In June 2024, the Singapore Good Soil Foundation held the inaugural Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Scholarship Program Summer Camp, a landmark initiative in youth development at the NUS Business School. Bringing together 57 outstanding high school students from Asia, including promising young Singaporeans, the five-day camp aimed to inspire the next generation of philanthropists and social entrepreneurs. The Singapore Good Soil Foundation aims to nurture social impact leaders through professional training and development.
The program hosted an impressive lineup of mentors, including former Singapore Nominated Member of Parliament Mr. Viswa Sadasivan, TikTok’s Head of Social Impact Jerry Lewis Ong, and Professor Richard Buttrey from the University of Cambridge. Held at NUS Business School, these experts led sessions on leadership, public speaking, and philanthropy, encouraging students to reflect critically on their roles in society. Through interactive workshops, students learned to apply these insights to real-world social impact scenarios.
Mr. Viswa Sadasivan’s sessions on ethical leadership and public service provided local students with a Singaporean perspective on social responsibility. Meanwhile, Jerry Lewis Ong, with his expertise in digital impact, inspired students to think about the role of technology in amplifying social causes, resonating with tech-savvy youth eager to make a difference.
The camp included immersive visits to Singapore’s OUE Group, Enabling Village, and the Tzu Chi Foundation, offering students a firsthand look at the country’s vibrant social sector. These visits introduced them to corporate responsibility and the role businesses and nonprofits play in advancing social causes, inspiring students to envision how they could contribute to Singapore’s social landscape.
An exciting aspect of the program was the opportunity for students to develop real-world projects. One such initiative, NourishMind, promotes physical and mental wellness through an app offering personalized meal plans, AI-driven mental health support, and interactive resources. Another initiative, The Sanctuary Initiative, addresses elderly loneliness through engagement kits, with students actively refining their product with community partners. These projects allow students to apply their skills, from app design to community engagement, toward creating positive social change.
Ms. Faye Lo, the foundation’s founder and Head of Social Impact at Sky9 Capital, shared her vision: “This camp is about more than just learning leadership skills—it’s about planting seeds of change.” Her goal is to foster future leaders in Singapore who will drive impactful social progress on a global scale.
With plans to expand the program to countries such as Thailand, Japan, and China, the Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Scholarship Program will continue to inspire and equip high school students to lead impactful public welfare initiatives. Each summer, new students will join this growing community of young changemakers, gaining the skills, networks, and experience needed to shape a better future.
Students from the first-ever NextGen Leadership program had a blast!
Catch their thoughts in our exclusive interviews!
This program will host a class each summer, fostering a growing community of young public welfare leaders. Founders Faye Lo, Ryan Cao, and Zack Cao will continue collaborating with leaders from the Class of 2024—Mateoo, Kureha, Anirudh, and Sophie—as they welcome and mentor the incoming Class of 2025.
