YWLC Mentorship People with Purpose Day 2026: Stand Up, Stay Grounded
Organised by Young Women's Leadership Connection in partnership with AWARE
The YWLC Mentorship Programme is designed to help mentees grow in their careers, and also to become purpose-driven, empathetic, and well-rounded leaders. People with Purpose Day is a signature element of the program that brings this mission to life. It offers mentors and mentees a dedicated space to foster deeper bonds while engaging deeply with pressing social issues and scaling impact together.
Now in its second year, the initiative continues to build shared learning experiences for mentor-mentee pairs. The inaugural edition in 2025 was held at the Enabling Village, where participants learned about the lived experiences and inclusion of persons with disabilities. This year, the focus shifted towards active allyship for women experiencing abuse.
On Saturday, 10 October 2026, 6 YWLC mentors, 25 mentees, and members of the organising team gathered at the AWARE Centre on Dover Crescent for People with Purpose Day 2026: Stand Up, Stay Grounded. Run in partnership with the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), the active bystander workshop equipped participants with practical skills to recognise harm, understand what typically holds people back from taking action, and intervene safely in critical moments.
Creating a Safe Space
The session was facilitated by Shamima, who manages Community Engagement at AWARE. Given the sensitive nature of the topics, care was taken from the outset to create a supportive and safe environment for attendees. A designated safety person was present throughout, and participants were encouraged to step away whenever needed. Before the activities began, the group also agreed on shared guidelines for respectful discussion.
3 Rs: Recognise, Respond, Refer
The workshop was built around three stages:
Recognise: Participants explored boundary setting, consent, and the different forms violence can take. They also examined why both victims and bystanders often hesitate to act.
Respond: The group learnt the 5Ds (Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, Direct), which are practical, actionable strategies for intervening safely. Intervening does not have to mean choosing between direct confrontation and doing nothing.
Refer: The session covered referral pathways, so participants know where to guide someone for professional support.
Throughout the session, the focus remained on safety and sound judgement rather than playing the hero. As Shamima reminded the group, there is no single "right" way to be an active bystander. Everyone can choose a role that aligns with their comfort level and the situation at hand.
Learning Side by Side
What made the morning truly distinctive was the opportunity for mentors and mentees to learn together. Pairs paused at key moments to reflect on personal experiences, while small groups, guided by YWLC breakout facilitators, practised bystander strategies through realistic everyday scenarios. These conversations added a meaningful, personal layer to their mentorship relationships.
Continuing your Journey
The session closed with a commitment moment, where each participant shared one concrete action they planned to take as an active bystander. The key takeaway was simple yet powerful: being a bystander isn't about perfection, but about awareness and a willingness to try. Following a final Q&A, mentors and mentees stayed on for an optional networking lunch.
“I found the event extremely introspective about trauma responses and definitely equipped us with a few more tools to better navigate challenging (yet utterly common) scenarios surrounding abuse/assaults etc. I loved how engaging the spokesperson was as well which helped to cut tension in such heavy topics.”
- Arifah, mentee cycle 2026/2027
“This (session) is not just a reminder that we have agency as a bystander. It is about how we can make a meaningful difference as a bystander; safely and intentionally.”
- Pei Rong, mentee cycle 2026/2027
We extend our deep gratitude to Shamima and the AWARE team for a thoughtful and well-facilitated session. We would also like to thank our breakout facilitators and safety person for cultivating such a supportive environment.
Participants looking to deepen their knowledge can look out for AWARE’s Sexual Assault First Responder Training on 5 December 2026.
Support Resources
If you or someone you know needs support:
National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (24 hours): 1800 777 0000
AWARE Women's Helpline: 1800 777 5555
AWARE Sexual Assault Care Centre (for all genders): 6779 0282
Emergency Police Line: 999
Author: Naomi Lizaso
Organising Committee: Kaela Montgomery (Director of Mentorship Subcommittee), Genin Koh (Deputy Director of Mentorship Subcommittee), Joyce Tan, Denise Chong, Nicole Yap, Claryce Chua, She-Ler Goh, Celine Liow, Farah Liyana Normal
