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Straits Times
12-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
A shared purpose: ABS and member banks give back to society
Bank CEOs led 1,000 bankers from 30 banks to come together to plant 400 trees to mark ABS' 40th anniversary. THE financial sector in Singapore has long sought to fulfil its role, not only in supporting economic development, but also in uplifting the broader community. As Singapore marks 60 years of independence, ABS and its member banks continue to affirm their commitment to social responsibility by coming together to give back meaningfully to society. With over 150 member banks, ABS has consistently led collective efforts that reflect the sector's deep-rooted belief in shared prosperity. Indeed, ABS' member banks individually contribute to, and actively support, many community and social responsibility programmes. Initiatives such as the ABS Community Giveback Programme and ABS' continued support for the President's Challenge show how a united industry can make a difference. These efforts span financial literacy outreach, support for low-income households, green awareness campaigns, and scam education programmes – critical issues that directly affect the well-being of everyday Singaporeans. Leveraging the collaborative spirit that underpins all that the association does, they amplify the industry's collective impact. In the words of ABS Chairman Helen Wong, 'The growth and development of the financial sector is inextricably tied to Singapore's success… Through the years, ABS has galvanised the banking sector for various industry charity programmes that complement individual banks' CSR efforts. In 2026, we will hold our next Community Giveback event as a clear demonstration of our commitment to serve our customers and uphold the trust placed in us by our customers and the broader community.' As Singapore looks ahead, ABS remains committed to supporting our members to nurture a financial ecosystem that is not only resilient and innovative, but also inclusive and compassionate. Here are some highlights of ABS' contributions through the years. 2025: ABS and its member banks raised S$2.3 million to support the President's Challenge, through donations and ticket sales from the June 3, 2025 SG60 Charity concert. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (2nd from left) with (from left) ABS director Ong-Ang Ai Boon, UOB deputy chairman and chief executive Wee Ee Cheong and Credit Bureau Singapore executive director William Lim at Victoria Concert Hall on June 3. The Charity concert was organised in collaboration with Wolfgang Violin Studio. Honour The Past, Inspire the Future, the celebratory musical concert featured international violinist-composer Aleksey Igudesman and a talented ensemble comprising of 60 budding young musicians, aged 4 to 12 years old, guided by Singapore's renowned violinist Min Lee. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case handed over to Deloitte for liquidation Singapore MyRepublic customers air concerns over broadband speed after sale to StarHub Singapore Power switchboard failure led to disruption in NEL, Sengkang-Punggol LRT services: SBS Transit Singapore NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT resume service after hours-long power fault Business Ninja Van cuts 12% of Singapore workforce after 2 rounds of layoffs in 2024 Singapore Hyflux investigator 'took advantage' of Olivia Lum's inability to recall events: Davinder Singh Singapore Man who stabbed son-in-law to death in Boon Tat Street in 2017 dies of heart attack, says daughter Singapore Man who stalked woman blasted by judge on appeal for asking scandalous questions in court The association also organised various initiatives, aimed at giving back to various segments of the community, including seniors. 2024: In the first year of the ABS Community Giveback Programme, in partnership with SG Cares, 22 pop-up community marketplaces were set up across the island. About 3,200 beneficiary households came to select and collect household essentials that they needed. More than 1,500 bank CEOs and staff volunteered across the 22 community marketplaces to help create a fun 'shopping' experience for beneficiaries. The marketplaces were also visited by various ministers and members of parliament to support the programme. Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat visiting one of the 22 community marketplaces at Beatty Secondary School, with bank staff volunteers. 2023: The ABS Community Giveback Programme was first conceived during the ABS 50th Anniversary dinner as a collective effort to give back to society. Designed as a two-to-three-year initiative, the programme raised S$4 million from member banks to support a range of social causes – from promoting financial literacy to helping families, especially vulnerable groups, adopt digital banking safely and confidently. The ABS Community Giveback Programme was launched by Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. 2013: ABS mobilised members and raised S$450,000 to support the President's Challenge. ABS also organised more than 1,000 CEOs, senior management and staff of bank members to plant 400 trees along Marina Coastal Drive and donated S$160,000 to the National Parks Board's Garden City Fund to commemorate NParks 50 years of greening the island. UOB deputy chairman and chief executive Wee Ee Cheong, ABS director Ong-Ang Ai Boon, former ANZ Singapore chief executive Vishnu Shahaney, and former OCBC group chief executive Samuel Tsien at the ABS 40th Anniversary Tree Planting event. 2003: To mark its 30th anniversary, ABS, together with its member banks, contributed S$1.1 million to the President's Challenge. Senior bankers from a few banks band together for the President's Challenge at the ABS 30th Anniversary Dinner in 2003. ABS: Building a digital, inclusive and secure financial future for all SINCE it was established in 1973, ABS has evolved from a representative body into a trusted voice for the industry from building partnerships with regulators, government agencies and global institutions. Through its work, ABS has helped Singapore's financial sector stay resilient, embrace digital transformation and respond to growing public expectations for security, inclusion and ethical conduct. ABS' mission today is a commitment to ensure its over 150 member banks continue to support Singapore's long-term success, not just economically, but socially as well. Empowering through financial literacy As financial markets continue to evolve and innovate, ABS is making sure all consumers are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions. ABS believes financial literacy is essential to building an inclusive financial ecosystem. ABS, together with its member banks, actively supports nationwide campaigns and education programmes to improve financial literacy across all age groups. Over the years, in partnership with agencies like CPF and MoneySense, these initiatives help Singaporeans understand key financial concepts, avoid risky behaviour, and adopt digital tools with confidence. Such efforts play a vital role in narrowing the financial literacy gap and promoting long-term financial well-being. In 2023, ABS partnered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and other industry bodies to launch the Basic Financial Planning Guide, which outlines four key principles: saving for emergencies, obtaining adequate insurance, planning early for retirement and keeping financial commitments manageable. In addition, ABS maintains a long-standing and ongoing partnership with the CPF Board to support homebuyers. ABS and the CPF Board regularly host public webinars to guide first-time homebuyers especially couples and singles on how to maximise their CPF savings alongside bank loans, in line with public housing policy. Driving innovation with purpose Another major area of focus for ABS is digitalisation. The association has played a pivotal role in some of Singapore's most important financial innovations. The most prominent one being PayNow. Developed in collaboration with the MAS, PayNow allows users to make instant bank transfers using just a mobile, NRIC number or business UEN, without the need for account details. It now serves as the national digital payment rail for consumers, businesses, and even government agencies. PayNow is convenient, secure, and inclusive – everything a modern digital payment platform should be. In 2024, PayNow transactions grew to over 580 million, with a total value of S$222.4 billion. PayNow launched at the ABS Annual Dinner 2017 by CEOs and senior management of the seven participating banks and the director of ABS. ABS is not just concerned with rolling out new financial initiatives, it's also focused on ensuring accessibility. As banks adopt digital-first models, ABS is working to ensure that vulnerable groups, particularly seniors, are not left behind. Over the years, member banks have been sharing with elderly customers ways to bank digitally at workshops and carnivals. Fighting scams and fraud, together With the growth of digital banking comes a rise in scams and fraud, a serious challenge that ABS has taken on. From phishing and impersonation scams to money mule networks, the sophistication of threats has escalated sharply in the last few years. ABS has responded by coordinating industry-wide efforts to bolster security and raise public awareness. Working closely with MAS, the Singapore Police Force, and law enforcement agencies, ABS and its member banks have initiated multiple safeguards from phasing out One-Time Passwords to introducing Singpass Face Verification for stronger authentication. The banking industry has also introduced 'cognitive breaks' interruptions during high-risk transactions that prompt users with alerts or step-up verification. These features are designed to disrupt the psychological manipulation that scammers often use to pressure victims into transferring funds. Technology alone isn't enough. Customer vigilance is critical in the fight against scams. That's why ABS launched Canny the anti-scam mascot, a friendly figure used in campaigns to educate the public on scam tactics and prevention tips. This year, ABS will scale its efforts and launch a new wave of public education campaigns and expand to schools. To promote vigilance against scams, ABS and the banks launched a mascot to be a visual reminder for households to be on guard against digital fraud. The impact is measurable: in 2024, industry efforts helped prevent more than S$74 million in potential scam losses, with S$20.9 billion in funds proactively protected through new features like Money Lock. Supporting responsible AI adoption As the financial sector enters a new phase of innovation driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI, ABS is taking a proactive stance in supporting banks harness these technologies responsibly. AI is already transforming the way banks operate from personalising customer service and improving employee productivity to enhancing fraud detection and credit decisioning. But with great potential comes new risks: ethical concerns, transparency gaps, and operational vulnerabilities. To address this, ABS is working with MAS, technology partners, and audit firms to publish a practical Generative AI handbook in November 2025. The guide will outline best practices, risk considerations, and safeguards for secure and transparent implementation. It comes after a handbook issued by the association in May 2025 on Generative AI Guardrails in banking that was developed in collaboration with MAS and Accenture. Looking ahead As Singapore navigates the next phase of its growth, ABS will continue to play a leading role in uniting the industry around shared challenges and opportunities. Whether it's building digital trust, protecting the vulnerable, promoting responsible innovation, or empowering communities through education, ABS remains committed to shaping a future-ready financial sector, one that is inclusive, resilient, and above all, trusted by the people it serves.
Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Charity concert featuring young performers raises $2.3 million for President's Challenge
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (second from left) with (from left) ABS director Ong-Ang Ai Boon, UOB chief executive Wee Ee Cheong and Credit Bureau Singapore executive director William Lim at Victoria Concert Hall on June 3. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE - To mark Singapore's 60th year of independence, the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) – together with its member banks and industry partners – and its associate company Credit Bureau Singapore (CBS) have raised $2.3 million for the President's Challenge. The funds came from donations and ticket sales for a charity concert that was held at Victoria Concert Hall on June 3. The concert is one of the industry's initiatives that complement the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes of the individual banks. It was organised together with Wolfgang Violin Studio Singapore. The President's Challenge helps to raise funds for many social service agencies to run their programmes. The concert, titled 'SG60 Celebrate! Honour the Past, Inspire the Future', featured a 60-member ensemble of young musicians aged three to 15 on the violin, viola and cello. Among the budding performers from Wolfgang Violin Studio Singapore were Mark Chia, a Primary 6 pupil from Temask Primary School, and Isabel Heng, a Secondary 3 student from Methodist Girls' School. The ensemble was guided by Singapore's own virtuoso violinist Min Lee. In 1995, at just 12 years old, Lee had performed as a soloist at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's first Presidential Charity Concert. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam was guest of honour at the June 3 concert, which drew an audience of 660. The concert programme was arranged by acclaimed international artiste-composer Aleksey Igudesman. In a statement, Ms Helen Wong, chairman of ABS, said: 'The growth and development of the financial sector is inextricably tied to Singapore's success, and ABS is pleased that banks have come together as an industry to organise this charity concert to celebrate SG60 and raise funds for the President's Challenge, like we did in 2013 and 2003. 'Through the years, ABS has galvanised the banking sector for various industry charity programmes that complement individual banks' CSR efforts.' Mr William Lim, CBS' executive director, added: 'This concert is a tribute to Singapore's journey of resilience, unity and progress… We are pleased to be investing in Singapore's future through strengthening the financial industry and giving back to the community.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Times
President's Challenge 2025 to support 52 organisations, with focus on longer-term funding
[SINGAPORE] The President's Challenge 2025, which was launched on Wednesday (May 28) by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, will support 60 programmes by 52 organisations. Although this is fewer than the 88 programmes supported in 2024, the initiative aims to focus on more significant and longer-term funding for beneficiaries. The refreshed President's Challenge this year received applications from 272 programmes – more than twice the number in 2024. In a doorstop interview with the media, Tharman said: 'The happy problem we face is that we've had a lot more applications for this new President's Challenge. And we could therefore afford to be selective, choose programmes which we felt had the greatest potential, and yet cover a broad ground.' Six selected programmes that have established track records will receive a higher tier of funding of S$715,000 to S$1.25 million over five years. The other 54 programmes will receive funding of S$105,000 to S$300,000 for each programme over three years. One of the six programmes is Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore's (RDA) equine-assisted activities. Meanwhile, one of the 54 programmes is Playeum's Open Minds, Open Doors programme. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up RDA currently runs therapeutic riding sessions for persons with disabilities, as well as the Ground Programme, in which beneficiaries can get involved with activities such as horse care. Gerard Sivalingam, general manager of RDA, said: 'We use horses as a form of therapy… (The beneficiaries) see joy in what they are doing. What we offer them is a hobby and something that's not easily accessible.' He added that the funding from the President's Challenge is vital in keeping the programmes free of charge, especially amid rising costs. Meanwhile, one of the 54 programmes is Playeum's Open Minds, Open Doors initiative, which has been ongoing since 2019. It is a community play programme for children with disabilities. Charlotte Goh, executive director of Playeum, said: '(Open-ended play) enables social and emotional skills and 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, self-regulation and self-awareness.' As part of the programme, Playeum also runs workshops for parents to learn about children's holistic development and family bonding through play. It has developed manuals that can be used by both parents and educators. Tharman added: 'All the programmes we're supporting aim not just at meeting immediate needs, but uplifting people, by discovering talents and developing their potential.' In addition, the S$250 million SG Gives Matching Grant announced at Budget 2025 will provide dollar-for-dollar matching by the government for all donations to the President's Challenge. New fellowships This year's President Challenge includes new fellowships, which will cover three tracks. The first track, called Civil Action, offers one or two-year sabbaticals to those who have a minimum of five years of work or active volunteering experience. It is supported by Quantedge Foundation, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Social Sciences. Tharman said: '(This track) is to enable people who are engaged in the social sector – in social work, social services, youth work, and even active volunteers from other professions – the time and opportunity to reflect, do some research, network and develop new ideas for social impact.' The second track, called Springboard, supports individuals who have faced challenges in life and are ready to enter the workforce or become an entrepreneur. The selected fellows can choose between employment and upskilling programmes either for employment or entrepreneurship. Springboard is supported by the Singapore Institute of Management and Temasek. It aims to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, ex-offenders, women facing vulnerable circumstances, and more. The third track is ITE Inspire, which recognises alumni from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) who have made strides in their career and can act as role models for the younger generation. ITE Inspire is also supported by Singapore Business Federation Foundation. ITE will shortlist and select up to five awardees. These awardees will organise programmes such as mentoring, learning journeys and industry visits in Singapore and/or overseas, and workshops or fireside chats to benefit the ITE community. More opportunities in arts and sports The President's Challenge has also partnered the National Arts Council (NAC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) to broaden opportunities for beneficiaries in the arts and sports sectors. The Enabling Sports Fund aims to expand community-initiated disability sports and support early identification of talents among young persons with disabilities. Under the partnership, the President's Challenge will also enhance access to sports for all via SportSG's academies and clubs, as well as more inter-school sports competitions and carnivals. It will also help NAC and SportSG expand their scholarship offerings.
New Paper
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Successful ITE graduates to be recognised as part of 3 new fellowships in President's Challenge 2025
A new fellowship to recognise Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates who have had outstanding career achievements was among three tracks launched under the refreshed President's Challenge on May 28. The ITE Inspire Fellowship recognises those who have achieved success following a technical education background so as to enlist them to serve as role models and mentors to motivate others. The fellowship was introduced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during a visit with Netball Singapore, an organisation receiving funding this year under the President's Challenge. The President's Challenge was established in 2000 by then President S R Nathan to raise money for and support various social causes. It has provided funding for many social service agencies to run their programmes. The other two fellowships launched in 2025 are the Civic Action and Springboard fellowships, which aim to develop new approaches in the social sector, and support individuals who are bouncing back from major setbacks respectively. The Civic Action Fellowship will be open to social sector professionals and allow them to deepen their expertise and develop new approaches for the sector through full-time and part-time sabbaticals that span one to two years. The Springboard Fellowship will help those bouncing back from adversity and provide them with education, skills and entrepreneurship training so they can embark on new career paths. The three fellowships will tap partners like Quantedge Foundation, Singapore Institute of Management, Singapore Business Federation Foundation, Temasek and ITE for their resources and networks. Applications for the Civic Action and ITE Inspire tracks will be open from June 3 to July 18 via the President's Challenge website. Nominations for the Springboard track in the first year will be sought through agencies in the social and civic sector. Speaking to media at the event, Mr Tharman said the fellowships aim to broaden the "canvas" of leadership in society. "We want more catalysts and role models for social change, and they come from different walks of life," he said. He said he wanted the Springboard Fellowship, which helps people bouncing back from adversity, to be part of the President's Challenge to show that it is important to recognise that there are many paths in life. And very often, the path involves a setback along the way. Singapore is at a stage of development as a country where intangibles matter greatly, Mr Tharman said, adding that the ultimate objective of the President's Challenge is intangible - to build a community of respect. He said: "Developing that community of respect - where we respect everyone, not just respecting our differences, but respecting the effort, skill, and contribution that everyone brings - is what creates unity. But it's more than that; it's actually one of the most powerful ways in which we uplift ourselves. "It is how we motivate and uplift each other. Recognising the very different life circumstances that we each have, putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, realising the obstacles they face, encouraging and motivating them to overcome those obstacles, and developing friendships and relationships with one another that are respectful." In 2025, the President's Challenge will support 60 programmes from 52 organisations, including six initiatives that will receive more funding. These programmes will receive funding ranging from $715,000 to $1,250,000 over five years, enabling them to scale their impact. These include a therapeutic horseback riding initiative for those with disabilities run by the Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore, and a community patrol initiative that engages youth facing adversity by Shine Children and Youth Services. New Life Stories' Family Strengthening Programme is also one of the six that will receive significant funding this year. The programme, which helps inmates and their families, supported more than 650 families in 2024. "The funding will not only help us increase the number of families that we support, but also allow us to go further in-depth with each family and improve the quality of service we provide so we can make really deep, meaningful impact in their lives," said chief executive of New Life Stories Saleemah Ismail. The initiative helps incarcerated parents connect with their children through open visits and special activities like letting the parents write storybooks in prison that their children can read. Another programme that will receive extra funding this year is Women At Work, an initiative by Yayasan Mendaki to help unemployed Malay-Muslim women get back into the workforce. Programme lead Zuria Yusope said the programme helped 200 women in 2024, 54 per cent of whom attained a job within six months. "With this sustained funding over five years, we will be able to reach out to even more women and increase the number of sessions that we hold to improve their employability," she said. This year's grant call attracted applications from 272 programmes, more than twice that for 2024. One of the three key shifts the President's Challenge has made in 2025 is to ensure the programmes it funds do not just support immediate needs, but also uplift people and develop their potential. It also expanded to the arts and sports sectors, and made a move towards sustained funding instead of on a year-by-year basis. Other than the six initiatives receiving extra funding, the President's Challenge will also support 54 other programmes with funding of $105,000 to $300,000 each, spread over three years. This includes Netball Singapore's Netball Rising programme - a new initiative to provide regular coaching and competitive opportunities to potential athletes aged 12 to 17 from underprivileged backgrounds. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam throwing a netball at the Kallang ActiveSG Netball Centre on May 28. Looking on are President Tharman's spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi (right), members of NorthLight School's netball team and their coach Liew Hin Joon (foreground). ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The President's Challenge 2025 expanded its scope to include support for arts and sports. The National Arts Council (NAC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) will act as partners to the President's Challenge and help with talent discovery, especially among those from less advantaged backgrounds. Under its partnership with SportSG, the President's Challenge will support the Enabling Sports Fund to expand community-initiated disability sports and support early identification of talents among young people with disabilities. Support will also be given to NAC's and SportSG's scholarships, to empower more individuals to develop their aspirations in the arts and sports. The logo for President's Challenge was also changed this year after a logo competition was opened to polytechnic, ITE, and University of the Arts Singapore students. The winning design among 153 entries was by Xandrea Alfie Isa from Temasek Polytechnic.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Successful ITE graduates to be recognised under a new fellowship in President's Challenge 2025
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, posing for photos with Women At Work programme lead Zuria Yusope (right) and beneficiaries Nuruljannah Sehab (left) and Norsuryani Abdul Jamal during the launch of the President's Challenge 2025. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Successful ITE graduates to be recognised under a new fellowship in President's Challenge 2025 SINGAPORE - A new fellowship to recognise Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates who have had outstanding career achievements was among three tracks launched under the refreshed President's Challenge on May 28. The ITE Inspire Fellowship recognises those who have achieved success following a technical education background to serve as role models and mentors to motivate others. The fellowship was introduced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during a visit with Netball Singapore, an organisation receiving funding this year under the President's Challenge. The President's Challenge was established in 2000 by then-President S R Nathan to raise money for and support various social causes. It has provided funding for many social service agencies to run their programmes. The two other fellowships launched in 2025 are the Civic Action and Springboard fellowships, which aim to develop new approaches in the social sector as well support individuals who are bouncing back from major setbacks respectively. The Civic Action Fellowship will be open to social sector professionals and allow them to deepen their expertise and develop new approaches for the sector through full-time and part-time sabbaticals that span one to two years. The Springboard Fellowship will help those bouncing back from adversity and provide them with education, skills and entrepreneurship training so they can embark on new career paths. The three fellowships will tap partners like Quantedge Foundation, Singapore Institute of Management and Singapore Business Federation Foundation for their resources and networks. Applications for the Civic Action and ITE Inspire tracks will be open from June 3 to July 18 via the President's Challenge website. Nominations for the Springboard track in the first year will be sought through agencies in the social and civic sector. Speaking to media at the event, Mr Tharman said the fellowships aim to broaden the 'canvas' of leadership in society. 'We want more catalysts and role models, and they come from different walks of life,' he said. He said he wanted the Springboard Fellowship, which helps people bouncing back from adversity, to be part of the President's Challenge to show that it is important to recognise that there are many paths in life. And very often, the path involves a setback along the way. Singapore is at a stage of development as a country where intangibles matter greatly, he said, adding that the ultimate objective of the President's Challenge is intangible - to build a community of respect. 'This intangible respect for all is how we motivate and uplift each other, recognising the very different life circumstances we all have, putting ourselves in someone else's shoes and realising that they face obstacles, and encouraging and motivating everyone to overcome those obstacles.' In 2025, the President's Challenge will support 60 programmes from 52 organisations, including six initiatives that will receive more funding. These programmes will receive funding ranging from $715,000 to $1,250,000 over five years, enabling them to scale their impact. This includes a therapeutic horseback riding initiative for those with disabilities run by the Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore, and a community patrol initiative that engages youth facing adversity by Shine Children and Youth Services. New Life Stories' Family Strengthening Programme is also one of the six that will receive significant funding this year. The programme, which helps inmates and their families, supported more than 650 families in 2024. 'The funding will not only help us increase the number of families that we support, but also allow us to go further in-depth with each family and improve the quality of service we provide so we can make really deep, meaningful impact in their lives,' said chief executive of New Life Stories Saleemah Ismail. The initiative helps incarcerated parents connect with their children through open visits and special activities like letting the parents write storybooks in prison that their children can read. Another programme that will receive extra funding this year is Women At Work, an initiative by Yayasan Mendaki to help unemployed Malay-Muslim women get back into the workforce. Programme lead Zuria Yusope said the programme helped 200 women in 2024, 54 per cent of whom attained a job within six months. 'With this sustained funding over five years, we will be able to reach out to even more women and increase the number of sessions that we hold to improve their employability,' she said. This year's grant call attracted applications from 272 programmes, more than twice of that for 2024. Other than the six initiatives receiving extra funding, the President's Challenge will also support 54 other programmes with funding of $105,000 to $300,000 each, spread over three years. This includes Netball Singapore's Netball Rising programme – a new initiative to provide regular coaching and competitive opportunities to potential athletes aged 12-17 from underprivileged backgrounds. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam throwing a netball at the Kallang ActiveSG Netball Centre on May 28. Looking on are President Tharman's spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi (right), members of NorthLight School's netball team and their coach Liew Hin Joon (foreground). ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The President's Challenge 2025 expanded its scope to include support for arts and sports. The National Arts Council (NAC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) will act as partners to the President's Challenge and help with talent discovery, especially among those from less advantaged backgrounds. Under its partnership with SportSG, the President's Challenge will support the Enabling Sports Fund to expand community-initiated disability sports and support early identification of talents among young people with disabilities. Support will also be given to NAC's and SportSG's scholarships, to empower more individuals to develop their aspirations in the arts and sports. The logo for President's Challenge was also changed this year after a logo competition was opened to polytechnic, ITE, and University of the Arts Singapore students. The winning design among 153 entries was by Xandrea Alfie Isa from Temasek Polytechnic. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
