CTPCLC Symposium 2025: Building a sense of home and belonging through community action
With Singapore marking its 60th year of independence, the annual symposium organised by the NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre (CTPCLC) brought together over 130 students, alumni, faculty and community partners to reflect on the theme of home.
What does “home” mean in Singapore’s 60th year of nationhood? At the annual NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre (CTPCLC) Symposium this year, NUS students, alumni, faculty, guests and community partners, including representatives from the Chua Foundation, came together to explore this question, discovering that “home” is as much about neighbourliness and family as it is about digital connections and inclusive communities.
Held on 27 September 2025, the Symposium brought together more than 130 attendees, to reflect on the theme: The Idea of ‘Home’ @SG60.
Perspectives on belonging
The event opened with a panel discussion moderated by CTPCLC Director Associate Professor Chng Huang Hoon, featuring Guest-of-Honour Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education; Ms Chua Weiling, Director of Philanthropy at Chua Foundation and CEO of One Hill Capital Pte Ltd; and CTPCLC alumnus Mr Cheng Tian Wei.
Mr Neo emphasised the importance of balancing individual and collective responsibility in fostering a sense of belonging, noting the symbiotic relationship between the individual and the community. "The 'Me' succeeds because of the 'We', and willingly gives back to the 'We'. Policies and programmes may set the foundation but everyone must work together to build connections, strengthen trust and shape our collective future." he said.
Building on the emphasis on collective responsibility, Ms Chua highlighted that philanthropy should begin at home, noting that individuals can make their impact felt by giving back to Singapore before looking further afield. “If you want to start something, start from home,” she said. Echoing this ground-up ethos, Mr Cheng shared how everyday neighbourliness forms the bedrock of cohesion. He said, “With everyone looking out for their neighbours, and the people around them, we can build a kinder, more compassionate society.”
Together, their perspectives traced a clear vision of “home”, enabled by national structures, nurtured within families and communities, and sustained through compassionate community practice.
From kampung to cloud
Offering a contemporary twist, CTPCLC alumnus and 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, Mr Khoo Yi Feng, delivered a keynote address titled From Kampung to Cloud: Rethinking Home in an Age of Movement and Memory.
Mr Khoo noted that in today’s world, belonging extends beyond physical spaces. “As networked individuals, we fulfil our needs in multiple online communities. This challenges community leaders to design, cultivate and steward virtual spaces. The feeling of ‘home’ doesn’t just happen and is no longer just a physical place.”
Drawing on his experiences with mental health advocacy, he urged students, educators, and partners to co-create spaces—physical and virtual—where people feel safe, seen, supported, and empowered to “make good trouble”.
Diverse pathways to community impact
A highlight of the Symposium was a showcase of four student-led community projects, where NUS students applied classroom learning to tackle real-world social issues.
Identifying the aftercare needs of families in their post-home ownership journey
CTPCLC students Mavis Chin Jun Qi (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) and Freddy Ow Yong Zhi Long (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) presented a study in partnership with the South Central Community Family Service Centre, to examine the aftercare needs of low-income families who completed the Keystart Home Ownership Programme. Using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, the team developed a three-phase aftercare model that focuses on strengthening financial literacy, building home maintenance skills, and deepening social connectedness to support families’ stability beyond the point of purchase.
Negotiating memory and modernity: A stakeholder-centric redevelopment of Esplanade Park
A team from NUS Ridge View Residential College (RVRC), represented by Hazel Tio (Science ’26), investigated the urban tension between heritage preservation and modern development through the lens of the development of the Padang and Esplanade Park. Grounded in multi-layered historical analysis and the site’s recent national recognition and potential UNESCO status, the study proposed a stakeholder-driven, collaborative placemaking approach for Esplanade Park. By integrating the site’s history, context, and redevelopment needs with interactive installations and curated cultural experiences, the team outlined a path to revitalise the park, renewing civic identity while harmonising memory and modernity.
Coming home empty: Perspectives of empty nesters who find renewed purpose in art
Partnering with Mama on Palette (MoP), a community supporting mothers’ artistic expression, CTPCLC students Chomel Chan (Arts and Social Sciences ’25), Shannon Foo Shao Wei (Business ’26), Denise Leong En Hui (Arts and Social Sciences ’25), Angie Lim Tze Yii (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) and Isabel Lui Yisha (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) explored the expected and lived experiences of female empty nesters in Singapore. Through semi-structured interviews with eight mothers, the research surfaced themes including spousal relationships, phases of transition, and self-fulfilment. This project highlighted how MoP fosters community and empowerment and pointed to opportunities to deepen support for current and future empty nesters. Recommendations included buddy systems, bonding programmes, and regular collaborative art projects—underscoring the role of artistic engagement in ensuring wellbeing and resilience.
Nourishing rough sleepers in Singapore
NUS College student Keicia Seek En-Ting (Arts and Social Sciences ’27) addressed food insecurity among rough sleepers, as part of her team’s Impact Experience project by working with Homeless Hearts of Singapore and food charities to co-develop a sustainable food distribution system. Guided by a needs assessment conducted directly with rough sleepers, the project aims to provide regular, nutritious meals that alleviate financial pressures and improve physical and mental well-being. A key outcome is a replicable distribution model designed to respond to community-identified needs and enable longer-term support.
Recognising achievement and community spirit
The symposium also celebrated the Class of 2025 graduates who completed the Certificate or Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership. In her valedictory address, Isabel Lui (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) thanked professors, peers, and families for anchoring the cohort’s journey, and urged her classmates to carry that sense of belonging into every space—serving, collaborating, and building communities where others feel they belong. The event concluded with a networking lunch, where students, alumni, partners, and guests renewed connections and exchanged ideas to make the world a little more like home.
The 2025 symposium marked another key milestone in CTPCLC’s ongoing work to cultivate youth leaders who can bridge sectors, mobilise communities, and co-create solutions. With sustained support from the Chua Foundation and strong partnerships across NUS and the wider community, CTPCLC continues to empower students to play an active role in building an inclusive, resilient society, and contribute meaningfully to Singapore and beyond.
By NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre
The NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre offers both a Certificate and a Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership. To date, 370 students have been awarded the Certificate in Community Development and Leadership and 59 of these students also received a Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership.
