Nurturing Student Volunteers through the Choo-Lim Service-Learning Fund
Students from Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will have the unique opportunity to broaden their horizons through cross-border service, thanks to a generous S$100,000 gift from Mr Choo Chiau Beng and Dr Eileen Lim Eang Ling to the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) to establish the Choo-Lim Service-Learning Fund. Playing a vital role in the SIF's mission to uplift and empower communities through cross-border collaboration, the Fund enables Singaporean youths to participate in the Foundation’s Service-Learning Programme. Through the programme, students will work alongside communities across the region, develop empathy, gain global exposure, and grow in confidence and leadership.
The support from Mr Choo and Dr Lim also enables volunteers to join specialised tracks addressing both physical and social needs. These range from pioneering the Mental Health Awareness project, to installing bio-sand filters for clean water access and participating in SIF’s broader Youth programmes.
In March 2026, a cohort of 15 Singapore Polytechnic (SP) students became the first group to embark on the new Mental Health Awareness track under SIF’s Service-Learning programme, spending five days in Phnom Penh from 16 to 20 in March 2026. Led by Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) and psychiatrists Dr Jared Ng and Dr Bhanu Gupta, the students had the valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives with Cambodian peers. Together, they co-developed contextually relevant resources to promote youth mental well-being. This included a custom card game designed specifically for the local community to help Cambodian youth explore emotions and coping strategies.
Guided by Dr Ng and Dr Gupta, the students learned to navigate the delicate intersection of mental health and cultural nuances. This mentorship ensured that the activities they prepared were not only meaningful but also culturally appropriate and sustainable for the Cambodian community.
The Service-Learning – Mental Health project created a platform for students to work alongside partners from Caritas Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (Caritas- CCAMH) and engage with teachers and students from the American International School and Chomka Orn Doung Secondary School in Kampong Cham through activities centred on mental well-being. The experience deepened their understanding of Cambodia and showed how empathy, creativity, and collaboration can strengthen communities across borders.
Students supported by the Choo-Lim Service-Learning Fund can expect to undergo a profound shift in perspective. Preparation begins months in advance with cultural orientation, but the real growth happens on the ground. The Choo-Lim Service-Learning Fund ensures that when students are given the platform to serve, they return as resilient, socially conscious individuals ready to thrive in an interconnected world.