Temasek Foundation (TF) has launched its inaugural TF STAR (Steadfast, Thoughtful, Adaptable, Resilient) event to empower its scholarship and study award recipients to drive positive impact for the community. Since 2011, TF has nurtured talents from diverse backgrounds through its 13 scholarship and study award programmes (refer to Annex A for the list), committing an annual amount of over $3 million as of this year. TF STAR event goes beyond providing access to holistic education by empowering students to take the first step toward becoming active contributors to the community through leading community projects.
TF seeks to engage its scholarship and study award recipients beyond financial support by nurturing their community spirit so that they can advocate for and contribute meaningfully to society. The inaugural TF STAR event showcases TF’s commitment to further its support for these students by equipping them with the resources and skills to kickstart their own community projects.
As part of the event programme, participants went through experiential learning journeys in one of three tracks: sustainability/wildlife conservation at Bird Paradise, history/heritage at the Civic District, and inclusivity at Ang Mo Kio rental flats through learning about lived experiences of community guides.
The participants then brainstormed and pitched their community project ideas for a chance to receive seed funding of up to $1,000 per project, with up to a total of six winners awarded. The winners will receive training and mentorship from community project consultants to further refine and bring their ideas to life. The projects are expected to run in the next year.
Ms Tan Shin Gee, Senior Director of Programmes at Temasek Foundation said, “We believe that empowering our scholarship recipients extends beyond academic achievements. It’s about cultivating future leaders who are passionate about creating positive change in their communities. By supporting these students in their initiatives, we hope to inspire a new generation of changemakers who will drive social impact for a better future for all.”
Ms Sia Yong Xing, 18, a recipient of the Temasek Foundation Union Scholarship from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College said, “I often look for opportunities to help others beyond the ones that the school organises because I really want to make a difference. I’m thankful to be able to attend this event to explore and learn more. I’m especially looking forward to coming up with projects that can raise awareness about sustainability to more people.”
The TF STAR event was held at Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Mochtar Riady Auditorium on 16 November 2024. The one-day event was attended by about 150 participants aged 13 to 25 years old from across 12 specialised schools and institutes of higher learning including School of the Arts, Singapore Sports School, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, ITE Colleges, and Singapore University of Social Sciences (see Annex B for full list).