Jean Tan
Executive Director
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
his year, ASEAN celebrates its 50th anniversary, and the ASEAN Foundation its 20th. This regional coalition, which has established a reputation over the years for encouraging communication, conflict resolution, unity, prosperity, development and sustainability in and among its member states, has also played a key role in global politics by promoting goodwill and diplomacy among other nations and regions.
As an important player in ASEAN, Singapore too has found that when we leverage our commonalities and celebrate our differences, we can achieve much. To this end, Singapore continues its efforts to remain an open and inclusive society.
In this issue, we hear from and about several individuals and organisations who are doing their part to promote communication, cooperation, and goodwill.
Elaine Tan, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation, shares some of the ways the foundation has been fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation within ASEAN. Participants at the inaugural UNESCO UNITWIN (Arts Education Research for Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development) network meeting offer a glimpse into the important work undertaken by arts educators in fostering cultural diversity and sustainable development.
In this issue, you will also meet Singaporeans who are working hard on the ground to effect positive change one life at a time.
Local non-profit People’s Movement to Stop Haze (PM.Haze) is working on both grassroots and government-supported approaches to mitigate the effects of the haze that envelops large swathes of Southeast Asia every year. Three fashion students from LASALLE College of the Arts are designing inclusive fashion for people with disabilities, taking care to include their clients in the design process. And local organisation HealthServe’s staff and volunteers provide medical care, counselling, case work, social assistance, and friendship to migrant workers in Singapore.
This constant striving to bring people together to effect positive change is what the SIF champions. I hope these stories inspire you to find your own way to make this a better world for everyone.