This has seen the coming together of friends and partners across cultures, united by a common cause.

To commemorate this milestone, SIF is launching Inspirations for a Better World, a collection of ideas and stories from SIF alumni on how they are helping to build a better world, and how others can follow suit in their everyday lives.

An online platform has also been set up for everyone to share their ideas on building a better world. SIF will install a water filter in a Cambodian village on behalf of anyone who posts an idea on the site.

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations and continuing to grow and engage a more diverse and vibrant volunteer community, SIF also launched its refreshed volunteer identity, Singapore International Volunteers (SIV).

Those part of the SIV community, as well as potential volunteers, can connect with like-minded individuals and receive volunteer updates on the new online portal.

The SIV community can also look forward to regular networking events, volunteer opportunities based in Singapore, and a comprehensive volunteer management and recognition system.

The team will comprise paediatric surgeons and doctors, gynaecologists, obstetricians, anaesthetists and nurses. Their trip is part of an ongoing, three-year SIF project to boost the level of obstetrical care in the landlocked country.

In Laos, 70 out of 1,000 live births do not survive, and about 405 Laotian mothers — out of every 100,000 — die in childbirth.

The Emergency Obstetrics and Paediatrics project was launched in the capital, Vientiane, on 11 October, 2010.

Besides KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the SIF’s other partner in the project is Vietnam’s Mother and Child Hospital.The project is partly funded by Save the Children, Singapore.

WHAT MADE YOU SAY YES TO THIS OPPORTUNITY?
I have been working in the library field for over 20 years, during which time I have gained considerable experience and exposure to various aspects of library operations and developments. Having overseen the setting up of many of the public libraries in malls in Singapore, and currently overseeing operations of public libraries, I felt I could positively contribute to the Jaffna Public Library project.

WHAT WERE THE LIBRARY’S MOST URGENT NEEDS?
The most urgent needs included remodelling the children’s reading areas, improving the collections of books and non-print materials, and training the librarians in skills that would encourage children to come to the library to use its resources and develop a reading habit. This in turn would provide them early literary skills needed to excel in school. Due to the political situation in Jaffna, the librarians had limited access to developments in the library world, in terms of services, programming and infrastructure.

We conducted space planning workshops and skills-training for the librarians in the area of storytelling for children. We also carried out workshops for parents and caregivers on how to select and use age-appropriate materials with the aim of inculcating the joy of reading and making the children lifelong readers.

THE JAFFNA PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS ONCE ONE OF ASIA’S LARGEST. WHAT SORT OF STATE WAS IT IN?
Though the books and furniture were old, they were well-maintained, as were the library’s reading rooms and surrounding areas. This to me was an indication of the important role the library had, and still has, in the lives and memories of the people.

WHAT WERE YOUR ENCOUNTERS WITH THE CHILDREN LIKE?
We made a deliberate attempt to speak with the children; they are resilient and determined. The children see the library as a means to learn English, be exposed to the outside world and lift themselves out of their current situation. [Like many parts of Sri Lanka, Jaffna is still in the process of rebuilding itself after 26 years of a civil war which ended in May 2009.] To be part of this process and contribute in a small way to their aspirations and hopes was what made the project personally and professionally satisfying.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM BEING A PART OF THE PROJECT?
The confidence the Jaffna librarians had in terms of conducting the programmes with minimum level of training and resources was very encouraging. In a short time their efforts have shown great results. Prior to the project, there was no programming in the library. Now storytelling sessions see between 35 to 50 children per session.

The rate of participation of fathers during the programmes was also very encouraging. This joint responsibility of both parents inculcating the joys of reading in their children is something we can learn from Jaffna.

This project has made me see and appreciate out library system with all its world-class services, programming and infrastructure, which we often take for granted.

Recently, it signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) — the first on 18 May with the British Council, and the second on 21 July with Ashoka, the largest association of social entrepreneurs in the world.

The MOU with the British Council — the first of such collaboration for the SIF — will strengthen cross-cultural understanding between the citizens of both countries through arts and cultural exchanges. It will also allow for the exchange of ideas and views between artists, curators, academics and thought leaders through artistic residency and collaboration.

The partnership kicked off with an artist-in-residence exchange programme between multi-disciplinary artists Singaporean Michael Lee and British Bob Matthews in June and July this year. The two will also work together to create a cross-cultural showcase to be held in Singapore and London this year as well as in 2012.

The SIF’s three-year partnership with Ashoka is aimed at fostering a global network of change-makers for social innovation. This will be done by having regular exchanges of perspectives and insights between Ashoka’s members in 70 countries and the Singapore community through the SIF’s Distinguished Visitors Programme and Ideas for a Better World Forum.

Ashoka will also be a partner in the SIF’s Young Social Entrepreneurs programme which equips youths with the skills needed to become social entrepreneurs.

So far, the SIF has hosted seven Ashoka Fellows who are leading social entrepreneurs in their respective countries on several visit programmes to Singapore, and as speakers at SIF’s Ideas for a Better World Forum, which was launched in March 2011.

This forum brings together global thought leaders to share their insights and experiences on issues to inspire positive change.

In conjunction with the YSE programme, Dr Tanatat Puttasuwan, Executive Director and President of Population and Development International (PDI) was the inaugural speaker at the SIF’s Ideas for a Better World Forum, where he shared unique insights and perspectives on sustainable social enterprises.

With 14 teams comprising seven nationalities, this year’s YSE participants picked up useful tips from experienced leaders such as Dr Puttasuwan; Elim Chew, SIF Governor and Founder and President of 77th Street; and Nawal Roy of McKinsey & Company.

All teams pitched outlines of their proposed enterprise at the end of the programme and Ye Xi, a Chinese undergraduate aiming to start up an English language school for Chinese migrant workers in Singapore, won the Best Business Plan prize.The Most Innovative Business Plan came from Indonesian team SocBiz, who plan to provide free training and informal education to panhandlers, then link this newly-created workforce with job recruitment agencies.

The MOU will encourage cooperation between Singapore and Thailand in the field of social entrepreneurship and volunteer-driven development. Key areas of collaboration include a new community development project in Thailand to improve lives in disadvantaged communities; and the launch of a year-long teachers’ training programme which will see SIF volunteers training PDI’s teachers at the Mechai Pattana School in Lamplaimat Buriram Province in curriculum development and pedagogy.

This partnership will expand the SIF’s sustainable community development footprint into its 11th country, enabling Singapore volunteers to contribute towards improving the lives of developing communities in Thailand.

The SIF and PDI will also collaborate to identify social enterprise experts to take part in the SIF’s annual Young Social Entrepreneurs programme. The experts will share their experience in social enterprise to inspire Singapore youths to embark on doing good locally and in the region. PDI will also host annual study trips to Thailand where selected participants can experience the ins and outs of running a social enterprise.

The most recent training frame was preceded by two similar sessions, held on 5 – 8 August 2009 and 31 May – 4 June 2010, which focused on occupational disease statistics, ethical issues in occupational health, diagnosis and management of work-related diseases, and infection control among healthcare workers and patients.

This project is a collaboration between the SIF and the Directorate of Occupational Health (DOH) at the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The DOH, which sets policies for the country’s occupational health field, is responsible for the health of the working population.

Twelve Indonesian trainers—who will go on to train their colleagues—underwent training sessions conducted by SIF volunteers over five-day periods. These involved workshops in the province, as well as a training attachment in Singapore. Another 28 to 30 occupational health practitioners, including decision-makers in the DOH, attended selected sessions such as seminars, field work and workplace presentations.

Some 605 occupational health practitioners across Batam are expected to benefit from the project. An estimated 700 practitioners from other islands, chiefly Bintan and Karimun, will also benefit indirectly.

Aware that she could neither build houses or schools nor render any medical assistance, Gladys Ng decided to volunteer for Words on Wheels (WOW), a mobile library project launched by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) in March.

The initiative, which reaches out to some 4,000 children in the rural villages of Hanoi, is an interactive mobile library that allows children to read, play multimedia games and even surf the Net in a specially-outfitted van.

HOW DID YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH WOW START?
I was in between jobs and had some time on my hands, despite my involvement in ad hoc volunteer work elsewhere. In terms of timing and the nature of the project, WOW was something I could handle. Seeing that van was déjà vu for me; it brought back memories of borrowing books from a mobile library as a child. The van used to be parked in the community centre near my HDB home every Wednesday. That was before Singapore had regional libraries.

WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE AS A VOLUNTEER?
I helped to facilitate learning activities that made it easier for the children to absorb what they were being taught. For instance, we started sessions with ice-breakers through music, which the children seemed to enjoy the most, then progressed to a show-and-tell style of storytelling.

The other volunteers in the group were all working adults, who took about four days of leave each for the Hanoi trip. None of us were librarians or teachers, so we were really lucky to have with us Jasmin Samat Simon, [a founder of children’s theatre group Act 3], who was a natural leader when it came to interacting with the children and thinking up activities.

While the children knew the alphabet and a few English words, listening to a story told in English was beyond their level of proficiency. Thankfully, the Vietnamese library staff and a corporate volunteer interpreted for us and were supportive of the activities we collaborated on.

HOW DID THE CHILDREN REACT TO THE WOW OUTREACH?
Whenever we arrived at a village school, the children would swarm around us with great curiosity. The moment they saw the books, it was like a feeding frenzy. Books would literally fly off the shelves! There were bookworms who preferred to read in the dimly lit classrooms, and those who were really interested in computers. The girls were more interested in reading, while many of the boys were more keen on the educational games installed on computers in the mobile library.

WHAT WAS THE MOST SATISFYING EXPERIENCE OF YOUR STINT?
On the last day of our visit, a few children finally understood my charade of instructions on how to form words using alphabet cards. A shy boy wearing a beanie hat stood by the side observing and saying nothing before he picked out the right cards by himself and spelt out the longest English sentence I would see on this trip: “I like cat”. I wonder what he will be capable of writing in a year’s time. A few of the volunteers are now thinking of making an ‘anniversary trip’ in 2012.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WOW VOLUNTEERS?
The SIF needs volunteers from now till 2012 and beyond to sustain WOW. Anyone who can spare a few days of leave from work, enjoys interacting with children, can organise educational activities or is happy to be part of a team would be able to make a contribution.

Launched on March 24, the mobile library will provide some 4,000 children in Hanoi’s rural villages with a window to the world through regular access to education materials. These include 1,500 English and Vietnamese storybooks, educational games and toys, and six computer terminals that will reach 10 villages on a rotational basis each weekend for the next three years.

Volunteers from Keppel’s staff, the Singapore public and the staff of Hanoi Public Library will serve as storytellers. The project is sponsored by Keppel Land with support from its Vietnamese joint venture companies International Centre and Quang Ba Royal Park. It is implemented in partnership with Hanoi Public Library.

The SIF is looking to field groups of volunteers from Singapore to conduct fringe activities like storytelling and arts and craft. More information is available from www.sif.org.sg

Thanks to this programme, these students, as well as gap year visitors to Singapore, now have an opportunity to find out what makes the country tick. It offers participants study visits and dialogues with experts and practitioners on Singapore’s strategies, innovations and way of life. It also provides a platform for developing professional and personal networks, as well as opportunities to take part in the SIF’s international volunteerism projects.

Last November, the first instalment of the series featured water as its theme. Attended by 23 Masters of Business Administration students from INSEAD, it included a dialogue with policy experts of the Public Utilities Board. Inspired by the programme, 14 of the participants decided to take part in the SIF’s Water for Life project and went to Cambodia from 28 Feb to 1 Mar to help assemble and install water filters in villages.

In February, the Singapore Insights’ second instalment took place, with a focus on info-communication technology. Some 30 post-graduate students from INSEAD, the Singapore Management University and the National University of Singapore learnt about the developments at One-North for infocomm and media industries at a dialogue with Jurong Town Corporation officials. Themes for the future include arts, social innovation and urban planning.

Since September 2010, the librarians have been conducting workshops to help their counterparts from the Jaffna Public Library develop reading and outreach programmes, as well as train them in making full use of the library’s facilities.

The nine-month project is taking place over three workshops in Jaffna, and a week-long study visit to Singapore for six Sri Lankan librarians, hosted by the Singapore International Foundation. The library will be remodeled as part of this project.

Following the success of the workshops, the SIF signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jaffna Munincipal Council for a three-year partnership in November 2010.

The SIF is serving as project manager of these workshops while the National Library Board is the project consultant. The project is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Singapore’s Sri Lankan community, with the Prima Group as a contributor.

HOW DID YOU GO FROM TEACHER TO VOLUNTEER?
I thought my dreams of volunteering for a cause I strongly believed in would finally materialise when I chanced upon the SIF and its volunteering projects in a magazine article many years ago. As I delved more into the SIF’s activities, I stumbled upon the Bhutan W.I.R.E.D project, which was looking to recruit its second volunteer for the next phase of its project. And the requirements of this project required my teaching skills—it was perfect!

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN BHUTAN W.I.R.ED?
My role was to provide guidance and assistance to 25 selected teachers from five pilot-project schools in the crafting, development and implementation of pedagogy-driven and ICT-infused lesson plans, as well as their School ICT Plan. I was also the facilitator for training workshops for the 25 project teachers, conducted by visiting Singaporean lecturers and trainers from the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education.

WHAT WAS A TYPICAL DAY OR WEEK FOR YOU?
Working with the teachers from the five schools—located in different areas—meant I had to travel a lot around Bhutan. Traveling to each school took about a half-day’s journey by bus and my visits usually last a week per school. The days would involve discussions and meetings that explore the actual crafting, development and implementation of their lesson plans. Thereafter, we would conduct lesson observations, followed by post-lesson reflections to fully complete each cycle.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE LIVING IN BHUTAN?
Those weekly bus rides became something I looked forward to at the beginning of each week—it marked the start of a new adventure and I inevitably ended up with new experiences and stories to share. I was told that traveling on a local bus is quite an achievement.

Apparently even some of the Bhutanese teachers have never traveled on the local buses! Since I stay with the project teachers during the weekly school visit, it’s as close to a home-stay experience as one gets. Best of all, I get to experience the true Bhutanese way of living with not one, but five families!

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR VOLUNTEERING WITH THE SIF?
Don’t rush into volunteering for a project just for the sake of volunteering. With the Bhutan W.I.R.E.D project, I felt that we were a good match as it is a project where my experiences and training could be put to good use. I knew I could contribute most effectively and be able to make that positive difference I wanted to achieve.

As a volunteer on overseas assignments, you may encounter challenges and issues—cultural, work-related, social, etc, which may start you questioning your reasons for being there. I found it useful at moments like those to remind myself of my initial reason for volunteering, and that really helped me stay motivated and grounded throughout the year.

Jeanie Cheah (right) with Cambodian Som Srey Nou whom she coached in marketing and English

Jeanie Cheah signed up as a volunteer with the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), after seeing an advertisement for New Futures Organisation (NFO), a British-run charity in Cambodia.

Her role was to teach marketing and fund-raising to the staff at a Cambodian orphanage run by NFO. Jeanie was based in the town of Takeo, about a two-hour drive from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Her three-month stint ended in mid- November 2010.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGER CHALLENGES IN GETTING THE PROJECT OFF THE GROUND?
The main challenge was to try and maintain a balance between being flexible and staying focused. It is easy to be distracted and go with the flow. It was a daily challenge.

WHO WERE THE PEOPLE YOU WORKED WITH? WAS LANGUAGE A BARRIER?
I worked mainly with a Cambodian woman, Som Srey Nou, who is the organisational director at the orphanage. She speaks some English, so language was not a barrier. There are many volunteers at the centre where I was based, and they are mostly Europeans. The British make up the largest number at any one time. Neville Charles O’Grady, a Briton, is the founder and director of NFO.

YOU TALK OF DATABASES AND TRAINING NFO STAFF IN USING THE INTERNET. WAS IT POSSIBLE IN A REMOTE AREA?
NFO is located in Takeo. While it is not a village, Takeo is rural compared to Singapore. That said, there is internet access, even wireless.

Most Cambodians who own a telephone subscribe to a mobile instead of a land line. Cambodia seems to have skipped the era of the home telephone lines and gone directly to mobile technology. So setting up databases and modern communications isn’t a problem.

DOES POVERTY MAKE “AID-GOVERNANCE” ISSUES DIFFICULT TO TEACH?
To me, “aid-governance” boils down to differentiating right from wrong. In the end, it is the integrity of the individual that counts, especially in a place which does not function best through systems and structures.

Cambodians have a certain stoicism and resilience that makes poverty seem less tragic and onerous than what the average Singaporean might imagine it to be. In other words, the Cambodians around me just get on with life and find joy in whatever they have. They generally do not gripe about their lot in life.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON SUCH AN EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT YOU?
The biggest lesson: Help is not always in the form you expect it to be. This is about perspectives and expectations. I tended to think that I was there to coach Srey Nou in marketing and English, in that order. She saw the order differently. For her, the benefit of communicating more effectively in English far outweighs the grasp of marketing.

Similarly, the tools that help such as using the computer, knowing how to navigate the internet, and writing, are more important than the concept of fundraising. She may be right as mastery of the language and computer literacy will open more doors in the longer term, be it personal or organisational.

Most people would agree that volunteers are here to help, but having been there, I begin to think that the reverse could be more accurate. The experience of volunteering is invaluable, and it is perhaps the volunteers who get more out of the experience than what they give in many instances.

Cambodians are warm and they know how to find joy in whatever little they have. I am not sure if that is a Cambodian trademark or if it is because the orphanage offers them a better life than what they would have otherwise. In either case, it is a good thing.

INSEAD’s Benelux National Week involved activities dedicated to introducing the cultures and traditions of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The SIF sponsored a Singapore-themed hamper for the INSEAD event on 15 October; it was given away as part of a lucky draw and introduced to the winner various aspects of Singapore culture.

For Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s orientation programme for third year students from Wuhan, China on 20 October, the SIF conducted a presentation on local culture and organised Singapore-themed games and activities, providing the newly-arrived students a fun and interactive way of learning more about their new home.

The SIF also offered financial sponsorship for the National University of Singapore’s Indonesian Students’ Association. Its musical theatre production This Earth of Mankind, staged on 30 October, was an attempt to introduce Indonesian culture to NUS students and the general public.

Held in Singapore for the first time, the International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations (IVCO) 2010 conference was attended by 70 heads and senior management of 41 international volunteer–sending organisations. The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) hosted the conference which was held from 3 to 6 October, 2010.

Also for the first time, the conference, themed “Innovation and Challenges in International Volunteerism and Development – An Asian Perspective”, shone the spotlight on Asia’s international volunteerism scene. Emerging issues including youth development and climate change were highlighted as well.

After the day’s conference on 5 October, the IVCO delegates joined SIF staff, partners, volunteers and guests at its annual appreciation dinner.

The event served to honour SIF’s volunteers, corporate sponsors and institutional partners who contributed to the organisation’s mission of making friends for a better world in the past year.

The event was graced by SIF patron President S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore.

The co-host for IVCO 2010 conference was the International FORUM on Development Service.

The SIF Young Business Ambassadors (YBA) programme immerses aspiring young business professionals from Singapore and partner countries; they spend up to 10 weeks immersed in the all-round experience of working and living in their respective host countries.

Last year’s programme, which began in September, had eight Singaporeans and Chinese involved. SIF’s partners were the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Shanghai Municipal Office for Introduction of Foreign Experts.

The Chinese YBAs, in an orientation programme in Singapore on 14 and 15 September, visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry, International Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They also toured the Esplanade, Singapore City Gallery, Land Transport Gallery, and the ethnic quarters of Little India and Arab Street.

It was an immersion exchange that reflected the good relations between Singapore and China over the past two decades, said SIF Chairman Ms Euleen Goh and Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Mr Wei Wei when they welcomed the YBAs on 13 September.

The Singapore YBAs — who were sent to Shanghai — were also able to meet and learn from last year’s local delegates in an earlier networking session in August.

What does the Civic Life project hope to achieve

Civic Life is a community art and cinematic project where we make a film with a local community with the explicit aim of presenting that community and their neighbourhood on the big screen.

Including Civic Life: Tiong Bahru, we have completed nine short films and a feature film to date, based on the ‘methodologies’ we use. That is, all Civic Life films are shot on 35mm cinemascope and are always presented to the participating communities in their local cinema. They are all made in response to extended dialogues we engage in with the communities we work with; these dialogues are an attempt to uncover the very specific sets of relationships people have with the places in which they live and work. We try to find locations to which people have a strong relationship.

What are some of the themes of this film about Tiong Bahru?

Tiong Bahru is a very ambitious film for us. Instead of working with one narrative using one long take, we used multiple narratives and something like 60 shots. The theme that our identities are very much defined and, in some ways, bound up in a sense of place is also denser. The idea of belonging is very important in the film.

This sense of belonging is not just defined by place but also by people. The story is focused around our desire to belong to place and family, but at the same time we all have a desire not to be restricted by the very things we desire. The film showcases the allure of Tiong Bahru for its residents past and present.

What was the most memorable feature of this estate for you?

We liked the complexity. At once you can see the 1930s estate, the 1950s buildings, the HDB flats, and now, the condominiums. We recall standing in the car park of the market and doing a walk around its perimeter, sensing that this view says so much about Singapore, or at least [that] it is an evocative view and a setting for the film. Once you make that commitment to a specific place you then hope that the residents will be up for the adventure of being involved. In both issues our expectations were exceeded.

What are some of the similarities other locations share under the Civic Life theme?

There are many differences but it’s the comparisons that are intriguing. A very important moment in the journey of this project was when we went to a ‘meet-the people’ session with Member of Parliament Professor Koo Tsai Kee.

We realised Tiong Bahru has much in common with both Ireland and the UK [where previous Civic Life projects were filmed] and pretty much anywhere. Issues to do with housing, money, and family are universal, and in many ways are always there to strengthen our lives but when they are not going well, [they] undermine our sense of worth and confidence.

What did you take away from making the film?

The clearest memory we have of the very first morning was of walking from our hotel to the hawker centre in the heaviest downpour and lightning storm we have ever experienced. We were up to our ankles in water. The entire schedule for that morning had to be changed. Watching everyone immediately respond positively, we knew we were going to be fine with such a great cast and crew.

One of the outstanding things was that we got a deeper appreciation for a country we both knew very little about. People in the wider Tiong Bahru area are very proud of their community — and rightly so — and want it to continue to grow and develop. This sense of belonging and pride in the area from the residents is something we will remember most.

Civic Life: Tiong Bahru will premiere at the
National Museum of Singapore from 5 to
26 October.

Apart from carnival staples such as food, drink and inflatable castles, there were also local treats in the form of performances and art.

The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) participated as an event sponsor, manning a booth that introduced Singapore culture to visitors through a range of traditional arts, crafts and games.

Little ones were captivated by games like congkak and five stones, while older children and adults made their own flower garlands and wrappers for ketupat. A fortune teller and his parrot were also on hand for those wondering what their futures had in store.

The biggest draw to the tent was undoubtedly the DIY teh tarik (‘pulled’ tea); visitors attempted to ‘pull’ their own tea, with the help of an expert. The night ended in true 4th of July style – with a cacophony of fireworks.

Two of SIF’s art associates launched a specially created multimedia exhibition at The Arts House from 11 to 17 August.

Contemporary artists Veasna Tith from Cambodia and Vichaya Mukdamanee from Thailand were in Singapore on a 10 week attachment as part of the SIF Art Associates programme – an arts exchange programme launched with the aim of sharing art and knowledge with regional counterparts.

Ms Tith and Mr Mukdamanee, who had their residencies at The National Art Gallery, Singapore, showcased their experiences of the country. The multimedia exhibition titled ‘Diverse Harmony’, featured large-scale paintings incorporating local fabrics by Ms Tith, while Mr Mukdamanee showcased a series of installations comprising drawings, photographs and video images, as well as objects and materials he found locally.

“This kind of collaboration between Southeast Asian artists can create an understanding of who we are. Artists from the same region share similarities and our art speaks for us,” said Mr Mukdamanee.

The project is aimed at alleviating disease and death related to the lack of access to clean water. A Unicef report estimates that more than 30 per cent of Cambodians have no access to drinking water – one reason for the country’s high infant mortality rates. A majority of premature deaths can be attributed to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, Hepatitis A and typhoid.

Over the next three years, Water for Life will also look into improving the services at a rural health centre and providing basic literacy programmes for villagers in both communes.

The Water for Life project is initiated and managed by the SIF with sponsorship from Deutsche Bank and Ngee Ann Development Pte Ltd, and in partnership with Middletown Rhode Island Rotary Club, USA, and Angkor Hospital for Children.

Five Singapore specialist volunteers were in Jakarta from 11 to 17 April to oversee home visits by the medical and nursing staff of Rachel House, a hospice for children.

The Indonesia Childhood Cancer Foundation estimates that some 650 children are stricken with cancer each year in Jakarta alone. Rachel House is the first paediatric hospice to offer end of- life care in Indonesia.

While in Jakarta, Singapore specialists sent by the SIF addressed topics such as medical intervention policies and communication. The project aims to train a core group of Indonesian practitioners and caregivers who can transfer these skills to their colleagues.

The SIF is partnered with Rachel House and Dharmais Cancer Centre for this project.

How did you first get involved in the arts?

There wasn’t a particular moment of realisation when I thought, “I want to be an artist,” but I always just liked making nice things. Graphic art has always been appealing to me because it is art that everyone gets to see. Art after all is for the people!

While I never had formal training, I attended several workshops as a kid at Museo de Oro, our local museum in Mindanao. I also practised under Sir Nonoy Estarte, a respected artist from my hometown. In high school, I taught myself how to use Photoshop and fused photography with some hand-made installations and collages – this became a personal style and technique. I later progressed to video and animation, as they are the perfect platforms for combining these art forms.

In college, some friends and I formed the first digital art group in our city called Ratfobya (now defunct), where we taught each other how to use editing and designing software.

I then took up a bachelor’s degree in Development Communication at Xavier University that required me to work with the land, the local farmers and indigenous communities. This inspired me to make good use of my creative abilities. It made me realise that what we do as communicators (which to me is synonymous with being an artist) is to tell stories; and what can be more elevating than telling a story that makes a difference to your audience?

How were you selected for the SIF programme and what did you find valuable about it?

I received an invitation to apply last November. There was no doubt that I wanted to participate because I’ve always wanted to work in a formal art/museum environment and I was curious about Singapore.

I felt the need to share the art from my region, which is hardly represented in the world and even within the Philippines. My husband was very supportive despite us having to be apart for almost three months. I took the chance, got accepted, made good friends and networks, saw some great exhibitions and went to fantastic museums. I had the most amazing food, shared art with other artists, and basically had a really memorable time.

What did you find particularly memorable?

My partner in the programme Dayang Yraola and I, together with Singaporean poets Yong Shu Hoong and Yeow Kai Chai, put together a gathering called Show & Tell where several artists from different creative fields shared their work and processes. It was one of the most inspired creative gatherings I’ve participated in.

I also enjoyed visiting all the museums. I’ve never seen so many museums in one place before! I really enjoyed exploring the Asian Civilisations Museum, which left me feeling more respect and greater love for Asia.

Aside from art, what was your visit to Singapore like?

I really have to say that dieting is impossible in this country, and I mean that in all the best ways! During my residency I developed various addictions, one of which was to laksa (a noodle dish in spicy coconut milk-based gravy); I was determined to try all the different kinds to fi nd the best (which I realised much later on, is no easy task!).

Another was the fried fish noodle soup, so deceptively simple yet so deliciously satisfying. Still another memorable dish is my regular early morning roti prata (a flaky Indian pancake) with a cup of teh tarik (frothy milk tea that has been poured back and forth two containers) and sesame cookies for dessert.

My co-workers at The National Art Gallery, Singapore showed me that not all offi ce environments are completely boring and political. And my SIF ate or older sister, Agnes Seng – who coordinated the programme – became my friend and confidante as we shared many conversations, which often took place over some form of sweets.

Are there any connections to be drawn between Filipino and Singapore art?

Filipino art is richly diverse, yet shares similar stories and voices. Singapore is also richly diverse with different cultures converging in one single red dot. Singapore has a pretty good collection of Filipino art – Pacita Abad is perhaps the most well-known Filipino artist here because of her work on the Alkaff Bridge at Clarke Quay. There is also Brenda Fajardo, famous for her tarot card paintings. I am fascinated with her work and got to see more of it in Singapore’s National Collection.

The SIF renewed its long-running partnership with the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC) and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau for Foreign Experts (SMBFE) to organise the Singapore-China Young Business Ambassadors (YBA) programme. Since 2004, the programme has had 20 Chinese and 18 Singaporean young professionals experience working and living in Singapore and Shanghai for 10 weeks, respectively.

The SIF inked a similar commitment with the Royal Civil Service Commission of Bhutan, to continue sending Singapore volunteers to the kingdom.

Since signing the first MOU in May 2001, the SIF has sent volunteers to Bhutan to work in areas such as counselling, vocational training, and integrating IT in education, as well as management of information systems, marketing and administration.

In partnership with Ashoka, the SIF hosted three of its Fellows in Singapore. Ashoka, the world’s largest association of social entrepreneurs, aims to implement system-changing solutions to address urgent societal needs.

While here, the Fellows met with Singapore counterparts and had discussions on social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mrs Joyce Djaelani-Gordon from Indonesia – involved in drug rehabilitation – met representatives from Action for Aids and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association. Ms Preeyanan Lorsermvattana from Thailand met representatives from the Singapore Medical Council, as well as Prof. Kumaralingam Amirthalingam, Director of the Asian Law Institute. Education developer Padmanabha Rao from India visited the Educational Technology division of the Ministry of Education, and spent time with representatives from Partners for Progress, a non-profit organisation that provides technical support to rural schools around the world.

The Fellows also gave a public talk, “Pattern Changing in the Social World”, on how social innovators can have sustainable impact on beneficiary communities, at the Singapore Management University.

The SIF launched a new programme, Art Associates, in February to enable Southeast Asian art professionals and their Singaporean counterparts to exchange ideas, knowledge and perspectives.

In partnership with The National Art Gallery, Singapore, this collaboration will bring Southeast Asian art and heritage experts to the Gallery for a 10-week professional attachment. The aim is to build mutual understanding of Southeast Asian art, share knowledge of the art industry in the participating countries as well as network with local and regional art professionals.

The first of three exchanges this year began on 22 February with two associates from the Philippines: animator and teaching artist, Maria Katrina Tan-Conte, and projects manager at the Center for Ethnomusicology, University of the Philippines, Dayang Magdalena Nirvana T. Yraola.

Through this programme, both the SIF and the Gallery hope to build a network of Southeast Asian art and heritage professionals, where the exchange of knowledge and understanding can continue to grow.

Journalists from Qatar – Sindhu Nair, Deputy Editor of Oryx Advertising, and James McCarthy, Regional Managing Editor of Firefly Communications – had a wide-ranging study tour of Singapore when they visited from 26 to 30 January under the SIF Arts & Culture Journalist Visit Programme.

While in Singapore, the journalists met with representatives from the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts, the Media Development Authority, the National Arts Council, and the National Heritage Board, as well as members of the Singapore press, arts educators and local arts practitioners.

Ms Nair and Mr McCarthy visited prominent cultural sites in Singapore such as the Peranakan Museum and the Singapore Art Museum. They also got a chance to explore Chinatown, Little India and CHIJMES, and visited Sentosa’s Resorts World. They rounded off their visit with a performance of Puccini’s opera La Bohème at the Esplanade.

Dean of the Faculty of the World Economy & Politics, State University – Higher School of Economics, Russia

Ranked among the world’s top 100 public intellectuals, Dr Karaganov was invited to Singapore as the Singapore International Foundation’s Distinguished Visitor in February, where he met officials and gave a lecture at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The chairman of the Valdai Club, an international framework for leading experts to debate on Russia and its role in the world, also shared with Singapore his thoughts on the fading of world superpowers, the rise of ‘super regionalism’ and Singapore-Russia relations.

Is the notion of national superpowers still relevant?

It is true that the world is moving towards a drastic redistribution of power – for example, everyone is talking about the shift of economic and political power to Asia, namely India and China. In a way it’s a return of two once-great civilisations that were suppressed for some time.

But I don’t think that either China or India will become a dominant power in the way we have come to understand the term. The age of dominant powers appears to be past. I don’t think the United States will ever be the dominant power that it once was. This might mean, without the existence of superpowers, that the world will be more chaotic. During the Cold War when there were two superpowers, the world was more governable.

“The regimes that were created in the old world are giving way to something different.”

Is this the age of social or cultural capital?

Twenty years ago, people believed that the concept of the nation-state was over because institutions such as multinational corporations and non-government organisations were redefining the concept of nation and state. The State is back, but of course on a new level. Although I would not be so daring to say that soft powers will come to fore in the long term.

What to you are some of the most significant geoeconomic or geopolitical changes?

The regimes that were created in the old world are giving way to something different. For example, the World Trade Organisation was created to liberalise world trade, but today it is crumbling as a free trade engine; hundreds of regional regimes have formed within it and are changing the structure within. Clearly, new forms will take place, maybe in the form of super regionalism – we don’t know.

It is clear that intellectual capital and knowledge institutions are more important than ever.

The notion of territory has also shifted and is now growing in importance, but [territory is] being gained in different ways. Previously, people sent troops; now they buy territory. And to keep this land, they also need other sources of power, requiring financial means. It’s a new development that no one could have predicted ten years ago.

How has the relationship between Singapore and Russia evolved?

Singapore-Russia relations have improved a lot over the years. At first it was mainly through the popularity of your Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who is well regarded in Russia, especially among the intellectual and political class. Another less discussed reason is that Singapore is similar to the Netherlands, a country we Russians have a fascination with. Our great Tsar, Peter the Great, loved the country; it is very organised, the people fought for every inch of their land and protected it from the sea – exactly the opposite of Russia! In a way, Singapore – so different from Russia – is so similar to the Netherlands, and is intriguing to us! It is the polarity that fascinates us! Also, very few countries that gained independence in the 40s and 50s have made the strides that Singapore has.

Going forward, how would you like to see the relationship between Singapore and Russia expand?

As dean, I want my students to have an international perspective. We have links with Harvard and several Chinese universities, and we are looking at Singapore because it is an obvious choice. You have a high level of education, English is spoken and and you already have links with Russia in terms of business. I think the next step is to bring together our intellectual communities.

While our relationship with Singapore has been growing, Russia has overlooked and missed out on Asia’s growth for a long time. Now, we’d like to extend more exchanges, including technological and cultural exposure. Singapore is a natural hub for that. It has a strong intellectual community and has been a historic crossroads.

In addition to his work with schools, Alvan will also set activities and programmes to aid communication between the hearing-impaired and their families and communities.

This project in Timor-Leste aims to improve the understanding and the quality of education available for the hearing-impaired.

With its new vision, the SIF will tap on the many relationships it has built through the years with volunteerism, people-to-people exchanges and cultural tie-ups to address three key areas: fostering sustained development in overseas communities, enabling the exchange of ideas, and showcasing Singapore to the world. To this end, SIF programmes will address five areas – healthcare, education, the environment, arts and culture, as well as livelihood and business.

SIF Chairperson Euleen Goh called the new vision a celebration of the relationships that have been built over the years to “tie up the loose ends of an unequal world and create instead a tapestry of hope and opportunity”.

Learn more about SIF’s new vision at www.sif.org.sg

Director General of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

A former environmental lawyer who co-authored the leading American text on environmental law, James Leape has been working in the area of conservation for at least three decades. He was in Singapore on 14 October 2009 as the 21st SIF Distinguished Visitor ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Mr Leape gave a public lecture, Good COP, Bad COP – the Compelling Case for a Good Global Climate Deal while in Singapore. Here are some of his views on climate change issues.

Why – despite the availability and affordability of renewable and efficient energy options – is widespread adoption of green energy still a challenge?

The lack of adoption of green energy is a market problem. One classic failure of the market is that it does not consider the cost or impact associated with the use of fossil fuels on the climate.

Problems include subsidies of fossil fuels or the lack of buy-back energy schemes that allow someone with solar panels to sell excess energy back to the grid, so they don’t reap the benefits.

Apart from putting a price on carbon in the form of a carbon tax, what are some other solutions?

There also needs to be a global agreement and for countries to take action in their own jurisdiction. There also needs to be confidence that other countries are also acting and committed to tackle the problem.

Policy tools also need to be implemented, such as efficiency standards for buildings, or energy ratings that can guide consumer behaviour. In the US, refrigerators in the last 30 years have become twice as big, half as expensive and four times as efficient because government standards have relentlessly driven standards.

What are your views on the long-standing debate over the difference in climate change goals for developed countries and developing nations like India and China?

Understandably, China and India have been resistant to being locked into binding commitments that have been asked of developed countries. But India and China have both made great strides.

China has a very clear view of the problems that climate change poses for them and they recognise and have expressed that they have and will be part of the global solution. China has acted in the last few years to slow the growth of emissions. For example, they have fuel efficiency standards for cars that are better than those in the US and have implemented appliance efficiency standards, building codes in the major cities as well as targets for renewable energy and carbon emissions.
India has also made similar moves to come up with strategies relevant for their growth and sustainability.

I hope these two countries will decide to make a strong international commitment. I think it will be a significant move to increase the political heat on other developed nations and encourage them to step up.

What are your thoughts on the G8 agreement to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050?

While it is a good to have a goal, you can’t just mandate for 2050 because it’s too far away. You can say lofty things about what’s going to happen by 2050 and yet not drive action for tomorrow, which is the crucial part.

It is helpful to have a clear overall vision of what the future should look like, but what we really need are short term targets and it’s also important to get all the parties involved to agree on what is a suitably convergent path.

How has the recent global recession affected the momentum of the climate change movement, in particular for companies?

More and more companies find that it is good business to be a leader in sustainability. Partly, this is a matter of corporate value and partly it is because it reaches out to their constituencies – their shareholders, employees and customers.

One of the striking things is that even through the depths of the recession last year, many companies still went full steam in their commitments to sustainability because it had become core to their business interests.

To achieve the goal of working with communities for sustained development, the SIF also recently supported a mobile library in Hanoi to address the challenges of education in Vietnam. More than 36 per cent of the 86 million-strong Vietnamese population are under 15 years old, but schools, teachers, books and other educational resources are hard to come by, especially for those living in rural areas. The mobile library will bring books, computers, storytelling and games to villages in Hanoi to help improve the well-being of communities and uplift the lives of their children.

Finally, showcasing Singapore in all its colour is the newly launched Singapore Kopitiam (www.singaporekopitiam.sg), a website that explores the culture, society and people of Singapore.

Malnutrition, occupational asthma, skin disease and chemical poisoning – these are some of the potential ailments frequently faced by Indonesian workers in the Riau Islands Province. Official statistics also indicate that upper respiratory tract infection is the most common complaint, affecting one in five workers.

To bring about a better understanding of workplace health and safety in the Riau Islands Province, Singapore specialists have partnered the Directorate of Occupational Health under the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF’s) two-year Singapore Volunteers Overseas Specialist Team (Occupation Health) Project.

Launched on 5 August, the project – consisting of volunteers from the National University of Singapore and the Ministry of Manpower, and supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Health – will potentially reach about 250,000 blue-collar workers in Batam and a further 200,000 workers on other islands such as Bintan and Karimun.

The training will include seminars, field work, practical workplace assessments and a possible training attachment in Singapore.

What were some of the skills you learnt from the SIF mentors?

The SIF mentors are very professional and committed. Some of the key things I learnt was how to be a good leader, develop a team, give good feedback, resolve conflict, plan projects and be a good communicator and listener. Now, I learn more as a coach than when I was a ‘student’. As a mentor and coach, I now have more responsibility to facilitate communication, guide assignments, foster team building, provide positive feedback and act as a resource.

What are the human resource challenges in Afghanistan and some of the pressing concerns today?
Afghanistan has been through three decades of civil war which has devastated institutions and capacity-building infrastructure. The brain drain also means that there are no opportunities to build and grow a new generation of leaders. Since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, the new government has been focused on capacity-building programmes, working with international organisations like UNITAR to develop professionals. We are in great need of human capital, from government administrators and civil servants to engineers, doctors and teachers.

What is the impact of the UNITAR Hiroshima Fellowship for Afghanistan?
Human resources are the backbone of nation building, and UNITAR has played a very critical hand in the development of Afghanistan. Over the last six years, some 160 Afghanis have been trained under UNITAR and 59 of these graduates have been promoted to significant positions in the government.

How was your experience of visiting Singapore as part of the UNITAR programme?

It has been a remarkable journey. This visit to Singapore was very professionally organised and well managed. The visits were very informative and relevant and gave good insight into the academic, social and economic side of Singapore.

The Harmony Centre, which showcased the ways to achieve ethnic and religious harmony, was very encouraging and inspiring. It showed that mutual respect, tolerance and understanding are very important in creating a peaceful multicultural society – a very relevant lesson for my country.

The visit to the Inland Revenue Authority was very interesting to me from the evolution of the monetary and taxation system. I also saw some very useful taxation systems.

From a human resource point of view, the organisational structure was very interesting to me as it is very focused on the staff, the communication channels are very open and there are motivational incentives for job innovation.

A two-year project by the SIF and the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in Myanmar to train 60 early childhood trainers has concluded in true pay-it-forward style.

A review of the initial project that started in 2005 revealed that while trainees had made good progress in the implementing and development of teaching skills, more was needed to support their learning. Some challenges identified were in the area of professional upgrading, integration of learning and the use of different learning platforms.

To this end, the SIF and DSW have worked to consolidate learning material and provide additional support to the Myanmar practitioners. This led to an early childhood seminar held from 3–4 September.

On 4 September, both partners launched the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Resource Centre at the Social Welfare Training Centre. Refurbished by the DSW at the cost of US$10,000, the ECCD has also been equipped with S$15,000 worth of resources from the SIF, comprising reference books, teaching and training resources, children’s books and multimedia tools that will support the professional development of the trainees and help them develop low-cost, resources for teaching and learning.

Mrs Chou Bun Eng (left) with the children at the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home.

Her Excellency Mrs Chou Bun Eng, Cambodian Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior

Mrs Chou was in Singapore from May 4–8 as an SIF Distinguished Visitor. She shares her passion to address gender and human trafficking issues in Cambodia with Singapore, as well as her experiences under the Khmer Rouge regime.

What’s the inspiration for doing the work you do?

I have had experience of women’s issues in areas like labour and education at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and I found that they are often victims of human trafficking and violence. Women are very vulnerable, we have to do something to empower them, and at the same time, change society’s mindset and behaviour. Women are sometimes treated as objects and they do not have the power to bargain for their rights – women are also human beings, no?

What are some of the issues that women face in Cambodia?

Women are less educated. Sometimes they also want to be political actors or be involved in social work, but they do not have the chance because they do not have the education. They carry a lot of burden; if there is domestic violence, they cannot focus on their career. And sometimes they leave their jobs because they think “this is too much, I’d rather keep my family stable.” I always try to be a role model for my children. Firstly, there wasn’t any violence between me and my husband. We always try to find ways to solve a problem instead of trying to fight one another. Secondly, I try to empower myself to work harder to let my children know that a woman can do well, a mother can do well.

What do you hope to achieve as you work to improve the status of women in Cambodia?

Now we find women holding very good jobs from the grassroots level to the national level. We are working to promote and support them because they have to strike a balance between home and work. We want to raise the awareness of women’s issues and highlight women as role models in the family and their achievements.

How have your experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime affected the way you pursue life?

I was a worker and a prisoner during Pol Pot’s genocidal regime when I was 19, for three years. Everyone lived in fear and hopelessness. After I was delivered from that regime, I told myself to never feel lost in front of any job. I have to be strong, I have to encourage myself and achieve my goals.

What insights have you gained as an SIF Distinguished Visitor to Singapore?

I have to thank the SIF because I learned more than I expected. I thought I would be visiting some places and finding information by myself but instead I was given access to key institutions and key persons. I learned more about human trafficking and family violence, the mechanisms involved, and how to combat these problems from the policy level to the grassroots level.

A discussion on the opportunities and challenges faced by expatriate women working here.

More than 40 expatriate women got the chance to network and share their concerns and experiences about living in Singapore at the SIF Xpats Dialogue on March 26, 2009 entitled “Opportunity and Challenges for Expatriate Women Working in Singapore”.

The animated dialogue included Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Ms Indranee Rajah, former-President for women’s group Aware, Ms Constance Singam, and Ms Juanita Woodward, President for PrimeTime Business and Women’s Association. At the front of most participants’ minds were understanding employment regulations and increasing employment opportunities here in Singapore to make their stay more rewarding and enjoyable. For newcomer to Singapore, Bintou Ndiaye from France, the dialogue answered a lot of questions she had on employment.

Expatriates got to learn about Balestier's rich history during an SIF-organised trail.

It may be a food haven for many, but there is more to Balestier Road than tau sar piah (bean paste pastries) and bak kut teh (pork rib soup). Seventeen expatriates from America, Britain, Germany, Malaysia and Taiwan got to learn about Balestier’s rich history during an SIF-organised trail on April 25. Auspiciously, the day coincided with the first day of the lunar month which is a day for worship.

The trail started at the Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple, built in 1847 by Chinese sugar plantation labourers, followed by a visit to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. Built in 1900, the Hall was home to Chinese revolutionary leader Dr Sun Yat Sen and his men from 1906 to 1911. Participants also got to enjoy the old-world charm of Balestier and its famed treats such as fresh bread with butter and kaya (coconut jam).

Professionals and caregivers are being trained in the end-of-life care for children.

Having to cope with terminal illness is difficult and it is more so if the one facing death is a child. To help improve the palliative care for Indonesian children, the SIF launched a new Singapore Volunteers Overseas (SVO) project in Jakarta on April 21.

The SVO Specialist Team (Palliative Care for Children) Project is a partnership with Yayasan Rumah Rachel (Rachel House) – the first paediatric hospice in Indonesia. Led by Dr Cynthia Goh, the head of Palliative Medicine at the National Cancer Centre Singapore, the SVO team will train 40 Indonesian professionals and caregivers in end-of-life-care for children over the course of six one-week visits to Jakarta in the next two years. The trainees will then transfer their skills to other palliative caregivers in Indonesia.

Read more about the founding of Rachel House in I Say