Rising Number of Youth Changemakers Among 846 Award Recipients at the SINDA Excellence Awards 2025

Growing up with an older brother with Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects neurological development, speech, and movement, 18-year-old Acherakar Om Nitin developed a strong sense of purpose for uplifting the underprivileged and individuals with special needs. Inspired by his caregiving journey, he interned at social enterprise Project Dignity before founding the Project Dignity Entrepreneurship Experience (PDEE), which secured funding for student-led ventures that provided meals for the needy. Om also deepened his impact by volunteering in befriending programmes at YMCA for youths with special needs, often alongside his brother.

1. 20 September 2025 – Om was among the 846 award recipients across 20 categories at the SINDA Excellence Awards (SEA) 2025, an annual ceremony hosted by SINDA to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Singaporean Indian students who have excelled in academics, the arts, or sports.

2. This year’s ceremony – featuring one of the largest cohorts of recipients – also marks the highest growth, with twelve categories recording an upward trend in the number of recipients. Speaking at the dual-session ceremony, Guest of Honour Minister Indranee Rajah acknowledged the innate talent and spirit of Singapore’s youths. She highlighted that it was inspiring to see a young generation passionate about giving back and rallying others to do the same, strengthening their communities and contributing to a stronger, more compassionate future for the nation.

3. This year’s ceremony also saw notable milestones, reflecting the growing achievements of Indian students across various fields:

• • 50 individuals receiving the SEA award for the second or third time.
  • Special mention of 5 athletes for demonstrating outstanding performance in their area of sports and representing Singapore in global sports competitions.

4. Close to 10% of this year’s award recipients have benefitted or have been a part of SINDA programmes, underscoring the impact of the organisation’s initiatives in nurturing youth potential and inspiring them to excel.

5. Geared at heightening aspirations and achieving potential, SINDA offers a wide variety of student, children and youth development programmes that nurture holistic growth and empower them to succeed in unique ways. These include a range of mentorship and leadership programmes, aspirations building, skills-based workshops, as well as volunteering and community engagement opportunities that encourage youths to give back meaningfully to society. Each year, such programmes benefit around 12,000 students, youths and children.

6. Mr Anbarasu Rajendran, CEO of SINDA, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to nurturing students and youths through holistic support while also inspiring them to create positive change. “At SINDA, we believe that youths are powerful drivers of change within the community. It is important that we provide them with meaningful platforms to pursue their passions and causes, and SINDA’s programmes serve as stepping stones in their changemaking journeys as socially conscious individuals.”

7. Om, currently training at the Specialist Cadet School, was recognised at the ceremony for his outstanding academic performance in achieving the International Baccalaureate Diploma. He shared: “This award motivates me to continue finding ways to use my knowledge and skills to make a positive difference, especially for those facing uncertainties like my brother and many others in our community. I hope to create solutions that ease their struggles, provide support where it is needed most, and inspire others to act.”

8. Also honoured at SEA was this year’s cohort valedictorian, 28-year-old Karthikasan S/O Natarajan, for his outstanding performance in attaining the Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore. Growing up amidst financial hardship, he excelled in his academics with support from government and SINDA initiatives such as STEP tuition, Back To School Kits and bursaries. Beyond academics, he has also excelled in community service, volunteering with SINDA and leading Yale-NUS Community Impact as President, where his team received the 2023 Outstanding Student Organisation Award. Reflecting on his journey, he shared: “I received support that helped me reach this stage, and I want to give back to empower others in similar situations. Being named this year’s SEA valedictorian reminds me that my efforts are recognised and this motivates me to contribute even more towards social good.”

9. This year marked the 34^th edition of the SEA Awards and was held at Nanyang Polytechnic, welcoming over 1,800 guests, including community leaders and families of the recipients. Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Manpower, and Mayor of the South East District, graced the first session while the second session was graced by Minister Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and President of SINDA.