Community development and social impact may be a language unfamiliar to you now, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be simple. It is evident in the stories of hope and resilience mirrored over and over again within vulnerable populations; the mobilization of people for a common cause; and the choice to see beyond the ‘me’, finding a connection in the ‘we’. Regardless of your current field of studies, CTPCLC is a place that can value-add to your learning.

My time pursuing a minor with CTPCLC has been a humbling and inspiring one, grounded deeply in the concept of building communities. As we discover the varied meanings of communities through theory and research, I have thrived alongside like-minded individuals and professors who share the same vision and value in community development.

One of my favourite parts of the CTPCLC’s holistic curriculum is its emphasis on applying theory into practice. Offered under the research practicum, student fellows like myself collaborate closely with community partners to deliver a range of social research. Having conducted two research studies with community partners in the Family Service Centre and healthcare settings, my understanding of the evaluative needs and importance of research-based practices within the sector has broadened tremendously.

These experiences have motivated me to rethink my yardsticks of what community development is. As a social worker and active volunteer in the grassroots, children & youth sector and marginalized spaces such as homelessness in Singapore, I leave NUS guided by the lessons I’ve learned in CTPCLC, adopting asset-based community development approaches and evaluative research-oriented lenses.

To future fellows, this space is one I highly recommend you join, and to existing or graduating ones, here’s to building stronger communities together!