To continue serving our communities, we took our suite of in-person programmes online, while rolling out new initiatives to meet the demands of a changing milieu. One such initiative was a five-day Public Diplomacy Virtual Conference, the first-of-its-kind in the region last year. It brought together 40 experts from the public, private and people sectors to address the evolving role of public diplomacy in a digitalised, post-Covid-19 world.

Digitalisation efforts are intertwined with intellectual property rights. Hear from Daren Tang – the first Singaporean to helm a UN organisation – who sheds light on his work at the World Intellectual Property Organization, and how local advancements in the field are making headway globally. Another Singaporean, Angelita Teo, shares an insider view on preparing for the world’s biggest sporting event amid a pandemic – and witnessing the unifying power of sports.

We are also heartened to see social innovation thrive despite the challenges. Read about an inclusive urban farm that aims to address food scarcity in tiny Singapore, and an innovative face shield that has helped thousands to communicate better while keeping them safe. We also spotlight two SIF volunteers and winners of the SG Silent Heroes Award – serial social entrepreneur Aaron Yeoh and long-time mentor of our Young Social Entrepreneurs programme, Siddharth Pisharody.

Indeed, possibilities continue to emerge when people collaborate. Find out how two Singaporeans who, alongside their partners in India and Nepal respectively, teach coding and provide children with access to education. With climate change issues at the fore, an international research initiative explores how indigenous knowledge can preserve our ecological heritage. Finally, be inspired by two local non-profits that help the displaced and homeless regain dignity through jobs and employment skills.

As we navigate the challenges in the year ahead, we hope these stories will inspire you.