TomoWork’s Annual Event Celebrates 5 Years of Impact: 4 in 5 Achieve Employment after TomoWork Flagship Programme

SINGAPORE, June 6, 2024 — TomoWork, a charitable non-profit organisation in Singapore, marked its 5th-anniversary celebration with its annual gathering and fundraising event, Tomo Day 2024, at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).  This annual event showcased the success of its initiatives, particularly the Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP), which saw four in five of its graduates achieve gainful employment.

The event was graced by Guest of Honour Mr. Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Around 150 guests gathered to celebrate TomoWork’s dedicated efforts in delivering impactful programmes.

The flagship Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP), designed to provide persons with disabilities with essential skills and experience, saw 79%* of participants securing employment outcomes within six months of programme completion. This and other programmes have positively impacted 295 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and students with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

*This excludes participants pursuing further education or entering National Service.

The accomplishment of TomoWork’s initiatives owes much to the generous support of both private and public sectors. A total of 60 corporate partners and 610 volunteers, including individuals and corporate entities, contributed 1,893 volunteer hours to support PWDs and students with SEN.

Micron Technology, a strong supporter of TAP since 2023, exemplifies a commitment to inclusivity. Through hosting corporate visits and providing real business challenges for TAP participants, Micron promotes and celebrates a culture of inclusion and has encouraged students with SEN to pursue STEM careers.  Several TAP graduates have joined the company as digital innovation analysts.

Mr Chen Kok Sing, corporate vice president and Singapore country manager at Micron Technology, said:

“Our engagement with TAP last year is already having a positive impact on our business. We are pleased to see that our four program graduates have adjusted swiftly to the corporate environment and are performing well in their roles with support from our onboarding programs and on-the-job training. TAP aligns with our commitment to foster a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work, and we are honoured to participate in the programme again this year.”

Mr Chia Ko Wen, Head of Sustainability, Singlife said:

“Singlife is committed to charting a better way to sustainability, and we’re proud to be a partner of TomoWork since 2022. It has been a gratifying experience to play a part in the growth and development of the remarkable students participating in TomoWork’s programmes. We remain committed to supporting such initiatives that foster inclusivity and empower individuals to achieve their full potential and develop their overall wellbeing.”

Ms Sandhya Dovedy, Partnerships Manager, Social Impact at LinkedIn said:

“Our collaboration with TomoWork marks a significant stride towards fostering an inclusive community. The dedication of our LinkedIn team has been pivotal, with 20 colleagues contributing to this year’s TAP, guiding each participant towards their employment goals. In solidarity with TomoWork’s vision, we’re enhancing our support by granting all program participants complimentary LinkedIn Premium Accounts. This commitment underscores our pledge to empower students with Special Educational Needs, paving the way for a future filled with greater possibilities.”

This year’s TAP received support from Amazon Web Service, Barclays, Bloomberg, foodpanda, Google, Hong Leong Asia, Hong Leong Foundation, Lee Foundation, LinkedIn, Micron Technology, NBCUniversal, Singlife, Standard Chartered Bank, Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, Swire Shipping, and Watson-Marlow Singapore. These organizations are committed to promoting an inclusive work environment and helping students with SEN gain relevant skills for future employment. Many of these companies have also shown interest in hiring TAP graduates. Participants of the TAP demonstrated the successful results of their project work on the Tomo Day stage.

Mr Russell Chan, Principal & CEO at Nanyang Polytechnic, said: 

“Through the Talent Accelerator Programme, students with disabilities from the polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education can get a head start in securing employment opportunities post-graduation. We hope to continue working closely with hiring employers to support post-tertiary graduates as they enter the job market and embark onto fulfilling career opportunities.” 

Following the declaration by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) of 2024 as the Year of Celebrating Volunteers, TomoWork expressed gratitude to all the volunteers supporting its programmes. The organization is dedicated to enhancing volunteer experiences and opportunities to further impact the PWD community.

Mr Mike Momota, CEO of TomoWork, said:

“The importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria is increasingly recognized in both societal and business spheres, with inclusive hiring becoming a crucial driver for social initiatives. Over the past five years, our programmes have demonstrated their effectiveness in advancing inclusive hiring. Looking ahead, we hope to see more companies and volunteers join our mission to make the workplace more inclusive. Together, we can work towards building a more inclusive society, where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed and make meaningful contributions.”