Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre

07/10/2026

This story is part one of a two-part series about the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre at NUS, as it celebrates the 15th anniversary of its programme this year. Read part two above, “From knowing to doing: NUS academics and students drive impact through community research”.

24/09/2026

Thank you for the warm wishes and for celebrating this special milestone with us! 💛

As we mark 15 years of CTPCLC, we are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey — our students and alumni, colleagues, community partners, supporters and friends who have learnt, grown and worked alongside us over the years.

📸 Relive the celebration and browse our event gallery for more beautiful moments from this special occasion: https://ctpclc.nus.edu.sg/events/15th-anniversary-celebration

17/09/2026

“Anybody can recommend anything… but what is the evidence supporting it?”

For Ms Kuah Ting Ting, Instructor at the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre, meaningful community development requires more than good intentions. It means listening to communities, understanding their needs, and grounding action in research and evidence.

That thinking underpins the Centre’s research practicums, where students work with organisational partners on real research needs — bringing together students’ learning and research, partners’ experience, and the voices of the communities they serve.

Four NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences graduates put this into practice through a year-long collaboration with =DREAMS Dreams Singapore, a non-profit organisation supporting youths from under-resourced families through a weekday residential programme.

Look through the photos to learn about their research journey, what they learnt from the =DREAMS community, and what the collaboration contributed.

16/09/2026

Meet two of CTPCLC’s most dedicated champions: Miao Yu and Seah Jie Hui!

From volunteering at Open Houses, Symposiums and outreach activities, Miao Yu and Jie Hui have consistently been among CTPCLC’s most dedicated and passionate CTPCLC ambassadors.
At our upcoming event, Miao Yu and Jie Hui will be taking on double duty! Not only will they be hosting as our event Emcees🎤, but they will also be doing a poster presentation of their research project on: 📌 "Understanding the needs of individuals and families affected by alcohol use in Singapore through researching social agencies"

Reminder: Be sure to join us on 19 September to hear from Miao Yu, Jie Hui, and our full line-up of programmes!

11/09/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Professor Albert Teo, Founding Director of CTPCLC, will be joining us as a distinguished speaker at the 15th Anniversary event on 19 September live via Zoom💻!

Reflecting on the journey of CTPCLC over the years, Prof Teo shares:
“Looking back as the founding director, it has been most gratifying for me to see the programme nurture cohorts of changemakers with a love for the community, and evolve further into a centre.”

Don't miss the opportunity to hear from the pioneer who helped lay the groundwork for community-centric leadership and education.

07/09/2026

We are excited to showcase “Evaluating Youths’ Progress through Dreams Singapore Scholarship,” a meaningful research project conducted in partnership with =DREAMS Singapore, at our upcoming 15th Anniversary event!

Our CTPCLC Minor Degree graduates🎓—Ang Wei Cai, Christine Devina Wibisono, Edice Koh, and Megan Wang—will share key takeaways and reflect on their personal journeys, and how this research experience redefined their commitment to community leadership.

Stay tuned as we share more updates ahead of the event!

01/09/2026

To make our 15th Anniversary celebration even more special, we are proud to honour a new cohort of changemakers—the Class of 2026 🎓! These 8 NUS graduates have achieved outstanding academic success, officially earning their Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership.

To mark this momentous occasion, Joshua Lee, an Honours graduate in Psychology, will deliver the valedictorian speech. Joshua’s inspiring story of resilience and his unwavering commitment to paying it forward embody the true spirit of what we strive to nurture here at the Centre.

Join us in congratulating the Class of 2026 as they graduate and embark on their next chapters!
https://ctpclc.nus.edu.sg/15th-anniversary-celebration

28/08/2026

Heads up on our 15th Anniversary celebration event! We’re bringing back some of our incredible alumni for a special panel discussion to share their post-CTPCLC journeys and reflect on the experiences that shaped their paths into community leadership.

Notably, panellist Adriana Rasip is celebrating a decade since her graduation in 2016, alongside Jerome, Ming Fang and Myat from the Class of 2021 who are making waves in their respective fields!
Meet the Panel for ‘Our Journey in Community Engagement and Leadership: Alumni Reflections’:
• Adriana Rasip, Assistant Director at Singapore Children's Society & Co-Founder of Empowered Families Initiative
• Jerome Lim, Strategy Manager at Accenture
• Cheong Ming Fang, Senior Manager at The Majurity Trust
• Myat Thu Kyaw, Assistant Manager at Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore

Come for the inspiring stories, stay for the networking and project showcases. Let’s celebrate 15 years of growing community leaders with CTPCLC! Visit page for more: https://ctpclc.nus.edu.sg/15th-anniversary-celebration

25/08/2026

Meet Lim Jia Hui and Zoa Soh Ying Xin 👀

When Jia Hui and Zoa began their practicum with CTPCLC, they were interested in community building, organisations, and systems change. What they didn't expect was how much the process would challenge them to reinvent themselves as qualitative researchers.

Over the course of a year, they conducted interviews, carried out ethnographic observations, and wrestled with one of research's most difficult questions: how do we represent people's experiences responsibly and thoughtfully?

As they prepare to graduate, Jia Hui and Zoa remain committed to work that places human relationships at its centre.

Read their full story: https://ctpclc.nus.edu.sg/humansofctpclc-zoa-and-jiahui

Jia Hui enjoys horror movies and recently watched Mudbound on Netflix. Zoa enjoys taking night walks and is a self-described lover of all kinds of tea. Between horror movies and night walks, one might assume they were obviously adventurous people. Although, as their supervisor found out, it took a w...

21/08/2026

Meet Mr Somesh S/O Sailesh! 👀

For CTPCLC alumnus Somesh, meaningful community leadership doesn't start with solutions—it starts with listening deeply to people's lived experiences. From leading dementia-friendly neighbourhood research at CTPCLC to serving as a Clinical Team Lead at Viriya Community Services and now as a Student Wellness Manager at NUS, Somesh has dedicated his career to walking alongside individuals in their most vulnerable moments.

As he embarks on his PhD in Social Work to focus on developing a culturally responsive LGBTQIA+ affirmative mental health framework for Singapore’s higher education, he exemplifies how practice, research, and empathy continuously fuel one another.

Read on to discover his journey, his advice for aspiring changemakers, and why asking better questions is at the heart of impactful social work! 🌟
https://ctpclc.nus.edu.sg/humansofctpclc-somesh

Meet Somesh Sailesh, CTPCLC alumnus, NUS Student Wellness Manager, and incoming PhD candidate in Social Work. From undergrad research to frontline practice, Somesh’s journey has always been grounded in one principle: meaningful support starts with listening deeply.