The Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme (CTPCLP) in the National University of Singapore (NUS) aims to develop Singapore’s next generation of change makers and social innovators.

The CTPCLP Symposium 2015 was held on 14 April to commemorate the 4th year of the programme set up, as well as to recognise CTPCLP fellows’ efforts in developing partnerships in the community.

SPD’s Advocacy & Outreach division set up a booth at the symposium to create more awareness and provide information on disabilities to the participants. The team had with them various assistive technology devices, visual impairment simulation eyewear as well as information booklets and brochures to allow participants to understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities better. The students were engaged in active discussions at the booth and some had indicated their interest to become SPD volunteers or advocacy ambassadors.

Held at the NUS Chua Thian Poh Hall, the symposium was graced by Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Communications and Information.

Students from different faculties presented their research projects, which covered a wide range of topics relating to community development and social issues like foreign spouses, interactions among elderly residents in high-rise environments, increasing awareness of cancer rehabilitation programmes, experiences of licensed moneylenders and borrowers and documentation of oral histories of Pulau Brani residents. About 240 participants were at the symposium.