What do roadside ice cream carts, Orang Laut communities and wartime recipes have in common?

They are all part of Singapore’s heritage, and they are being brought back to life by a new generation of heritage champions.

Ten student-led community heritage projects were showcased at the inauguralTemasek Foundation – National University of Singapore (TF-NUS) Heritage Champions Showcase at Temasek Shophouse on Saturday, 5 September 2026, offering fresh and often unexpected ways to discover Singapore’s history and cultural heritage.

From creating a children's book about the disappearing world of roadside ice cream hawkers to retracing the journeys of the Orang Laut and recreating meals from Singapore's wartime past, the projects demonstrate how young people use storytelling, food, technology, and community activities to make Singapore's heritage more accessible to today's audiences.

The showcase marks the culmination of the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme, which aims to deepen youths’ appreciation of Singapore’s unique heritage and inspire them to play an active role to document and safeguard it through community projects.

Over two years and across two cohorts, 125 students from institutes of higher learning participated in this programme. Following heritage preservation training by NUS Libraries, and with support from the National Heritage Board (NHB), students formed teams and developed proposals for community-based heritage projects.

The top five teams from each cohort were awarded up to S$7,000 and six months to turn their ideas into reality. Collectively, the ten projects have since engaged more than 1,000 members of the public.

The Guest of Honour at the showcase was Ms Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, who toured the exhibition and spoke with participants.

Making Heritage Matter to a New Generation

For Associate Professor Natalie Pang, University Librarian, National University of Singapore, the programme highlights the important role young people can play in deciding what stories of Singapore should be remembered and how they should be shared with future generations. Assoc Prof Pang said: “Singapore's heritage is not only found in monuments and historic buildings. It also lives in everyday experiences, memories, food, places and the stories of communities. When young people take ownership of these stories and find new ways to share them, they help ensure that our heritage remains relevant and meaningful to future generations.”

Mr James Chan, Head of Programmes Office and Resilient Societies, Temasek Foundation, said: “Heritage comes alive and stays relevant when each generation finds its own way to reconnect with it. These young heritage champions have shown how Singapore’s heritage can be rediscovered and retold through new ideas, creative storytelling and community participation. This is what the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme is all about. Temasek Foundation is excited to be part of this heritage journey with NUS and its co-partners in sparking innovations and programmes that drive meaningful impact in Singapore and beyond.”

Mr Jervais Choo, Deputy Director, Organisation Design and Innovation, National Heritage Board, said: “Engaging youth is an important part of NHB’s mission, because we believe the stewardship of our heritage must be passed from generation to generation. The TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme has been an effective way of empowering youth to take ownership of heritage in Singapore. The projects have been meaningful, and we’re especially heartened by how the youth have been able to forge genuine connections on the ground with heritage communities. We hope these experiences will inspire them to continue playing an active role in being champions of our heritage.”

Ms Amira Karim, President, Singapore Heritage Society said: “The Singapore Heritage Society is heartened to see young people taking ownership of Singapore’s stories in such creative and meaningful ways. The TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme embodies our belief that heritage is not just about monuments and artefacts, but also the living traditions, memories and knowledge passed down through generations.”

Ms Karim continued: “These projects have done remarkable work surfacing both tangible and intangible heritage, from the skills of ice cream hawkers to wartime culinary traditions and the stories of the Orang Laut. Just as importantly, they help young people develop the confidence and vocabulary to advocate for the histories and communities they care about. As questions about how we develop, conserve and remember our city receive greater attention, we need future generations who can not only appreciate heritage, but articulate why it matters.”

“We hope the programme will continue to nurture young people as active stewards and advocates for our shared heritage, ensuring that as Singapore changes, the stories of the people and places that shaped us remain visible and meaningful,” she added.

From Roadside Ice Cream Carts to Wartime Kitchens

Scoops of Memory, Shore to Shore, The Good OL Days, Wartime Tuckshop and Hainanese Cooked are among the projects that offered fresh perspectives on Singapore’s past.

Totaan Aljean Choong, 20, from Scoops of Memory said: “Preserving heritage is not just about documenting the past but ensuring that the voices and memories behind it are not lost. Interviewing ice cream hawkers and working with my teammates has taught me valuable lessons in research, collaboration and perseverance. I am grateful to NUS Libraries and Temasek Foundation for giving us the opportunity to bring a piece of Singapore’s history to the younger generation.”

Rachel Lie, 22, from Shore to Shore said: “Through Shore to Shore, we wanted people to see that Singapore’s story extends beyond the mainland, to the communities that once lived across the Southern Islands. The response to our tours and workshops has encouraged us to continue building on the project. We are applying for a grant to continue our work with the community so that more people can experience the islands for themselves.”

Building on the Programme’s Success

Following the success of its inaugural run, NUS Libraries will be continuing this programme, with discussions with potential partners ongoing. More information will be made available at a later date via https://nus.edu/heritagechamps.