Singapore International Foundation

Since 1991, the SIV programme has supported more than 1,600 Singaporeans who have volunteered overseas. Today, the SIV corps continues to work with communities to create positive change that is sustained, even after they leave.

Direct Service Projects

Direct Service Projects aim to yield tangible and immediately observable outcomes to overseas communities, as well as present learning opportunities and meaningful service experiences for volunteers.

This is a new platform for the SIF’s overseas community development projects, where groups of volunteers can participate in projects by providing direct services to enhance the quality of life for communities in ASEAN countries.

SIV assignments (In-field SIV assignments)

For six months to two years, in-field SIVs live and work in overseas communities, serving as teachers, healthcare workers, community and social workers, vocational trainers, business and IT advisers, or medical practitioners. They transfer their skills and strengthen the capabilities of their overseas counterparts.

SIV assignments (Specialist teams)

Specialist SIVs work in team-based, skills-transfer projects where they visit overseas partners regularly to build organisational and institutional capacity. They conduct training to upgrade the skills and technical know-how of the overseas communities, and also train hosts to become trainers themselves to enable greater self-reliance.

Our work in SIV specialist teams seeks to empower local partners so they can become catalysts for long-term positive change in their own communities. The SIF's specialist team projects are anchored on the following:

• Incorporating the Training of Trainers (ToT) approach as a central element for human resource development and capacity building.
• Transferring skills and technical know-how to benefit people in the local community as widely as possible.
• Teaching appropriate skills and technology, guided by existing skills levels and resources available in the local partner and host country.
• Working with a local partner that is committed and has the resources to sustain the skills and technology transferred over the long-term.

SIV assignments (workshops)