For the 2025 edition of our CTPCLC Symposium, we will showcase a selection of community initiatives and student projects under the theme The Idea of “Home” @SG60. In addition to CTPCLC students’ project showcase, students from NUS College (NUSC) and NUS Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) will also be joining the symposium to share about their projects.
We have also invited our esteemed alumni to engage in a lively discourse, where you will hear their diverse stories and reflections since graduation.
Date: 27 September 2025, Saturday
Time: 9am to 1.30pm (Guests to be seated by 8.50am)
Location: NUS UTown Auditorium 1 (Google Map)
CTPCLC Annual Symposium is where changemakers, community and thought leaders engage on one platform to share their views on community issues. In addition to showcasing our students' research projects with partnering social service organisations, this event also serves as an annual celebration for our graduands. It recognises their achievements in community development and the honing of their leadership skills during their undergraduate studies.
This year, we are honoured to have Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Senior Minister of State for Education to grace our event and share his insights as a panellist.
As we celebrate SG60 under the theme "Building Our Singapore Together", the panel will kick off CTPCLC Symposium 2025 with thought-provoking discussions on what being "at home" entails in today's complex world, how home is experienced, and the individual roles we (can) play in creating a sense of place and belonging in Singapore, so that we can move together to continue to build Singapore and to reinforce the strengths we have in our community.
Guest-of-Honour
Mr David Neo
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and
Senior Minister of State for Education
Special Guest
Ms Chua Weiling
Chief Executive Officer,
One Hill Capital Pte Ltd
and Director of Philanthropy, Chua Foundation
Panellist
Mr Cheng Tian Wei
Strategy and Transformation,
Allkin Singapore CTPCLC Alumnus (2024)
Panel Moderator
A/Prof Chng Huang Hoon
Director, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre, NUS
Keynote Speaker
Mr Khoo Yi Feng
Mental Health Guy
Chevening Scholar 2024-2025
NUS Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2023
Project Showcase
Identifying Families’ Aftercare Needs in Their Post-Home Ownership Journey
Conducted by our very own CTPCLC students, this research examines the aftercare needs of low-income families who have undergone the Keystart Home Ownership Programme launched by South Central Community Family Service Centre (SCCFSC). Data was drawn from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Based on 4 key themes that emerged from the data, the students recommend a three-phase aftercare model to support participants’ financial literacy, home maintenance skills, and social connectedness.
Project Team: *Chin Jun Qi Mavis, Lim Wei Jie, Muhammad Syahmi Bin Senin, *Freddy Ow Yong Zhi Long and Singaravelan Nanddika
Project Supervisor: Dr Kevin S.Y. Tan
Negotiating Memory and Modernity: A Stakeholder-Centric Redevelopment of Esplanade Park
Project team from Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) examines the ongoing urban tension between heritage preservation and modern development, using Singapore’s Padang and Esplanade Park as focal points. Drawing on a multi-layered historical analysis and recent legislative recognition of the Padang’s national and potential UNESCO status, the study highlights the need to balance commemorative legacy with an evolving civic identity. A stakeholder-driven, collaborative placemaking approach guided the redevelopment proposal for Esplanade Park, integrating site’s history, context, and urban redevelopment needs. By incorporating interactive installations and curated cultural experiences, the project aims to revitalize Esplanade Park, fostering a renewed sense of place and identity. This approach demonstrates how collaborative placemaking can harmoniously integrate memory and modernity for future urban generations.
Project Team: Tang Haiyi, *Tio Hazel, Zhou Hong
Project Supervisor: Assoc Prof Sadaf Ansari
Coming Home Empty: Empty Nesters’ Perspectives in Filling Up Their Lives with Art
This study examines the expected and/or lived experiences of female empty nesters in Singapore and explores how art-based initiatives can support their journey. Partnering with Mama on Palette (MoP), a community that supports mothers in artistic expression, this research seeks to shed light on local literature that still requires much development about Empty Nester Syndrome (ENS). Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight mothers, where key themes such as spousal relationships, phases of transition, and self-fulfilment were revealed.
These findings highlight how MoP has fostered community and empowerment, along with how the organisation can further develop its structures to support future and current empty nest participants. Recommendations include buddy systems, bonding programmes, and regular collaborative projects. Overall, this study contributes to understanding ENS in Singapore and underscores the role of artistic engagement in fostering well-being and resilience.
Project Team: *Chan Chomel, *Shannon Foo Shao Wei, Kok Ying Xin, *Denise Leong En Hui, *Angie Lim Tze Yii and *Isabel Lui Yisha
Project Supervisor: Ms Kuah Ting Ting
Nourishing Rough Sleepers in Singapore
This Impact Experience project addresses the critical issue of food insecurity among rough sleepers in Singapore. Guided by a needs assessment conducted directly with the community, the NUS College (NUSC) project team seeks to establish a sustainable food distribution system in partnership with Homeless Hearts of Singapore (HHOS) and food charities. This collaborative approach aims to provide regular, nutritious meals to rough sleepers — aiming to alleviate their financial burdens and improve their overall physical and mental well-being. The project’s key outcome is a replicable food distribution model that directly responds to the community's identified needs.
Project Supervisor: Dr Nurhidayahti Binte Mohammad Miharja
Project Team: *Seek En-Ting Keicia, Soh Tze Jen, Chia Si Nuo Deborah, Chin Cherng Yuen, Fam Li Ren, Asher, and Tay Kay Jun Timothy.
* Presenter at Symposium