NextGen
PHILANTHROPISTS
In June 2024, the Singapore Good Soil Foundation and the National University of Singapore Business School jointly held the first “Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program” summer camp. The five-day event not only brought together 57 outstanding high school students from all over Asia, but also planted the seeds of the youths becoming future philanthropy leaders and social entrepreneurs in their hearts.
The program kicked off in the National University of Singapore Business School, hosted by the Singapore Good Soil Foundation and co-organized with the strong support of Mr. Andy Rose, Dean of the National University of Singapore Business School. These 57 outstanding high school students were given the title of “Student Fellows”, which is both a recognition of their learning and contribution, and an expectation for them to become leaders in the fields of philanthropy and social enterprises in the future.
Ms. Faye Lo, Founder of Singapore Good Soil Foundation, shared: “This summer camp is not just about learning leadership skills, but also about sowing the seeds of change. I believe that Singapore, with its unique global position as a crossroads of business and culture, is an excellent environment to inspire the potential of youth and promote social innovation. By providing inspiration and support to these young people, we can shape them into future leaders who can lead real social change and make a positive impact on the world.”
During the five-day course, students had the opportunity to have in-depth exchanges and interactions with industry elites such as Mr Richard Buttrey from Cambridge University, Mr Viswa Sadasivan, Former Nominated Member of Parliament, and Mr Jerry Lewis Ong, Head of Social Impact (APAC), Tiktok. The mentors showed students how to become an excellent leader through lectures and workshops, and brought exciting content in many aspects such as public speaking, modern leadership, and philanthropy. During the event, Jerry Lewis Ong explained to the students how digital platforms can amplify social impact. This unique session not only resonated with students who were keen to explore innovative ways to promote social causes, but also instilled the power of changing the world deep in their hearts.
In addition to classroom learning, students also visited the OUE Group headquarters and had a face-to-face conversation with Stephen Riady, Chairman and CEO of OUE Ltd., to gain a deeper understanding of corporate social responsibility and the important role of enterprises in promoting charity. In addition, students also visited the Enabling Village and Tzu Chi Foundation to experience firsthand how the non-profit industry in Singapore operates, and gained a clearer understanding of philanthropy.
Through theoretical and practical learning and exploration, the summer camp also set up a project pitch session to allow students to apply what they have learned to solve real social problems. After fierce competition, the two projects, Silver Sayang and NourishMind, stood out and received exclusive seed funds. With the support of the Singapore Good Soil Foundation, both projects will be cultivated through a special incubation process.
Silver Sayang stood out as the champion team and received the highest number of votes during the charity pitch session. Silver Sayang has set their sights on caring for the elderly, hoping to help them stay physically and mentally active and enhance social interaction through a series of interactive toolkits. The project team is committed to addressing the issue of loneliness among the elderly and exploring how to further optimize their products to better meet the needs of the elderly. These toolkits are designed to help the elderly stay physically and mentally active and enhance their social interactions, thereby alleviating loneliness.
NourishMind is a project initiated by an enthusiastic team. Although it missed the championship, their outstanding performance still secured sed funding from the Singapore Good Soil Foundation. NourishMind aims to promote physical and mental health through nutrition. The project combines expertise in nutrition, psychology and business to create a comprehensive platform that provides personalized meal plans, AI-based mental health support, and interactive food interfaces. Through its carefully crafted applications and websites, the project provides users with convenient and accessible solutions aimed at promoting comprehensive physical and mental health and raising public awareness of the connection between nutrition and mental health. The students participating in the project took on different roles such as website development, application design, content creation and user interaction to create a sustainable health platform.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Singapore Good Soil Foundation will continue to deepen the “Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program”. Founders Faye Lo, Ryan Cao and Zack Cao will continue to work with student leaders of the Class of 2024 to guide a new batch of students. The Singapore Good Soil Foundation plans to cooperate with more universities in the future, expand to countries such as Thailand, Japan, and China, and carry out a rich and colorful learning journey. The new summer camp will pay more attention to practical aspects, provide opportunities for talented students through scholarships, and recruit more students from different backgrounds. In 2025, the new batch of students will embark on a unique learning journey. Students will directly participate in local community activities, study in the morning, volunteer in the afternoon, and experience the power of charitable actions firsthand.
The success of this summer camp not only laid a solid foundation for the “Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program” for the Singapore Good Soil Foundation, but also sowed the seeds of hope for the cultivation of future philanthropy leaders and social entrepreneurs. We hope that in the future, these young talents with dreams and hopes can become a force for changing the world and bring more warmth and light to society.
To cultivate the next generation of future philanthropists and social entrepreneurs, driven by a shared commitment to transforming lives and advancing the public good.
