When Mr Kevin Le, 21, signed up for the Emerging Leaders Programme (ELP), he wasn’t sure what he was walking into. A new member of the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Consumer Co-operative, the Gen Zer arrived at the leadership camp in the Bintan Island, Indonesia this February with a fair bit of uncertainty. Three days later, he left with a clearer sense of purpose, especially in how different co-operatives (co-ops) might work together more closely in the years to come.

Now in its third year, the ELP is starting to find its stride. This year’s intake is the largest yet, with 14 unique co-operatives dispatching 19 participants across Singapore’s co-operative ecosystem, almost doubled from each intake from the past two years. The programme, first launched in 2023 by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF), is designed to nurture 100 co-op leaders over five years.

Held from 21 to 23 February 2025, ELP began with an overseas camp in the Bintan Island. ELP was co-developed by educational professionals from the Republic Polytechnic and SNCF. Participants were put through a rigorous but reflective curriculum that covered frameworks in leadership, problem-solving, and group facilitation. The goal? To prepare a new generation of leaders to think more expansively about what co-operation can mean.

Conversations beyond the comfort zone

Mr Toh Kian Beng, 46, a long-time community organiser with A Good Space Co-operative, saw the camp as a rare opportunity to step outside his usual circles. He found value not just in the sessions, but in the casual conversations, hearing how other co-ops operate, and discovering that many shared similar challenges. Issues like visibility, relevance, and youth recruitment came up repeatedly, despite each co-op having a different mission.

“I’m eager to explore and learn to foster more collaboration between various co-operatives,” he says. “As well as create sustainable, impactful solutions for A Good Space, my organisation and the community.”

For others, the camp was a first encounter with the larger co-operative network. Ms Jolene Tay, 30, from POLWEL Co-op noted how much she appreciated meeting peers from across the movement. “It is inspiring to see co-ops stay rooted and committed to its social mission with the evolving landscape and needs,” she says.

TCC Credit Co-op’s Ms Sharan Sivarajoo, 34, spoke about discovering her leadership style and learning how to be more adaptable in a fast-changing world. Ms Sharan adds: “I hope to enhance my leadership skills, particularly in collaboration and sustainable growth, while learning innovative strategies to address challenges and engage members effectively.”

The activities were designed to encourage self-discovery as much as collaboration. For some, like Mr Aaron Chia, 38, from NTUC Foodfare Co-op, tools like Lego Serious Play helped them tap into new ways of thinking. Mr Le, reflecting on his experience, shared that the biggest lesson for him was learning how different personalities could come together to form an effective team.

Cross-pollinating ideas across co-operatives

The camp may have lasted only three days, but the relationships forged there have since shaped the way many participants think about leadership. And collaboration.

Asked which co-op they would be most excited to partner with on a social impact project, the answers were diverse. Ms Tay, whose background is in the credit co-op space, pointed to Love Empowered Co-op, which supports children with learning difficulties. Ms Sharan expressed interest in working with GP+ Co-op to jointly tackle issues like community-based healthcare and financial education.

Meanwhile, Mr Chia proposed partnering with the POLWEL Co-op to bring scam awareness and digital literacy to seniors who frequent kopitiams, while Mr Le suggested linking up with FairPrice Group to provide affordable food options to students. Even within a short span, participants were already mapping ideas across organisational lines.

Mr Toh, who has served on the committee of A Good Space Co-operative, hoped to partner with ISCOS Co-op to improve member engagement and help nurture future leaders within their network. While these projects remain hypothetical, they reflect a growing appetite for inter-co-op collaboration.

What ELP Leaders Say About Being Part of a 100-Year-Old Movement

This year also happens to mark the 100th anniversary of the Singapore Co-operative Movement. Several participants took time to reflect on what this legacy means to them, and how it aligns with their own values.

Ms Tay spoke about the resilience of co-operatives through shifting social and economic tides. At NTUC Foodfare, Mr Chia highlighted how co-ops must continue evolving, especially in how they engage communities and adapt to digital tools.

Mr Le, whose co-op supports students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, expressed pride in being part of something that has helped generations of youth access affordable essentials. Each reflection reinforced a common idea: that co-operatives, for all their differences, remain grounded in the belief that community-focused solutions still matter.

Articulating Co-operative Missions

From March to June this year, the ELP participants will continue working in groups on a singular project: how best to articulate co-operatives’ missions and social impact?   

While it remains to be seen how these ideas take shape, ELP’s programme architect Mr Alex Shieh is hopeful. “We want to get the emerging leaders to brainstorm ways to strengthen co-op identity, showcase co-ops’ value and impact to potential members, and raise awareness on the Singapore Co-operative Movement,” he says.

In a time where much of the working world remains siloed or highly individualised, the co-operative model reminds us of a different possibility. Leadership doesn’t have to be about individual success. It can be about finding shared ground, building unlikely partnerships, and reimagining what it means to do good together.

By Sng Ler Jun

Photos by ELP team