Building a More Compassionate Future: Yee Kuan's Intergenerational Initiative

Yee Kuan's journey towards social entrepreneurship began with a deeply personal observation. "After returning to Singapore from a decade of living abroad, I was shocked to witness a disturbing trend: a lack of respect and empathy between generations," she recalls. "Family mealtimes, which should be filled with joy, were often marred by aggression and disrespect."

This unsettling experience sparked a desire to foster stronger intergenerational bonds. Having learned about the global trend of super-aging and the increasing importance of intergenerational diversity, Yee Kuan realised the urgent need for initiatives that connect young and old.

To better understand the needs and challenges of both young children and seniors, Yee Kuan made a significant career shift – transitioning from a global executive to an early childhood educator. "Three career coaches were astonished by my decision," she recalls. "Such a drastic career change was unprecedented in their experience."

"Success for Yee Kuan lies in realising her vision of a more compassionate society by fostering intergenerational connections and building stronger communities."

Yee Kuan pursued her passion, completing a diploma in early childhood education and becoming a certified teacher for young children. Concurrently, she cared for her mother who was living with Parkinson's and dementia. "It was a demanding period," she reflects, "balancing the demands of my new career with the responsibilities of caregiving."

Following her mother's passing, Yee Kuan sought to translate her experiences and insights into a meaningful social impact initiative. An acquaintance suggested the Venture Builder program at SUSS, providing a platform to develop her vision of an intergenerational co-location center.

The Venture Builder program proved to be instrumental. "With the guidance and support of the exceptional trainers and mentors," she shares, "I completed the program with renewed confidence and a clearer vision for my venture."

However, challenges remained. Despite positive feedback from play-testing her early prototypes at various centers, Yee Kuan faced a significant hurdle: limited funding for further development.

The news of being awarded the Ngee Ann Kongsi- SUSS Impact Grant was a turning point. "This grant provides crucial funding to further develop my prototypes," she says. "It is an affirmation of the social impact that pitter-patter.CLAMP-CLAMP can potentially bring."

For Yee Kuan, success lies in the successful launch and sustainability of her venture. "True success," she reflects, "will be achieved when all the learnings from the Venture Builder program culminate in the founding of a financially sustainable start-up that fosters meaningful intergenerational connections and brings about positive social change."