A group of students offering free photography services to underprivileged communities was among the recipients honoured at the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards 2026 held on October 7 at Raffles Hotel. The initiative, Project Obscura, received the Communities for Good (Groundup) award for its contributions to social service agencies and beneficiaries in need.
Project Obscura was founded in December 2022 by Ethan Tan, 22, Rachel Goh, 23, and Clarence Chua, 23, who sought to provide professional-level photography and videography to charities that could not afford such services. The trio began by reaching out to various organisations, initially facing skepticism about their capabilities as young volunteers. Over time, they built a strong reputation, having documented over 170 events and delivered more than 50,000 photos to various causes. The project has also grown to include a volunteer pool of more than 330 individuals, and it offers mentorship in photography to underserved groups.
One notable project involved capturing a final video for an ovarian cancer patient, who had only months to live and wished to create a life documentary to be played at her funeral. Unable to afford the high costs quoted by private production houses, her request was fulfilled at no cost by Project Obscura volunteers. The patient and her husband were filmed during a walk along MacRitchie Reservoir, creating meaningful memories for the family.
Project Obscura’s model includes free services when beneficiaries participate directly, while charging below-market rates for corporate or larger charity events. Of the fees collected, the majority supports volunteer photographers, with a portion allocated to the project’s operations. The initiative received funding support, including a $35,200 grant from the National Youth Council's Youth Action Challenge. The founders, who come from diverse academic backgrounds—law, medicine, and English literature—do not draw any personal income from their work with the project.
The awards ceremony also recognised other young community leaders in the newly introduced People of Good (Youth) category. Among them was 17-year-old Shoken Tsurumaru, founder of Giveinstead.sg, a platform launched in 2023 that encourages charitable giving in place of traditional presents for special occasions. The initiative has engaged over 2,100 donors and partnered with 36 charities, raising more than $325,000 through campaigns that include funding lessons and opportunities for children from low-income families.
Another youth awardee, Ashsuff Hussin, 23, a final-year mechanical engineering student at Nanyang Technological University, was recognised for founding the BrightGuides Programme. Supported by the Muslimin Trust Fund Association, this free mathematics tuition initiative started in July 2025 provides assistance to more than 25 underprivileged students through over 40 volunteer tutors. Classes are held at mosques in MacPherson and Woodlands, with hopes to expand beyond the Muslim community.
The awards, organised by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, saw the presence of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo. This year’s event drew a record 455 nominations, reflecting growing engagement across volunteer and philanthropic efforts in Singapore.