Mentorship Impact & Bonding Series: People with Purpose Day
- Young Women's Leadership Connection
- Nov 29, 2025
- 3 min read
On the morning of 15 November, over 30 mentees and mentors gathered for YWLC’s People with Purpose Day, organised by the Mentorship Subcommittee. People with Purpose Day was conceived to help mentees reconnect with the deeper “why” behind leadership, and grow into more thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded future leaders. Held at the Enabling Village, the session invited participants to learn about the experiences of communities that may navigate the world in ways different from their own.
Opening Perspectives
Participants heard from Eelin Ong (SG Enable), who shared insights on Singapore’s disability landscape and the nation’s journey towards a more inclusive society.
The talk introduced SG Enable’s values of advocating, acting as a catalyst for, and enabling Persons with Disabilities (PwD) through creating opportunities for them to better integrate into the community. Eelin communicated the concept of Universal Accessibility, and emphasised that everyone benefits from these decisions, not just PwD, and we can all play a part in making a difference in our own communities. She also shared how technology, such as communication aids and mobile apps, serves as an enabler, providing support for training and employment opportunities for PwDs.
During the Q&A session, participants were curious about the process of “matching” PwD to specific jobs, subsidies and support from the Singapore Government, enquiring on companies which could provide this support, the types of preparation needed, and the barriers companies like SGEnable face when others are looking to hire PwD. The conversation also covered best practices in job redesign and creating inclusive workplaces. Eelin explained that one’s mindset plays a major role in this process and that understanding business needs for job design is just as important.
Inside the Enabling Village
Participants also had the opportunity to embark on a guided tour of the Enabling Village, facilitated by Ludus Lab.
The tour was led by Tharn Chun, who was a PwD himself, after suffering from a bacterial infection in his brain from consuming raw fish that affected his hearing. He shared stories behind the development of murals and spaces around the venue, providing insights into how specific programmes had created opportunities for different communities to interact with one another.
Speaking from personal experience, Tharn Chun also reminded participants of the immense support provided by caregivers, which often goes unnoticed, sharing his joy that there are dedicated wellness programmes for them here as well. Additionally, Universal Design strategies were introduced to the participants, for example, the use of warm lighting to ease the experience of those with Visual Spectrum Sensitivity issues.
" The sharing and tour was a good reminder of how we could advocate for others who may experience life differently from us, doing our part to create safe and welcoming spaces for everyone. It also brought me back to my previous role as a Landscape Designer and how we were taught to ensure the concept of “Universal Design” was present in our works, be it through the height of amenities, the types of flooring used, or the range of sensory experiences created. A simple but intentional design choice could drastically improve another person’s experience, and it is important that we try our best to include and consider as many user groups as possible. "
- Alyssa Tee, Mentee
The day concluded with lunch and reflections, as participants were encouraged to consider how they could carry forward the lessons learned whether in their workplaces, communities, or personal leadership journeys. People with Purpose Day reaffirmed that small actions, when rooted in empathy, can create ripples of meaningful change.
“Beyond ensuring support for individuals with special needs to live with dignity, it was heartwarming to see that caregivers are an important part of the eco-system at Enabling Village. A caregivers pod to provide space for respite is an excellent initiative. With Singapore’s ageing population, other initiatives could include efforts to enable the elderly to navigate their golden years with respect and dignity.”
- Tuminah Sapawi, Mentor
YWLC extends our sincere thanks to SG Enable and Ludus Lab for their support and facilitation during this event. We are also grateful to our speakers and tour facilitator for their time and generosity in sharing their expertise with the community.
For those looking to support inclusive businesses, a great place to start is by checking out the Enabling Mark Honour Roll (https://enablingmark.sg/honourroll) where you can find F&B, hotels, and more that embrace inclusivity.
Organising Committee: Kaela Montgomery, Farah Liyana, Jamie Low, Natalie Seow, Rebecca Raja Kumar, Peggy Deng, Nicole Yap
