To court the young, a Hakka clan association in Singapore is offering overseas internships

In July of this year, the Char Yong (Dabu) Hakka clan association in Singapore inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Business China, a non-profit organisation founded by the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 2007. The primary aim of this collaboration is to forge stronger ties with China and cater to the younger demographic within the Singaporean Chinese community.

As part of the agreement, the Char Yong (Dabu) Hakka association has pledged an annual sum of S$60,000 to Business China to back two key initiatives. The first program is the Singapore-China Youth Interns Exchange Scheme, which will provide up to ten young Singaporeans with opportunities for internships in China each year. The second initiative is the Business China Summer School Scholarship, which assists Singaporean undergraduates in participating in short-term academic programs in Chinese universities.

Loh Tian Kai, a prominent director at law firm Drew & Napier and a long-time volunteer at the association, explained that this MOU is part of a larger effort to devise innovative methods to support association members in the 21st century. He further revealed that Business China has pledged to prioritize the association's members for their programmes, although they are not restricting applications to only association members.

Historically, Chinese clan associations in Singapore have provided essential services such as accommodation and burial support for first-generation immigrants. However, Loh noted that the Singapore government has been doing an excellent job in fulfilling these basic requirements. Presently, the clan associations are focusing on maintaining their relevance and adding value to their members.

With around 300 Chinese clan associations in Singapore, many of them extend educational support through scholarships for the children of members. The Hokkien clan association, for instance, also offers a pathway for member's children to attend certain schools like Nan Chiau Primary. Some associations extend support beyond education, such as the Toishan Wong clan association, which provides significant baby bonuses to clan members.

Melody Tan, a second-generation business owner of the Yum Cha Restaurant group who initially joined the Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan association for business opportunities, has initiated various activities to encourage women's participation. While culture remains a crucial aspect of clan associations, Loh believes that offering more relevant activities can alter their image.

Loh joined the Char Yong (Dabu) Hakka association after receiving a scholarship for university through the association and wanted to contribute back. Consequently, he offers legal advice to the association and its members and serves on a committee that develops activities appealing to the youth. Prior to the MOU with Business China, Loh highlighted that the association had utilized its Hakka connections to organize business missions to China.

In 2024, the association visited Shenzhen, and in the previous year, they ventured to Guangzhou, with each trip involving about 30 members. Half of the participants were small and medium-sized enterprise owners, and the other half were tertiary-age individuals aiming to connect with Chinese firms for job opportunities. The association is currently planning a visit to Hainan this year.

Loh emphasized that in recent years, the association has set a clear direction to enhance professional and business development for all its members, aiming to move beyond the stereotype of being a retirement hub for the clan.