Bringing Communities Together: Support for Positive Social Change
Can you tell us a little about yourself? What inspired you to pursue your passion in this field?
Nava: I am currently a Changemaker, Social Entrepreneur, and Community Builder. As a child of migrant parents, my parents volunteered as a way of seeking community. I grew up volunteering and being in the impact space in different capacities. I always knew that I wanted to co-create a better world and drive positive impact. Of course, over time, how I was able to do this has evolved.
When I was in Junior college, I came across the term and business model of social entrepreneurship and loved the idea of businesses being financially sustainable while still being able to drive impact. Having spoken to one of the early leaders who was actively driving social innovation in Singapore at the time, and was a Member-of-Parliament in my area, I was very much inspired by her journey and impact. When I was in university, there was a chapter of her company in my school and I got the opportunity to lead it for a couple of years working with and observing the 3Psectors (public, private, people) while observing and supporting social enterprises.
Having been in the impact and then the social entrepreneurship space, I saw a lot of individuals and organisations starting from scratch and burning out. I affirmed in my belief that we can do more by collaborating and learning from our collective wisdom and resources.
Togather for Good was started with this in mind- to leverage the power of collaborations to catalyse a greater positive impact in the world. In the longer run, the vision of the organisation is to be an accelerator/incubator for other for-good brands and initiatives. At present, since the impact is so diverse, I am establishing Togather for Good’s pillars of mental wellness and DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) to address their intersections. These pillars were chosen because we believe the right mindset can drive further positive change in the world. At Togather for Good, we design experiences to engage and educate individuals and are also designing tech products that can help further support individuals in their journeys.
Can you tell us more about your role in said programme/initiative and what was memorable or significant about the experience?
Nava: I was a participant in the *SCAPE Emerging Creators Content Masterclass in partnership with Nas Academy and had classes as well as mentorship during the programme. This was a fruitful learning experience and what made it memorable was the community I had met through the programme. From the *SCAPE team, fellow participants, and mentors, everyone has held space for learning throughout the program and has been supportive beyond the program. I am thankful to have been able to carry my learnings forward.
Co-organised ‘Beyond The Glass Ceiling’ with *SCAPE in 2024. I participated in the event in 2023 and enjoyed the conversations there. I am thankful for being entrusted with co-designing the experience in 2024 on a topic and demographic close to my heart, especially one on the narratives of female creators and gamers. I am appreciative that the experience brought together many women interested in these areas and also brought others curious about the topic. Additionally, I deeply appreciate having the opportunity to bring the female creators, gamers, and business owners together for the experience.
How did *SCAPE help to ‘unleash your passion’? How instrumental was *SCAPE in helping you on your entrepreneurship journey?
eg. Mentorship, provide a showcase platform, media exposure, facilities, funding, guidance, financial support, university application
Nava: *SCAPE has been a great connector to resources and meeting other like-minded folk to explore learning and growth opportunities. This includes the programmes and events that I have been able to participate in from well over a decade ago till now. The programme and event shared here have been great avenues for learning, testing ideas, and working to drive the kind of impact I hope to see in the world. This includes diving deeper into the challenges women creators and gamers face as well as how every one of us can play a role in shifting narratives and driving positive change.
All of this has been made possible because of the *SCAPE team and I are deeply thankful for the opportunities that I have been able to pursue.
What was your biggest takeaway from working with *SCAPE? How did this collaboration influence your personal/career growth?
Nava: One of my biggest takeaways is the reaffirmation of my purpose and that as a youth in Singapore, in wanting to drive positive social change, spaces and people exist who are willing and wanting to support that. Knowing that support is available and accessible is reassuring. I will continue to look to *SCAPE for possible collaborations and support and share the support available (whether it is the space or programmes) with others.
What advice would you give to young people who are looking to pursue their passions and turn their ideas into reality?
Nava: Do it! There is so much privilege in being able to work on our passions and ideas. I say this as someone who also recognises the privilege I have in being able to intentionally work on a social venture that is aligned with my purpose and knowing that those before me may not have been offered the same opportunities to do so.
I also believe it is better to have tried than to be hounded by the ‘what ifs’ in life later. So try what you would like to, ask for help, and keep curious to keep learning. Opportunities are infinite so it is also important to work with a mindset of abundance and support others where you can along the way.
Any upcoming projects/plans?
Nava: At Togather for Good, we are building prototypes for wellness and learning/community platforms. We are also looking to launch a mentorship programme for ASEAN youth in their early careers and a peer support programme in the coming months.
Towards the end of the year, we are looking to bring together Changemakers from various impact pillars via The Good Fest to learn from our collective wisdom and insights and explore ways we can continue scaling impact together.
