About Us

2024

February

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, takes home four awards at The Anthem Awards, which recognises the best social impact work around the world. OBW received silver awards in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Global Awareness Campaign, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Local Awareness Program, Health - Global Awareness Campaign, Humanitarian Action & Services - Global Awareness Campaign categories.

2024

January

SIF launches Arts for Good: Uniting Communities, Driving Social Change. The publication celebrates the eighth anniversary of its Arts for Good (A4G) initiative and features a compilation of 30 A4G Projects that the SIF has organised in partnership with 230 artists and collaborators from 66 countries.

2023

December

SIF’s e-volunteering programme, DigiLABS, takes home silver award at the eLearning Forum Asia (eLFA) Awards which recognizes exemplary practices among the eLearning communities in all participating countries/regions.

2023

August

SIF receives the 2023 Patron of the Arts Award (Corporate) from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

2023

July

Launch of the Mathematics Pedagogical Learning, Understanding and Support (Maths PLUS) project in Sarawak, Malaysia, in partnership with Sarawak’s Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD). This marks the first SIF project in East Malaysia.

2023

March

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, wins the Impact Jury Prize and a special mention at the Social Impact Media Awards 2023. The award-winning film ‘Saving Paradise From a Mountain of Trash’ was honoured for providing honest insights into Balinese village communities’ efforts to tackle the waste crisis one home at a time.

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, takes home four awards at The Anthem Awards, which recognises the best social impact work around the world. OBW received two gold awards in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Campaign (Non-Profit) and Health Campaign (Non-Profit) Categories, and a silver each in the Humanitarian Action & Services Campaign (Non-Profit) and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Campaign (Non-Profit) Categories.

2022

November

At the Shorty Impact Awards, SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, bags Winner in the Best Use of Storytelling category and Silver Honour in the Best in Mental Health category.

2022

August

SIF receives the 2022 Patron of the Arts Award (Corporate) from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

SIF was honoured with the Adinata Award by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, in recognition of the Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Indonesia to uplift lives and strengthen ties between Singaporeans and Indonesians since 1992.

2022

April

SIF officially launches Climate Hack, an e-volunteering programme leveraging technology and international networks to empower participants to develop solutions for climate change.

2022

March

SIF launches DigiLABS online training programme that aims to upskill and prepare youths and young professionals in the region for the digital economy and to effect positive change.

2022

February

SIF Chairman Ambassador Ong Keng Yong and Executive Director Ms Jean Tan were awarded with the Medal for Peace and Friendship among Nations by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions in promoting cooperation between Vietnam and their respective countries, including the deepening of ties and friendship at the people-to-people level.

Launch of the Enhancing Mental Healthcare Services Project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in partnership with Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital. This marks our third mental healthcare initiative in Cambodia.

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, bags two awards and two special mentions at the Social Impact Media Awards 2022. The two award-winning films ‘Invisible Heroes’ and ‘A Quiet Ripple’ were honoured for providing honest insights into the daily dilemmas faced by caregivers.

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, bagged three honours out of 2,500 participating entries at The Anthem Awards, which recognises the best social impact work around the world. OBW received one gold award in the Humanitarian Action & Services Campaign (Non-Profit) Category, and a silver each in the Health Campaign (Non-Profit) and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Campaign (Non-Profit) Categories.

2021

December

Marking 30 years of making friends for a better world, SIF hosted a commemorative event and gave out the SIF Awards to recognise and celebrate the significant contributions and achievements of our volunteers, partners and friends. Gracing the occasion was Guest-of-Honour, Mdm Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore, Patron of the SIF.

2021

November

SIF’s signature Young Social Entrepreneurs Regional programme makes its debut in Hanoi, Vietnam with a three-day virtual workshop.

2021

October

SIF receives the World Bank Digital Skills Innovation Award: Lifelong Learning for its Climate Hack 2021 programme. The award recognises innovative programmes that teach essential skills for the digital workplace and the digital economy.

SIF receives the City of Good Award – Paediatric Emergency & Neonatal Care Project under the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards (PVPA) from the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). The PVPA is the pinnacle award and platform to recognise individuals, organisations and leaders who have achieved excellence in giving.

2021

September

SIF receives the 2021 Friend of the Arts Award (Organisation) from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

2021

August

SIF receives the Enabling Mark (Silver) award at the Enabling Mark Awards Ceremony 2021. Reflecting SIF’s core value of people-centredness, the award demonstrates our commitment to building disability inclusiveness at our workplace -- empowering people with different abilities through people initiatives and programmes; adapting jobs and services to provide reasonable accommodations; and making all individuals feel integrated, included and valued.

2021

July

SIF hosts the region’s first-ever Public Diplomacy in Asia conference, in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy. The Public Diplomacy in Asia 2021 virtual conference opened with remarks by Guest of Honour Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The online event also featured the launch of Winning Hearts and Minds: Public Diplomacy in ASEAN. The publication is a collection of essays that captures the perspectives and experiences of practitioners, stakeholders, and scholars on the development and practice of public diplomacy by ASEAN member states.

2021

March

SIF was recognised as a “Progressive Employer” by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices.

SIF launches inaugural Impact Media Fellowship (IMF) with 14 journalists from six countries - China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. The virtual programme aimed to build capacity and promote an exchange of ideas among media professionals, publishers, and broadcasters who want to use their platforms for social change.

SIF runs the pilot edition of Climate Hack, a virtual hackathon leveraging technology and international networks to innovate for climate change. The pilot marks SIF’s first foray into e-volunteering.

2020

October

SIF runs its first virtual eConnects! re-engaging with our friends in Indonesia. The highlight of the event saw SIF Chairman Ambassador Ong Keng Yong and Governor of West Java Mr Ridwan Kamil connecting online to discuss the importance of digital integration and people-to-people ties in a new normal.

2020

September

SIF launches its first Arts for Good Projects call-out in support for the arts community. Five projects were selected and are expected to positively impact over 37,000 beneficiaries.

2020

July

SIF receives the 2020 Friend of the Arts Award (Organisation) from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

SIF Young Social Entrepreneurs 2020 Workshop pivoted to a fully digital experience for the first time.

2020

February

President Halimah Yacob visits SIF’s project in Jakarta on Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs during her inaugural state visit to Indonesia.

2019

November

Launch of the Skills for Integrated Education in Schools Project in Selangor, Malaysia, in partnership with Teach for Malaysia. This marks our first volunteer cooperation project in education in Malaysia.

Launch the Early Childhood Education Project in Bandung, Indonesia, to enhance the capabilities of early childhood educators in West Java, in partnership with the Indonesian Kindergarten Teacher Association West Java and Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Launch of the Teaching and Learning for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) project in HCMC, Vietnam in partnership with Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and Rainbow Centre Singapore.

SIF’s Commemorative Book – Building A Better World, is selected as Singapore’s symbol of peace and international cooperation to the Paris Peace Forum Library by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

2019

October

SIF celebrates the 10^th Anniversary of the Young Social Entrepreneurs programme.

2019

July

SIF’s signature Young Social Entrepreneurs programme makes its debut in Shanghai, China.

2019

June

SIF receives the 2019 Friend of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

SIF renews a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association, committing to another five years of cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam at the people-to-people level.

2019

May

SIF wins the Best Innovation award at the HR Fest Awards 2019.

2019

April

President Halimah Yacob launches SIF’s inaugural Bazaar for Good, which brings together Citizen Ambassadors and Friends of Singapore to showcase the work of the SIF through cross-border collaborations.

2019

February

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, picks up two awards in the Impact Video category at the Social Impact Media Awards.

SIF launches the Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs project in Jakarta, Indonesia, to enhance support for children with special needs in the city. Our partners are the Foundation for the Development of Children with Special Needs Jakarta and Singapore Health Services (SingHealth).

2019

January

Launch of the Enhancing Palliative Care project in Yunnan, China to raise end-of-life care standards in Yunnan. Our partners are Yunnan New Kun Hua Hospital, Yunnan Health and Development Research Association and Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

2018

November

SIF partners the National Youth Council Singapore to launch the ASEAN Youth Fellowship, a leadership development programme for young regional changemakers.

At the Shorty Social Good Awards, SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, bags an award for being the Best in Youth & Family category.

2018

September

SIF’s digital storytelling initiative, Our Better World, wins the Best International Not-for-Profit Case Study Award at the inaugural “Making a Difference” Competition organised by the ESOMAR Foundation, a charitable foundation representing the Market, Social and Opinion Research industry.

2018

August

SIF launches the Comprehensive Trauma Rehabilitation Care project together with Yangon General Hospital and Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), to advance the overall quality of trauma rehabilitation care in Myanmar.

2018

March

SIF embarks on the second phase of Words on Wheels in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with Keppel Land and the General Sciences Library of Ho Chi Minh City.

2018

January

Launch of the Haemodialysis Care Project in Hanoi, Vietnam, to heighten regional standards of haemodialysis care. This marks our first collaboration with Hanoi Medical University and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

2017

December

SIF launches the Mathematics and Science Curriculum Enhancement Project in Bangalore, India to raise teaching standards and improve the quality of education for school-going children.

2017

November

SIF signs a Memorandum of Understanding with St Luke's Hospital, to collaborate on capacity-building projects in rehabilitation and geriatric medicine.

Launch of the Young Social Entrepreneurs inaugural overseas workshop in Mumbai, India.

Launch of the Words on Wheels project in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Launch of the Artists for a Better World programme, to harness the power of arts and culture for positive social change. The inaugural programme explores how the arts can make a difference to the lives of persons with disabilities, with participants from the arts, arts management and non-profit sectors of 12 countries.

2017

October

President Halimah Yacob becomes Patron of the SIF.

SIF signs a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Tan Tock Seng Hospital, to raise standards of medical care in developing communities, as well as seal our longstanding partnership and commitment to collaborate in meaningful healthcare projects.

2017

July

SIF receives the 2017 Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

The Young Social Entrepreneurs programme expands overseas with an inaugural workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

SIF signs a three-year partnership with Muktangan - an NGO in Mumbai that seeks to provide quality education to the underprivileged - to elevate the quality of early childhood education in Mumbai, India.

2017

March

SIF signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association to affirm our commitment in solidifying cross-cultural understanding and people-to-people ties between Singapore and Vietnam.

2017

January

Launch of the Physiotherapy Bachelor Bridging Programme in Cambodia, which allows Cambodians with a diploma in physiotherapy to upgrade their skills and knowledge and obtain a bachelor’s degree.

2016

December

SIF’s 25th Anniversary Commemorative Book – Building A Better World, wins the Gold award in the International Creative Media Award 2016, under the Corporate Book category.

2016

September

SIF launches the Art of Sustainability project in partnership with Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. This is the first Sino-Singapore collaboration to leverage arts and culture for social good.

2016

August

SIF celebrates its silver anniversary. Marking 25 years of making friends for a better world, SIF hosts an anniversary dinner and publishes a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Book – Building A Better World. The book is a compilation of 25 inspiring stories of Singaporeans as Citizen Ambassadors who give generously of their time and talent to uplift lives in overseas communities.

2016

July

SIF receives the 2016 Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

2015

October

SIF and the US-Asia Institute sign a Memorandum of Understanding to affirm our commitment to reinforcing cross-cultural understanding and ties between the people of Singapore and the United States of America.

2015

September

SIF receives the 2015 Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

2015

May

SIF signs a three-year Letter of Agreement with the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University and the Yunnan Health and Development Research Association, with the support of the Yunnan Provincial Health and Family Planning Committee, to raise standards of healthcare services for the elderly in Yunnan, China. This marks our first volunteer cooperation programme in China.

2015

March

To mark Singapore’s Jubilee, SIF publishes the second volume of Singapore: Insights from the Inside. The book features an expanded collection of essays about Singapore and its future, penned by 50 Friends of Singapore representing 20 nationalities.

SIF celebrates 10 years of Singapore-Myanmar collaboration with the launch of the Early Childhood Care & Development Resource Book. Published in English and various Myanmar languages, the book is distributed free to over 3,000 preschools in Myanmar, benefitting some 36,000 preschool teachers and 360,000 children.

2014

October

SIF receives the 2014 President's Award for Volunteerism in the non-profit category – a recognition for the over 3,500 Singapore International Volunteers, whose hard work, dedication and passion have made a difference in overseas communities.

2014

September

SIF celebrates 10 years of Singapore-China friendship through its Young Business Ambassadors programme with the launch of the book, A Decade of Business Exchanges, A Lifetime of Friendships.

2014

July

SIF inks Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) and Calmette Hospital, Cambodia to enable knowledge and skills transfer between Singaporean and Cambodian healthcare professionals.

SIF receives the 2014 Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

2014

May

Launch of the Words on Wheels project in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

SIF appoints its fourth overseas representative in Kuala Lumpur to grow the Friends of Singapore community in Malaysia.

2014

April

Launch of the Enhancing Competency in English Language Communication Programme in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to improve the English communication skills of Sri Lankan youths.

SIF signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) to raise standards of medical care in Asia through the sending of specialist volunteers from Singapore to train healthcare professionals overseas.

2014

January

The SIF and British Council’s third Artist-in-Residence Exchange (SIF-BC AiRx) programme spin off to a collaborative artwork between Singaporean artist-architect Randy Chan and British artist Philippa Lawrence.  The artwork titled Angles of Incidence, on display at Singapore Botanic Gardens and Inner Temple Gardens in London, explores the universal themes of heritage, memory and identity.

2013

December

SIF Governor Professor Cham Tao Soon, receives the Magnolia Silver Award by the Foreign Affairs Office, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government for his tireless efforts at bringing together and nurturing relationships between Singaporean and Chinese business professionals, and communities at large.

2013

November

Launch of SIF Connects! in Washington DC where we reconnect with Friends of Singapore through the sharing of Singapore insights on culture, innovation and social development, to promote understanding and collaborations between Singaporeans and world communities.

2013

July

Launch of a three-year healthcare training project in Sri Lanka. The project, in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health and University of Colombo, with primary sponsorship by Temasek Foundation, aims to enhance the quality of healthcare education in Sri Lanka.

SIF receives the 2013 Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore.

2013

June

SIF celebrates the official launch of the International Involvement Hub, by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Launch of the Water for Life project in Lamongan Regency, Indonesia.

2013

April

Launch of the Water for Life project in the townships of Kaw Hmu and Kungyangon in Yangon, Myanmar.

2013

January

SIF renews its Memorandum of Understanding with the British Council to strengthen cross-cultural understanding between Singapore and the United Kingdom through arts and cultural exchanges.

2012

November

President and SIF Patron Tony Tan makes his first visit to an SIF project overseas — the Palliative Care for Children project with Rachel House in Jakarta, during his inaugural state visit to Indonesia.

2012

October

Revamp of SINGAPORE Magazine, to share the heart and soul of Singapore through the work of SIF, Singaporeans and our friends from the international community.

2012

September

SIF moves into the new International Involvement Hub, where home-grown non-profits work to connect Singaporeans to Asia and the world. Our neighbours include the Temasek Foundation, the Singapore Red Cross and the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

Launch of Words on Wheels project in Bandung, Indonesia.

Launch of SIF’s Outstanding Singapore International Volunteer Award.

2012

August

Launch of Our Better World, SIF’s digital initiative to connect the online community through storytelling and inspire collective change.

Launch of Water for Life project in the Kampong Speu Province in Cambodia.

2012

July

SIF receives the 2012 Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council, Singapore. The Award recognises the SIF efforts to promote greater international understanding of Singapore through the arts.

2012

June

Launch of the Friendship Express project, bringing 50 youths from eight Asian nationalities together for a two-week expedition to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The project sees our youths participate in cultural exchange activities and community projects.

SIF appoints its third overseas representative in Bangkok to grow the Friends of Singapore community in Thailand.

2012

May

Launch of the book Insights from the Inside, a collection of perspectives on Singapore from the international community.

2011

November

President Tony Tan Keng Yam becomes Patron of the SIF.

2011

October

SIF celebrates our 20^th birthday with a Partner Appreciation Dinner. Gracing the occasion is Guest-of-Honour, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

2011

August

Launch of a refreshed volunteer brand identity — Singapore International Volunteers at SIF’s 20^th anniversary volunteers’ appreciation evening.

2011

July

SIF signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Ashoka, an international non-profit organisation that promotes social entrepreneurship, to foster a global community of changemakers for social innovation.

2011

May

SIF appoints its second overseas representative in Shanghai to grow the Friends of Singapore community in China.

SIF signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the British Council to strengthen cross-cultural understanding between Singapore and the United Kingdom through exchanges in arts and culture. The partnership kicks off with an artist-in-residence exchange programme between multidisciplinary artists - Singaporean Michael Lee and British Bob Matthews.

2010

December

SIF celebrates the 10^th anniversary of the Singapore Internationale arts and culture grant.

2010

October

SIF hosts the annual International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations' Conference for the first time in Singapore.

SIF appoints its first overseas representative, in Jakarta to grow the Friends of Singapore community in Indonesia.

2010

July

Launch of Water for Life. This is SIF’s first direct service project and strives to bring clean drinking water to more than 9,000 villagers in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

2010

March

Launch of the Young Social Entrepreneurs Programme, to inspire and equip youths to start or scale up social enterprises in Singapore and beyond.

2010

February

Launch of the Art Associates programme. This 10-week attachment of regional art experts and professionals to local arts institutions enables the exchange of ideas and perspectives.

2009

October

SIF unveils a refreshed vision, mission and strategic direction, to build mutually beneficial relationships between Singaporeans and world communities through volunteerism, people-to-people exchanges and cultural relations.

Launch of Singapore Kopitiam website, which profiles unique aspects of Singapore’s food, culture and people.

2007

November

SIF opens the Fajar Hidayah Integrated Boarding School in Banda Aceh, together with our Indonesian partner Yayasan Fajar Hidayah. The school is home to students and orphans affected by the 2004 Asian Tsunami.

2007

August

SIF publishes Gotong Royong: SIF Celebrates 15 Years of Friendship with Indonesia. The book chronicles 15 years of collaboration with Indonesian partners, as told by SIF volunteers and staff, Singaporean and Indonesian government officials and non-governmental organisations, as well as Indonesia-based Singaporeans.

2007

April

Launch of Xpats Dialogue, which seeks to promote interaction between Singapore’s expatriate community and members from the Singapore government, business, academia and civil society sectors.

2007

January

Launch of the Middle East Eminent Persons Programme, hosting distinguished individuals from the Middle East to promote conversations with their Singaporean counterparts in the government and private sector.

2006

October

Launch of the Chief Executives Expedition programme. Chief and senior executives from Singapore's private and public sectors visit Bhutan to share their expertise with local communities.

2005

May

Launch of the Singapore Executive Expedition programme, which sends PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Asia Pacific’s senior executives to Bhutan to share their knowledge in financial management and regional banking developments.

2004

December

The Singapore Volunteers Overseas programme expands to nine other countries, including South Asia.

2004

June

Launch of the Singapore-Shanghai Young Business Ambassadors chapter, with the objective of building closer ties between the business communities of both countries.

2004

March

In San Francisco and Los Angeles, we launch Singapore Encore, a platform that showcases performances by Singapore artistes abroad.

2003

August

The Singapore Totalisator Board recognises SIF with the Excellence for Singapore Award. The accolade honours individuals or organisations that bring credit to Singapore by being among the best in their areas of activity in Asia or in the world.

2002

March

Launch of the Temasek (Visit) Programme, a platform for senior Japanese policymakers to engage their Singaporean counterparts.

2001

December

The Singapore Volunteers Overseas programme marks its 10^th anniversary.

Launch of the Singapore Internationale arts and culture grant, supporting the presentation of Singapore’s creative works overseas.

2001

September

SIF celebrates 10^th anniversary with a fund-raising dinner for the Special Olympics Singapore.

2001

May

Launch of the SIF Award, which recognises the goodwill efforts of Singaporeans around the world.

2001

January

President S R Nathan becomes Patron of the SIF.

2000

November

Welcoming a new millennium, SIF unveils a new logo and mission statement, that of nurturing active global citizens and friends for Singapore.

2000

April

Launch of the Young Business Ambassadors Programme, an exchange initiative giving outstanding young professionals an immersive experience of working and living in countries such as China and Australia.

2000

Launch of the Youth Expedition Project, where youth volunteers from Singapore embark on community service expeditions to China, India and Southeast Asia.

In parallel, launch of the Humanitarian Relief Programme which enables Singaporeans to bring hope and relief to those affected by humanitarian calamities.

1998

Introduction of the journalism fellowship with the East-West Center, with the aim to strengthen understanding between Singapore and the United States of America. This was done through the facilitation of exchanges between American journalists and Singapore thought leaders and policymakers.

1996

The first Camp Singapore for children of Singapore expatriates and children of overseas Singaporeans got underway. The children interact over experiential activities to better understand Singapore’s history and cultural practices.

1992

November

to

1995

December

Launch of the Distinguished Visitors Programme, the Eminent South-East Asians Programme, and the Raffles Programme. Under these programmes, SIF hosts international policymakers and thought leaders to share their views and practices with fellow counterparts and the public.

1992

May

SIF receives its first overseas delegation – six US Congressional staff members – under the Friends of Singapore programme.

1992

January

Launch of the SINGAPORE Magazine, a quarterly SIF publication, sharing stories of Singapore’s developments with the international community and Singaporeans living overseas.

1992

Launch of the inaugural SIF-ASEAN Student Fellowship, where ASEAN student leaders spend a semester in Singapore universities and live with Singaporean host families.

1991

November

SIF launch its first Singapore Volunteers Overseas Project – a three-month preventive dental care programme in the Philippines.

1991

August

Singapore International Foundation (SIF) is established. Its goal: to encourage Singaporeans to adopt an international outlook, make meaningful contributions to the international community, and help Singaporeans overseas maintain links with Singapore.

Professor Chan Heng Chee assumes role as Founding Director, with Mr Lee Seng Wee as Chairman.