Make a Greater Impact: RP rallies community for Giving Campaign 2026

Even as rising living costs and inflation add pressure to many families today, RP students continue to show up for their education, determined to build a better future. For some, balancing school, financial responsibilities and personal circumstances means an extra layer of grit is needed to get through each day. Yet time and again, these students rise to the occasion, staying focused on their studies and holding firmly onto their goals.

This year, RP is calling on its wider community — alumni, staff, students and parents — to come together in support of one another through the Republic Polytechnic Education Fund (RPEF). Donations raised through the fund go directly towards helping students in need, easing financial burdens and opening up opportunities that allow them to learn, grow and thrive.

Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a difference. More than that, it sends a message to RP students that they are part of a community that believes in them.

Three students whose lives have been shaped by the generosity of donors show just how far that support can go.

Pang Wan Ming

Two scholarships did more than ease financial pressure at home for Wan Ming, an RP School of Sports and Health alumna. They helped set her on the path to physiotherapy.

"Thanks to the Lee Foundation and Tan Eng Yoon Endowment Scholarships, I made it to the Physiotherapy course at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)," Wan Ming said. "I couldn't have done it without your support and motivation!"

Wan Ming's interest in the healthcare industry led her to RP Diploma in Health Services Management, now known as Integrated Community Care. Coming from a family of five, she was always mindful of the financial pressures her parents faced in supporting the household. To ease that burden, she applied for and received the Tan Eng Yoon Endowment Scholarship in 2024, followed by the Lee Foundation Scholarship in 2025.

With the scholarships in hand, Wan Ming had more time to focus on her studies without needing to take on a part-time job. The support also gave her more opportunities to give back to the community through volunteering with the Care Community Services Society and the Agency for Integrated Care.

"Throughout my RP journey, I learnt that what truly inspired me was to help and inspire others along the way," Wan Ming shared. "It was also one of the reasons why I decided to pursue physiotherapy, so I can help others rebuild their confidence in movement and get the most out of life."

Iven Tan Yi Hung

For Iven, a graduate of RP School of Applied Science, the Wilmar Scholarship was the difference between hesitating and saying yes to opportunities beyond the classroom.

"The support from the Wilmar Scholarship enabled me to pursue learning opportunities beyond the classroom," Iven said. "Without the scholarship, I would have hesitated to say 'yes' to the overseas service-learning programme and study trips."

Iven pursued the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science at RP, driven by a strong interest in medicine and healthcare. Outside of his coursework, he threw himself into campus life, taking part in the Service-Learning Club, the Maven Interest Group and the Pharmaceutica Interest Group, alongside overseas trips to Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

As Head of Training for the Service-Learning Club, he organised Trekking with a Purpose, a monthly initiative that brought RP student volunteers together to clean up parks, beaches and neighbourhoods while learning about environmental stewardship and community service.

His academic performance and community contributions earned him the Wilmar Scholarship not once, but twice.

While Iven grew up in a single-income family where finances were not his primary source of stress, the scholarship gave him the confidence to take up overseas study trips to Hong Kong and Taiwan, where he gained first-hand exposure to the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare systems and hospital practices.

The scholarship also opened the door to International Service-Learning Programmes in Vietnam and Australia. In Vietnam, he taught local students and organised educational games for them. In Australia, he supported students with cerebral palsy through adapted outdoor activities, including a high-element course.

Jessica Faye Gomez

The Lee Foundation Scholarship meant more than financial relief for Jessica Faye Gomez, an RP School of Business student. It gave her mother, who raised her alone, one less thing to worry about.

"Coming from a single-mother family, receiving the Lee Foundation Scholarship has helped ease the financial burden on my mother," Jessica said. "It has given me the space to focus on my education without constantly worrying about finances, and I don't take that sense of relief for granted."

Growing up, Jessica watched her mother make repeated sacrifices, not only to provide for her but also to support relatives living overseas. Wanting to ease that load, Jessica applied for the Lee Foundation Scholarship in her second year at RP.

With her financial worries eased, she was able to focus on her studies while embracing opportunities beyond the classroom. Through the Singapore Young Leaders Programme and the Harvard Business School Club of Singapore Mentorship Programme, she grew in confidence as a leader and communicator.

The scholarship also gave her room to give back. Together with fellow Diploma in Business students, she helped organise Pack My Backpack 2025, an initiative that supported more than 280 underprivileged families through financial literacy activities. The experience inspired her to join her school's Youth Network, where she continues to serve the community.

"More than anything, this scholarship gave me time. Time to focus on my studies, build stronger relationships and figure out who I want to become," said Jessica, an alumna of Whitley Secondary School.

Today, Jessica hopes to use the opportunities she has been given to make a positive difference in the lives of others, just as donors have done for her.

Giving that goes further

Giving changes lives. No matter the amount, every contribution helps enrich the educational journeys of RP students and empowers them to create greater impact in their communities.

Members of the public and the RP community can start making a difference at www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/giving-campaign-2026