MEDIA RELEASE
SINGAPORE – 29 August 2025 – The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore marked a significant milestone tonight with its 150th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner at the Conrad Singapore Orchard. The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour Minister Edwin Tong and his wife with close to 500 guests in attendance. Together, they honoured YWCA’s rich heritage of empowering women – and looked ahead to a bold new future.
Since its founding in 1875, YWCA has pioneered initiatives to empower women through education, community services and social support. From setting up Singapore’s first lending library for women, to night schools, childcare centres and women hostels, the organisation has continually evolved with the times, responding to the shifting needs of society. Through every season and era, YWCA has not only understood the needs of women but anticipated the challenges and opportunities ahead – helping them women grow, thrive and reach their full potential.
Redefining the Women in Need
As YWCA marks its 150th anniversary, it recognises that the needs of women continue to evolve and expand. It wishes to broaden traditional definition of women in need so as to address gaps and needs that may have gone unmet. While women in the past sought literacy programmes or safe shelter, “Today, she may be navigating single parenthood, caregiving responsibilities, rebuilding after job loss, or striving to keep her business afloat. Tomorrow, she may face challenges we cannot yet imagine,” highlighted Ms Sim Hwee Hoon, President of the YWCA of Singapore, during the anniversary dinner.
Reimagining Ways to Serve Women in Singapore
In line with this commitment to responsiveness, YWCA recently launched the Hopemaker Movement and the Women’s Business Accelerator Programme last month. This movement affirms every woman as a “Creator of Hope,” – for herself, her family and for society – providing a comprehensive support ecosystem for women on challenging journeys towards achieving financial stability. The pilot cohort, which has an intake of 22 participants, is already seeing a transformative impact among its aspiring Hopemakers. YWCA will continue to look at ways to serve women better in Singapore.
Renewed Look & Bold Vision for Tomorrow
Tonight, YWCA celebrated its enduring legacy and unveiled its vision for the future with a new logo. The refreshed design is a modern, approachable reflection of the organisation’s heritage. At its center, a blue triangle embodies the trinity of body, mind, and spirit – the wholeness YWCA envisions for every woman. Two converging triangles represent its dreams and skyward aspirations, and its core values of love and service, derived from its motto “By Love Serve One Another”. Together, the three triangles subtly form a “W,” a quiet but powerful tribute to “Women” who remain the very heart of YWCA’s mission. This refreshed branding ushers YWCA into a new season in Singapore to meet new changes, marking bold plans and a renewed commitment to empowering women and strengthening communities in ever more meaningful and impactful ways.
Redesigning Her Future Through a New Hope Hub
YWCA is envisioning a bold future: transforming its historic headquarters at Outram Road into a new Hope Hub — a vibrant sanctuary where women and families facing diverse challenges can find strength, support, and community. More than a building, Hope Hub will be a dynamic women’s hub, bringing together women-focused organisations, social enterprises, and partners to collaborate, innovate, and create new opportunities.
The Hope Hub will be the heartbeat of the Hopemaker Movement, grounded in the belief that hope is built together. YWCA is seeking like-minded partners and funders to turn this vision into a reality: a space where women and communities can thrive, grow, and soar together – ensuring no woman is ever isolated or unsupported.
A Night of Hope, Unity and Strength
The heartwarming evening, emceed by former Nominated Member of Parliament and women’s advocate Eunice Olsen, featured special performances, including an unreleased track “The Promise of You” by celebrated singer-songwriter Corrinne May, and an enchanting piece by international award-winning violin child prodigy, Travis Wong. A highlight of the night was YWCA’s very own Hopemaker Runway, a special collaboration with purpose-driven fashion brand, ANS.EIN showcasing designs inspired by the hopes and dreams of YWCA’s Hopemakers and supporters.
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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 its core principles of Serving with Love, Embracing Change, Strengthening Communities, and Empowering Lives, YWCA focuses on enabling women from different backgrounds to better manage caregiving responsibilities, strengthen family stability, and access new opportunities for growth.
YWCA operates a hospitality-based social enterprise through YWCA Fort Canning. All net profits from the hotel are channelled towards YWCA’s community services and programmes, furthering YWCA’s social mission, alongside the support of donors and partners.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.ywca.org.sg.
Media Contact:
Gerlynn Cai
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
gerlynncai@ywca.org.sg
+65-8282 2148 / 6223 1227
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MEDIA RELEASE
SINGAPORE – 29 August 2025 – The Young Women’s Christian Association of Singapore (YWCA) and local fashion label ANS.EIN have partnered to celebrate women as creators of hope at the YWCA’s 150th Anniversary Dinner. This unique collaboration celebrates the creativity and resilience of women by transforming their art into wearable fashion pieces. The collaboration includes an exclusive auction of seven bespoke pieces and two new ready-to-wear family collections.
Ms Sandra Leong, Executive Director of the YWCA of Singapore, said, “As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we are grateful for the rich heritage we stand on. Our work with ANS.EIN is part of our vision for the future – to reimagine how we serve and create a movement where hope is not just given, but built together. Every woman we serve is a creator of hope, and through this collaboration, we are celebrating that spirit and calling on our community to be Waymakers for our Hopemakers.”
ANS.EIN, a purpose-driven brand, embraced the opportunity to champion YWCA’s mission by joining its fundraising efforts as a Waymaker, helping to broaden the organisation’s reach and support its vital work. As part of the collaboration, ANS.EIN created a ready-to-wear collection featuring two distinctive family sets: Fields of Flowers, inspired by YWCA Hopemaker Lily Pek, and Colours of Love, designed in partnership with artist and longtime YWCA supporter Pauline Lau.
Additionally, ANS.EIN crafted seven exclusive pieces for YWCA’s 150th Anniversary charity auction held on 29 August 2025, drawing inspiration from Lau’s celebrated works Point Break and Fiesta. Each creation carries profound personal meaning and uplifts the broader community through art. These auction pieces took centre stage at the anniversary dinner, raising vital funds to support YWCA’s programmes for women, while the ready-to-wear collection is now open for pre-orders via ANS.EIN’s website.
Lily’s story is one of resilience and hope, beautifully reflected in her painting that speaks to her dreams of building a brighter future for herself and her family. Pauline Lau, a financial planner and devoted mother of three, discovered Dutch pour art during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding peace in creative expression. Her journey as an artist was further enriched by her visually impaired son whose unique perspective of the world has touched her profoundly.
As part of the YWCA Hopemaker Movement, this collection recognises every woman –whether a homemaker, full-time caregiver or professional – as a true “creator of hope.” It acknowledges the essential role women play in nurturing families and shaping futures, while calling on society to support and give greater visibility to women’s voices and stories. ANS.EIN’s signature approach to fashion – merging art and inclusivity – perfectly complements YWCA’s mission, making this collaboration a powerful testament to unity and empowerment.
Erlyn Karmelia, Co-founder of ANS.EIN said, “The first thing that comes to mind when we hear “Hopemakers” is our own mothers. Long before we started our journey as mumpreneurs, we had been inspired by them throughout our lives. Both of our mothers are working mums who, by their example, taught us that as women, we have so much to contribute and give – first and foremost to our families, and then to those around us, to society at large. We love how YWCA uses the term ‘Hopemakers’ – such a beautiful reminder that we are much more than homemakers. We are here to bring hope with whatever we have in each season. We can start small, and the Lord will multiply. We just need to do what we have been entrusted with, one step at a time, and remain faithful.”
To further support women and families in need, 10% of all proceeds from the ready-to-wear collection will be donated to the YWCA. The collection will be available for pre-order at all ANS.EIN stores starting today. This partnership is a powerful testament to the shared mission of both organisations to empower women and enrich communities.
As YWCA looks ahead to the future, it continues to rely on the generosity of partners, donors, and supporters to sustain and expand its programmes for women and families. The organisation is actively seeking more Waymakers – like ANS.EIN – who are willing to stand alongside its Hopemakers to create lasting change. Every contribution, whether through collaboration, donations, or volunteerism, will help YWCA extend its mission of empowering women and strengthening communities as it enters a new season of serving Singapore.
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ANNEX I
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 Ready-to-wear Collection 1 “Fields of Flowers” Modelled by YWCA Hopemaker Lily Pek and Family |
 Colours of Love By Pauline Lau |
 Ready-to-wear Collection 2 “Colours of Love” Modelled by YWCA Hopemaker Leny Yusnita and Family |
 Point Break By Pauline Lau |
 Ready-to-wear Collection 2 (Left) ANS.EIN Asymmetrical Cheongsam Ball Gown (Right) ANS.EIN Exclusive Ladies’ Maxi Circle Skirt with Original Artwork Print ANS.EIN Exclusive Girls’ Maxi Circle Skirt with Original Artwork Print |
 Fiesta By Pauline Lau |
 (Left) ANS.EIN Origami Kebaya Jacket and Culottes Two-Piece Set (Right) ANS.EIN Origami Cape and Velvet Dress Set  (Left) ANS. EIN Ruffles Kebaya Jacket + Culottes Two-Piece Set (Right) ANS.EIN Exclusive Men’s Mandarin Collar Shirt with Original Artwork Print |
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 its core principles of Serving with Love, Embracing Change, Strengthening Communities, and Empowering Lives, YWCA focuses on enabling women from different backgrounds to better manage caregiving responsibilities, strengthen family stability, and access new opportunities for growth.
YWCA operates a hospitality-based social enterprise through YWCA Fort Canning. All net profits from the hotel are channelled towards YWCA’s community services and programmes, furthering YWCA’s social mission, alongside the support of donors and partners.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.ywca.org.sg.
About ANS.EIN
ANS.EIN was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to make art wearable and meaningful. Co-founded by Anseina Eliza and Erlyn Karmelia, the brand started as a heartfelt collaboration between creatives in the region. They shared a vision — to merge fashion with art, culture, and purpose.
At its core, ANS.EIN transforms original artworks by local artists into versatile clothing that can be worn every day. But it doesn’t stop there. The brand is a celebration of storytelling through design — weaving in elements of sustainability, inclusivity, and social impact. From hand-stamped batik and manually woven tenun to origami-inspired pieces made from fabric scraps, each creation reflects a commitment to craftsmanship, community, and care for the environment. ANS.EIN has been collaborating with various social organizations such as JOURNEY by TOUCH community, SG Enable, MINDS, HUG Community, YWCA, and many more.
Today, ANS.EIN stands as a beacon of art, sustainability, and purpose-driven fashion. Fashion is more than just clothing — it is a canvas to express values, celebrate culture, showcase art, and spread kindness throughout society.
Media Contact:
Gerlynn Cai
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
gerlynncai@ywca.org.sg
+65-8282 2148 / 6223 1227
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🫶This Mother’s Day at Café Lodge, mum dines free for every 3 paying adults at our popular Porridge Buffet. On top of this, we are also giving away a complimentary steamed fish (~500g)!
😋Come and enjoy a tantalizing spread of dishes like pork trotters, chilli lala with mantou, fresh cold prawns, braised duck, squid, condiments, desserts and many more.
Don’t miss out and make your reservations today!
🥰All our net proceeds go towards YWCA’s community service programmes so your support will also be a blessing others in need.
For more information, please contact Café Lodge
Sun-Thurs: 7.00am to 9.00pm
Fri, Sat & Eve of Public Holidays: 7.00am to 10.00pm
Phone: 6335 8008 / 8009
Email: ywcacafe@ywca.org.sg
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/5X7JYFKZAMHXN1
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
YWCA Transfers Preschool Operations to New Life Community Services
[18 March 2024, Singapore.] The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore is transferring its childcare services operations of YWCA Preschool to New Life Community Services Ltd (NLCS) after strategic review of their future direction.
Founded in 1875, YWCA is the oldest women’s charity in Singapore. To meet the childminding needs of women in the 1960s, YWCA set-up affordable childcare services in Singapore. This support encouraged and enabled young women to work and contribute to the economic growth of Singapore. The pioneering move to set-up the YWCA Child Development Centres provided much needed welfare for low- to middle-income families. Over the years, the Child Development Centres grew to become the YWCA Preschool of today, availing quality preschool education to children of all backgrounds, races, and religions.
The early childhood industry has evolved significantly since those early days. Today, the sector is well-served by many operators. YWCA is therefore transferring its preschool operations to another operator which shares the same values and ethos of serving the community. This will allow a pooling of resources and greater economies of scale to be reaped through the expanded operations.
NLCS shares YWCA’s commitment to serving families and children and will continue to uphold the high standards of care and support that YWCA families have come to expect. NLCS currently operates three SPARK-accredited Preschools Centres in Singapore – Bukit Panjang (2001), Woodlands (2015) and Junction 10 (2017).
Established by Covenant Evangelical Free Church in 2000, NLCS is a not-for-profit social service agency that seeks to bring hope and purpose to children, youths and seniors so that they go on to create positive impact in their community and society. Over the years, NLCS has reached out to thousands of individuals from different religions and races.
With effect from 1 April 2024, the preschool operations of Y.W.C.A. Preschool Ltd (YPL) will be transferred to New Life Preschool Services Ltd (NLPS), a subsidiary of New Life Community Services (NLCS). All the nine existing centres of YWCA Preschool will continue to operate under the Partner Operator Scheme (POP) administered by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
Plans are underway to rebrand the nine YWCA Preschool Centres and to merge all the existing centres under New Life Preschool Services (NLPS).
The NLPS head office team comprises experienced practitioners in curriculum and quality management, business development partnerships, child and family support, and centre operations. With the transfer, close to 90% of YPL’s staff will be crossing over to join the NLPS team to ensure the continuity of the centre operations.
NLPS commits to ensuring that every child receives quality care and education tailored to their unique needs and interests. Under the New Life Preschool Curriculum, parents can expect a customised and robust inquiry-based learning approach that helps their children acquire knowledge and develop skills in an engaging and meaningful setting. Renovation plans are put in place to spruce up each centre progressively to make the learning environment more conducive, including installing CCTVs in every centre in compliance with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) regulatory requirements.
“YWCA Singapore is proud to have played an instrumental role as a pioneer in the early childhood industry in Singapore, offering full-day childcare services to relieve women from their childcare burdens and to allow them to return to the workforce,” said Ms. Sim Hwee Hoon, President of YWCA of Singapore, “We are thus heartened to find a great partner in New Life Community Services, who will be carrying on our proud heritage of serving YWCA Preschool children and families with love.”
YWCA commits to meeting the needs of serving the women community in Singapore and will continue to focus on its core mission of empowering mums, women and young women with programmes that deliver positive impact.
“YWCA has served the preschool sector for the past 60 years, and we want to honour its heritage and continue its good works,” said Ms. Ivy Chin, Executive Director at New Life Preschool Services. “As we carry the baton from YWCA, we hold the same values of serving the community, regardless of race or religion, and we affirm the belief that every child should have access to quality education in a safe, caring and healthy environment.”
As part of their joint commitment to ensure continued open communication with our stakeholders, YWCA and NLCS invite parents and stakeholders to visit the NLCS website at https://newlifechildcare.org.sg/ for further information and updates.
About YWCA of Singapore
Founded in 1875, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore is a social service agency committed to serving those in need, regardless of race or religion. Our holistic programmes and services aim to empower and support women from low-income families by alleviating financial burdens and care-giving responsibilities. We strive to uplift the family unit, and to provide the right resources and opportunities to improve lives.
YWCA’s community service programmes are supported by YWCA Fort Canning, our revenue-generating arm in hospitality. All net proceeds contribute towards our social initiatives such as Empowering Mums, Meals-on-Wheels, and Sustenance for Families.
For more information, please visit www.ywca.org.sg.
About New Life Community Services
Founded in 2000, NLCS is the faith-based non-profit social service arm of Covenant Evangelical Free Church dedicated to its mission of nurturing children, developing youths’ potential, and empowering seniors to live purposeful lives. New Life’s services include early childhood education through childcare and student care services, as well as literacy and character
For more information, please visit http://www.newlife.org.sg/
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Gerlynn Cai
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
YWCA of Singapore
9792 9310
Ms Joserine Lim
Assistant Director, Communications and Partnerships
New Life Community Services
9824 5817