“There are times where we face challenging situations and emotions to which we struggle to find the right words for, which is why the creative medium of art allows us to translate these into a visual picture, something more tangible that can facilitate the processing of these complexities."

What drew you to intern at The Red Pencil (Singapore), and what was your role during your internship?

I had always been curious about the social service sector and how NGOs function to deliver services to disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. As a mental wellness advocate myself, I resonated deeply with RPS’ mission of uplifting the lives of vulnerable communities and making programmes more accessible. I was further intrigued seeing how RPS implements creative arts therapy, a method not widely heard of in Singapore, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to learn more about it and the inner workings of a charity.

I was part of the Corporate Partnerships team where I helped with various donor-related functions, and backed fundraising efforts particularly through planning events and campaigns as well as engaging with stakeholders.

How did your experience as an intern influence your personal or professional development?

My experience has holistically value-added to both my personal and professional development in many ways. Being part of a team that steered fundraising events and campaigns, teamwork was all the more important in ensuring that various deliverables could be fulfilled. From the ideation stage to the execution of events, I collaborated closely with my colleagues as we pooled ideas together, delegated tasks among ourselves and helped one another when needed. Additionally, I had opportunities to build on my communication skills which were equally crucial in engaging effectively with stakeholders. Observing how my colleagues navigated through different types of discussions afforded me valuable insights into the nuances behind fostering meaningful relationships with donors and partners. Collectively, these experiences have equipped me with capabilities that are well-needed in personal and professional aspects, as I have learnt to take on a collaborative approach and be an effective communicator to achieve goals.

Can you share a memorable project or task you worked on during your time at The Red Pencil (Singapore)?

It was definitely the Gift of HeART campaign that ran across the last three months of 2024. I had stumbled upon a wallpaper charity campaign that was held in Taiwan and shared it with my team during the brainstorming stage for our own year-end campaign. My responsibilities involved liaising with artists for their wallpaper artworks, tracking donations, and keeping our donors up to date with the campaign. Though it was a busy period, seeing the artists, donors, and retail partners coming together to support our mission made this campaign extremely fulfilling.

What skills or knowledge did you gain or improve upon during your internship, and how did you see them benefiting your future career?

One of my first major tasks was generating statistics from our donor database to obtain donation patterns and map out our donor engagement plan. Though I had little expertise working with data, it was an eye-opening learning experience of not only sharpening my Excel skills, but also my analytical skills as I explored many ways to play with data and transform these metrics into actionable steps. I now feel more comfortable working with data, and I have learnt that data is more than just numbers – they collectively paint a bigger picture that informs how an organisation can address gaps. This is a key takeaway that will prove useful to me as I intend to venture into development work.

What did you learn about art therapy and its impact on people in need?

Art therapy offers a transformative alternative for one to express the unspeakable. There are times where we face challenging situations and emotions to which we struggle to find the right words for, which is why the creative medium of art allows us to translate these into a visual picture, something more tangible that can facilitate the processing of these complexities. For individuals in vulnerable communities who experience extremely difficult circumstances, art therapy provides a non-judgemental, safe space for them to express themselves freely. Through art therapy, self-expression transcends the limits of words, and this exploration of the self through creativity can encourage resilience and greater autonomy over uncontrollable situations.

How has your experience as an intern shaped your future career goals or aspirations?

This experience has affirmed my aspiration of contributing meaningfully to the betterment of society. Behind an organisation is a whole system of teams working together to ensure efficient delivery of services, and it was awe-inspiring to witness the effort that goes into keeping this system operational and effective. What made my time and work in the fundraising team incredibly worthwhile was the knowledge that these funds would be channelled towards impacting lives positively. This purpose will be what I keep etched in my heart as I strive towards building a more compassionate society.

How successful do you think The Red Pencil (Singapore) has been at using art therapy to connect with people?

There was one occasion when I sat in on a workshop that allowed me to witness firsthand the emotional connectivity that art fosters. While the group session evoked a range of emotions, it was evident that by the end, the participants had formed deeper connections with one another. Additionally, reading the stories of change was heartwarming, as it highlighted the profound impact RPS has had on the lives of its beneficiaries—just a few among the many individuals RPS supports through various external events. I believe RPS has been instrumental in increasing the recognition of art therapy, and there is no doubt that it will continue to create a ripple effect of positive change within our communities.

What are your hopes for The Red Pencil (Singapore)?

While we have made significant progress in addressing mental health issues, there are many cases which still go unnoticed, hence signifying a call for greater accessibility to and recognition for alternative forms of therapy that suit increasingly diverse needs. I believe RPS will be at the forefront of this shift towards embracing unconventional yet groundbreaking therapy methods. I hope that as appreciation towards art therapy grows in Singapore, RPS continues adding more colour into people’s lives and fostering a deeper sense of emotional well-being within the community.