Ideas for a Better World Forum: Mechai Viravaidya

Ideas can change the world

(from left): Mr Aaron Maniam; Mr Mechai Viravaidy; Executive Director of SIF, Ms Jean Tan; Ms Elim Chew, Mr Willie Cheng and moderator, Mr Augustine Anthuvan

Nurturing Generations of Social Entrepreneurs graphic recording

Mr Maniam notes that, ultimately, social entrepreneurship is “about drawing from the strengths of all to create a cohesive whole”, adding that “the ability to do this is critical”

(From left) Ms Tan Jia Hui and Mr Tan Song Jie have been challenged to initiate a national spirit of social entrepreneurship

Ms Helene Leong, Deputy Director, Educational Development, Singapore Poly (right)

Through promoting the use of condoms and other contraception methods in Thailand, Mr Viravaidya led a movement that successfully reduced the country’s population growth and got fewer people living under the poverty line of $2 or less a day

Tim Hammons adds colour to the forum

Akhtar Mohammed from the YSE 2012 programme posing a question

Mr Aaron Maniam, chairman of the National Youth Council Academy’s Advisory Panel, is also part of the panel discussion

Christiane Lilian Kouamen, Cameroonian student from NTU

Past Ideas Forum panellist Mr Aseem Kumar Thakur, Co-Founder, Give.sg

The 2007 Gates Award recipient is joined at the forum by a panel comprising Ms Elim Chew, SIF governor and 77th Street founder (left), and Mr Willie Cheng, director of Lien Centre for Social Innovation (right)

In attendance - 65 youths taking part in the SIF’s third Young Social Entrepreneurs programme, all of whom have ideas for companies that can help address social issues

Mr Mechai Viravaidya sheds light on how a spirit of social entrepreneurship can be cultivated and what such enterprise can achieve