A slew of changemakers have emerged from this year’s Singapore prize, an award ceremony that honours individuals and organisations who strive to make society better. From a housing complex for seniors to a global initiative on climate change, these leaders are not only making an impact but also driving conversations about important issues that affect us all.
The winners range from a Dutch academic who pioneered wastewater surveillance to tackle Covid-19, to a senior leader in the grassroots and social service sector who galvanised senior volunteers. Other winners include a reformed criminal who now supports vulnerable children, an organisation that promotes inclusive hiring and an entrepreneur who uses coffee to foster meaningful connections. In the Organisations of Good (Large Enterprise) category, Singtel exemplified corporate commitment to inclusivity by leveraging its flagship corporate philanthropy programme, the Singtel Touching Lives Fund, which has raised over S$58 million since 2002. This support has enabled more than 1,800 children with special needs to receive critical education each year.
Meanwhile, the inaugural Leaders of Good (Adult) winner, Dr Vasoo Omar, is a tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. In addition to her work with the Disabled Persons Association of Singapore, she sits on the boards of various charities and public service institutions and is a frequent speaker at community forums. She is an inspiration to many, especially the young, for her unwavering advocacy and relentless effort to help those in need.
A former diplomat, Kishore Mahbubani, who chairs the five-member jury panel that selects the winners, believes that the 21st century is the age of Asian Renaissance. In his memoir, Living The Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir, he describes how Singapore’s biggest challenge in this century is not economic but building a national identity that is grounded in a shared history.
The Singapore prize, which has been around since 2024 and is supported by an anonymous donor, reflects this belief in the importance of a shared history. The donor has contributed a further sum of money to double the prize and create a new category that recognises works on Singapore’s past through mediums other than books, including multimedia and artistic historical works. This category will alternate with the book category over a six-year cycle starting from 2025.
