For the Women of Tomorrow

United Women Singapore president Georgette Tan discusses how the non-profit organisation is moving the needle on women's empowerment in Singapore towards a more equitable society

- Nafeesa Saini

At the heart of the movement for gender equality in Singapore today are dedicated advocates such as Georgette Tan, who leverages her extensive experience in corporate communications and leadership to champion women's empowerment on multiple fronts. As part of her former role as senior vice-president of communications at Mastercard Asia Pacific, she led corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes as well as partnerships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which involved working with women's groups and rural communities. Through that, she found her calling.

"I visited women in rural areas who farm and take on sewing projects to earn money," recalls Tan. "In the Philippines, women operate sari-sari stores (neighbourhood retail shops) in front of their homes, serving their communities by selling essential items and in smaller quantities-such as shampoo sold in sachets-due to the poverty in the area and a lack of space in the home." Reflecting on their motivations, she shares: "They said it's so their children could have better lives than they had, and so they could provide food and care for the elders." She also observed how these women were reluctant to acknowledge that their own self-fulfilment, though a factor, was their last priority.

Returning to these communities after a year, the impact of the CSR programmes was evident. As Tan tells it, "the women had gained confidence, and told us they wanted to help the next village and teach more women so their children can also benefit". It was this resilience that motivated her move to the non-profit sector.