DBS Foundation

Meet Chau Ling from DBS Hong Kong – a decade ago, she would never have believed she’d be rowing a dragonboat in her late fifties, let alone training twice a week alongside her teammates. Read how volunteering brought the 60-year-old out of her shell to discover new experiences in life! --- Once a self-proclaimed introvert, Customer Service Specialist Chau Ling preferred to keep to herself, quietly supporting customers with their digibank queries. She was content behind the scenes – until life nudged her out of her comfort zone. When her only daughter graduated from secondary school in 2015, Chau Ling suddenly found herself with more time and space to rediscover who she was outside of motherhood. That same year, she came across a DBS People of Purpose programme, as part of the bank’s culture to empower employees to volunteer and create impact in the community. “I wanted to spread the love I have within me to others,” she says with a smile. “Now that my daughter is more independent, I can nurture others who may need encouragement.” What started as an act of giving soon brought Chau Ling out of her shell. Through monthly volunteering – befriending seniors at risk of social isolation and supporting DBS Foundation-supported social enterprise ImpactHK to distribute warm meals to people experiencing homelessness – Chau Ling began seeing the world through new eyes. “I had to push myself to be more sociable,” she admits. “Because I realised that our presence and energy bring so much joy into their lives.” Her volunteer experiences also opened her heart to Hong Kong’s social realities. The city’s ageing population is rising rapidly and many seniors who live alone face loneliness. Others, affected by unemployment, housing shortages or other personal challenges, sleep on the streets and are often without the security of a meal or shelter. “Witnessing this firsthand reminds me how important it is to give my 100% when we interact with them as it gives them so much hope and encouragement,” she reflects. One of the seniors Chau Ling visits regularly is a 70-year-old woman whose eyesight has been deteriorating. Over months, their weekly chats have blossomed into a friendship. “She feels like family now,” says Chau Ling warmly. “She used to be quiet, but now she laughs and tells stories.” Fondly known as Ling Jie (“Sister Ling”), she also often rallies colleagues to join her – creating what she affectionately calls a “ripple effect of kindness”. And that has not gone unnoticed – twice in a row, Chau Ling has been awarded for the highest volunteering hours at DBS Hong Kong – a recognition of her dedication and quiet leadership in the community. (Continued below...)

What does ageing well mean to you – and how can innovation help us harness opportunities that a rapidly ageing Asia brings? Kicking off our 'Changing the Future of Ageing Series' where we spotlight insights and innovative solutions to reimagine ageing across Asia, Buddy of Parents (2024 DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Award winner) shares tips on how we can empower seniors to live safely and independently at home. Today, more seniors in Singapore are choosing to age-in-place and stay in their own homes, where they can enjoy familiarity and independence. Yet, living alone can bring about concerns around safety and health. This is where Buddy of Parents (BOP) comes in. Its flagship product, the BOP Button, connects seniors to a 24/7 emergency response system at the push of a button. Caregivers are also immediately notified through a mobile app, which provides peace of mind. BOP exemplifies how technology and human support can be combined to improve the quality of life in ageing societies. We're proud to be supporting innovative changemakers like BOP that are helping to shape a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow – one where everyone can live and age well with dignity, purpose and joy. The 2025 DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Award is open, and we're calling for entries from innovative businesses across Asia that are addressing the needs of ageing societies. Winners stand to receive up to SGD 1 million to scale their solution! Applications for the 2025 DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Award are open till 12 January 2026. Find out more about the Award and send in your applications at: go.dbs.com/impact-beyond #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #ImpactBeyondAward #Ageing #SocialImpact

A disruption of social ties from retirement can impact an individual's well-being, according to a study by the Centre for Ageing Research & Education at Duke-NUS Medical School. At the DBS Foundation, we seek to redefine ageing and shape a future where ageing can be filled with dignity, purpose and joy. Recently, as part of our 'Senior Micro-jobs Programme' launch event with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC), industry leaders such as Country Head of DBS Singapore Him Chuan LIM, Group Director (Regional Health System) at SingHealth Dr Michael Wong, Founder of City Sprouts Zac Toh and Head of DBS Foundation Karen Ngui weighed in on what it takes to restore seniors' sense of purpose post-retirement 👇🏼. Karen also shared how empowering seniors to take on micro-jobs, or flexible, task-based work opportunities, enable them to contribute meaningfully to society, deepen social connections and to live more purposefully and independently. For starters, this partnership is set to benefit 5,000 seniors across 100 Active Ageing Centres over the next four years. It also embodies our commitment to galvanising an ecosytem approach to catalyse impact: ❤️ DBS Foundation contributes SGD 1.47 million to expand seniors’ access to flexible, task-based work opportunities. 📱Leveraging DBS' technological expertise to support the development of a digital app for easy access to micro-jobs. 🚀 Partnering THKMC to rally our 3P (public, private and people) networks to come onboard as micro-jobs providers, and build towards availing greater supply, diversity and quality of tasks over time. --- Love our stories and insights on reimagining ageing in Asia? Follow us on LinkedIn for more! #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #THKMC #ActiveAgeing #SocialServices

On 13 October, we marked a significant milestone as we officially launched the "Senior Micro-jobs Programme" in partnership with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC), graced by Singapore’s Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung. As Minister Ong eloquently put it, "Micro-jobs for seniors is not just about taking on jobs, it’s also about restoring their sense of purpose beyond retirement." At DBS Foundation, we seek to redefine ageing and shape a future where ageing can be filled with dignity, purpose and joy – and cross-sector collaborations play a key role in bringing this to life. Through this partnership, we will broaden access to Micro-jobs – flexible, task-based work opportunities – for seniors in Singapore, starting with 5,000 seniors across 100 Active Ageing Centres over four years. This initiative is designed not only to enable seniors to contribute meaningfully to society beyond retirement, but to also deepen social connections and empower them to live more purposefully and independently. DBS Foundation’s contribution of $1.47 million and the bank’s technological expertise will support the development of a digital app for easy access to Micro-jobs. We will also work closely with THKMC to rally our 3P (public, private and people) networks to come onboard as Micro-jobs providers, and build towards availing greater supply, diversity and quality of tasks over time. The partnership was officially launched by Country Head of DBS Singapore Him Chuan LIM, Chairperson of DBS Foundation Ho Tian Yee, Vice Chairman of THKMC Lee Kim Siang and CEO of THKMC Jason Lee. The launch event also included a panel discussion featuring speakers from different sectors, including Deputy Director of the Agency of Integrated Care Angeline Thia, Head of DBS Foundation Karen Ngui, Group Director (Regional Health System) at SingHealth Dr Michael Wong, and Founder of City Sprouts Zac Toh. The event was also attended by active senior Micro-jobbers with THKMC. Among them was 83-year-old Madam Yong, who works part-time at a THKMC Active Ageing Centre near her home five days a week. She particularly resonated with the insightful panel discussion, which underscored the power of intergenerational connectedness for better living spans for all. Madam Yong enthusiastically shared her own experience, exclaiming, “I feel cheerful when I meet and spend time with others, and being happy is what keeps me healthy.” --- More about DBS Foundation here: https://go.dbs.com/4q9WymN #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #THKMC #ActiveAgeing #SocialServices

The DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Award is back! We’re on the lookout for visionary businesses that are tackling one of the most urgent and complex challenges of our time: ageing societies. We need to prepare now - to innovate, to redesign systems, to redefine ageing and build a future where everyone, including those with less, can age well with dignity, purpose and joy. If your business shares our vision and has a game-changing, inclusive and scalable solution – we want to hear from you! We’re looking for bold changemakers driving impact in areas such as (but not limited to): • 🏘️ Housing and built environment – designing age-friendly homes and neighbourhoods • 🧠 Physical and mental wellbeing – enabling lifelong health and strong support systems • 💰 Financial resilience – helping people to be financially resilient to afford longer, better lives • ♥️ Purposeful living – facilitating learning, connection and meaning at every age The prize money totalling SGD 3 million will be awarded to the winners, to help scale their solutions and enable more people to live, thrive and age well. Last year, four visionary businesses – Buddy of Parents (BOP) Pte Ltd, Huakang Health Industry Group, Evercare Health and Life Circle Health Services Pvt. Ltd. – took home the award. This year, it could be you. Please forward this on and tag businesses that you think would be a great fit! Applications for the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Award are open till 12 January 2026. More information here: go.dbs.com/impact-beyond #ImpactBeyondAward #Ageing #AgeingSociety #SocialImpact

#DidYouKnow: A mother’s nutrition and mental health, starting from conception, have a profound impact on their child's development – including brain development, physical health and cognitive function. In Singapore, a GUSTO study also found that mothers from families with less resources are more vulnerable to mental health challenges during pregnancy, which can adversely affect their child’s development, literacy and school readiness. At DBS Foundation, we believe every child deserves a strong start, and that journey begins with their mothers. Last Saturday, we launched a three-year partnership with KidSTART Singapore committing SGD 6.5 million to improve nutrition, mental wellbeing and financial literacy for 2,250 pregnant mothers from lower-income households. Mothers will be supported at key stages of their journey, which includes access to: 👶🏻 Essential nutrition from pre-natal care packs and a 10-day confinement meal delivery to support maternal health ❤️ Mental wellness and financial literacy workshops ✨ SGD 300 supermarket vouchers to purchase essential items while applying what they learnt about making nutrition- and budget-conscious choices By extending support early, we hope to give their infants a better start in life. Gracing the launch were Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, Head of DBS Foundation Karen Ngui and CEO of KidSTART Singapore Joel Tan. DBS employee volunteers and around 40 KidSTART families also came together to mark the start of this meaningful partnership. The families experienced key programme elements such as the maternal mental wellness and financial literacy workshops, which were conducted by Singapore Association of Mental Health and 2024 DBS Foundation grant recipient SpedGrow respectively. Over the next three years, our dedicated #DBSPeopleofPurpose volunteers will continue to engage mothers by co-facilitating workshops, delivering care packs to their homes and sharing valuable guidance, including information on government support and other financial assistance schemes. --- 👉 If you are a pregnant mum or know someone who is, join KidSTART today to be part of this programme: https://go.dbs.com/4pOfFmd *Eligibility criteria applies. #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #KidSTARTSG #AGoodStart

Meet Christopher Pang from Global Financial Markets – from surviving financial crises to navigating digital shifts, he knows a thing or two about resilience. Today, he’s channeling these hard-won lessons into mentoring, showing students from Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education that success lies in how you weather life’s storms. --- In his early years of trading, the trading floor buzzed with frenetic energy. Phones rang constantly, voices overlapped and every decision carried a profit-and-loss consequence. “Imagine getting a report card on your performance every day,” laughs DBS Credit Trader Christopher Pang. It was this high-octane environment that Christopher, who joined the bank 15 years ago, forged his resilience. And while the dealing room is quieter today thanks to technological improvements, it’s no less intense as digital tools have redefined speed and enquiry volumes surge. Christopher, however, believes resilience isn’t just about surviving tough markets. It’s about sharing that strength with others. That’s why he became a mentor in the DBS x ITE Mentorship Programme. Launched in 2019, the six-month initiative has seen over 300 employees guiding students from all three ITE campuses through their career and personal goals. Instead of prescribing success, he shares his own ups and downs. Prior to joining the bank, he was unemployed for a year and went through two financial crises while at other financial institutions. He even invites mentees into the trading room for a rare behind-the-scenes look. “Many of these students face antiquated stereotypes that ITE is the only option for students who don’t do well academically,” he shares. “Everyone goes through challenges in life – whether it’s breaking stereotypes or overcoming our limited personal beliefs. It’s how we rise against them that matters.” And in the same way he collaborates with young traders, who share their digital fluency while he shares his decades of experience, Christopher sees mutual learning as the heart of mentoring. “I learn as much from them as they do from me. Younger generations bring fresh skills and perspectives. I bring experience. Together, that mutual respect builds bridges.” One of his proudest moments? Seeing a shy mentee overcome mental health struggles, land an internship, and eventually enrol in polytechnic. “That’s when you realise how much mentoring can change lives,” Christopher reflects. Beyond mentoring, Christopher also rallies his team to give back through volunteering. In 2024, their department earned the bank’s award for the highest volunteering participation among Business Units in Singapore. While his career taught him that resilience is forged in the headwinds of the financial markets, mentoring has shown Christopher something more – that resilience, when shared, can shape futures. And this investment in people is perhaps his greatest trade yet.

As part of Singapore Design Week, DBS Group Design recently organised a panel discussion that explored the role of design in empowering ageing societies – a conversation that DBS Foundation was thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to. DBS Foundation Team Lead (Providing Essential Needs) Nadia Ahmad Samdin joined fellow panel speakers DBS Head of Asian Insights Office Irvin Seah and leaders from the DesignSingapore Council and the National University of Singapore, to share her perspectives and the thinking that goes behind the Foundation's efforts. Speaking on DBS Foundation’s focus on redefining ageing and shaping a future where everyone can age well regardless of age or circumstance, Nadia shared how the Foundation designs programmes with “living spans” in mind – helping individuals to build financial, physical, mental and social well-being at all stages of life, so they can enjoy longer living spans, not just longer life spans. She also emphasised the importance of 3P (private, public, people) partnerships in advancing change, and the Foundation's commitment to nurturing and working with an ecosystem of like-minded changemakers. One such initiative in Singapore is DBS Foundation’s expanded partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority to drive digital inclusion, where the bank’s employees volunteers conduct digital literacy workshops at various locations island-wide, including Active Ageing Centres. These sessions aim to empower seniors to navigate emerging technologies like GenAI, helping them better understand its benefits and risks in daily life. The panel discussion culminated with closing remarks from DBS CEO Tan Su Shan, who shared that designing with purpose is a core DBS ethos and competitive advantage. This came to life immediately after the panel, as our DBS Group Design colleagues – comprising product designers, content strategists, researchers, service designers and UX engineers – led a co-creation workshop with seniors. Together, they exchanged perspectives on topics from banking needs to shifting financial expectations, and explored ideas to address the evolving needs of an ageing Singapore. --- More about DBS Foundation here: https://go.dbs.com/4nRD2JD #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #Inclusion #Ageing

Living to 100 – exciting or a little daunting? 🤔 Singapore is quickly becoming a super-aged society – boasting one of the world’s highest life expectancies at 83.5 years. But as we add more years, are we ready to live better? We recently participated at the Manulife Singapore Longevity Symposium where our booth was buzzing with people sharing their thoughts on ageing. During the event, we also challenged attendees to reflect on how they're preparing for ageing by showcasing innovative solutions from purpose-driven businesses such as our 2024 Impact Beyond Award winner Buddy of Parents (a subsidiary of iWOW Technology Limited) and 2021 DBS Foundation Grant recipient GentleFoods (The Gentle Group). Buddy of Parents demonstrated their emergency-response device, designed to alleviate caregiving challenges, while GentleFoods provided samples of their moulded, pureed food which aims to make eating enjoyable again for those with swallowing difficulties. Catch the energy and insights from the Symposium in the video below! --- More about DBS Foundation below: https://go.dbs.com/4nLq3t6 #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #longevity

Meet Jin Heng, a Cybersecurity Engineer who has been rallying colleagues to help seniors outsmart scammers. Read how his team’s 'defend like an attacker' strategy protects the bank and supports our bank-wide effort to accelerate digital inclusion in Singapore. --- Whenever a suspicious message pings on their WhatsApp, Jin Heng’s parents know exactly who to turn to. Their son, a Cybersecurity Engineer at DBS, has become their trusted “scam checker”, helping them discern fact from fraud. With his guidance, they grew more confident to spot scams on their own – from false investment opportunities to impersonation messages claiming to come from the authorities. As his parents became more digitally savvy, Jin Heng thought: What if more seniors could overcome their fear of technology? At work, he likens his role to a game of ‘virtual ‘hide-and-seek’. He tracks phishing attempts, malware and unusual activities – leveraging emerging technologies to enhance the bank’s security capabilities. This includes using artificial intelligence and machine learning for round-the-clock fraud surveillance. Outside the office, he has been just as determined to use those skills in the community – particularly to support seniors who live alone and may not have someone to turn to. “We often tell the elderly to be more vigilant online,” the 35-year-old said. “But not everyone has a friend or family member to make sense of what they’re seeing.” In 2019, the DBS Information Security Services team – which Jin Heng is a part of – launched the ‘#Cyberwellness Programme’ to digitally upskill workers who interact with seniors daily. Over 12,000 frontline workers from non-profits and NGOs across Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia were trained to support the elderly with essential digital literacy topics, including navigating digital apps and checking if a message received is genuine. The initiative has since expanded into supporting the bank’s broader digital inclusion efforts. Together with DBS Foundation, Infocomm Media Development Authority and Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore, they co-developed a beginner’s guide to GenAI, now used nationwide at digital literacy workshops run by DBS/POSB employees and IMDA digital ambassadors. These sessions teach participants, especially seniors, about the uses and dangers of GenAI, as well as key safety tips. Most recently, Jin Heng was part of a cross-functional squad that mobilised 540 colleagues to volunteer their skills at DBS’ inaugural Tech for Good Carnival, which engaged seniors from Lions Befrienders and youths from MINDS. The Carnival, a ground-up initiative led by DBS Group Technology, aims to accelerate digital inclusion efforts in the community. During the Carnival, volunteers engaged participants in various languages – including the Hokkien dialect – to empower them to safeguard against scams through the bank’s suite of security tools on digibank. (Continued below...)