Singapore, 18 May 2021 – Singtel has joined The Valuable 500, a global movement of 500 companies to place disability inclusion on the global leadership agenda. The commitment underscores Singtel’s longstanding equity and inclusion strategy to support children with special needs and persons with disabilities.

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel’s Group CEO said, “The disability-inclusion agenda is a core tenet of our sustainability strategy and being part of The Valuable 500 is a strong alignment with our vision to build a more inclusive workplace for people with disabilities. Over the past two decades, we’ve been stepping up our efforts to support and fund schools and programmes that prepare persons with disabilities to join the workforce so they can lead independent and purposeful lives. Recognising that disability employment also requires the support of a broader ecosystem, our Singtel Future Makers programme supports start-ups that strive to make a difference with their social impact initiatives.”

Through the Singtel Touching Lives Fund, Singtel’s corporate philanthropy programme, the company has raised over S$48 million since 2002 in support of special education schools that equip their students with skills to join the workforce. Singtel also sponsored the Singtel Enabling Innovation Centre, which trains persons with disabilities in ICT skills to enhance their employment opportunities. Singtel is also championing disability employment in its current position as co-chair of the Singapore Business Network on DisAbility (SBNoD) and through its partnership with SG Enable. As an agency dedicated to enabling persons with disabilities, SG Enable provides tertiary students with disabilities with the opportunity to participate in mentorship and internship programmes as well as university career fairs.

To advance the disability-inclusion agenda, Singtel also works with start-ups on social impact initiatives through its social innovation and accelerator programme, Singtel Future Makers. The programme provides start-ups with resources like mentorship, competency workshops and networking opportunities to ensure that their social impact initiatives are able to gain traction and launch. Today, a number of successful ‘Future Makers’ graduates are making a difference to society. One example is CaptionCube, a social enterprise that employs persons with disabilities in video post-production services. Another is Enabler Interactive, which provides 3D simulation training software for the disability and aged care service sectors.

For more details of Singtel’s Valuable 500 pledge: www.thevaluable500.com/company/singtel.

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