~Second Edition of To-Gather: Power of Women to Uplift and Empower Young Women~
NTUC U Women and Family Expands SHE Supports Network
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) U Women and Family (U WAF) announced an expansion of its SHE Supports mentorship programme, welcoming 16 new partner organisations to its network. SHE Supports was launched on 2 March 2024 together with SG Her Empowerment (SHE) to provide resources to individuals returning to the workforce and those balancing caregiving with work. The expansion was announced at the second edition of To-Gather: Power of Women, organised by U WAF. Designed to inspire young women, the event held at NTUC Centre was graced by Senior Minister of State Sim Ann and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Director of U WAF Yeo Wan Ling.
The partners will provide mentors from their respective organisations, bringing domain expertise across various industries to empower and uplift women. They have committed to organising at least two mentorship circle sessions over two years as part of the SHE Supports initiative, contributing to a total of over 32 sessions by 2025 and targeting 1,000 mentees over the 2 years. The organisations represent a broad range of sectors, including traditionally male-dominated STEM industries such as built environment, engineering, and cybersecurity; as well as social services, non-profits, and e-commerce. Notable partners include the Association of Information Security Professionals, Association of Women in Construction (Singapore), Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association, Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS), and e-commerce solutions provider, Synagie. With the addition of 16 new partner organisations and their combined network of over 30,000 women, SHE Supports is poised for significant growth with more mentees, mentors, and mentoring circle sessions, also known as Friendship Circles, in the coming years.
Friendship Circles: Supporting Women Through Mentorship
A key cornerstone of SHE Supports is the Friendship Circles, a mentorship programme designed to build networks and communities among women. Based on the concept of mentoring circles, the many-to-many programme leverages the expertise of women mentors to foster a supportive environment where women can share experiences, discuss strategies, address common challenges, and receive guidance from mentors across various industries. The first U WAF x SHE Supports Friendship Circles held on 29 June 2024 saw active participation, with 16 mentors and 44 mentees engaging in meaningful dialogue on balancing self-care with work and caregiving responsibilities.
The second edition of To-Gather: Power of Women, targeted at female students from various Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), aims to address youths’ desire for industry mentors identified by NTUC’s year-long #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations (#EWMC). The #EWMC findings revealed that 60% of youths are of the opinion that mentorship should begin close to or upon graduation, and less than 3 years into the workforce. This highlights that youths are keen to tap into mentorship as a resource as early in their careers as possible.
To-Gather: Power of Women brought together 300 young women who participated in two Friendship Circles sessions: From Passion to Action: Career Opportunities in NGOs and Challenges, and Ready to Slay in Digital Commerce? Get the inside scoop from industry experts!. These sessions delved into career opportunities and challenges in non-governmental organisations guided by SHE and mentors from women organisations, and insights into the e-commerce industry led by Synagie.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Director of U WAF Yeo Wan Ling said, “We are thrilled to welcome 16 new partner organisations to the SHE Supports network. At NTUC U Women and Family, our goal is to empower women workers by providing the support and resources they need to balance work and life. SHE Supports was launched earlier this year to offer even more resources for women to achieve their career goals. These new partnerships will strengthen our advocacy efforts while building strong, supportive networks that will help many women—including those starting their careers or juggling caregiving. As we continue with our efforts, we hope to foster an environment where women can thrive and feel supported at every stage of their career journey. We encourage more organisations to join us as we look to expand the programme outreach.”
SG Her Empowerment Chairperson Stefanie Yuen Thio added, “We at SHE are thrilled to see SHE Supports grow. When women’s organisations work together, we can empower even more people – both women and men.”
“All Things Nice”: A Collaboration with PAP Women’s Wing
The event also featured “All Things Nice”, an inaugural programme by the People’s Action Party (PAP) Women’s Wing, which featured activities designed to equip young women with the confidence and resources needed to transition into their careers. A capsule wardrobe showcase by retail fashion label Love and Bravery taught young women to put together a stylish work wardrobe out of a capsule collection of just five staple items. “All Things Nice” also featured a pre-loved work clothing giveaway with items gathered from the PAP Branches of Bukit Timah, West Coast, Punggol Shore, and Yuhua. The event also included a colour analysis workshop and professional portrait photography to help participants create a polished image for their job search.
For more information about SHE Supports and opportunities to join the network as a partner organisation, individual participant, or mentor, please visit https://www.ntuc.org.sg/uwomenandfamily or email womenandfamily@ntuc.org.sg.
