Singaporean Youth Find Purpose Beyond Profit in Community Projects
Young Singaporeans are increasingly seeking meaning and purpose in their lives and careers, channeling their skills and energy into projects that benefit their communities. This trend is highlighted by initiatives showcased at the SG Youth Forum, which supports youth-led projects with grants and platforms.
Catsafe: Protecting Community Cats with Technology
Charlene Phua, a former digital marketer, is one example of this shift. After experiencing burnout in the corporate world, she now volunteers with Catsafe, a project that uses smart trackers to protect community cats. "Ms. Phua feels it is meaningful work – helping to protect Singapore’s stray cats at a time when animal abuse cases are at a 12-year high."
In 2024, there were 961 confirmed cases of animal cruelty and welfare issues, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Catsafe was one of 20 youth-led projects presented at the SG Youth Forum, under the Young ChangeMakers (YCM) x SG Youth Forum Grant, where teams can receive up to $10,000.
SG Youth Plan: Reflecting Youth Aspirations
Ms. Phua's experience reflects a wider trend captured by the SG Youth Plan, a five-year action plan designed to empower young people. The plan, spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Youth Council (NYC), gathered over 200,000 responses from over 50,000 youth and stakeholders from November 2024 to July 2025.
Durai Manickam Nizanth, a 21-year-old accountancy student, is another example. He observed inequality in access to resources and is now passionate about creating equitable opportunities for all Singaporeans. "There is more to life than financial success,” says Mr Nizanth, who has been an active youth leader since last March, after a friend invited him to a post-Budget youth engagement. “Seeing my views be valued and taken up for action makes me feel like I can integrate myself into society… and spark meaningful change.”
Key Sentiments from the SG Youth Plan
The SG Youth Plan surveys revealed that young people prioritize purpose in their work and lives. David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, noted that young Singaporeans are concerned with bread-and-butter issues but also "yearn for purpose in their work and lives." Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's call for a "we first" society also resonates with the youth.
- Purpose: Over two-thirds want fulfillment in their work.
- Non-traditional Success: Nearly 60% want a Singapore that encourages risk-taking and embraces failure.
- Contribution: Over half aspire to be active volunteers and make a positive impact.
Bettr Academy: Providing Skills and Community
Bettr Academy, the training arm of local coffee company Bettr, embodies this sense of purpose by providing at-risk youth with job skills and a supportive community. Ms. Suyin Tay, assistant director at Bettr Academy, highlights the importance of belonging for young people. “Young people want a sense of belonging,” she says. “Oftentimes, when they struggle, it’s because they lack community." Since 2011, more than 320 marginalised individuals have been trained.
Project HealthSync: Empowering Seniors Through Healthcare
Another initiative is Project HealthSync, started by medical students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) to help seniors prevent sarcopenia (muscle loss). They developed a motion capture camera device to guide seniors through exercises. They hope to set these devices up at active ageing centres, and also include a leaderboard function, which ranks how well and consistently seniors are doing these exercises in relation to their peers.
Project Coral Hearts: Bridging the Deaf and Hearing Communities
Guo Jiarong, a student at Hwa Chong Institution, founded Project Coral Hearts to bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities. The team runs sign language courses and organizes outreach events with Touch Silent Club. The team, which is also part of the YCM programme, hopes to organise more of such events if they win the grants. "Nowadays, there’s such a dependence on online platforms for connection. But it’s important to step outside," she says.
Get Involved in the SG Youth Plan
The SG Youth Plan is a five-year action plan that aims to support and empower young people on their aspirations, needs and interests. Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 15 and above can contribute to the SG Youth Plan through its quest page (go.gov.sg/join-sgypquest). The plan will not directly attribute any inputs to any members of the public.