#MyFSGPledge - Louis Puah

“My thinking is guided by Ghandi’s quote – ‘Be the change you want to see’. Change happens one person at a time. So I started with myself and launched an outfit aimed at maximising the potential of youths.”

— Louis Puah, 33
Founder of social enterprise Praxium & Forward SG participant

Services for the public good is not just the government’s work.

I want to play an active role in shaping the society I want to live in.

At 15, I was in an experimental education programme that was a powerful and freeing experience. The teachers focused on expanding our worldview. We didn’t score well in tests but we learned so much.

I see myself filling a gap in the education system. I started the social enterprise Praxium in 2015 to provide career guidance to students through gamification and role-playing.

For instance, if they are keen to become a doctor, the games we designed based on interviews with industry professionals allow them to consider the hard truths and difficult decisions healthcare staff need to make on a daily basis.

So that as the youths pursue their studies, they sharpen their critical thinking, and have full motivation for their learning.

So far, through the schools, we have conducted courses for more than 12,000 students. At any one time, I have around 10 mentees.

I also started Crater in 2019, a co-working space based in a secondary school that allows students to interact with young working adults who would be happy to share their real-world experiences.

I also co-teach a service leadership class so that we can inspire youths to become community leaders in the future.

I attended three Forward SG sessions – one held by the National Youth Council, and another two by volunteer-run co-operative A Good Space.

I see the value of these sessions, especially when participants are happy to discuss, float ideas and listen to others.

But while Singaporeans want to have a say on issues, they must be willing to act as well and not rely on the government to sort it out.

Today, the issues we face are complex. You cannot expect the government to give you a cake to eat, you should bake your own cake as well.

Download the infographic of Louis Puah's MyFSGPledge [PDF, 911 KB]