Access Singapore

We are thrilled to announce that Access Singapore has signed a Letter of Intent with the British High Commission (BHC) in Singapore, a significant milestone as the BHC's first external collaboration here. 🇬🇧🇸🇬 The UK has long been a north star for our work on social mobility, thanks to its dynamic and mature landscape with innovative initiatives. There is a strong whole-of-society approach with numerous networks dedicated to bridging opportunity gaps and improving life chances for the disadvantaged. Through this partnership, we look forward to knowledge-sharing, volunteer opportunities, and collaborative advocacy efforts. There is so much we can learn from the United Kingdom, and we are excited to embark on this journey together. A special thank you to Alex Bamford, Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission Singapore, for hosting us at the High Commission last week. We would also like to express our gratitude to Thomas Collier, Workflow Manager, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Asia Pacific, and the entire BHC team for their unwavering support and dedication to Access. Together, we aim to move the needle on social mobility and create lasting, impactful change for the communities we serve. (Photos by UK in Singapore) UK in Singapore Clarence Ching Tiara Robyn Chew Shonagh Cousins Raebekah Soh #AccessSingapore #BritishHighCommission #SocialMobility

“There’s no single path to success or a ‘best way’ to live life. You’re in control of creating your own path, and now is the perfect time to start shaping it,” says Charmaine Cheung, APAC Renewables Business Development Director at Schneider Electric. It’s our privilege to introduce Charmaine, a dynamic leader in the renewable energy industry, who leads strategy formulation, project management, and business development at Schneider Electric. Charmaine’s career journey has been anything but conventional. Reflecting on her path, she shares that with a double degree in Law and Business Administration, she first began her career in a strategy position at a local property developer. However, she later made the bold transition into a global role in the energy sector, despite not having any science or engineering experience — or prior exposure to international work environments. When discussing her decision to participate in the Access Fellowship Programme (AFP), Charmaine emphasises her two core passions: giving back to society and shaping the future. She believes that as a mentor, she can tap on her own experiences to offer youths the crucial support they need to start their self-discovery journey early, and ultimately help them unlock their fullest potential. Charmaine’s story is a powerful and inspiring reminder that “everything is possible” when you are willing to take risks and follow your passions, and we hope that our Fellows can learn from her example to bravely shape their own futures. Wish to be like Charmaine and help unlock opportunities for youths? Swipe left to find out how you can get involved! #AccessSingapore #AccessFellowshipProgramme

For the second session of our Access Mentorships Programme with CHIJ St. Theresa's Convent and Mott MacDonald, Mr Kerwin Tan Jun Yi, Civil and Structural Engineer at Mott MacDonald, led an insightful masterclass on Personal Branding and Elevator Pitches. Students gained a better understanding of:  💡 How to leverage LinkedIn for personal branding  💡 The importance of elevator pitches and how to craft one creatively and effectively 💡 Ways they can structure and present their ideas concisely and confidently 💡 How to continually adapt and improve their approach following feedback from their mentors, facilitators, and peers A heartfelt thank you to Kerwin for curating and running this impactful workshop. We are confident that our students now have the basic tools and resources they need to kickstart their branding and pitching journeys, and are excited to see their unique ideas come to life! #AccessSingapore #Mentorships

Pathways is our half-day programme where students explore potential careers they are interested in through sharings from working professionals. At our recent programme with ANG MO KIO SECONDARY SCHOOL, we were fortunate to host a diverse panel of speakers from the gaming and sports industries including Ms Justina Sun, Marketing Manager for Southeast Asia at Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia; Ms Goh Jia Hui, Sports Executive at Special Olympics Singapore; and Mr Kamaruzaman Aziz, Senior Manager of Operations Management at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS). They generously shared insights from their unique education and career paths, discussing the challenges they overcame and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Through their stories, our students also gained insights into what it takes to build a sustainable and fulfilling career. A common theme that resonated with all three speakers was the importance of resilience and determination, especially in the face of adversities. As Justina aptly noted, “A main character’s journey is never easy. In order to win, you must first lose”. A very big thank you to all of our guests for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us! These stories serve as a powerful reminder to our students that they have the ability to define success on their own terms. With the courage to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, they are well-positioned to carve out a future that truly aligns with their individual passions and goals ✨ #AccessSingapore #Pathways

"I gained a deeper understanding of the critical role that Gold House plays in driving socioeconomic equity and amplifying diverse voices, especially as Asians continue to face underrepresentation in the film and entertainment industry." - Aidil, AFP fellow. Fellows from our Access Fellowship Programme (AFP) recently had a unique opportunity to grow beyond the classroom, learning from inspiring individuals who have shattered barriers and redefined success on their own terms. During an exclusive, intimate meet-and-greet session by non-profit organisation, Gold House, our AFP students engaged with notable figures like host and singer Eric Nam, Marvel star Simu Liu, The Good Place actor Manny Jacinto, and his better half, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actress Dianne Doan. Our Fellows heard first-hand about the immense challenges minorities face when trying to break into the global entertainment industry, where systemic barriers can often feel insurmountable. Simu Liu, for instance, candidly shared about his experiences navigating Hollywood’s persistent stereotypes, and how he built his career through adaptability and unwavering determination. He encouraged everyone to embrace their unique identities and to remain resilient, even when confronted with adversity. These powerful stories underscored an important lesson for our Fellows – that success is not always linear. Instead, it is shaped by being authentic, challenging the status quo, and constant perseverance. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Impact SG team (Ker Fong, Daniel Yew Mao LIM, and Edmund Joseph Twohill), and of course Gold House for providing this rare and transformative experience for our Fellows. We hope it inspires them to dream boldly and pursue excellence at every opportunity! #AccessSingapore

“I believe mentorship is invaluable for youths, as we often overlook the lasting impact that meaningful connections can have early on in our career or education journeys. If the youths we mentor can take something away from our conversations, even if it's just one key insight, I'll consider it a success.” This week, we continue our Access Fellowship Programme (AFP) mentor profiles with Ellen Hudreaux, Vice President of Customer Delivery Experience, Global Supply Chain at Schneider Electric. Ellen leads transformation projects within the Global supply chain at Schneider Electric, driving continuous improvement in customer experience. With a diverse career spanning five countries — France (her birthplace), Spain, Morocco, Australia, and now Singapore — she has worked across multiple industries including Automotive, Construction, and Pharmaceuticals. Often the only or first woman in the roles she’s taken on, whether as a Production Planning Manager in the middle of a production line, or as a Sales manager for luxury cars, Ellen's wide-ranging experiences continue to shape the unique perspectives she brings to her leadership roles. Having benefited from mentorship and career opportunities throughout her own journey, Ellen views the AFP as a meaningful way to give back and support others in shaping their pathways. As a hiring manager, she advises candidates to demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to bring fresh perspectives, rather than solely focusing on having prior experience. Interested in empowering students the way Ellen does? Swipe to the last slide to learn how you can get involved! #AccessSingapore #AccessFellowshipProgramme

We’ve officially concluded our ACE! programme with ORCHID PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL (OPSS) and bp, capping off the final session with creative but practical solutions to make their school more sustainable! Our students engaged in dynamic discussions with our esteemed panel of judges from bp, including Carol Leong, Gerald Tham, Jia Rou Ting, Jun Ming Yoong, and Mr Ridzuan from OPSS, and they showcased their innovative ideas around the challenge statement, which was on ways they can create a more sustainable school of the future, aligned with the SG Green Plan. Their creativity really blossomed, with solutions ranging from building greenhouses to incorporating food composting stations, and even turning their carpark into an edible garden! Students also embarked on an insightful office tour, gaining a first-hand look at bp’s different work spaces and their unique corporate culture. We are incredibly proud of the growth and progress our students have made throughout the ACE! programme, and look forward to seeing them apply the skills and knowledge they have gained to write their own unique life stories ✨ #AccessSingapore #ACEProgramme

🚀 Sharpening their skills and expanding their horizons 🚀 During the third session of our ACE! programme with ORCHID PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL and bp, our students diligently refined their challenge statement solutions and materials for their final presentations. With the invaluable support of their mentors and facilitators, they enhanced the creativity and feasibility of their proposed solutions, and leveraged communication best practices during rehearsals, like using verbal and non-verbal cues, to engage their audiences more effectively. We look forward to seeing our students bring their A-games in the final session, and letting their ideas come to life! #AccessSingapore #ACEProgramme

Diving into the World of Ocean Science with OceanXplorer! 🚢 🌍 Fellows from our Access Fellowship Programme (AFP) recently had a rare and unforgettable opportunity to embark on an educational tour by OceanX aboard the OceanXplorer. The most advanced exploration, research, and media vessel ever built, the OceanXplorer enabled our youths to dive into the incredible world of ocean science, while:  🔹 Engaging with world-class crew and experts leading the forefront of ocean exploration 🔹 Discovering cutting-edge research and media technology aboard the vessel  🔹 Gaining insights into exciting career opportunities in this sector “The tour was a truly fun and enriching experience. It was fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at how advanced technology has elevated the team’s research and explorations. What stood out the most was their passion and dedication to their mission, which I found both admirable and inspiring.” - Nicole Lee, AFP Fellow We are heartened to see that our Fellows have gained valuable insights through the tour, but this would definitely not have been possible without the team at OceanX. Thank you for opening up opportunities for our youths and enabling them to experience and engage with ocean discovery and tech innovation. We look forward to providing more of these unique opportunities for our students, and welcome other potential corporate partners to reach out to us at partnerships@access-sg.co if you’d like to explore collaboration opportunities! #AccessSingapore #OceanX

As we near the finishing line of our Access Fellowship Programme (AFP), we could not be more excited about the incredible strides our Fellows have been making with their capstone projects. In our previous session, they continued refining their solutions, and with the guidance of their AFP Mentors, they crafted dynamic presentation slides that brilliantly showcase their innovative insights and concepts. It has also been truly inspiring to witness the strong rapport being developed between Mentors and Fellows, which has been crucial in creating an atmosphere of trust and open communication within their teams. Keep up the incredible momentum, Fellows, and continue to push the boundaries of your potential ✨ #AccessSingapore #AccessFellowshipProgramme