With dedicated mentors, the right resources and an opportunity to take flight, it’s possible to make a real difference in the aspirations and dreams of youths today, guiding them one step closer towards their dreams.
It was with that purpose in mind that the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Foundation was set up in 2024 to bring meaningful and lasting impact to the lives of individuals and communities in need.
Late last year, two programmes, the Youth Outreach Programme (YOP) and Youth Uplift Programme (YUP), were launched by the Foundation and since then, they have made an impact on more than 100 youths, providing enriching experiences to promote their continued learning and development.
Elevating dreams: Youth Outreach Programme
The YOP is designed to foster an interest in aviation among youths from secondary and post-secondary schools. The programme takes them into the heart of aviation operations where they learn how teamwork and diverse roles interweave to keep our customers connected to the rest of the world.
YOP is made possible through the collaborative support of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, SATS, SIA Engineering Company, Scoot and the various SIA divisions. Their engaging and interactive expert-led sessions helped create an unforgettable learning experience for the students.
For Lucas Yean, a student from Changkat Changi Secondary School, the YOP’s impact was transformative. “The programme gave me a new perspective about how things work and broadened my understanding of the various roles and responsibilities within the sector,” he reflects. “Seeing all this inspired me further to have a career in the aviation industry.”
Seeding aspirations: Youth Uplift Programme
Targeting Singaporean students from lower-income families, the YUP helps these students to advance their education through financial support, traineeship opportunities, skill-building workshops and mentorship from SIA staff. In 2024, 20 students received the SIA Foundation Awards as part of the YUP.
An invaluable component of the YUP for the students was receiving mentorship from SIA staff where they gained industry insights and career counselling on their professional development.
Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Year 2 student and award recipient, Muhammad Nawfal Mateen Bin Faizal shares, “Other than the financial support, I was given lots of opportunities to engage and network with professionals working under SIA. It gave me a good understanding into what goes on behind the company, and a clearer view of my job opportunities for when I enter the workforce.”
For Pricing & Merchandising Analyst Leong Jie Li (Jieli Leong), having the opportunity to be a mentor is a great way to give back and inspire the next generation of aviation professionals. “I hope to be a good role model and mentor figure so I can inspire my mentee to grow professionally in her career in aviation as well as personally in life,” she says.
The YUP has also benefitted students like Benjamin Heng Kang and Raheel Mughal, final year students at ITE, who are currently undergoing their six-month traineeship in SIA’s Engineering Division.
For Benjamin, the traineeship has given him a bird’s eye-view of the aviation industry that no textbook could provide. “My long-term career aspiration is to build a successful career in the aviation industry as a technical expert, and this traineeship with SIA has played a crucial role in turning that dream into reality,” he shares. “This experience has provided me with invaluable hands-on insights that I could never have gained from school alone.”
The monetary support from the award has also made a significant difference by easing the financial burden of their studies, allowing them to fully focus on learning and invest in tools that extend their education beyond the classroom.
“With the award, I was able to save up and invest in a 3D printer, which I use alongside programmes like AutoCAD and SolidWorks to design and prototype components. This has helped me develop a strong foundation in design thinking and engineering,” says Raheel.
What’s next for the Foundation?
As the SIA Foundation enters its second year, it continues to seek new ways to reach more youths. It is proud to have supported this first cohort and enabled them to envision a career in aviation.
Says SIA Foundation General Manager Lim Mingyi, “This year has been an exciting chapter as we have laid the groundwork for the SIA Foundation. It has been heartening to see the impact of our programmes on the youths and how it has made a difference in their lives. There is still much to achieve, and we look forward to driving more meaningful initiatives to benefit the wider community.”
To learn more about the SIA Foundation and the work it does, please visit their website.
