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Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund Launched to Support About 2,000 Students Annually Through Scholarships and Programmes

Last Updated: 30 May 2023

News Press Releases

Fund aims to inspire 1,000 IHL student leaders and uplift up to 1,000 ITE and polytechnic students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate resilience and potential

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong launched the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund, which has been established with donations from the private and people sectors to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's birth in 2023. The Fund will support education-related initiatives to develop young leaders in Singapore, including the Singapore Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) which was also launched by DPM Wong.

2. A total of 580 students from the Autonomous Universities (AUs), Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the five polytechnics attended the launch ceremony at Nanyang Polytechnic on 30 May 2023. Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Manpower & Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong were also present at the launch.

Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund

3. The Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund was established from a ground-up initiative by business leaders to invest in and support the development of Singapore youth to become visionary leaders with the imagination and determination to shape Singapore's future as an exceptional nation.

4. Managed under MOE's Education Fund, the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund will be used to support the following four education-related initiatives to develop and recognise young leaders in Singapore, and may also be used for other education-related initiatives in future:

  1. Singapore Young Leaders Programme (managed by the Ministry of Education [MOE]);
  2. Expansion of Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Awards (managed by the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Fund [Company Limited by Guarantee] Board of Directors); and
  3. Lee Kuan Yew Post-Graduate Scholarship for Urban Greenery and Ecology (managed by the National Parks Board); and
  4. Additional support for up to 1,000 Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate resilience and potential (managed by MOE).

5. More details on the scholarship initiatives and support for ITE and polytechnic students from disadvantaged backgrounds can be found in Annex A.

6. Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing said: "We extend our gratitude to the donors for their generous contributions to the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund. Their invaluable support will have a lasting impact on not just our Institutes of Higher Learning, but also shape future generations of leaders who embody a spirit of gumption, vision and service above self. Together, we can forge a bright future for Singaporeans and Singapore."

7. Minister for Manpower & Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng said: "It is especially heartening that many established institutions which have benefitted from our founding leaders' values of transparency, non-corruptibility and good governance are now paying it forward. Their initiatives to remember Mr Lee reflect a strong desire to uphold the values that have made Singapore exceptional so that we can ensure the future of our young."

8. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong said: "With these programmes and initiatives, we hope that the next generation will be inspired by the values and ideals of our founding leaders, learn and form bonds with peers from different institutions, and actively contribute to Singapore's future."

9. The Government will provide a one-off dollar-for-dollar matching, capped at a total of S$50 million to encourage donations to the Fund. To date, the Fund has received $82.3 million in donations from over 20 donors. Please refer to Annex B for the list of donors. [Update as of 14 Sep: Please refer to Annex C for an updated list of donors.]

10. Members of the public who wish to contribute to contribute to the Fund may make donations to the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund under MOE's Education Fund at: https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/education-fund_lkycf_2023.

Singapore Young Leaders Programme

11. The SYLP is the largest youth leadership programme across the IHLs and will bring together about 1,000 student leaders from diverse backgrounds annually. They will participate in leadership modules held throughout the year, including:

  1. Institution-based programmes such as the ITE Student Leaders' Forum, Polytechnic Forum and NUS Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum;
  2. National Youth Council (NYC)'s Leaders Course1; and
  3. Engagement sessions with captains of industry and Government representatives.

12. Through these programmes, students will learn more about Singapore's governance and context, build civic capacity to drive positive change and build networks with peers from other institutions. These opportunities will also advance students' appreciation of the values that guided Singapore's founding leaders, such as resilience, multiculturalism, openness and integrity, which continue to be relevant today.


Footnotes

  1. The NYC Leaders Course is a three-day residential leadership programme that aims to equip student leaders with a deeper understanding of national issues and perspectives, by offering a range of activities including curated learning journeys and workshops.