Third Cohort Of YES Leaders Tackle Community Waste Challenges

Source: Government of Singapore

More resources for future cohorts of YES Leaders Programme 

10 July 2026 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) celebrated the graduation of the third cohort of the YOUth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Leaders Programme (LP) today, joined by the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Goh Hanyan. Ms Fu congratulated the 28 YES Leaders from eight different Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) on completing their year-long programme and welcomed the incoming YES LP cohort. She also announced a 20 per cent increase in project grants to enable future cohorts to go further in their environmental initiatives.

Nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards

2.     Over the past year, the 28 YES Leaders spearheaded 15 initiatives [1] , ranging from bridging knowledge gaps and lowering barriers to adopting sustainable habits, to practical solutions addressing various waste streams, all tailored to the needs of their respective communities. NEA will be working with the YES Leaders to explore potential next steps for their projects. Some of this cohort’s initiatives are:

• Eco-blanket – Led by Wang Yiling, Soh Jia Yun, and Yeo Charmaine from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West, the project collected over 15 kg of used textiles through ITE’s recycling corner, the Brickland community, repurposing them into blankets for individuals in need. Through sewing workshops, Green Ambassador Club student volunteers gained practical skills while helping to reduce textile waste and making a tangible difference to those needing support.
• Ecologic: Circuit Cycle –- Led by Lim Xingmin, Kathy Anne from LASALLE College of the Arts, the project uses a visually-driven card game to help players rethink their relationship with e-waste. Tracing the life cycle of electronic devices from manufacture to disposal, players make decisions on repair, reuse, and recycling, discovering how everyday choices impact the environment. Designed for younger audiences, the project transforms a complex issue into an engaging, interactive learning experience.
• Plastics to Possibilities: Recycle Waste to Worth –- Led by James Wang from the National University of Singapore (NUS), this project offers a proof of concept for recycling polypropylene, one of the least-recycled plastics globally, by converting discarded polypropylene laboratory plastic boxes into 3D printing filament for NUS robotics and design projects. As such plastic waste is commonly sent to landfills due to high cost of recycling and upcycling, the project creates a circular solution by returning the filament to the laboratories that generated it. In doing so, it diverts plastic from landfill while supporting scientific research, demonstrating that sustainability and scientific innovation can advance together.
• Wear Your Waste –- Led by Sohana Khatun from Temasek Polytechnic, this project transforms coffee grounds and post-consumer plastics into handcrafted wearables through upcycling workshops for persons with disabilities and special needs. Delivered in partnership with social service agencies, hospitality companies, green groups, and schools, the workshops promote creative waste repurposing while fostering practical skills and environmental awareness. By bringing together partners across sectors, the project shows that sustainability can be both inclusive and community driven.

More offerings for future cohorts

3.        The fourth cohort of 40 YES Leaders also commenced their journey today, embarking on a year-long programme of learning, mentorship, and community engagement, with support from NEA and their Advisors. 

4.        To further strengthen the programme for the fourth cohort and beyond, the YES Advisors Network [2] will be expanded this year with the appointment of four new advisors, namely Carlo Charles, Ernest Goh, Preston Wong, and Tan Shi Zhou. All four are past recipients of NEA’s EcoFriend Award, with experience spanning innovation-driven start-ups and impact-focused social enterprises, in areas such as sustainable materials, circular economy solutions, food waste reduction, and arts-based approaches to environmental advocacy. Their appointment broadens the range of expertise within the advisory community, bringing technical depth and fresh perspectives to the network.

5.       Poject grants under the YES Leaders Programme will also be increased by 20 per cent, from $5,000 to $6,000, starting from the fourth cohort. The enhancement reflects the potential and creativity of the participants and will enable them to pursue more ambitious environmental initiatives, including stronger prototype development, broader outreach, and more meaningful community impact.

Launch of the YES Festival