Scaling and Expanding PR Journey Programme to Incorporate Regular and Sustained Engagement Opportunities
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the expansion of the PR Journey programme to include regular engagement opportunities such as structured interactions and volunteering to foster two-way integration. MP Mr David Hoe inquired if the Ministry would move beyond one-off modules to incorporate recurring touchpoints and grassroots involvement for new Permanent Residents. Acting Minister David Neo replied that the programme already features experiential visits, community events, and volunteering opportunities introduced since May 2026. He highlighted positive participant feedback and noted that the Ministry will continue evaluating the pilot to ensure it achieves meaningful integration outcomes. Furthermore, Acting Minister David Neo shared that the Community Integration Fund is available to support integration initiatives from Singapore-registered organisations.
Transcript
80 Mr David Hoe asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether, as the PR Journey programme for new Permanent Residents is scaled up, the Ministry will consider going beyond one-off modules, museum visits and community events, to incorporate more regular and sustained engagement opportunities, including structured interactions with local-born Singaporeans such as facilitated conversations, grassroots involvement, volunteering and recurring touchpoints, so that integration becomes a more two-way process.
Mr David Neo: We agree with the member that integration is an ongoing and two-way process involving interactions between locals and foreigners. As such, in designing the Permanent Resident (PR) Journey programme, it already goes beyond one-off e-learning modules for new PRs to learn about Singapore's culture life, way of life and social norms.
As part of the PR Journey, we encourage PRs to understand, engage with and contribute to our community. The initial phase of the pilot that was rolled out in November 2025 included experiential experiences for new PRs to visit selected museums or cultural institutions, or participate in a local community event. Since May 2026, we have also introduced volunteering opportunities for new PRs who are interested in contributing to the local community.
Based on responses from the PRs who have participated in the pilot thus far, almost all gained a better understanding about living and contributing to Singapore after completing the programme. The Ministry will continue to assess participant feedback and outcomes from the pilot to ensure that the programme remains effective in achieving our integration outcomes and continues to be meaningful for the participants.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth will also be happy to support ideas from Singapore-registered organisations to enhance local-foreigner integration, through the Community Integration Fund.