
undergraduate students at the National University
of Singapore. We asked ourselves: Why does
making online donations and raising funds for
charities have to be this cumbersome and hard?
Cant we make the whole experience of giving
online more fun, accessible and transparent? The
question led us to meet with countless charities
over the course of a year. This brought us to the
conclusion that we had to make our dream a
reality. With our idea, we entered the Start-Up@
Singapore Social Enterprise Challenge and went
on to win it. In September 2009, we registered the
entity and GIVE got on the road to making giving
more engaging!
project listed on GIVEasia, he/she is prompted

to contribute an optional tip to us to help cover
our running costs. Note that GIVEasia does not
take any commission from the donations raised
via our website. In addition, we work with nonprofits to help them build solutions to improve
their operational efficiency. Also, we work with
corporations to help them make their CSR and
employee engagement projects more successful.
WHEN DID GIVEASIA BECOME SUSTAINABLE AND
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS?
GIVEasia was started as GIVE.sg in 2009. In 2012,

we expanded the platform across Asia, resulting
in GIVEasia.org, which received a special mention
from the Presidents Challenge that year. In 2014,
GIVEasia achieved sustainability. In one word, the
biggest factor that has contributed to this success
has been... people. We have been very fortunate
to have some really amazing people as part of
the GIVEasia team. They continue to work really
hard towards making GIVEasia successful so that
we can help more people. It is definitely due to
their dedication, determination and perseverance
that GIVEasia has been successful in creating an
impact while achieving sustainability.
HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN GIVEASIA? WHAT IS THE

REVENUE MODEL?
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT HAS GIVEASIA BEEN

MAKING?
Our current revenue stream comes from the

optional tips by donors who use our website.
Every time a person makes a donation to any
GIVEasia.org has now become the leading

online charity fundraising platform in Asia. It
has empowered 48,613 people to raise over
170
SGD8 million for various charitable causes and

the number continues to grow rapidly. We are
very proud that GIVEasia is creating a lifestyle of
compassion, generosity and kindness in Singapore
as well as Asia. It is heartening to see how
GIVEasia catalyses giving, with tens of thousands
of people across Asia using our website to help
others.
SINCE BE MOVEMENT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE
COURAGE TO BE, WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT
CHALLENGE YOU FACED IN THIS INDUSTRY AND
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?
Bringing about any kind of change requires a lot

of effort and work over a long period of time.
When we first started GIVEasia, we found out
that the non-profit sector was not very well
informed about the potential of technology and
social media. We had a world class website that
leveraged the power of social media to help nonprofits make their fundraising more effective but
that was not helping as a lot of non-profits were
not open to adopting new technologies.
We realised what we had to do was educate the
market and shed light on the benefits of being an
early technology adopter. I took up the position
of a trainer at Social Service Institute and started
running non-profit workshops advocating the
use of online fundraising tools. Also, we started
holding seminars and workshops to educate nonprofit leaders about the digital world. The results
were favourable and within a couple of years

hundreds of charities had adopted us as their
official charity fundraising platform.
HOW DID NUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE (NEC)
HELP YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY? WHAT KIND OF
SUPPORT DID YOU RECEIVE FROM THEM?
NEC has been instrumental in our journey so far. In

addition to the exposure we received participating
in the Start-up@Singapore competitions, we also
got the opportunity to participate in the Intel
Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge.
NEC has provided us with incubation, grants
and mentorship advice that have proved to be
tremendously valuable to our growth.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION FOR
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP? WHAT CHANGES
NEED TO BE MADE?
I believe that all social enterprises in Singapore,

and worldwide, need to remember that they are
enterprises first. So they have to go through the
trials and tribulations like all other enterprises to
make something people want while making money.
I think social enterprises in Singapore could be
more successful if they adopted lean start-up
methodologies and took a rigorous approach
in enterprise building just like hi-tech, venturebacked, for-profit start-ups do.
ORGANISATIONS
TAKE
THE CHANCE.
MAKE
THE CHANGE.
Edited by DANIEL WHITTINGTON
A M.A.D. AGENCY MAKE THE CHANGE
You are educated. Your

certification is in your
degree. You may think of it
as the ticket to the good life.
Let me ask you to think of
an alternative. Think of it
as your ticket to change the
world.
TOM BROKAW
In 2012, Community Health Assessment Team

(CHAT), a programme under the Institute of
Mental Health, appointed students from M.A.D.
School by Chatsworth Medi@rt Academy (CMA)
to undertake the task of forging a mental health
awareness campaign <Break the Silence> for
Singapore youths. CMA positioned this social
collaboration as a school initiative called Make
The Change (MTC).
After witnessing the transformation of the
students involved in the project, M.A.D. Schools
co-founder and CEO, Michelle Lim, took a
chance and evolved MTC into a registered
social enterprise providing non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), ICOs and social enterprises
with marketing, advertising and design services
(a.k.a. M.A.D.).
ORGANISATIONS
provides creative services at subsidised rates or

on a pro bono basis. Their services range from
engaging creative professionals to mentoring
marketing, advertising and design students,
conducting fundraising for clients, recruiting
experienced designers to volunteer their skills
in developing marketing collaterals for socially
driven campaigns, and providing relevant creative
training to clients. The social enterprise model
helps clients on a shoestring budget achieve their
social missions, whilst serving as fertile ground
for cultivating skilled volunteerism amongst the
creative community.
Working on the *SCAPE project was really
awesome as I got to work with creative and
selfless minded people to create a campaign.
It was a great and exciting experience to raise
awareness for social causes, says Sally Tan, an
advertising design student at M.A.D. School.
In the beginning, MTC leveraged the talent pool of
students and lecturers from M.A.D. School. With
the increasing exposure and awareness gained
through projects, it now receives volunteers from
local national universities as well as creative
practitioners from reputable ad agencies.
This year, MTC launched the Design For Good
(DFG) initiative. Spanning the creative life-cycle,
DFG provokes youth to use design and creative
works to make a positive difference and change
the world. It runs workshops that raise awareness
of the social cause(s), a competition where
students submit design and marketing ideas for
social campaigns and a mentorship scheme which
helps students realise their concepts in live
campaigns.
As U.S lawyer and political leader Robert Ingersoll

says, We rise by lifting others.
Beyond its agency role, MTC develops social
programmes that bridge corporates and
communities in need through channels such as
time, monetary contribution or skills. MTC, using
skills learnt from CMAs content development
capabilities, creates programmes to secure
corporate sponsorships that benefit marginalised
communities such as youth at risk, the elderly and
persons with disabilities (PWDs).
In 2014 MTC collaborated with Crossroads
Youth Centre, under the sponsorship of legal firm
Olswang, and conducted photography workshops
for youth at risk, where proceeds from the
photographic sales were donated to Crossroads
Youth Centre.
Through its scholarships, MTC enables
marginalised groups to pursue M.A.D. education,
where it transforms graduates from receivers
to givers as they contribute back through social
community projects. It also conducts workshops
on social entrepreneurship and social awareness
programmes in secondary schools and with
tertiary students to cultivate the spirit of giving
with no discrimination.
BEYOND THE AGENCY ROLE

Since its establishment, MTCs scope of activities
has burgeoned.
Now as a M.A.D. Agency to its clients, MTC
172
ORGANISATIONS
In celebration of its 10th Anniversary in 2013,

Chatsworth Medi@rt Academy (CMA) rebranded
its education arm to M.A.D. School and reinvigorated the entire curriculum into a crossdisciplinary learning approach, integrating
marketing, advertising and design (M.A.D) as its
signature programme.
The schools focus on education is imbued with
the belief that everyone can be creative. It has also
been contributing back to the community since its
inception in 2003. A year after its establishment, it
launched its first CSR programme, providing CMA
scholarships to marginalised youth from Vietnam,
Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Singapore.
174
ORGANISATIONS
CMA worked with Be Movements official

photographer, David Lalanne, on photography
workshops for their students, offering a fresh
perspective on Singapores landscape.
yesterday
a dragonfly stopped
its rattling body
at our doorstep ---
did it already know?
HOROSCOPE
Written by KAH GAY NG
176
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I have British English characteristics, for

example in my accent, my approach in life and my
mannerisms. I like to say that I have the best of
both worlds!
LAURENTIA
TAN
IN THE UK, PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY MORE POLITE,

MORE CARING AND UNDERSTANDING. The
culture here is different, the richness of its history

through to the way of living.
SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY THAT SINGAPORES
SUCCESSES ARE DOWN TO BEING KIASU, A TERM
WHICH ROUGHLY TRANSLATES INTO A FEAR OF
UNITED KINGDOM
LOSING OR BEING LEFT BEHIND. However one has
THE MAIN REASON I LEFT SINGAPORE is because
Laurentia Tans joie de vivre is

wonderfully rare. In a world which
favours a narrow conception of
who we should be, we often find
ourselves changing who we are in
order to fit in. Well, not Laurentia.
She developed cerebral palsy and
profound deafness soon after
she was born and she tapped
into her experience to enhance
her empathy. Best known as
Singapores premier paralympic
equestrian, her greatest strength
is not in her sporting abilities but
her profound self-awareness and
courage to be herself. Laurentia
spoke to us about what inspires
her, Singaporean identity, and
reaching out to marginalised
groups who arent visible to society.
178
of how much I benefited from the medical and

educational support here in the UK. One has
to remember that this was 30 years ago, when
Singapore was not so knowledgeable about
disabilities. Also, my profound deafness was not
diagnosed until we came over to the UK.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE ARE THE SUM OF OUR
EXPERIENCES AND THE SUM OF PEOPLE AROUND
US. In other words, the people around us influence
us and our experiences contribute towards who

we are as a person. If I had not come to England,
would I have met the people I have met? Would I
have crossed the same paths I crossed? Would I
have the same experiences, knowledge, skills?
Would I be the same person that I am? Would I
have achieved as much as I have?
Even though I have lived In the UK since I was 3
years-old, my family and I always visited Singapore
regularly. I even started flying alone (without my
parents) when I was 11 years-old! I have many
fond memories of family, relatives and friends in
Singapore. I still do go back to Singapore regularly
to visit my family, relatives and friends. I also visit
schools and give talks at conferences in Singapore.
I am proud to be Singaporean, and yes, I do have
some English in me. People have commented
to wonder, as individuals, perhaps if people could

be less kiasu and instead be more compassionate
to each other? Perhaps also more patient and
understanding of each other?
I VISIT SINGAPORE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND
the many opportunities to show what people with

disabilities can achieve and contribute back to
society.
However in comparison to the West (UK, Europe,
USA), Singapore is not at the same level and a
lot more needs to be done to improve equality;
especially in terms of access, facilities and support
for people with disabilities. There is also huge
potential to transform attitudes and perceptions
of people with disabilities. It is not just about
addressing the lack of awareness or lack of
understanding, but also about re-educating the
community as a whole.
As a person with disabilities, I found people in
Singapore would often stare, but that is not to
say that they should not look. However things are
slowly improving as people become more aware
and informed.
EACH TIME THERES ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW!
New attractions, new apartments, new shopping

malls, new buildings & skyscrapers. Sometimes,
I think Singapore has changed too much, too
fast. By this, I mean old buildings demolished
and replaced and beautiful open spaces built on.
Although it is modern and cosmopolitan, one
has to wonder does everything have to be new
and updated? When I see the market where
my grandfather bought me chwee kueh and
sugar cane juice in those little plastic bags being
replaced with new condominiums, it is almost like
my memories are being wiped off, as though it
was only in my imagination.
When I see the neighbourhood where I lived in the
first few years of my life shrinking and fading away
to a plot of land, I presume in preparation for new
developments, it makes me sad.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, SINGAPORE HAS
SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN FROM THE UNITED

KINGDOM TO BE MORE compassionate, caring
and understanding. Sometimes in life, it is not just
about the destination but also the journey, what
we experience, explore and learn along the way.
TO A YOUNGER ME, do something you enjoy
and not what you think others expect of you.

Sometimes on the way to the dream, one may get
lost but find a better one!
If you know what you want to do in life, that is
great! If you dont, thats okay too Take your
time Sometimes, opportunities and dreams
come in disguise so take whatever opportunities
may come your way. You never know where things
may lead, so go ahead and follow your passions.
Focus on the things you care about, the things you
enjoy and that make you happy, life is too short to
do otherwise.
IMPROVED IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES. Winning the Paralympic
medals for Singapore definitely helped raised
awareness for people with disabilities. It is one of
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deeper joy and loving relationships. We are also

working on a long-term community transformation
project with children in marginalised communities
that tie money to virtue using theatre, storytelling
and arts.
L EE
MIN XUAN
MY HUSBAND AND I GOT INVOLVED WITH

COMMUNITIES IN THE US WHO ARE DEEPLY
AND THEN AGAIN IN THE MT. KINABALU TRAGEDY.
It is times of crises that are the true test of our

spirit and resilience as a community and it showed
how Singapore is still one small kampung.
APPRECIATES!
IM CONCERNED AS WE ARE IN-BETWEEN STORIES.
America is a big country and has a very different

context and set of challenges. Unlike Singapore,
where we actually have a government that works
in directing most agendas, there are many complex
challenges here that the government and larger
institutions cannot solve quickly, for example in
education and healthcare.
The old story of how we started sustained us for

a long time. It shaped our attitudes, it gave us our
life purpose and it energised collective action. It
gave us the story for how we educate our children,
how we choose our careers, how we prioritise our
private lives, how we identify crime and how we
plan our policies.
Because of this there is a strong sense of agency

for people to take matters into their own hands.
Of our own volition we can change things without
waiting for any government directive. This is not
only seen in the private sector or with non-profit
and advocacy groups, but is alive even in each
family. There is a strong sense of empowerment
when a community comes together to direct what
they want to see.
But we are starting to realize that the old story

is changing and we have not yet learned the new
story. Who will shape this new story? How will it
be shaped? What is Singapores place in the new
story?
CURIOUS AND PASSIONATE ABOUT LEARNING
180
TOGETHER IN THE WAKE OF MR LEE KUAN YEW
WEVE LEARNT THAT WHAT WE APPRECIATE
UNITED STATES
Money is just money, except

when it isnt. What seems to
be a neutral platform is often
a vehicle for our own values,
insecurities and beliefs. Lee Min
Xuan co-founded the start-up,
PlayMoolah, as a way to cut
through the jargon and unravel
the mysteries surrounding money.
Using a mixture of apps, talks,
boot camps and compassionate
listening, PlayMoolah wants the
conversation around money to
progress beyond fear. One of the
most striking things about the
start-up is its Honesty Circles,
that gather a community of people
who practice mindful money for
a purposeful life. Min Xuan urges
others to define their version
of success for themselves and
to make money only one of the
metrics of a good life.
I COULD FEEL THE PULSE OF THE NATION BEATING
AND INNOVATING ON THE BIG QUESTIONS.
With the B-Corp Movement, I also found many

role models of companies that are operating their
businesses as a force for good.
To our surprise, although our most recent lifesimulation app, called WhyMoolah, was made for a
Singapore audience with our entire life-simulation
based on local datasets, we saw more organic
downloads and conversions coming from the US.
We were getting these amazing emails from young
Americans telling us how it started conversations
about money in their families and how it helped
them make a plan to pay down their college loan.
One fan even offered to rally a crowdfunding
campaign among all the fans.
Once a month in our homes in both Singapore
and the U.S, we host Honesty Circles that create
safe spaces for young people to uncover truths,
listen deeply and examine their questions and
relationships with money as a lens for inner
transformation. Weve seen amazing ripples
coming out of these circles as young people start
embodying tiny shifts in behaviour that lead them
to engage with money in a way that brings them
This is not only a question for Singapore, but its a

question Im asking myself and I dont believe its
about having the right answer ... but in how we
choose to live that quesion in our day-to-day lives.
THE UNITED STATES IS HUGE, SO I CAN ONLY

SPEAK FOR THE AREA I LIVE IN. I FOUND THE
I TEND NOT TO RUMINATE ON WHAT IF
GENERAL MINDSET IN THE BAY AREA TO BE ONE
QUESTIONS OF THE PAST AS I HAVENT FOUND
OF ABUNDANCE RATHER THAN SCARCITY.
THEM TO BE VERY PRODUCTIVE.
People dont see the world as a fixed pie, but

are always looking to grow the pie in a way that
everybody wins. That doesnt mean there isnt
competition, but if the intention is to grow a
new industry it might mean that even among
competitors there may be a certain level of
collaborating and sharing. I also enjoy how
Americans celebrate creativity and every unique
individuals gifts and talents. From a young age,
children are nurtured to express with great
confidence!
I think our energies are best spent thinking about

the future, on things we can actually change going
forward. Everyone has their own path to walk. The
important part is to keep taking the next step and
to live deeper into your own questions that push
the edges of your comfort zone. It doesnt mean
having to live overseas. It could be as simple as
having a deep conversation with someone whose
beliefs are diametrically opposed to your own,
picking up a book from a shelf in the library you
would never go for, giving away the favourite item
in your house ... Think of doing something every
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day that scares you just a little bit. [smiles] It puts

into perspective what is really important and
increases the range of choices you see for yourself.
IF YOU DONT DEFINE YOUR OWN VERSION OF
SUCCESS, YOU CAN BE SURE SOMEONE ELSE WILL
DEFINE IT FOR YOU.
I believe in a broader definition of wealth that goes

beyond net worth to include self-worth. Financial
capital is really only one form of capital. There are
many forms including social capital, knowledge
capital, wisdom capital, living capital (including
our health), material capital, spiritual capital and
cultural capital ...
Everybody is rich in a different way and it is about
acknowledging that and coming together to allow
our collective wealth to flow and grow.
I THINK SINGAPOREANS ARE IN GENERAL

VERY TRUSTING BECAUSE OF OUR SHELTERED
UPBRINGING. I know other Asians who think
Singaporeans are nave and are unable to compete

overseas because we simply lack the smarts. In my
case, a former manager I trusted, a single mother
one year older than me, stole from the business
and then threatened to throw acid on my face
after I sacked her. It was a good lesson to be more
careful with whom I should trust.
DIANA
SAW
CAMBODIA HAS FEW PAVED ROADS OUTSIDE OF

THE TOWNS AND I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD WHICH
CAMBODIA
OFTEN FLOODS AT THE END OF RAINY SEASON.

IN APRIL 2006, I WENT ON A FOUR DAY HOLIDAY
TO CAMBODIA AND MET A WOMAN WHO SOLD
Diana Saw left her high-flying

career at the height of success,
because she witnessed the cyclical
poverty that many Cambodian
women faced. She started up
Bloom Cambodia in 2006, a
social enterprise which repurposes
recycled materials along with
silk and cotton to create all sorts
of beautiful bags. Diana wanted
Bloom Cambodia (http://www.
bloomcambodia.com) to encourage
autonomy, not dependency on
foreign aid. Cambodia is home to
many NGOs, yet the outcome of
the NGOs efforts has been mixed.
Employing a small workshop of
single mothers, Diana doesnt
seek to change the world but to
empower the lives of the people
she hires.
HER NEW BORN BABY BOY FOR USD100. I was
shockedthat only a two hour flight away from

Singapore, there were women who were so poor
and so desperate they were selling their babies.
Often these women have beenabandoned by their
husbands and with little education and skills, they
had few prospects of finding a job that will allow
them to look after families. The woman who sold
her baby had herself been sold by her mother. She
was a sex worker and when she had a baby she
sold him too,and so the cycle continues.
By June I had moved to start Bloom Cambodia,
a social enterprise to provide jobs for single
mothers. The idea was with jobs, the women
would not only solve the immediate need of
putting food on the table and sending their
children to school, but they would also feel secure,
stable and confident enough to start planning for
the future.
IN A SENSE, I DIDNT CHOOSE CAMBODIA; IT
CHOSE ME. If I had encountered child trafficking
anywhere else in the world, chances are, Id be

there now too.
182
Power cuts are frequent in the hot season. Airconditioning is a luxury. Most people are not
aware electricity costs more in Cambodia than
in Singapore (SGD0.24 per kWh versus SGD0.21
respectively).
In addition, 80 per cent of the rural population
in Cambodia do not have access to a latrine and
6.3 million do not have access to safe water.
Singapore is another world: People here have their
basic needs met and their priorities are different.
Singapore is a consumer-oriented society while
in Cambodia, most people are grateful to have
three meals a day. Singaporeans are lucky to have
electricity with the flip of a switch; they have
proper healthcare and a great public transport
system, just to name three things. Also, while
corruption exists in Singapore, it is nowhere near
as widespread as in Cambodia.
YET DESPITE ALL ITSINFRASTRUCTURAL
PROBLEMS, CAMBODIA HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL
AND I THINK IT IS THE SMILEY,CHEERFULAND
HELPFULPEOPLE. One time my trousers got stuck
in my bicycle wheel and I was wobbling, almost
falling,and a tuk-tuk driver promptly stopped to
help me. I contrast this with the time at Lau Pa Sat
in Singaporewhenno one would lend me his or her
mobile phone so I could find my friend.
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Finally,Cambodia is a Buddhist country and

the people spend a lot of time at pagodas,
praying and enjoying festivities. Theirs is a
more communal way of living and that reminds
me of gotongroyong, a Malay term meaning
communal spirit, which was common in
Singapore in the60s and 70s. Singapore,
as a moderncity has lost that, which is a
shame, because it is so lovely to live amongst
friendly,helpful and sharing people.
in fact I wish people would see each other as the

same: each of us just wants to be happy and to
suffer less. Nationalism, it seems, emphasises our
differences instead of our commonalities.
WHICH INFLUENCES THE CULTURE. Farmers
Nonetheless, since there is much ado about

SG50, it can be an opportunity for Singaporeans
to reflect on what we have achieved and the way
we are headed. For instance, some Singaporeans
have said to me while they are progressing, I am
regressing. In their minds, progress means shiny
new buildings andthe latest gadgets that make life
more convenient.
typically wake at dawn and work till lunch time

when it gets too hot, then they rest and return to
work when it gets less hot. Life revolves around
the sun so Cambodians sleep early in order to
make most of the day. Also, farmers typically plant
enough to live on until the next harvest. There is
no such thing as ambition and accumulation of
wealth; that is a modern economic behaviour.
In my mind, progress is being a better person,

a kind and compassionate person, in order to
contribute to a kinder, more compassionate
society. And in order for that to happen, you
may need to leave your buildings andtech toys
behindand focus on what matters most in your
life.
CAMBODIA IS LARGELY AN AGRARIAN SOCIETY,
phone I use.
focused on putting food on the table.
One time, I was queuing with my mother at the

fish ball noodle shop and the seller asked my mom
if I was her newmaid! I am more considerate
andconscious now of other peoples feelings
regardless of how different they look.
MY HUSBAND SAYS HE LOVES ME FOR MY
The other life-changing thing is I have also become

pescatarian (a person who eats vegetables and
seafood) after I witnessed a dog being killed
for food in Cambodia. I realised there was no
difference in killing a dog versus a goat or pig or
cow. Morally I found I could not justify eating
these animals. Finally, Ive become more patient
and calmer, after living in an environment
that does not always focus on efficiency and
productivity. The only two things I really
miss is public transportation (I take the MRT
everywhere!) and the libraries.
IN THE NINE YEARS IVE BEEN AWAY, THE MOST
Singapore on the other hand, is a typical modern

society, where people are driven by accumulation,
the buying of stuff and keeping up with the
Joneses. I have to say though, Cambodia is
changing. People living in the cities are no
different from Singaporeans in their conspicuous
consumption. We are all becoming little Americas.
One thing I do like about the Khmers is they
like to joke. They are always smiling and have
a great sense of humour. Also, I think because
most Cambodians are Buddhist, they are more
easygoing about life: often they tell me there is
no point worrying, that whatever will be will be.
It could be because of their terrible history. Most
people are just grateful for what little they have
and try to focus on that.
ABOUT SG50 , I do not spend much time thinking
about it. First of all, its an arbitrary number to
organise such massive and expensive celebrations
around. As a friend said, why is 50 more important
than 49 or 51.Secondly, I am not nationalistic and
184
IT IS ALWAYS A SHOCK TO SEE SO MANY OLD
OBVIOUS CHANGES ARE IN THE PHYSICAL
PEOPLE WHEN I COME BACK TO SINGAPORE FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY. Many places
VISITS. Cambodia, where I live, has the youngest
are unrecognisable to me, for instance the whole

Somerset area. But the main difference is how
the country is awash with money. Conspicuous
consumption like I have never seen before. I
have met young Singaporeans who are terribly
pampered and have a sense of entitlement that
comes with having wealth, even though they
have personally done nothing for the wealth
and are just born into it. It is not just the young,
though. Many Singaporeans have a superiority
complex and I can see this from the way they
treat Malaysians or Filipinos or Cambodians. It is
embarrassing.
population in Southeast Asia, with 68 per cent

under 30 years of age, so I am not used to seeing
so many old people. I worry who will look after
these old people, especially those who are from
the lower income group.
Correspondingly, I worry about healthcare costs
and how aging Singaporeans will cope. I also
wonder how Singapore will compete economically
with our neighbours, but I suppose the country
will just import young labour.
UNFATHOMABLE GENEROSITY and I suppose
that is what I also like most about myself, the

ability to empathise and be compassionate. Mostly
I love that I am surrounded by good people, people
who are kind and giving.
PERSONALLY FOR ME, I QUESTION IF SINGAPORE
IS EVEN A NATION. To me, it is a city-state relying
on foreigners who make up half thepopulation.

Singaporesunrelenting focus on commerce
means things that foster community and identity
are often sacrificed, such as the old buildings we
grew up with and love, even Singlish, because it
apparently interferes with how well we attract
international trade and foreign investment.
At the same time, because we are cosmopolitan
and plugged into the global economy, our citizens
are mobile and able to adapt. There was a survey
by Singapore Polytechnic last yearthat showed
six out of ten young Singaporeans would leave the
country to follow their dreams. The challenge for
Singapore is how to continue being a global city
while not creating a city of transients.
I LIVE A MUCH SIMPLER LIFE IN CAMBODIA

AND HAVE LEARNT TO COPE WITH LESS.
Physically I have changed from living in a harsher

environment, compared with my peers whove
aged better. My Cambodian friends say I look
Khmer, while in Singapore I am treated like
a foreign worker because I do not pay much
attention to the way I dress, the bag I carry or the
On the other hand, Singapores wealth has also

given it an edge, for instance in its performance at
the recent SEA games. Singapore is able to send
its athletes to the best training programmes and
coaches, and the athletes can dedicate hours to
practice. Our less well-to-do neighbours on the
other hand, like athletes in Cambodia, are more
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line upon disparate images, by the ideas with

which we have learned to freeze the shifting
phantasmagoria which is our actual experience.
I believe I have done the same to my own
experiences. As such, I am likely to do everything I
did, given a second chance.
SHARON
LOW
CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ARE CRITICAL BUT

OFTEN NOT THE REAL PROBLEM IN THE PLACES
I HAVE WORKED. People can vote but cant get
basic healthcare and clean water.

TWO THINGS NEVER FAIL TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
AFGHANISTAN, NORTH KOREA,

CHINA, INDONESIA & LAOS
with the Singapore Red Cross Society back in the
late 1990s. Being the youngest staff then, I was
deployed to Indonesia, China and North Korea
with the international movement to facilitate
post-disaster efforts. I liked what I was doing and
continued with it.
COURAGE MEANS to walk the journey without
maps and to realise the strength to fly off the

cliffwhen our eyes cannot see the road forward.
A good friend once told me that when we find
ourselves at the lowest point of our lives, we will
know where we are the strongest, and I trusted
him.
LIFE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT LEARNING but also
living, and in that space we meet those few among

thousands of people. With the boundlessness of
time, we meet them neither earlier nor a bit too
late.
HOW MUCH IMPACT HAVE I MADE? I dont know. I
dont think about such things.

WE TELL OUR STORIES TO LIVE AND INTERPRET
WHAT WE SEE. SELECT THE MOST WORKABLE
OF THE MULTIPLE CHOICES AND TRY TO FIND
THE SERMON IN EACH INCIDENT, BE IT GOOD
OR BAD. We live by the imposition of a narrative
186
WHAT SINGAPOREANS CAN LEARN IS social
bonding as we continue to rebuild our identities

and nation, and about how to shake away our
rigidity to discover this otherness, which is
integral to our understanding of humanity. It is
something which is not institutional or sector
driven. It cannot be found in databases, rules or
guidelines. It is built in simplicity, humility, a lot of
empathy and sometimes compassion.
Life and death.

I LEFT SINGAPORE NOT BY DESIGN. I was a staff
An international globe-trotter,
Sharon Lows responses are not
what you would expect. Measured,
lucid and contemplative, her
answers give us a glimpse of
someone who dares to dream big,
yet takes things one step at a time.
Her decorated career in public
health in developing countries has
taken her across the Asian region
including Afghanistan, North
Korea and Laos. She counts BRAC
Bangladesh, one of the top colleges
in community development, as her
alma mater. Yet these accolades
dont come close to describing who
Sharon is. Her words uplift, ground
and mesmerise at once; a quality
that cannot be articulated in mere
statements.
where altruism and exploitation meet. Some

things cannot be imposed but need to evolve, to
take root, mature and endure.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE WHAT IT

ABOUT SG50 , I feel grateful and humbled.
I HOPE FOR SINGAPORE IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS
to translate our economic achievements

into maturity as a society in the respect and
comprehension of values and beliefs of other
worlds.
LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE PRODUCTS OF OUR
SOCIETY AND CULTURE. Over time we learn to
reconcile who we are expected to be, who we

want to be, who we have to be and who we can be.
MEANS TO BE A HUMANITARIAN WORKER. The
path comes with a price tag in life. It is not about

world peace or living out of a box. There are
better and easier life routes for this. You will know
if it is for you. I encourage everyone to explore
options.
TO A YOUNGER ME , principles define us. No matter
where we go and how far we travel, always keep
our reference points.
YES, I WOULD MOVE BACK TO SINGAPORE. Its my
home. No ifs, no buts.

SINCE MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE , I learned
that, no matter how good or bad things are, they

will come to pass.
I MISS family, friends and food in Singapore. I also
appreciate some level of the predictability that
she offers and her constant yearning to be better
and be relevant. It creates space for opportunities
and creativity.
ON CHANGE IN SINGAPORE, one could argue for
such benign self-interest with well intentions of
those who want to remake a country in their own
image, not because it was in their narrow selfinterest but because they thought it was their
duty to do so. I find that it reflects the ambiguities
of superiority and about that indefinable realm
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as being modest. It felt like the natural thing to

do and I had the resources for it. Perhaps it did
take some courage to get on the bus to travel to
Tamale it was a 14 hour bus ride from the city
and I wasnt sure where I was going to stay. I ended
up in a dilapidated petrol kiosk at 4am with the
bus driver telling me to get off, but that heralded
the beginning of a beautiful encounter. The real
individuals with courage are Margaret and the
young women she employs I am merely the
middle person.
WAN
FONG WOO
I DROPPED OUT OF JUNIOR COLLEGE AFTER A
GHANA & UNITED KINGDOM
YEAR TO PURSUE A DIPLOMA IN FILM AT NGEE

DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MY TRIP, I TRAVELLED
TO TAMALE , in the northern region of Ghana that
Self-effacing, Wan Fong Woo

claims neither credit nor courage
for her accolades. She insists
that the true heroes are the ones
she tries to help, downplaying
her own involvement in the
success of the Ghana Initiative
(http://theghanainitiative.com).
The founder of the non-profit
organisation, she kickstarted
fundraising programmes to
help people in Tamale, one of
the poorest regions in the West
African country. Education and
empowerment are the central
themes of the Initiative, which
seeks to lift Ghanaian children
and women out of poverty. Wan
Fong currently studies Politics,
Psychology and Sociology in the
United Kingdom. An eloquent
fount of opinions, Wan Fong is also
a talented filmmaker.
is considerably less developed compared to the

rest of the country. In Tamale I met wonderful
people whose tenacity I so admired. One was a
group of young women who were learning how
to sew and would sell their products in the city
or to other villages. These women have met with
much adversity in life most grew up in extreme
poverty, some have been sexually assaulted or are
homeless.
The leader of this group is an exceptionally
enterprising and kind middle-aged woman who
goes by the name of Margaret, who teaches
these women how to sew and provides them
a daily wage. Before I left, Margaret let slip in
conversation that it would be nice if she could
have more sewing machines to take in more
girls, or to ensure that each of them had a sewing
machine so that productivity would be higher.
She probably didnt think I was listening but I was.
I thought to myself, Well, I dont have enough
money to provide all the sewing machines she
needs but I do have videography and photography
skills as well as the medium of the Internet to help
me raise the necessary funds, and so I did.
To be honest, I dont find what I did to be
courageous and I am not trying to come across
188
ANN POLYTECHNIC. To this day it is perhaps one of
the best decisions I have made for myself. At 17 it

took some courage to go against the tide, knowing
that I could very well drown without having much
support, coupled with the other insecurities and
expectations that young adults face on a daily
basis. No one wants to be a disappointment, right?
I took away so many important lessons though
and they have shaped me to be who I am today. It
taught me how to survive being beaten down for
a long time, taking emotional gunshots and being
in the worst situations - physically, mentally and
emotionally - without a chance of reward. But
thats the best takeaway: rewards should not be a
motivation for action do something because you
want to, not because you think its something you
will be validated for.
I LEARNT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO STRUGGLE
of expanding the project or in delegating funds to

other areas for improvement. I guess its always
important to ask what can I do better? of which
the short answer is: everything.
IN ENGLAND, I FIND THAT THERE IS MORE
TOLERANCE FOR PLURALISTIC VIEWPOINTS.
Even if what is being discussed or said may harm

the liberty of others. I believe this is important
in democracies democracies would not survive
if all that is said in public debate is what people
want to hear. There is more tolerance in England
in challenging the common consensus, which
is fundamental in ensuring sustainable social
harmony.
I find that most non-conforming views in
Singapore are repressed or swept under the
rug, but where do these thoughts go? Are they
harboured under the surface in hope that
they would dissipate or would these thoughts
culminate in an eruption several years down the
road? I think it is important for communication
in the public sphere, even if what is said may be
repulsive. It takes sensibility and responsibility to
achieve this level of communicative rationality,
which I hope one day Singapore will achieve. I am
going to quote Evelyn Beatrice Halls overused
dictum in this case: I disapprove of what you
say, but I will defend to the death your right to
say it. In England, individuals are more tolerant
of viewpoints that contradict their own beliefs. I
hope we can learn from this.
and that comfort is dangerous.

IM INSPIRED BY STEVE - WHO WILL NEVER READ
I LIKE THAT IM EXTREMELY HARD ON MYSELF
and that no one could demean me in a way that I

havent done so to myself over and over again!
IF GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE I WOULD TAKE MORE
TIME TO consolidate my thoughts and to draw out
a detailed action plan, that would definitely be
on the top of my list. I was riding on the wave of
adrenaline and really wanted to raise the funds so
quickly that I may have overlooked possibilities
THIS. He is the homeless man outside the library in

my faculty who has taught me to face my demons
as he has faced his (alcoholism), and that having
demons makes living harder but not necessarily
bad. I am inspired by my talented friends in the
film industry in Singapore who work so hard in
ways I cannot fathom, and by their unflagging
passion.
I am inspired by criticism, sarcasm, cynicism and

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my own mediocrity. I am inspired by you and the

me that I hope to be.
I BELIEVE THAT OUR NATION IN THE CURRENT
STAGE SUFFERS FROM ATYCHIPHOBIA A
PERSISTENT FEAR OF FAILURE. Consequentially
my observation is that, many Singaporeans go

for the median even when they are capable of
surpassing that for fear of negative repercussions
and in the worst cases, of failure. Not having a
fear of failure may not necessarily be productive
but I am uncertain whether the trade-off is
advantageous in other aspects. Though I believe
this will change in the next generation or so.
This time Ill go with a quote from Samuel Beckett,
who puts things ever so cogently: Ever tried. Ever
failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
SG50 REMINDS ME of how young Singapore really
is. Yet we have in some ways done the work of
giants. I am perhaps on some level distanced from
the intricacies of the preparations for SG50; that
I only know it from an outsiders perspective by
reading the news, that I could never experience it
fully without being there.
SINGAPORE HAS MADE ME CONSCIENTIOUS, and
to be critical of privilege.
MOVING AWAY FROM SINGAPORE HAS MADE
ME become more sensitive and weary of moral
absolutism.
IN SHORT I WOULD LOVE FOR THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM TO PROMOTE MORE INCLUSIVITY
AMONGST AND WITHIN CITIZENS. I sense a
resurgence of nationalism, for better or for

worse. That the population is ageing is also often
noticeable and the culture of consumerism seems
to have also increased.
I AM PROUD OF THE SINGAPOREAN AUNTIES who
colour co-ordinate their top with their bottoms,

their shoes with the accessories in their hair. I am
190
proud that we are self-critical, that we are capable

of being level-headed in times of uncertainty, that
we do not exaggerate. I am proud of our version
of multiculturalism it is not the best model that
exists, but it achieves a level of integration that I
have yet to witness in other countries.
I am proud that we are critical of our version of
multiculturalism and seek to improve it, so that
more cohesiveness is achieved amongst the
minority groups and ethnicities. I am proud that
we constantly seek for better things that despite
all the remarkable things the older generation has
achieved for us, we are still dissatisfied because
we always strive to be better.
TING
SIEW LEE
TIMOR-LESTE
I LEFT SINGAPORE EIGHT YEARS AGO DRIVEN BY
A VISION AND A BURDEN. The vision of living an
Ting Siew Lee is the executive

director of Cocoon Dili, an
organisation that teaches the
underprivileged children of
Timor-Leste. A former television
journalist, she found herself
intrigued by the political situation
in the newly independent nation
and joined Cocoon in 2007. The
organisations name is a reference
to the metamorphosis of a
butterfly and how beautiful things
often take time to manifest. Siew
Lee speaks of the vulnerability
needed to do courageous things,
as well as the importance of
community in making change. She
readily admits that progress will
take more than a lifetime to enact,
whilst acknowledging the progress
already set in motion.
authentic life filled with adventure and faith. To

become a person who would spark change, not
as an armchair critic or a commentator, but by
getting my hands dirty doing honest hard work
amongst the people and by loving and identifying
with others in need.
There was also a compelling burden: The call of a
young nation torn apart by war and trauma right
at my doorstep, in my lifetime. This wasnt just a
case study in a history textbook. This was real life
drama unfolding before my eyes; the founding
of a nation in my lifetime. How often do you get
to influence a nation from its very beginnings?
In some ways, my personal, youthful quest for
meaning and purpose collided with the destiny of
a nation and I said, Yes.
TRUE COURAGE HAPPENS IN THE QUIET MOMENTS
DEEP WITHIN. It happens in that split second
in which I take a risk and do what is right and
honourable, even if it leaves me absolutely
vulnerable.
COCOON, AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS , is about
transformation. Together with the support
of community leaders, we launched English
courses for youths in a neighbourhood that was a
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flashpoint for gang violence. We have continued

running educational programmes here, and over
the years, several hundreds of Timorese students
have participated in our classes. We have also had
the privilege to teach entire families, watching all
their children grow up and becoming friends with
their parents.
As we befriend young adults, we look out for
those who are hungry for change. We give them
scholarships to further their studies and invite
them to work together with us. We impart the
vision of transformation to them, training them
to teach children and equipping them with other
skills to live with dignity and love for others. We
share life together like a family. Two of our staff
have now become fathers. I have known them
since they were in high school. Slowly but surely,
we believe that a new generation is rising up to
lead and serve their nation with excellence.
deposited their strength in me at different times.

THE CHANCES ARE THAT I WILL NOT BE ALIVE AT
SG100. So I see this as a once-in-a-lifetime moment
to pause and take stock of where Singapore has

come from and where we are going. There is a lot
to be grateful for. At the same time, there is much
to do. I feel this is a good time to have a serious
conversation about the social contract that binds
us together. What is our commitment to one
another as citizens of Singapore? What are the
values that we must protect and pass on?
SINGAPORE HAS ALSO TAUGHT ME THAT
NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN ONE
GENERATION IS POSSIBLE, if we stay as one and
hold onto the right values. In our never-ending

quest to reinvent ourselves, Singapore has taught
me to keep learning and to keep asking, How can
we do this better?
WHATEVER I LACK IN NATURAL TALENT, I MAKE
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope we will become
UP FOR WITH TENACITY AND DETERMINATION.
a mature people who can have difficult

conservations with honesty and allow people to
disagree robustly with us in a spirit of respect and
honour. I hope we will build a unique model of
development that provides a decent quality of life
for all our citizens in an equitable way. I hope we
can be brave and own up to our mistakes without
pointing fingers and playing the blame game. I
hope for an end to fear-based politics in every
form. I hope our children grow up to be brave,
resilient and sacrificial.
I work hard at what I do and I give my best. The

outcomes are often beyond my control but I
challenge myself to keep going the extra mile and
to stay focused on what really matters.
EVERYONES PATH IN LIFE IS DIFFERENT BUT I
BELIEVE ALL OF US WANT OUR LIVES TO MATTER
AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Whether you are a
stay-at-home mum or a CEO, you can contribute

to society and be a positive influence. Some will
feel drawn to life overseas amongst the poor,
like me. To these ones, my advice is to be brave
and step out. Life is full of possibility, but it takes
courage to go beyond the status quo before you
can find that out for yourself. Dont be content to
just listen to other peoples stories. Go write your
own.
I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT POVERTY
However in some ways, it feels like we have only

just begun. Everywhere you look there are great
needs. Most things worth doing will take more
than a lifetime to accomplish. If we would only
accept that reality, we would stop running away
from doing difficult but worthwhile things.
IF GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE , I would be more
patient with people and more accepting of reality

in the long seasons of waiting for things to happen.
I would take better care of myself and respect my
own limits.
I HOPE SINGAPOREANS CAN EMBRACE THE
HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH HOW MUCH MONEY OR
REALITIES OF LIFE GRACIOUSLY. That means two
MATERIAL POSSESSIONS ONE HAS. True poverty
things to me: Life does not revolve around us as

individuals and life is uncertain. How would that
look like practically? It would mean getting less
upset when we cannot get what we want, when we
want it. Like when the MRT breaks down, as much
as that is an inconvenience, it really isnt the end
of the world. It would mean being kinder, saying
Thank you more to people who serve us, like bus
drivers, waiters and cleaners. It would mean giving
up the illusion of control and safety, being less
fearful and taking more risks.
is when you cannot think and cannot break out

of a dysfunctional cycle, so one of the greatest
challenges is teaching people to think. You ask
questions. You sow an idea. You tell stories. You
ask more questions. You introduce another new
thought. You have to teach patiently, over and over
again, and you have to teach about everything nutrition and healthcare, money management,
communication, conflict resolution - and if one
method isnt working you try another one. There is
no shortcut. It is hard work.
SINCE VOLUNTEERING WITH COCOON , I

have grown more aware of myself and my
shortcomings, because the harsh realities of life
in East Timor cause many things that are hidden
within to rise to the surface. I have learnt to
ask for help and receive it graciously because I
recognise my vulnerabilities and inadequacies. Life
here is full of uncertainty and emergencies of all
sorts, so I have developed a higher tolerance for
surprises and delays.
MY WORK HERE ISNT DONE AND SO, NO, I
THE IDEA OF A SELF-MADE MAN IS A MYTH.
Without my team, there would be no Cocoon.

Through the years, different friends have played
special roles in supporting me: People who visit
and create a safe space for me to just be; other
kindred spirits in East Timor who are also giving
their lives to see this nation transformed; and
grey-haired leaders who come to visit me, driving
up and down mountainous terrains in their old
age to bless others. Each one of these people has
192
WILL NOT MOVE BACK TO SINGAPORE YET. And

truthfully there are many simple pleasures here
that I cannot find in Singapore. The beaches are
pristine and the sunsets are breathtaking. My
Timorese staff are like my family. I have friends
from all over the world. Even though I have given
much to East Timor, she has also enriched my life
deeply.
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
designated our founding day of 19 November as

UN World Toilet Day.In short, WTO has turned
the word toilet into a clean word.
IT TOOK ME MANY YEARS OF GETTING FOREIGN

RECOGNITION BEFORE MY OWN GOVERNMENT
ACCEPTED THE WORK OF WTO AS RELEVANT
TO SINGAPORE. I hope others do not have to go
YOU CANNOT CHOOSE YOUR LIFE. YOU MAKE THE
JACK
SIM
MOST OUT OF IT. NOTHING MUCH IS PLANNED.
My life is a serendipitous journey. I meet and work

with strangers as friends. The only way to succeed
in my mission is to help others be successful and
work through as many groups and people as
possible for a common mission. What I can do
alone is insignificant.
FROM MY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN A SLUM IN
I THINK CIRCUMSTANCES HELP US DECIDE
1957, I MOVED TO A THREE-ROOM HDB FLAT IN
THE DIRECTION OF OUR JOURNEY AT EVERY
1966. I saw the journey from Third World to First.
JUNCTION. I trust my instinct more than my
rationality. Feeling is more accurate than thinking.

LIFE IS A TERMINAL DISEASE. No one has ever
survived life. We all die in the end.

I have learned that life is ephemeral and it gets
shorter by the second. You cant save time. Youve
got to spend it usefully. At 40, I realised that selling
time to buy money is a loss-making business, so
death becomes a big motivator for me to live a
useful life, or what remains of it. Surprisingly,
overcoming the fear of death energises me every
day to do more.
IN 2001, THE SUBJECT OF TOILETS AND
SANITATION WAS A TABOO. The development
sector used professorial language like faecal
sludge management that media readers could
not understand, so the media called it water.
The world is too embarrassed to say it so they put
it under the Water Agenda. Putting sanitation
under Water actually drowns it out.
To make it work, I use humour in calling ourselves

the WTO, a play on the World Trade Organization.
Eventually it got so popular that all 193 countries
that are members of the United Nations,
194
AFTER THE LAST ELECTION I SEE THE RULING

GOVERNMENT TRYING TO OPEN UP AND LISTEN
TO THE MASSES MORE INSTEAD OF DECIDING
EVERYTHING WITHOUT DIALOGUE. However this
INDIA, SINGAPORE & WORLDWIDE
There are just some subjects that

are strictly taboo. Take going to the
toilet, for instance. Jack Sim saw
how nervous we were when talking
about toilets, so he founded the
World Toilet Organisation (WTO)
in 2001. A play on the World
Trade Organization, Jack got his
hands dirty and addressed the
questions that many of us would
rather forget. Jack points out that
toilets are a concern all countries
face and its not just the domain
of the global poor. Jack shows the
transformative power of having
fun whilst enacting a sea change
for sanitation.
through the same long gestation period. I hope

we can support home-grown talent more. If we
respect the locals in the same way we respect
Westerners, well have a fairer society here.
Everywhere I go people are full of admiration

when I say, Im from Singapore. How can I not be
proud of my country when others respect us so
much?
ABOUT SG50 , its only a date. Life is a line and not a
point. Its a milestone to remind us where we came
from and to appreciate, instead of taking things for
granted.
transformation will be a process because almost

200 years of colonialism and centralised control is
hard to undo.
Even if the top leaders want to include citizens
participation genuinely, it takes time to trickle
down to every level, as well as for the citizens
to adapt to the new maturity. Im confident
were now on the right path towards a matured
democracy. We already have the efficiency
culture. If we unlock the constructive ideas of
citizens, Singapore will survive sustainably.
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope our government will
focus on dialogue to find answers with citizens.

Becoming a global city is no use if it does not
involve the locals. I hope we can avoid becoming
a 10 Star Hotel. We need to be a nation of loving
people.
MY JOURNEY FROM POVERTY TO FINANCIAL
INDEPENDENCE , from school failure to
professorship, from commercial business to
social business, and the privilege of witnessing
the amazing transformation of Singapore taught
me that all others can do the same. China copied
Singapore and lifted more people out of poverty
than at any time in the history of mankind.
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
you see so much to be proud of: Our ability as

a nation to plan far ahead ... sensibly, rationally,
pragmatically and actually get things done! Also,
our clean, non-corrupt government and people.
Having lived in so many countries, it also strikes
me how easy it is to have ones voice heard in
Singapore, how accessible our government and its
various departments actually are to the people.
GOURI
MIRPURI
FAIROZ
AHMAD
IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS , I hope we become a
shining example for the rest of Southeast Asia for

what is the right thing to do. Beyond economics,
its about how we treat our environment, waste,
less advantageous and so on.
INDONESIA & UNITED STATES
INDONESIA
MUCH OF THE LAST THREE DECADES HAVE BEEN
Gouri Mirpuri is a serial social

entrepreneur. She joined The
Learning Farm in 2008, an
organic farming programme in
Indonesia that nurtures at-risk
youth. The social enterprise
teaches its charges more than
just vocational skills. It imparts
them with business acumen and
life skills they can use wherever
they go. Gouri also co-founded
The Hub, a co-working space in
Singapore that brings inspiring
and aspiring entrepreneurs
together. When shes not working
on her social enterprises, she can
be found mentoring start-ups in
Washington, DC.
SPENT TRAVELLING THE GLOBE AS A DIPLOMATIC
LIVING AWAY GIVES A HELICOPTER VISION
FAMILY. I havent really left Singapore. I just take
OF ONES OWN COUNTRY - its strengths and
Singapore with me wherever I go!
sometimes its eccentricities.
EVERY OVERSEAS POSTING HAS BEEN MARKED
TO A YOUNGER ME , learn from Mr Lee Kuan Yew,

our founding father. He was a man of unparalleled
vision. Mr Lee always believed that we could
change our destiny for the better.
WITH SOMETHING I INITIATED OR SPARKED OR

FOUNDED. But my proudest achievement has been
helping set up and run The Learning Farm during
our long stint in Jakarta. This is a residential,
organic farm for street kids which has won a
number of awards and numerous accolades. I did it
because this was my third time back in Indonesia.
I speak Bahasa Indonesia, I have a huge network
and I think I understand the country pretty well.
It was the perfect opportunity to use these three
skills to bravely work on a substantial project with
real impact ... for a cause that I deeply believed in.
SOMETHING QUINTESSENTIALLY SINGAPOREAN

IS WHEN I see myself impatiently tapping my
fingers when I encounter inefficiencies. In queues

overseas, I am mentally re-arranging the furniture,
people and systems for faster, more efficient
service. When I (finally) reach the end of the line I
just smile and hold my tongue, mostly. Sometimes it
slips out, Now, in Singapore what we would do is ...
I LEARNT THAT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS
WE COULD TRY MORE empathy with our
A DIFFICULT, FRUSTRATING AND OFTEN LONELY
Southeast Asian neighbours, and show a genuine

understanding and appreciation of the richness
of the cultures around us. Not in a patronising
way but with a deep humility and open-minded
generosity of heart.
JOURNEY. One has to be dogged, persistent and
eternally optimistic. To wake every morning and

be fired up. Your own determination, energy
and self-conviction is all you have to push you to
keep working on this crazy project. It is hugely
satisfying in the end but be ready for a deep dive
into yourself!
Fairoz Ahmad lights the way

for rural Indonesian women.
He co-founded the Nusantara
Development Initiatives (NDI,
http://ndi.sg), which trains its
beneficiaries to sell solar-powered
lamps. In so doing, he solves the
problems of scarcity in selfconfidence and energy in these
rural communities.
As a sociologist he constantly
questions social norms, as well
as the model of charity many
Singaporeans hold dear. Fairoz
argues that this model actually
disempowers beneficiaries and is
a mismatch of skills, despite the
prevalence of overseas volunteer
work amongst Singaporeans.
Fairoz is one of many social
entrepreneurs redefining the
narrative of social change,
embracing what needs to be done
and getting on with it.
WE DONT REALISE HOW MUCH SINGAPORE IS

RESPECTED IN THE WORLD. When you live away,
196
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
to pay for the lamps so that they have a sense

of ownership, and to make the programme
sustainable. Back then at the university level, this
was not the norm. Most projects by students, in
relation to rural areas, adopted a charity model
where they give away things for free or they get
volunteers to come and paint a school or try to
build something like bridges.
There seems to be some form of saviour
mentality at work in some of these projects. I did
not believe in them at all.
I GREW UP IN A HOUSING COMPOUND WITHIN A

SCHOOL IN MACPHERSON IN THE EARLY 1980S.
My grandfather was a jaga (what security guards

were called in the past, which literally means to
watch) and the school gave him housing within
the premises. We were not a well-to-do family
so opportunities, or what sociologists would call
cultural capital, was very limited back then.
In retrospect, I believe one of the few experiences
which has profoundly influenced me until today,
was when my parents brought me to Bedok
Library. For the first time, I had access to a
completely new world that I was previously
unaware of. I fell in love with reading. When I am
building up NDI and I run into challenges, my first
instinct is to refer to a wide range of literature on
the matter.
For example, empowering rural women to be
entrepreneurs has a lot to do with the issue of
confidence building and intrinsic motivation, not
simply sales training. This insight was forged after
deep reading into what works and what does not.
When people from overseas come for a short time

and give things away, you create a dependency
relationship. The volunteers feel good about doing
charity but it does not help in the development of
the rural community at all. When volunteers come
to paint or repair a village school or try to build
bridges, that seems very strange to me because
urbanised Singaporean students are not really the
best people to do these things. In fact in Singapore
we outsource such jobs but somehow we eagerly
embrace this work when we volunteer overseas.
Sure this builds character but are we really helping
the communities?
NDIs model then was rather new for a universitylevel initiative and it also involved a heavy sense of
commitment for the long term because we were
structuring ourselves like a proper NGO, although
we were just students. Many members left either
because they did not feel comfortable in getting
villagers to buy lamps (as opposed to giving them
away for free) or because the commitment was
just crazy.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HUMILITY WHILST
WORKING TO IMPLEMENT NDIS MOTHERS OF
NDIS CORE MISSION WAS TO CREATE ACCESS
LIGHT PROGRAMME IN RURAL INDONESIA.
TO SOLAR ENERGY FOR RURAL AREAS BY
Singapore is a credential society.
EMPOWERING WOMEN TO BECOME SOLAR LAMP

ENTREPRENEURS. Essentially, our programme
is structured such that rural beneficiaries have
198
By and large, we grow up and are socialised in an

environment where we make an almost instinctive
association between academic qualifications and
knowledge; that the more formally educated

a person is the more knowledgeable they are.
This is really a very narrow interpretation of
knowledge. My experience in rural Indonesia
taught me that knowledge is broad and can come
from many sources. Just because you are highly
educated in the formal sense does not mean you
are automatically well equipped to solve issues in
other contexts.
Through NDI, I have realised that the most
effective source of knowledge comes from the
rural women themselves. We rely on them to help
make our programme better instead of imposing
our ideas, and if we are not attuned or sensitive
to these sources of learning we will not be able to
make good judgements in the field.
I think there is a tendency for organisations that,
as they grow, the decision-making becomes more
top-down, the distance between the leader and
the operational realities grow and the nuances of
the situation get lost. This idea of the all-knowing
leader with strong academic qualifications, sitting
in the office far removed from the reality on the
ground and yet making all the key decisions, is not
tenable in an environment where there is just too
much information and noise.
THE CURRENT GENERATION OF YOUTHS ARE
VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON PASSION AND DOING
THINGS THEY REALLY LOVE. When I was growing
up, we didnt think in this manner. Reflecting

back, if I could have done what I really like and
am passionate about, as opposed to choosing the
most practical options, I think I would have had a
much more fulfilling experience growing up. For
example I was really passionate about the social
sciences and literature, but took pure science
subjects in secondary school and junior college
because it was considered more useful. I did not
really enjoy these subjects and had a hard time
enjoying school as a result.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCES OF ETHNIC

MINORITIES AROUND THE WORLD or even in our
neighbouring countries, we see that their interests
are not always protected or they dont get equal
opportunities compared to those from the ethnic
majority. This form of discrimination is structural.
Its part of the system.
I think one of Singapores greatest achievements

has been to ensure that ethnic minorities, like
myself, are given equal opportunities and that I
am not denied an opportunity just because I am a
minority. Some people would disagree, saying that
they face instances of discrimination in their lives,
such as when applying for jobs.
I do believe this and have encountered personal
acts of prejudice and discrimination, but I
think the key point is that there is no structural
discrimination in Singapore. That discrimination
is not built into the system. This is a very precious
absence, because structural discrimination
systematically and severely marginalises an ethnic
group over time. It is an absence that is really
important and makes Singapore special, compared
to many other societies, and is worthy of being
proud of.
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS we have seen emerging
differences with regards to the treatment of
migrant labour and the place of LGBTQs in
the country. We have not, in my opinion, been
able to have a proper conversation on how to
manage these differences in a rational and nondiscriminatory manner, and how to accommodate
different interests fairly within the same common
public space. In the next 50 years we are likely
to see more differences emerging, and how we
manage, articulate and engage with them is
important, and will also serve as a barometer to
the type of society we are becoming, or wish to be.
SINGAPORE, IT WOULD BE TO reinterpret the
notion of failure. I think we need to make students
50 RED DOTS
50 RED DOTS
and young people more comfortable with failing

and, equally important, with the process of
learning from mistakes and bouncing back.
At a personal level, this is important for young

people to build up confidence. Normalising the
process of failing (that it is okay to fail and that
you can still bounce back) is important. On the
macro level, this will help build a more resilient
society that can figure things out on their own,
especially during crises, without waiting for cues
from the government. Currently our government
dominates public life and has done, by and large, a
good job. But what if many decades from now we
dont have a strong, capable government?
SOCIETY IS BETTER SERVED BY PASSIONATE
PEOPLE taking many varied paths.
ONE OF THE KEY PROBLEMS IS THAT POVERTY IS,
BY AND LARGE, HIDDEN IN SINGAPORE. One of
our greatest successes, the public housing system,

also inadvertently makes poverty invisible. We
dont see slums or large numbers of poor people
in the streets, and hence we have limited contact
with them. Thus, you dont get the visceral
experience that usually compels people to roll up
their sleeves and say, This is not good. Lets tackle
this problem.
In schools, structured initiatives of about one
semester long, linked to learning objectives and
deliverables, as opposed to one-off or weekend
volunteering activities, are important to sensitise
young Singaporeans to the complex dimensions of
poverty.
When we have a core mass of young Singaporeans
who have gone through this experience, I believe
this will be a good thing for Singapore. It reduces
the social distance between groups of different
economic backgrounds, and perhaps some of them
may, one day, make key contributions to poverty
alleviation in Singapore.
200
MELTING POT
202
SINGAPORE IDENTITY
204
SINGAPORE IDENTITY
SONG BENEATH
THE STRINGS
Written by MICHAEL LAIDLAW
The desert inhales all my dreams,

Where you always lose your hat,
Outside a single cactus screams,
In this room all angles lay flat.
In the forest people hang their years,

And ask who sculpts the clouds,
You kiss my now adjacent tears,
As still as plastic crowds.
The prisoner paraded in a hatbox cell,

Carves his name on every hour,
As the crippled morning limped and fell,
And the empty doorways cower.
The bellows kiss my shabby wings,

Our love upon the pavement lies,
You stumbled on my song under the strings,
Where true words gather flies.
206
Our dearest readers,
This will be the last hardcopy of Be Movement publication and we are

content to end it with an SG50 issue. It took three-and-a-half years
and six issues to come full circle to the very beginning of when we
We wondered: why this obsession with results when all gets washed
decided to celebrate the courage to be.
away by the tide of time? Isnt it the intention at the moment of action
and the follow through that counts?
There was such raw energy in the beginning, so undefined and free.
The subtle and crucial significance where we deliberately left the space
Having interviewed hundreds of amazing people, we realised what kept
after the courage to be empty; the space that opens up endless
us going were not the heroes. Rather it is the team and supporters that
possibilities and fluid movements. It is so easy to label the courage to
were formed out of nothing but the idea of be. Almost everyone came
be as X and to define that as something, to box it up and make it
to us by picking up our books or reading about us. Without reserve, they
easier to understand. However, as soon as we grasp at names and titles,
poured their time, skills, money and energies into the book you hold in
understanding slips away like a careless whisper.
your hands. Why? Are they doing this for profit? No. Have they gained
fame by doing this? Hardly. Then why?
We tried to convey the sense of freedom that emanates from the courage
to be in all our six issues, but the more we tried the more we were
Now it is time for us to stop as it is not about getting more stories, but
drowned out by words like KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), ROI
about the letting go of the extraordinary. We are going back into the
(Return on Investment) and measuring outcomes. We asked ourselves,
silence and diving into the great unknown with deep relish. Thus we
Are we trying to build the fastest, biggest, richest organisation? Isnt
leave you with our final SG50 red dot
that focusing on the wrong end of the road?

208
In the spirit of Eric Blaire, aka George Orwell, Farewell and Hail

Cassie
Lim & Be Movement Team

50 RED DOTS
XIE
SHAOGUANG
MALAYSIA
At the peak of his career, being the

only actor in Singapore to bag both
the Best Actor and Best Supporting
Actor in the same year (1996) at
the Star Awards, Xie Shaoguang
disappeared from the media
glare. Later it was discovered
that he had given up everything
to enter monkhood and has been
helping out at an animal shelter
in Malaysia. The courage to be
knows no limit and is perhaps best
summarised by Xie Shaoguangs
quote below:
Thank you for reading Be Movement and

you can stay in touch with us at
contact@be-movement.com.
Our hardcopy will cease but activities such
as our store at Liang Court (#01-20) and
other projects will continue.
!
For those who understand, there
is no need to explain. For those
who do not, even if you explain
they would not understand.
210
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and does not necessarily reflect the
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Be Movement. Be Movement cannot
accept any legal responsibility for any
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Movement, nor any of its employees,
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To develop deep roots you

The moment you want to

Professor Wong Poh Kam,

What is going to be the

We want to keep our

A Socially Conscious Publication

Celebrating the courage to be

Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be

Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be 3

ADRIAN YAP, JAPAN, PG 31

AIHUI ONG, US, PG 33

BEN CHEONG, THAILAND, PG 69

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CIEL LIU BEI, CANADA, PG 62

CLARA YEE, UK, PG 26

10 DARRELL ANG, FRANCE, PG 76

28 KATHY XU, INDONESIA, PG 115

Written by ERICA LIM & CASSIE LIM

More Than a Scholarship

Through the Window

Making Giving Easier

Photography by Nicholas Koh

Photography by Nicholas Koh

by Cassie Lim & Alexis Lion

Adding Colour to the

& Simon Tay

(Lim Kian Fong)

Photography by Nicholas Koh

Photography by David Lalanne

Take the Chance. Make the Change

by Jacinta Plucinski & Rachel Ong

Songs Beneath the Strings

Photography by Jon Siegel

Capturing Great Moments

Photography by David Lalanne

Edited by Kah Gay Ng

200 & 201

Be Movement Battleship Island

by Cassie Lim & Jacinta Plucinski

Photography by Simon Tay

Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be

Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be 5

Available at all major bookstores, newsstands and

No matter where in the world

David first discovered

16 years ago, Singapore

Web Development Cleo Ngiam, Gedas Vol and SOSdigital

Michael iscurrently working

At Ethos Books, Kah Gay works

Cleos goal in life is to wander,

Be Movement - Celebrating the Courage to Be 7

Sailing, fencing, adventure and

After falling in love with nature

A self-taught street and

Erica loves to read, converse

Jon Siegel is a creative director

Style trends. Musicals.

A student of English Literature,

Setting up Be Movement and