Our Year in Review FY 2020/21 - Singapore International Foundation
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FY 2020/21 Our Year in Review
01 Our Year in Review
Making Friends
for a Better World
About the SIF Our Vision
The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) is a not-for-profit The SIF makes friends for a better world.
organisation established on 1 August 1991.
Our Mission
Our aim is to strengthen mutual understanding, ties and trust between
global communities. All our programmes seek to bring Singaporeans
and our friends from overseas communities together, to connect and
collaborate for positive change. Through shared ideas, skills and
experiences, we uplift lives and create
We believe that when people from different parts of the world work greater understanding between
together, they gain insights that bridge cultural divides and the sharing Singaporeans and world communities.
of ideas, skills and experiences inspires actions and enables
collaborations for good.
We do this because we believe we all can, and should, do our part to
build a better world – one we envision as peaceful, inclusive and offers
opportunities for all.Singapore International Foundation 02
Our Focus
Areas
Our programmes are focused
in four areas. They support four
of the United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Arts & Culture
Harnessing the arts for inclusive
societies and positive social
change
Education
Business & Livelihood Empowering communities through
Enabling livelihoods through education
economic empowerment
Healthcare
Sharing medical expertise to
improve the quality of healthcare
services
SDGs supported
by our work
Goal 3: Goal 4: Goal 6: Goal 17:
Good Health and Quality Clean Water and Partnerships for the
Well-Being Education Sanitation Goals03 Our Year in Review
Our Footprint
2
5
6
3
9
1
4
8
1 Cambodia 6 India
2 China 7 Indonesia
3 Laos 8 Singapore
7
4 Malaysia 9 Vietnam
5 Myanmar
Our Work To continue to serve our communities,
we swiftly took our suite of in-person
Existing Programmes That Pivoted
Online
This Year programmes virtual, while rolling out
new initiatives to meet the demands of a • 10 ongoing healthcare and education
changing milieu. Despite the challenges, programmes in China, India,
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has we were not only able to work around Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar
created much uncertainty and anxiety, the restrictions caused by the and Vietnam
with disruptions to how we live, work pandemic, but also witnessed a series of • Arts and Disability Forum
and play. The pandemic has become new breakthroughs. • SIF e-Connects! Jakarta
not only a challenge to global • YSE 2020 Workshop
economies, but also a test for social Some of the programmes and projects
solidarity and those in the ‘business of that took place successfully were: New Initiatives
doing good’. For SIF, it has added an
extra layer of complexity to our work in • Seven Arts for Good projects
building relations between diverse • ASEAN Digital Innovation Programme
communities - an endeavour largely • Climate Hack 2021
achieved through face-to-face • Impact Media Fellowship
engagement.Singapore International Foundation 04
Connecting
Our mission is enabled by a vast community, who
connects and collaborates with Singaporeans to
build a Better World. At the individual and
Communities
institutional level, we leverage our collective
skills and resources to uplift lives. The
partnerships we forge also enable us to galvanise
diverse communities to come together in the face
of unprecedented societal challenges.
Our Social Impact Networks
12 New Partnerships 2975 Friends of 199 Citizen Ambassadors
Singapore
Forged with private, public and Joined our growing international Joined our community of more than
people institutions in India, community. Comprising a wide 4,000 volunteers from Singapore who
Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam spectrum of people from the social, contribute their time and talent to
to start or further develop SIF cultural, business and government support our programmes. As global
projects in these countries. sectors, these opinion-shapers and citizens, our Citizen Ambassadors help
next generation leaders share our to build and strengthen friendships
aspirations for building a with members of the international
better world. community through the transformative
work they do.05 Our Year in Review
Enabling
Our work brings together people from around
the world to find meaningful and inventive
solutions to shared challenges. By doing so, we
Collaboration
gain mutual insights and experiences that not
only advance action for good but enable us to
develop new capabilities and build stronger
bonds in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Our Programmes
Despite the global disruption caused by clinics curated to enable them in starting
COVID-19, FY20/21 was a fruitful year for or scaling their social enterprise. Many of
the SIF’s signature Young Social these innovative businesses offered
Entrepreneurs (YSE) programme. solutions in the areas of agriculture,
Beginning as a three-day workshop in its consumer goods and services, food and
GOOD BUSINESS early days, YSE is today an eight-month beverage, environment and energy,
incubation programme complete with education and training, as well as
Our Good Business workshops, a mentorship scheme, overseas healthcare technology.
programmes connect study visits, and an opportunity to pitch for
funding. The programme has nurtured more In lieu of the traditional study visits that had
Singaporeans and world
than 1,200 changemakers of 39 nationalities, been a mainstay of the programme, a
communities through social
and comprises an international network of series of virtual learning journeys to
entrepreneurship, enhancing 525 social enterprises. Indonesia, India, and Singapore was
cross-cultural understanding curated – with social entrepreneurs and
and effecting collaborations In response to travel restrictions, the YSE industry experts sharing their experience
for positive social change. 2020 Workshop pivoted to the digital and insights with the participants. We
space with all activities conducted fully were heartened to see, among the
online for the first time in 11 years. 109 speakers, our YSE alumni who gave back
youth changemakers representing 19 to the programme that had nurtured them,
nationalities and 54 social enterprises including BagoSphere (YSE 2012,
went through a comprehensive line-up of Singapore), Ecodoe (YSE 2015, Indonesia)
knowledge-sharing sessions and business and Givfunds (YSE 2019, India).Singapore International Foundation 06
This FY, the SIF pivoted 10 existing and students. We tapped on our global
healthcare and education programmes in network of friends to nominate over 135
VOLUNTEER China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, participants from Cambodia, Indonesia,
COOPERATION Myanmar and Vietnam online, to continue Malaysia, Laos, and Vietnam for the
sustaining the impact of our work amid training series.
ongoing travel restrictions. We also took the
Our Volunteer Cooperation
opportunity to pilot crucial initiatives that We also supported the ASEAN Data
programmes contribute to
can better meet the urgent demands of a Science Explorers (ASEAN DSE)
positive and sustainable world dealing with the upheaval of competition, in which participants were
development in Asia. COVID-19. tasked to use their newly acquired data
Through these programmes, skills to create solutions addressing
our Singapore International Recognising the need for accelerated socio-economic issues aligned with the
Volunteers work with their digital transformation, the SIF partnered United Nations’ Sustainable
counterparts in different the ASEAN Foundation on two initiatives Development Goals. This included,
countries to share skills, under its ASEAN Digital Innovation among others, addressing social
knowledge and expertise to Programme (ADIP). The Online Training inequalities, managing new energy
on Data Science for Educators and sources, empowering people with
effect positive change, while
Non-profit Trainers initiative introduces disabilities to become active
fostering greater
hands-on learning of data science and the contributors to society, as well as
intercultural understanding. programme language Python, while growing ASEAN’s workforce through
enabling young educators to cascade their digital integration.
newly acquired knowledge to their peers07 Our Year in Review
To inspire innovations to address climate change, we known to the world. In the spirit of cross-cultural
launched the inaugural Climate Hack 2021, in learning, best practices from each country – such as
partnership with social enterprise Code for Asia. The Singapore’s administration of school closures for full
three-month long digital upskilling programme home-based learning, and South Korea’s strides in
brought together participants from diverse COVID-19 testing procedures – were discussed at
backgrounds to leverage technology, collaborate and the dialogue. Panellists included Prof Teo Yik Ying,
find solutions to address climate change. Some 500 Dean of Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at
participants from 16 countries in Asia registered to the National University of Singapore; Dr Leong Hoe
learn digital skills, such as design thinking, UX/UI and Nam, Infectious Diseases Physician at the Rophi
coding, while brainstorming ideas and developing Clinic; Prof Kwon Soonman, former Dean of the
solutions to improve climate resilience. Participants School of Public Health at Seoul National University;
also engaged in a series of capacity-building and Mr Lee Dae Joong, Director of Development
workshops, helmed by Singaporean and international Finance Division at the Republic of Korea Ministry of
volunteers from the digital sector. The programme Economy and Finance.
culminated in the submission of 40 digital prototypes
to tackle climate change in areas such as biodiversity, In another initiative, the SIF worked with our long-time
energy, food security and sustainable living. Five partner, ITE College East, to send more than 1,000
winning teams from Indonesia and Malaysia were pieces of a ground-breaking face shield to local and
selected based on the impact and innovativeness of overseas communities across 12 countries. The
their ideas. Speak and Shield is an innovation by ITE College East,
which boosts the original volume of sound by up to
In collaboration with the Korea Foundation, we four decibels while providing users with the same level
organised a webinar, “Public-Private Partnerships in of protection as a normal face mask. It has enabled
the Fight against COVID-19”, which addressed the thousands of educators and frontline workers in
importance of public-private partnerships and global Singapore and overseas to project their voice clearly,
cooperation in tackling one of the worst health crises while reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.Singapore International Foundation 08
Recognising the financial and institutional world; (3) SAME-SAME, an inclusive
impact of COVID-19 on the arts and online dance and theatre production,
cultural scene, the SIF launched a callout highlighting the similarities between
for Arts for Good (A4G) projects that can differently-abled performers in
deliver on sustainable social impact. Singapore and Australia during
CULTURAL Reflecting the strength of our A4G COVID-19; (4) ArtSEA, a digital arts
ecosystem, almost a fifth of the 140 resource package featuring local
EXCHANGE applications from 25 countries were Southeast Asian artforms to increase
collaborative efforts between alumni from access to the arts for underprivileged
Our Cultural Exchange the SIF’s A4G Fellowship. Five projects children; and (5) Legends of the SEA, a
suite of programmes were selected and awarded up to digital art activity book exploring art
promotes mutual S$20,000 in funding each. Collectively, the practices and processes, to enhance
projects are expected to positively impact arts education in the region.
understanding and enable over 37,000 people globally – particularly
collaborations for good in Singapore, Southeast Asia, Australia, Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we also
through culture and arts as Bangladesh, India and Scotland. launched Gift A Song, a collaborative
well as professional project between the SIF and
These projects were: (1) In a New Light, Singaporean artistes who were
fellowships.
an online performance that presents the engaged to record song dedications
collective views of underprivileged from home to uplift spirits globally. A
children and youth from Singapore, total of 88 song dedications – including
Scotland and Bangladesh on the global one from President of Singapore and
climate crisis in a performance film; (2) SIF Patron Mdm Halimah Yacob – were
World Wisdom Map, an interactive digital made to 16 countries, reaching over
“wisdom map” featuring life lessons and 1.3 million people.
stories from 195 countries around the09 Our Year in Review
Another A4G project, Stay Home Quilt sought to that aims to connect next-generation leaders from
bring solidarity in solitude through the collective diverse sectors to build relations and establish a
action of sewing and reflecting. Individuals and strong network for positive change in the region.
communities from around the world were invited to Virtual discussions with our alumni included how
submit their quilt patches – including the migrant ASEAN can strengthen its position in a post-COVID
worker community in Singapore who were on world, deal with the implications of global
lockdown in their dormitories during the peak of the developments in the United States and China, and
COVID-19 spread last year. The submitted quilt nurture youth leaders to help their communities
patches were stitched together and displayed at emerge stronger from the current health crisis.
Singapore’s Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, as well
as digitally. In addition, we partnered A4G 2017 To build capacity and promote exchange among
alumnus Sherry Soon in an initiative to distribute media professionals and newsmakers from around
500 care packets and appreciation cards to the staff the region who want to use their platform for social
of Outram Community Hospital, who had to perform change, we launched the SIF Impact Media
additional duties to minimise the rise of Covid-19 Fellowship – and welcomed 14 journalists from
transmission to their elderly patients requiring China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and
rehabilitative, sub-acute and palliative care. Vietnam representing various media outlets at its
inaugural run. Over seven weeks, these media fellows
Building on the success of previous years, we were equipped with skills and resources to envision
continued our support for the Arts and Disability and enable positive social change in their
Forum (ADF) as a programme partner. Themed communities via training workshops, panel
“Cultivating Collaborations, Increasing Access”, discussions, and cross-cultural exchanges.
ADF2020 spotlighted discussions on bridging
authentic collaborations and harnessing access for Finally, we organised the first virtual edition of SIF
people with disabilities as a creative asset. The forum, Connects! Jakarta since its inception seven years
which was held online this year, was jointly organised ago. Held in partnership with the Indonesia Bright
by Very Special Arts Singapore and the National Arts Foundation (IBF), this reunion event marked 28 years
Council Singapore, with support from the of friendship between the SIF and the Indonesian
British Council. community. The highlight of the event was a dialogue
between SIF Chairman Ambassador Ong Keng Yong
We also leveraged the networks forged through three and Governor of West Java and SIF-ASEAN Fellow Mr
earlier editions of the ASEAN Youth Fellowship Ridwan Kamil, which explored the role of technology
(AYF) to discuss the possibility for collaboration. as an enabler and catalyst for people-to-people
Launched in 2018, the AYF is an exclusive collaboration – particularly in the era of COVID-19.
programme by the SIF and National Youth Council Over 125 participants gathered at the online event.Singapore International Foundation 10
OUR BETTER WORLD
Our Better World—the digital storytelling initiative of the
Singapore International Foundation— tells compelling stories of
people doing good all over Asia to inspire action and power
movements for change. OBW stories raise awareness of social
purpose organisations which work tirelessly and oftentimes
unnoticed, inspiring passive online audience who care about
social causes to act. Through authentic and compelling stories,
OBW harnesses the forces of digital media for good.
Since its inception in 2012, the OBW Discouraged, a collection of stories about donations and led to almost 200 volunteer
community has grown to over 750,000 and refugees in Asia finding ways to survive sign-ups and enquiries.
its stories have garnered more than 180 and thrive as they await resettlement, and
million online views. In its 2020 annual the communities assisting them; Silent No This FY also marked a series of firsts for our
community survey, 94% of its respondents More - Giving Voice to Mental Illness, digital storytelling unit. OBW also
became more aware of people doing good which features stories of people with produced its first ever interactive video
in Asia, 72% felt inspired to contribute to mental illness and their caregivers finding “A Quiet Ripple” that gives viewers an
social causes, and 80% took some form of ways to tackle stigma in society, while experiential understanding of the
action. providing support to each other; as well as challenges and choices faced by
A Wild Life: Hope for the Hunted, a series caregivers of people with mental illness. It
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, on individuals taking action to give wildlife also held its first ever virtual event, “Story
OBW launched the HumanKind content under the threat of hunting and illegal Talk - Caring for the Caregivers”, which
series, which tells stories of individuals trade, a chance to thrive. The OBW focused on caring for the caregivers of
and organisations working to mitigate the content series enabled a deep dive into people with mental illness. The event was
impact of the global health crisis among specific causes to achieve a bigger, attended by 113 of the OBW community
their communities. This was in addition to collective impact. In total, these content from nine countries. 97 percent of the
three ongoing content series that featured series reached over 37.5 million people, participants indicated interest to attend
refugees, mental health and wildlife. garnered more than 21.3 million views, more of such events in the future.
These included: Refugees: Displaced, not brought in nearly 24,000 SGD in cash11 Our Year in Review
Effecting
Lives are changed and new realities shaped when people and
organisations share their skills and resources for good. By
working together, we also foster greater trust and
Change
understanding between communities. With a shared sense of
compassion and civic duty, we are empowered to reimagine
society and shape a better future.
Our Collective Impact
Early Childhood Education Project in Jakarta (Indonesia)
540 Educators
Trained 16,200 Parent and Student
Beneficiaries
Enabling Palliative Care Trainers in Bandung (Indonesia)
25
Medical
Professionals
Trained 20,188 Patient
Beneficiaries
Math and Science Curriculum and Pedagogy Development in
Bangalore (India)
including
27 Educators
Trained 1,080 Patient Beneficiaries
Climate Hack
Over
136
Participants
Trained 689 Beneficiaries
152,181 Arts for Good Projects
people benefitted from our
programmes this year
49 Artists
Supported 35,068 Beneficiaries
91% 90%
of SIF programme of SIF programme participants
Making Friends for participants gained a better made new friends with people
understanding of other around the world+
a Better World nationalities and cultures+
72% 80%
of our OBW community were of our OBW community
Harnessing the power of inspired to act for change* took concrete action*
digital media for good
+ Based on a 2020 post-programme survey of SIF programme alumni
* Based on a 2020 survey of the Our Better World communitySingapore International Foundation 12
Our Accolades
The SIF’s core values of Excellence,
Collaborative and People-Centred represent
what we believe should guide our internal
conduct as well as our relationship with world
communities. This FY, we were honoured to
receive a series of awards that recognise our
commitment to upholding these values, and
our continuous effort in building a better world.
Progressive Employer A progressive employer adopts employment practices that
(Tripartite Alliance for create and sustain an inclusive workplace, as well as
Fair & Progressive promotes the well-being of employees. Its key attributes are
Employment Practices) fairness, inclusivity, agility, productivity and sustainability.
Friend of the Arts Award Organisations and individuals who contribute
(National Arts Council) significantly towards the development of the arts are
celebrated at these awards.
The SIF has been a recipient of the award since 2012.
Hearts of Humanity Ordinary Singaporeans and permanent residents are
Category: YSE 2014 recognised for their extraordinary humanity and
alumnus Aaron Yeoh compassion towards people, causes and missions at
(Singapore Silent these awards.
Heroes Award 2020)
Aaron is the founder of two non-profit initiatives: Etch
Empathy, which provides youth leadership training to
vulnerable communities in ASEAN, and Fortitude Culina,
which trains and provides the visually impaired with
employment opportunities in the culinary sector. He also
chairs the Singapore chapter of the global movement,
Cycling without Age.
Top Five for Diversity Excellence on the Internet is honoured at these awards.
and Inclusion:
Dignity with Flowers OBW’s story featured Phool, an Indian social enterprise
by Our Better World that employs marginalised women to upcycle floral
(The Webby Awards) wastes into handcrafted incense.13 Our Year in Review
Our Finances
Statement of Financial Position As at 31 March 2021
Note 2021 ($) 2020 ($)
Non-current assets Plant and equipment 4 125,259 114,429
Right-of-use assets 18 242,724 372,534
367,983 486,963
Current assets Fair value through other comprehensive 5 15,900,724 14,937,711
income (FVOCI) financial assets
Fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) 5 15,149,267 3,222,718
financial assets
Other receivables 6 1,308,486 1,358,627
Cash and cash equivalents 7 8,917,998 20,341,085
41,276,475 39,860,141
Total assets 41,644,458 40,347,104
Funds - Endowment Fund 8 16,236,724 16,816,752
- General Fund 21,302,531 19,118,481
Total funds 37,539,255 35,935,233
Non-current liabilities Deferred capital grants 9 74,474 55,218
Lease liabilities 18 91,767 222,794
166,241 278,012
Current liabilities Derivative financial liabilities 5 211,310 359,406
Deferred capital grants 9 57,025 65,452
Deferred grant income 10 685,143 1,472,776
Other payables 11 2,824,229 2,072,590
Lease liabilities 18 161,255 163,635
3,938,962 4,133,859
Total liabilities 4,105,203 4,411,871
Total funds and 41,644,458 40,347,104
liabilitiesSingapore International Foundation 14
Statement of Comprehensive Income As at 31 March 2021
Note 2021 ($) 2020 ($)
Income Grant income 13 9,565,024 10,343,612
Value in kind income 758,788 1,029,738
Other income 207,703 67,898
10,531,515 11,441,248
Expenditure Depreciation of plant and equipment 4 (68,424) (61,222)
Depreciation of right-of-use assets 18 (162,213) (170,030)
Staff costs 14 (5,447,537) (5,730,658)
Programme expenses (3,226,498) (4,018,954)
Value in kind expenses (758,788) (1,029,738)
Other operating expenses 15 (864,460) (938,340)
(10,527,920) (11,948,942)
Finance income/(expense) 12 2,180,455 (216,875)
Surplus/(Deficit) 2,184,050 (724,569)
before income tax
Income tax 16 −
−
Surplus/(Deficit) for 2,184,050 (724,569)
the year
Other comprehensive Items that are or may be reclassified
income subsequently to income statement:
Fair value reserve transferred to profit or loss 8 147,511 137,495
due to disposal of FVOCI financial assets
Change in fair value of FVOCI financial assets (727,539) 560,537
Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the (580,028) 698,032
year, net of income tax
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for 1,604,022 (26,537)
the year
Surplus/(deficit) for Endowment Fund 13 − −
the year comprises: General Fund 2,184,050 (724,569)
2,184,050 (724,569)sif.org.sg
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