DBS Foundation commits SGD 1.47 million to new partnership with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities to expand seniors’ access to micro-jobs
For starters, this initiative will be rolled out across 100 Active Ageing Centres over four years, benefitting 5,000 seniors
Singapore, 13 Oct 2025 - DBS Foundation and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC) today announced the “Senior Micro-jobs Programme”, a transformative partnership to broaden seniors’ access to micro-jobs. The partnership aims to help more seniors to easily take on flexible, task-based work opportunities, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to society, enhance social connections and live more purposefully and independently.
From left to right: DBS Singapore Country Head Lim Him Chuan, Chairman of DBS Foundation Ho Tian Yee, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, Vice Chairman of THKMC Board of Directors Lee Kim Siang and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Chief Executive Officer Jason Lee officially launch the “Senior Micro-jobs Programme”, a partnership between DBS Foundation and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities to broaden seniors’ access to micro-jobs
The partnership is marked by DBS Foundation’s generous contribution of S$1.47 million, which will go a long way in expanding THKMC’s successful micro-jobs pilot programme. DBS Foundation is also harnessing the bank’s technological expertise to support the development of a digital app, the first-of-its-kind in Singapore, to enable seniors to easily discover, apply for and receive payment for micro-jobs. The app is expected to be ready within the first half of 2026.
In addition, DBS Foundation and THKMC will rally their networks – across the private, public and people sectors – to come onboard as micro-job providers, with a view to expanding the supply, diversity and quality of tasks over time. This includes going beyond typical tasks such as delivering meals and accompanying seniors to their medical appointments, to availing more skills-based tasks like leading community programmes, mentoring others and providing operational support at retail businesses.
This partnership builds on a 2023 pilot by THKMC, which introduced micro-jobs across its 18 AACs and engaged 700 seniors. Over 2.5 years, these seniors completed over 300,000 tasks, supporting 10,000 beneficiaries. The pilot also demonstrated positive impact in addressing key challenges faced by participating seniors – from reducing social isolation and improving financial independence, particularly for those from more vulnerable backgrounds, to fostering a renewed sense of purpose and community contribution.
Ms Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said: “At the DBS Foundation, we believe purposeful ageing isn’t just about helping seniors to live longer; it's also about enabling them to live better. Through this partnership with THKMC and with the support of like-minded partners like the Agency for Integrated Care and the wider impact ecosystem, we hope to reimagine older adults’ roles in society and create a sustainable means for everyone – both seniors of today and tomorrow – to thrive. We believe seniors still have much to give to society and together, we can create a future where everyone is empowered to age with dignity, purpose and joy.”
Mr Jason Lee, THKMC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We thank DBS Foundation for the timely and meaningful partnership. This partnership will enable the development of an upcoming mobile application that will accelerate the continued growth of the programme to enable and empower seniors. The upcoming Micro-Jobs app will be a platform for experimentation, and through users' feedback, inspire seniors to be not just users and contributors, but as co-creators.”
A milestone in Cross-Sector Collaboration
Beyond broadening access to micro-jobs, this partnership seeks to catalyse a mindset shift around ageing – one that recognises and values the contributions seniors can continue to make. By building digital infrastructure, fostering cross-sector collaboration and laying the building blocks for a supportive ecosystem, DBS Foundation and THKMC aim to empower seniors to stay meaningfully engaged beyond retirement and in doing so, drive long-term, systemic change.
This partnership marks a significant moment in harnessing cross-sector collaboration to nurture vibrant, compassionate and inclusive communities. It exemplifies how innovation, empathy, and shared purpose can converge to uplift lives and redefine ageing in Singapore.
About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.
In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.
Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.
For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation
About Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC)
THKMC was incorporated on 13 October 2011 as a charity to provide multiple social and welfare services to the community at large, and achieved an Institute of Public Character (IPC) status on 18 November 2011. THKMC is the charitable arm of Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, which lives by the mission of serving people with diverse needs by providing impactful community services. THKMC today serves more than 68,000 beneficiaries through more than 70 programmes across five Services, which include Disability, Early Intervention for Children, Family, Seniors’ Community, and Therapy.
From left to right: DBS Singapore Country Head Lim Him Chuan, Chairman of DBS Foundation Ho Tian Yee, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, Vice Chairman of THKMC Board of Directors Lee Kim Siang and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Chief Executive Officer Jason Lee officially launch the “Senior Micro-jobs Programme”, a partnership between DBS Foundation and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities to broaden seniors’ access to micro-jobsThe partnership is marked by DBS Foundation’s generous contribution of S$1.47 million, which will go a long way in expanding THKMC’s successful micro-jobs pilot programme. DBS Foundation is also harnessing the bank’s technological expertise to support the development of a digital app, the first-of-its-kind in Singapore, to enable seniors to easily discover, apply for and receive payment for micro-jobs. The app is expected to be ready within the first half of 2026.
In addition, DBS Foundation and THKMC will rally their networks – across the private, public and people sectors – to come onboard as micro-job providers, with a view to expanding the supply, diversity and quality of tasks over time. This includes going beyond typical tasks such as delivering meals and accompanying seniors to their medical appointments, to availing more skills-based tasks like leading community programmes, mentoring others and providing operational support at retail businesses.
This partnership builds on a 2023 pilot by THKMC, which introduced micro-jobs across its 18 AACs and engaged 700 seniors. Over 2.5 years, these seniors completed over 300,000 tasks, supporting 10,000 beneficiaries. The pilot also demonstrated positive impact in addressing key challenges faced by participating seniors – from reducing social isolation and improving financial independence, particularly for those from more vulnerable backgrounds, to fostering a renewed sense of purpose and community contribution.
Ms Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said: “At the DBS Foundation, we believe purposeful ageing isn’t just about helping seniors to live longer; it's also about enabling them to live better. Through this partnership with THKMC and with the support of like-minded partners like the Agency for Integrated Care and the wider impact ecosystem, we hope to reimagine older adults’ roles in society and create a sustainable means for everyone – both seniors of today and tomorrow – to thrive. We believe seniors still have much to give to society and together, we can create a future where everyone is empowered to age with dignity, purpose and joy.”
Mr Jason Lee, THKMC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We thank DBS Foundation for the timely and meaningful partnership. This partnership will enable the development of an upcoming mobile application that will accelerate the continued growth of the programme to enable and empower seniors. The upcoming Micro-Jobs app will be a platform for experimentation, and through users' feedback, inspire seniors to be not just users and contributors, but as co-creators.”
Representatives from the Agency for Integrated Care, DBS Foundation, SingHealth and local enterprise City Sprouts shared their insights at a panel discussion on Singapore’s ageing landscape, and the role of micro-jobs in empowering seniors to age well with purpose, dignity and joy.
A milestone in Cross-Sector Collaboration
Beyond broadening access to micro-jobs, this partnership seeks to catalyse a mindset shift around ageing – one that recognises and values the contributions seniors can continue to make. By building digital infrastructure, fostering cross-sector collaboration and laying the building blocks for a supportive ecosystem, DBS Foundation and THKMC aim to empower seniors to stay meaningfully engaged beyond retirement and in doing so, drive long-term, systemic change.
This partnership marks a significant moment in harnessing cross-sector collaboration to nurture vibrant, compassionate and inclusive communities. It exemplifies how innovation, empathy, and shared purpose can converge to uplift lives and redefine ageing in Singapore.
[END]
About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.
In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.
Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.
For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation
About Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC)
THKMC was incorporated on 13 October 2011 as a charity to provide multiple social and welfare services to the community at large, and achieved an Institute of Public Character (IPC) status on 18 November 2011. THKMC is the charitable arm of Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, which lives by the mission of serving people with diverse needs by providing impactful community services. THKMC today serves more than 68,000 beneficiaries through more than 70 programmes across five Services, which include Disability, Early Intervention for Children, Family, Seniors’ Community, and Therapy.