Young social entrepreneurs secure project funding

The journey took them through mentorship, an overseas study visit and finally a “Pitching for Change” event on October 21, where they presented their business ideas to a panel of judges.
These teams, representing eight countries – Thailand, Azerbaijan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Yemen – were selected from an initial pool of 114 participants at the 2016 YSE workshop in March. 
The teams received guidance from a pool of volunteer mentors from McKinsey & Company and a first-time supporter of the YSE programme, Temasek International. 
The teams also had the opportunity to gain insights from established social entrepreneurs, opinion leaders, academics and captains of industry from several businesses – to tap into their range of expertise in the areas of legal, finance, investments and human resources.
To widen their perspectives, the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) also took them on an international study visit to understand the social-enterprise landscape in Malaysia. 
The programme culminated with participants pitching their business ideas to the judges, and six teams were selected to receive funding of up to US$20,000 (Bt700,000) each. The teams were chosen based on the impact, scalability and sustainability of their social enterprise.
The winning teams are (in alphabetical order): 
1. BeBonobo, headed by Azerbaijani Jasur Hasanov, Malaysian Kay Kay Ong and Yemeni Madyan Aziz Hasan Malfi, aims to promote conscious consumption by disrupting current wasteful consumption patterns through a website that connects individuals and businesses to a list of unwanted items.
2. Kama Batik, headed by Indonesians Ajeng Hilarysa Pramesti, Dyah Rasyid and Novi Anathasya Purba, seeks to solve batik companies’ waste-management issues while empowering women through employment to turn these waste materials into useful products such as bags and accessories.
3. Nomad, headed by Singaporeans Muhammad Haziq Bin Mohd Rashid and Mohd Nasrul Bin Rohmat, seeks to partner local artisans with rural communities in India to create unique crafts.
4. Praxium, headed by Singaporean Louis Puah, creates experiential projects, centred on careers that align with interests of youth with the support of industry professionals who serve as mentors.
5. PsychKick, headed by Singaporeans Shafiqah Nurul Afiqah Binte Ramani and Sayid Hafiz Bin Sayid Zin, seeks to create a mobile application, in addition to traditional approaches, to assist clients and psychotherapists in the treatment process.
6. Saadhan, headed by Indians Mohit Dave and Pranav Harshe, seeks to empower farmers in rural areas of India with greater ownership of the food value chain so as to reduce poverty and resource wastage.
Malaysian Kay Kay Ong, 27, of BeBonobo, said: “Beyond the business skills and knowledge from this programme, we have learned that we are not alone in our journey to build a better world. Through the YSE programme, we work together with like-minded individuals to carve a path towards social change. 
“I will never forget the network of global change-makers I have met here and I am confident that BeBonobo is able to create positive change by promoting a sharing economy and reduce the amount of waste in society.”
Karen Ngui, lead judge and SIF governor, said: “Millennials of today are catalysts for global change. Many are innovative and driven by a strong sense of social purpose. When they come together, they can be dynamic agents for positive social impact. 
“I believe that the YSE platform celebrates diversity, strengthens international connections, bridges cultural differences and further enables the robust exchange of ideas for a better world.”
The SIF YSE 2016 programme is supported by several organisations.