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National Council of Social Service

On the ground reflections: Lessons in inclusion from the ground up

21 September 2026

For Charmaine, Danish and Hui Qi, a stint as Graduate Associates under the Graduate Associates Programme was just the beginning. Now full-time staff at NCSS, they reflect on what they learnt during their industry attachment with social service agency MINDS, supporting persons with intellectual disabilities.

Charmaine: Seeing strength, not limitation

I was attached to MINDS’ Enabled Living Programme, a new initiative designed to empower persons with intellectual disabilities (PWIDs) to live independently in the community. My experience with the programme has profoundly reshaped my perceptions of PWIDs.

MINDS’ person-centered approach showed me what becomes possible when we champion clients’ strengths and autonomy. I will bring this inspiration back to NCSS and into how I think about empowering service users with dignity across the sector.

Charmaine with the team at MINDS

This experience of seeing how community partnerships with volunteer groups and grassroots leaders are vital to keeping clients safe and engaged showed me, in microcosm, what the social service sector can be at its best – an ecosystem built on trust, collaboration and shared commitment to the people we serve.

Danish: From conversations to conviction

My time with MINDS’ Community-Based Support Services gave me the opportunity to work closely with PWIDs and their caregivers.

Through the many activities and engagements with this community, I had the chance to hear their stories and forge friendships with a wonderfully diverse group of people. This experience has given me a newfound respect for everyone within this community and I am proud for being able to contribute.

Danish and his team at MINDS

More than that, it has deepened my conviction that building an inclusive and supportive community is work worth dedicating myself to, and I am now more motivated to continue contributing to Singapore’s journey towards a more caring and inclusive society.

Hui Qi: Inclusion Is Built, Not Given

During my time with MINDS Social Enterprise Office I had the chance to see workplace inclusion in practice from the inside. Some of my greatest takeaways were from the simplest moments; conversations in the lift and being welcomed as part of the team when I joined the sheltered workshops. Gradually, I stopped seeing disability first, and started seeing personalities, strengths and the pride they took in their work.

This experience reinforced something important: I learnt that inclusion doesn’t happen by chance. Building an inclusive workplace takes more than goodwill. It takes committed staff, thoughtful systems and continuous adaptation.

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Building an inclusive society extends beyond any one organisation. It depends on an ecosystem that creates opportunities for meaningful employment and everyday interactions that reshape public perceptions. As I return to NCSS, I hope to contribute towards strengthening these partnerships, so that we can move beyond assumptions, looking beyond labels to strengths.

Discover a meaningful career at NCSS and join us in building a stronger social service ecosystem.