SINGAPORE – 22 July 2025 – The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore today marked its 150th Anniversary with a special launch of a new Hopemaker Movement and its accompanying Women’s Business Accelerator Programme at the YWCA Fort Canning.

This landmark event, graced by Guest-of-Honour Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, marks not just a new chapter, but a bold leap forward in the YWCA’s enduring commitment towards empowering women, supporting families, strengthening communities, and carrying its pioneering legacy forward into the next era of social innovation.

As Singapore’s first and oldest women’s charity, the YWCA has consistently served women, girls and families in practical and transformative ways, often trailblazing initiatives to meet evolving needs. These pioneering initiatives included setting up Singapore’s first lending library and night schools to educate women, and Singapore’s first play school for children, to empower women to go to work, among many others.

The Hopemaker Movement: Igniting Hope, Strengthening Communities

YWCA’s newly-launched Hopemaker Movement seeks to recognise every woman – whether she is a full-time caregiver, a working professional, or juggling both – affirming her as a “creator of hope.” This movement recognises her pivotal role not only in nurturing families but also shaping futures. It serves as a call to action for individuals and organisations to actively contribute to building a more compassionate and supportive society, by giving greater visibility and voice to women.

Empowering Through the Women’s Business Accelerator Programme

A key pillar of the Hopemaker Movement is the Hopemaker: Women’s Business Accelerator (HWBA) programme which directly addresses the evolving needs of women from challenging backgrounds, such as those from the lower-income groups, caregivers of children with special needs or transnational women. Many women today are embracing entrepreneurship to achieve a crucial balance between their careers and caregiving responsibilities. However, women from challenging backgrounds often face unique barriers exacerbated by a lack of digital and financial literacy, and limited access to vital networks of support and resources.

YWCA’s HWBA programme, co-developed with support from partners such as MADCash and Brain Juice Collective, offers a truly comprehensive support ecosystem tailored to the unique needs of aspiring women entrepreneurs. This unique collaboration combines MADCash’s expertise in business training, Brain Juice Collective’s innovative mentoring activities, and YWCA’s deep understanding of women’s needs and strong network of community and corporate partners.

In the pilot cohort, participants underwent an 8-week course covering essential business skills. Upon completion, participants will continue to receive individualised mentorship from industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, gain opportunities to pitch to seed funders, and access unparalleled support and networking through YWCA’s vibrant fellowship of funders, partners, mentors, and like-minded supporters.

“It’s not just to help women start a business; but to equip them to build resilient, purpose-driven ventures that contribute to the well-being of themselves, their families and the broader community,” Ms. Sim Hwee Hoon, President of the YWCA of Singapore emphasised. “By bringing Hopemakers together, we aim to nurture a vibrant community where ideas are exchanged, challenges are overcome collectively, and every success – no matter how small – is celebrated together. This is founded on a simple YWCA belief that when women uplift women, families are strengthened, and so does the broader community.”

One Hopemaker in the pilot programme, Cathy, a widow and full-time caregiver to her 26-year-old autistic son, has found deep purpose with her son through building up a small ceramics business. For Cathy, the HWBA is a life-building project that not only supports their living expenses but also helps to foster her son’s growth and independence through their shared passion in hand-built ceramics.

Another participant, Cherry, a single mother of two children, is rebuilding her life through her passion in beauty and wellness — a path she discovered on her journey to healing. She dreams of opening her own beauty and wellness shop to create a space where women can feel confident, empowered, and truly seen.

The pilot cohort, which has an intake of 22 participants, is already empowering inspiring individuals like Cathy and Cherry. Their stories exemplify the ambition and drive of women determined to improve the trajectory of life for themselves and their families.

The YWCA invites all aspiring women entrepreneurs to consider joining future cohorts of the HWBA. The organisation also calls upon seasoned entrepreneurs and visionary organisations and corporations to step forward to support the women in mentorship and seed funding.

-End-

About YWCA of Singapore

Since 1875, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore has empowered women and families of all races and religions through practical support that addresses both financial pressures and socioemotional wellbeing, along with a strong community to grow and thrive in.

Guided by our core principles — Serving with Love, Embracing Change, Strengthening Communities, and Empowering Lives — we focus on enabling women from underserved backgrounds to better manage caregiving responsibilities, strengthen family stability, and access new opportunities for growth.

Our mission is supported in part by YWCA Fort Canning, our hospitality-based social enterprise, where all net profits go back towards making our community services and programmes possible.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.ywca.org.sg.

Media Contact:

Gerlynn Cai
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
gerlynncai@ywca.org.sg
62231227

+++

• Share this post: facebook LinkedIn Pinterest
  Whatsapp Telegram E-mail