SINGAPORE – Ms Yu Poh Leng signed up for aqua fitness classes in 2019 and liked it so much that she dreamt of becoming an instructor. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Following her recovery in 2020, she quit her job as a public relations consultant and became an aqua fitness instructor.
But after four years of teaching seniors in private clubs like the Chinese Swimming Club and Tanglin Club, she wanted to reach out to a different group of seniors.
In 2025, to celebrate her milestone of turning 60, Ms Yu decided to give free aqua fitness classes to 60 seniors.
“I wanted to reach out to the seniors in the heartland. My idea was if I can do a class that’s free for them, they will come,” said the former public relations consultant.
Finding it hard to secure venues and sponsors, she sought help from the Singapore Government Partnerships Office (SGPO), a first stop for citizens and interest groups that want to work with the Government.
With guidance from SGPO, Ms Yu successfully applied for the Our Singapore Fund (OSF) and received funding that was primarily used to provide starter kits to participating seniors. These kits include swimsuits, towels, swim bags and bottles of sunblock and shampoo.
The “60-for-60 aqua fitness project” is one of over 800 initiatives that have been awarded the OSF since its launch in 2016.
OSF helps citizens turn their ideas for the community into reality, said Acting Minister David Neo during a Committee of Supply speech in Parliament on March 5.
Addressing Parliament for Budget 2026 on Feb 12, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explained how the Government has heard feedback on how OSF can be improved, including the need for larger grant amounts, longer funding horizons, and broader eligibility.
So a new $50 million SG Partnerships Fund (SGPF) has been launched to replace the OSF.
“Our ambition is to build a vibrant and thriving democracy of deeds, where more Singaporeans can contribute to build Singapore together,” said SGPO director Hasliza Ahmad.
The new SGPF provides stronger support to citizen-led projects in all domains and sectors, from nascent ideas to longer-term initiatives with larger impact, she added.
“We want to lower barriers and create more opportunities for Singaporeans like Ms Yu to step forward to contribute.”
The new fund has three tiers at varying stages of growth.
Ms Yu Poh Leng conducting an aqua fitness class at Delta Swimming Complex on March 10.
ST PHOTO: JASEL POH
The Seed tier – the lowest – enables quick activation of pilot or small-scale projects via a simplified application and approval process, said Ms Ahmad.
It also provides up to $5,000 of funding to cover up to 100 per cent of supportable programme costs over a maximum of a year’s implementation.
The Sprout and Scale tiers will nurture ideas that are already successful to enhance their social impact. The Sprout tier provides funding of up to $50,000, while the Scale tier caps funding at $1 million.
Ms Yu is interested in the Seed tier. She plans to enhance her aqua fitness classes by introducing fitness goal-setting and assessments of the seniors’ fitness levels before and after completing the programme.
She said fitness data can be a great motivator for seniors as they can share their progress in areas such as improvements in muscle mass with friends.
Besides connecting Ms Yu with SportSG, which provided venue sponsorship, SGPO also connected her with other partners to meet the project’s varied needs.
“When I taught the seniors, I realised that they like to be photographed and videoed so that they can show their children,” she said.
SGPO, along with the National Youth Council, engaged four volunteers from youth photography initiative Project Obscura to capture photos and videos at two sessions.
Teaching seven classes from Tuesday to Friday, Ms Yu now works full-time as an aqua fitness instructor.
The “60-for-60 aqua fitness project” is one of over 800 initiatives that have been awarded the OSF since its launch in 2016.
ST PHOTO: JASEL POH
Keen on water sports since her youth, Ms Yu was quick to enrol in aqua fitness classes after chancing upon them in early 2019.
Just four months in, she dreamt of becoming an instructor in the sport.
Then she received news of her early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.
“After I had breast cancer, I realised that life is really very short… and there’s finite time,” she recalled.
“So, I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to go back to the corporate world to enrich my clients and to waste my time earning money. I thought, why don’t I pursue my passion and teach exercise?”
She recognises that aqua fitness offers seniors a way to stay active without causing joint pain – an issue she notices that often discourages many from doing traditional land-based exercises.
Ms Yu contacted Fei Yue Community Services to invite its Active Ageing Centres’ attendees to take part in her free aqua fitness lessons.
Some seniors enjoyed the sessions so much that they later enrolled in her aqua fitness classes under ActiveSG.
Among them are sisters Yew Poh Leng and Yew Poh Yok.
Ms Yew Poh Yok said she was looking for physical activities to help her stay mobile.
“I went for those chair zumba classes, but I couldn’t coordinate. Then I felt very dissatisfied and very demoralised,” the 69-year-old recalled.
Sisters Yew Poh Leng (left) and Yew Poh Yok in an aqua fitness exercise at Delta Swimming Complex on March 10.
ST PHOTO: JASEL POH
She discovered what she had been searching for in Ms Yu’s aqua fitness class.
“When I came to aqua fitness classes and found that I could follow all the exercises easily, and that it makes me more mobile. I was very happy.”
She said she felt lighter and able to move around easily since she started doing aqua fitness.
Her sister, Ms Yew Poh Leng, had aquaphobia after falling into a drain as a child, but Ms Yu’s classes helped her regain confidence in the water.
The 68-year-old recalled how when she got leg cramps mid-lesson, Ms Yu got a volunteer to watch over her, and encouraged her to continue in the class as she was able to.
Ms Yew Poh Leng said she felt looked after and appreciated Ms Yu’s attentiveness.
Applications for the SGPF will open in April. Singaporeans can find out more about it and apply at www.sgpo.gov.sg/sgpf.