Speech by Mr Janadas Devan, SIF Chairman, at the BRIDGE Programme Welcome Dinner at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre
Mr Thomas Ardian Siregar, Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Indonesia in Singapore,
Distinguished guests,
BRIDGE participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome you today as we launch the BRIDGE Programme – short for Bilateral Relations and Intercultural Dialogue for Growth and Empowerment. I am delighted to see 30 youth leaders from Singapore and Indonesia gathered here, united by a shared commitment to strengthening understanding, collaboration, and friendship across our two countries.
Across the world, societies are becoming more diverse, interconnected, and interdependent. With diversity comes immense strength when we generate new ideas, leverage on rich cultural expressions, and broaden our perspectives. To do so, we need to put in the work to build trust, deepen understanding, and ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging. This is why the theme of this year’s programme, “Fostering social cohesion in a multicultural society” is both timely and vital.
Singapore and Indonesia share rich histories of multiculturalism. In Singapore, we have made significant progress in growing as one people. Our diversity is reflected in the way different communities live alongside each other, from multi-ethnic classrooms to shared public housing and community spaces, the formal teaching of English and our mother tongues, and our many diverse commemorations throughout the year.
In Indonesia, unity in diversity is expressed through the rich tapestry of ethnic groups, languages, and religious traditions across the archipelago. For both our countries, multiculturalism is not just a demographic fact – it is woven into our national identity. It shapes how we learn, work, celebrate, and live alongside one another. It teaches us that harmony is not something we inherit; it is something we build every day through respect, and shared purpose.
Yet, as our societies grow more complex, sustaining social cohesion becomes more challenging. Polarisation of views, deliberate dissemination of misinformation, and exacerbating social divisions are ways which can easily undermine the trust that binds communities together. In such an environment, youth leadership becomes even more important. As youths, you bring openness, creativity, and courage – qualities that are essential for navigating differences and shaping inclusive futures.
This is precisely what the BRIDGE Programme seeks to nurture. Over the coming week, you will engage with policymakers, community leaders, and social innovators who are working on issues that matter deeply to both our countries – from inclusive policymaking to digital wellbeing and community resilience. These conversations are not just exchanges of knowledge; they are opportunities to reflect on how each of you, in your respective spheres, can help reinforce the social fabric that holds our societies together.
Your journey here in Singapore will take you to key sites that reflect our nation’s multicultural character – places that demonstrate how diversity is lived, nurtured, and strengthened every day. Through these visits, you will gain insights into Singapore’s approaches to fostering unity in diversity, and how policy, community action, and innovation work hand in hand to build a cohesive and inclusive society.
Throughout the programme, there will also be opportunities for learning and exchange among yourselves. Under the guidance of your Chief Facilitator, Lewis Liu, the workshops will enable you to explore complex issues together, challenge perspectives, and draw from one another’s lived experiences. Each of you has already journeyed far as leaders in your respective fields, and we look forward to how you can work together to do even more.
At the Singapore International Foundation, we believe deeply in the power of people-to-people connections. This year we celebrate 35 years of bringing Singaporeans and overseas communities together to do good. We have worked to create spaces where trust can be built, ideas can be shared, and friendships can flourish. This is because we believe that when individuals come together with openness and purpose, they can uplift lives and strengthen the bonds that connect our nations.
On behalf of the SIF, I would like to thank all our partners, speakers, and hosts for their support. To our participants – welcome once again. May this week broaden your perspectives, strengthen your friendships, and inspire you to carry forward the spirit of collaboration that defines this programme.
Thank you, and I wish all of you a meaningful and enriching start to the BRIDGE Programme.