January 18, 2020
Singapore
Chargé d’Affaires Rafik Mansour launched the eighth iteration of the U.S. Embassy-ITE Alumni Mentoring Program on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central. This flagship alumni and community engagement program connects notable Singaporean alumni of U.S. government exchange programs with young Singaporeans seeking to improve their educational and vocational prospects. Through long-standing partnerships with ITE and Wand Inspiration Network, U.S. Embassy Singapore offers this yearly opportunity to ITE students who can most benefit from the mentorship and guidance offered through the Embassy’s network of experienced professionals and American companies based in Singapore.
From February to June 2020, American companies will host monthly Saturday morning mentoring sessions. This year, Nike, Boeing, Conrad, Dell, and Google will welcome program participants to their offices to meet with company representatives who will discuss topics like innovation, resilience, and staying relevant in a constantly changing business landscape. Participants will learn skills that enhance their personal and professional competencies in preparation for the job market and future leadership opportunities.
In his remarks at the launch, Chargé Mansour told participants, “I am so impressed by the number of mentors and mentees willing to go on this journey, the number of American companies willing to support them, and the hours of tireless energy our partners put in to supporting young people in Singapore, all in the name of achieving a better future for us all.”
ITE College Central Principal Suresh Natarajan said, “We welcome U.S. Embassy Singapore’s partnership with ITE for the mentoring program. Their long-term commitment, along with American companies who have generously donated their time and resources to the development and advancement of our students, demonstrates their dedication to building an even stronger Singapore. We look forward to continuing our partnership with U.S. Embassy Singapore to uplift those around us and strengthen the bonds between businesses and local communities.”
New student mentees are selected each year, and new alumni mentors are regularly welcomed into the program. Many veteran mentors return year after year, like Nominated Member of Parliament and IVLP alumna Anthea Ong, who is participating in the program for the seventh time. Ong says she keeps mentoring because, “There’s no greater honor or greater meaning that one can have than to be able to share what you have for another person to find himself or herself.”
This year, 33 alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) have volunteered to mentor 40 ITE students who competed for the highly coveted spots. Since its inception in 2013, more than 500 mentors and mentees have participated in the program.
The U.S. Embassy-ITE Alumni Mentoring Program demonstrates U.S. commitment to Singapore by strengthening people-to-people connections, investing in human capital, and tapping the talents and resources of U.S. companies based in Singapore.
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About U.S. Embassy Singapore:
U.S. Embassy Singapore consists of 24 U.S. Federal Government agencies working in Singapore and the region. The U.S. Embassy works to maintain a strong bilateral relationship with the Government of Singapore and to increase the security and prosperity of Americans at home and in Southeast Asia. Additional information about the U.S. Embassy in Singapore can be found at https://sg.usembassy.gov/
Media interested in covering future sessions should contact SingaporePASMedia@state.gov.