SIF Multiplies Mathematical Talent with Support from the QQCK Foundation Community Impact Programme
A generous gift of S$100,000 has been made to the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) to establish the QQCK Foundation Community Impact Programme. Donated by Mr and Mrs Yeo Keng Joon, longstanding champions of education and learning, the programme supports SIF’s Mathematics Pedagogical Learning, Understanding and Support (Maths PLUS) project in Sarawak, Malaysia. This capacity-building project was launched in 2023 in partnership with Sarawak’s Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, aimed at strengthening Mathematics teaching standards.
Through Maths PLUS, a team of Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs), comprising experienced teacher trainers, works closely with 100 primary school teachers from Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian. As SIF’s first initiative in East Malaysia, the project is expected to benefit 80,000 students in Sarawak by 2027.
At an appreciation lunch hosted by SIF on 2 March 2026, SIF Chairman Mr Janadas Devan, expressed his gratitude to Mr and Mrs Yeo for their meaningful contribution. He highlighted how their support goes beyond students to empower educators, creating a “powerful multiplier effect in advancing education”.
He added: “Mr and Mrs Yeo, your dedication to uplifting lives through education, combined with the passionate drive of our SIVs, shows us what happens when passion finds the right nurturers.”
Mr Yeo said: “Nurturing the younger generation through education is something very close to my heart. Programmes like SIF’s Maths PLUS demonstrate how a train-the-trainer approach can create meaningful and lasting impact, ultimately benefiting thousands of students. I am pleased to support Singapore educators who are volunteering their expertise through SIF and working in partnership with Sarawak’s Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development to strengthen the teaching of Mathematics in Sarawak.”
Also present at the event were the specialist SIVs – Mr Edmund Lim (Team Lead), Ms Bernadette Lim and Dr Ho Siew Yin – who shared their experiences of working alongside fellow teachers in Sarawak, their takeaways from the project and the meaningful impact of their volunteer journey.
As a token of appreciation, the donors were presented with a traditional abacus. Chosen for its symbolism, the abacus represents not only mathematics but also an "abundance of talent" (大才盘盘). It serves as a fitting tribute to the donors whose support is helping educators nurture tens of thousands of future mathematical talents.