STUDENT INITIATIVE

The Student Initiative empowers secondary and tertiary students across Singapore and Asia to grow in leadership, service, education and volunteerism through meaningful community engagement. Led by students under the Singapore Executive Committee, it nurtures future Smile Asia volunteers, strengthens student ownership, and raises awareness of facial deformities through Student Chapters in schools. 

ASIA STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 

Launched in 2012, the Asia Student Leadership Conference is Smile Asia’s flagship annual student-led conference, bringing together student leaders from 20 countries across Asia in Singapore. Through shared experiences, intercultural exchange and meaningful dialogue, the conference builds leadership, deepens regional understanding, and inspires young people to create positive change together. 

STUDENT PROJECTS  

The Student Project initiative encourages students to conceptualise and lead awareness and fundraising efforts in support of Smile Asia. Through these student-led projects, young people turn ideas into action while building creativity, leadership, teamwork and initiative, with guidance from Smile Asia as they serve communities meaningfully and create positive social impact. 

Student Executive Committee (SEC) 2024-2025
From left to right: Kieron Cheo (Logistics), Tharun Pugalanthi (Logistics), John Tow (President), Abhineshwari Narayanan (Secretary), Michelle Chen (Vice President), Reanne Tan (Publicity Manager), Akshara Suresh (Treasurer)

Our Student Initiative aims to develop students along the following four pillars:

  • Service
  • Leadership
  • Education
  • Volunteerism

We have Smile Asia Student Chapters across various schools in Asia that instil our core values of commitment, leadership and volunteerism among student volunteers as well as raise awareness about cleft. Through participating in service-learning projects, they experience first-hand how they can impact the world.

Each year, students from our Student Chapters and student leaders from 20 countries converge in Singapore for the annual Asia Student Leadership Conference.

Interested in starting your own student chapter? To find out more about our Student Initiative, please write to student@smileasia.org.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERING

Long-term student volunteers also have the opportunity to join our medical missions to assist specialists in the following areas:

  • Child-life
  • Education
  • Medical Records
  • Film and Photography
  • Speech Therapy

To find out more, please write to student@smileasia.org.