When Giving Back Becomes Receiving: NUS Students Find Fulfilment in Communities and Engagement Service-Learning Courses

When NUS Data Science & Analytics undergraduate Ms Zahra Prilia Kinanti first heard about the Communities and Engagement course, GEN2062 Community Activities for Seniors with SG Cares, she was immediately drawn to it. Having grown up witnessing her grandmother’s positive ageing journey, she wanted to ensure that other seniors could enjoy that same experience.  

“I wanted to be part of bridging that gap, to bring connection, joy and engagement into their daily lives,” she shared.

Ms Zahra Prilia Kinanti, a final-year student from the NUS Faculty of Science, shared her volunteering experience at the Mapletree Appreciation Event on 25 August 2025.

Over the months, she grew to appreciate the value of the course beyond the activities she was planning. “These activities are more than just entertainment,” Zahra added. “They are doorways to connection, joy and strengthening our local community here in Singapore.”

This transformative experience is at the heart of the Communities and Engagement (C&E) pillar of NUS’ General Education curriculum. With over 200,000 service-learning hours logged since its inception in 2021, C&E has become one of the largest student volunteering efforts in Singapore. More than volunteering hours, these are courses which enable students to move beyond sympathy to deep reflection and constructive actions for issues faced by underprivileged and disadvantaged communities.

A Gift for Society

Guest-of-Honour Ms Low Yen Ling (sixth from right), Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, witnessed the presentation of a S$3 million gift from Mapletree – represented by Mr Edmund Cheng (seventh from left), Mapletree Chairman – to NUS – represented by Professor Aaron Thean (fifth from right), NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost – in support of the NUS Communities and Engagement (C&E) Pillar. They were joined by representatives from both institutions, students and senior beneficiaries from Adventist Active Centre @Golden Peony participating in NUS C&E Pillar’s befriending programmes. (Credit: Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)

The C&E pillar’s ambition has now received a significant boost. Global real-estate powerhouse Mapletree Investments (Mapletree) has pledged S$3 million to support these service-learning courses, with a focus on Seniors and Vulnerable Families. This is not Mapletree’s first foray into educational philanthropy at NUS; the Mapletree Bursary, established in 2012, has already supported more than 130 students over the years.

But this latest gift is strategically different. The multi-million-dollar contribution is part of Mapletree’s US$10 million commitment to Temasek Trust’s Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), reinforcing two of Mapletree’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars: Healthcare and Education. In 2023, Temasek Trust announced the launch of PAA to drive positive impact across Asia by uniting philanthropic partnerships and strategies, with the goal of addressing important social challenges. One such challenge is Singapore’s rapidly ageing population—one in four residents will be 65 years or older by 2030.

To address the issues faced by a greying population, Mapletree’s gift aims to support the University’s efforts to target this pressing societal challenge in a multi-faceted way. NUS students taking these service-learning courses under the C&E pillar will play an important part in befriending socially vulnerable seniors, developing programmes for healthy ageing and supporting disadvantaged families.

Mapletree's S$3 million gift empowers NUS students to create engaging activities that enhance seniors' cognitive, physical and overall well-being.

“With this S$3 million endowed gift today, Mapletree hopes to promote intergenerational bonding, opportunities to enhance ageing-in-place initiatives and a volunteering culture among youth,” shared Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree Investments. “We are proud to support NUS and we remain committed to transforming lives and uplifting communities alongside PAA. Together, we can accelerate positive changes for the good of our society.”

Bringing Joy Through Befriending

For Ms Kwan Yi Rui from the NUS Faculty of Science and Ms Ng Zhi Ying from the NUS Business School, GEN2060 Reconnect SeniorsSG was a thoroughly rewarding experience. The two are befrienders at NTUC Health Heartbeat at Bedok Active Ageing Centre, where they spend time befriending and visiting seniors who would otherwise have limited social interaction. 

More than just clocking volunteer hours, Yi Rui hoped to derive deeper fulfilment from the course. “I wanted to give back in a way that felt personal to me, and bring joy, warmth and human connection,” she shared.

Earlier in the year, Yi Rui and Zhi Ying had the opportunity to plan a special day out for one of their seniors, Madam Eng, bringing her to visit Gardens by the Bay for the first time.

Ms Kwan Yi Rui (left), a third-year student from the NUS Faculty of Science, and Ms Ng Zhi Ying (right), a third-year student from the NUS Business School, had the rewarding experience of bringing Madam Eng to Gardens by the Bay for the first time as part of the GEN2060 Reconnect SeniorsSG.

“I still remember at our initial planning stage, she mentioned how she loves flowers and never had a chance to visit Gardens by the Bay before,” recounted Yi Rui. “On the day itself, we saw how her face lit up as she pointed out flowers. She laughed more that day than I had ever seen before.”

Pedagogy with Purpose

The multifaceted impact of NUS’ C&E courses is its core strength. Beneficiaries gain companionship and practical support, community partners receive dedicated manpower and students cultivate lifelong values of compassion, empathy and initiative.

“Some might say that the volunteers are giving to the elderly, but I believe it’s a two-way exchange,” Zahra added. “Over the past few months, I’ve learnt so much from them in return.”

Reflecting on her befriending experience with Madam Eng, Zhi Ying shared similar sentiments: “Beyond what we’ve given, we’ve received so much in return,” she explained. “This experience has taught us patience, empathy and the value of cherishing relationships. We fondly remember how she would eagerly ask about our studies and future plans, listening with genuine interest and cheering us on. These moments showed us that care and encouragement go both ways.”

At its core, the C&E pillar reminds us that education is not only about knowledge, but about connection. Each encounter between students like Zahra, Yi Rui and Zhi Ying and their beneficiaries is a bridge built, where both sides give, receive and grow. These shared experiences sow the values of empathy and resilience that will continue to shape our students and the society they serve long after their time at NUS.