Project Citizens — The First Million

Project Citizens — The First Million Founders’ Memorial pays tribute to the founding generation

About

The Founders’ Memorial pays tribute to independent Singapore’s founding generation with Project Citizens – The First Million.

Close to 1  million people registered as Singapore’s first citizens shortly after it gained independence. The Founders’ Memorial is capturing and sharing stories of their nation-building journey to inspire present and future generations of Singaporeans. Through these stories, we reflect on the values that connect us as citizens of multicultural Singapore and our role in shaping our nation's future.  

Project Citizens – The First Million comprises 3 initiatives:
1. Senior Engagement Programme
2. Project Citizens Pop-ups
3. Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore

Project Citizens will also be a feature of the Founders' Memorial when it opens in 2028, alongside its focus on founding leaders. By participating in these initiatives, Singaporeans can continue to shape the content of the Memorial.

Get Involved

1. Support the Senior Engagement Programme as a Senior Participant or Community Partners

The senior engagement programme will run from April 2025 onwards.

The Founders’ Memorial is collecting stories from our founding generation of citizens that bring to life their contributions, hopes and dreams, and the values they lived out in our nation-building years. Volunteers will help seniors recount and record their stories through facilitated activities and intergenerational conversations. This programme will take place at various locations across Singapore in partnership with community organisations.  
 
Register your interest to participate in the programme here: www.go.gov.sg/sep-register interest. and the Founders' Memorial will be in touch.

Want to run a session of the Senior Engagement Programme for a group of 20-30 seniors? Reach out to the Founders' Memorial at Founders_Memorial@nhb.gov.sg!

2. Visit the Project Citizens pop-ups around Singapore

The Project Citizens Pop-ups will be at more than 20 locations such as community hubs and libraries to allow everyone to participate in this tribute to the founding generation.

At the pop-ups, the Founders’ Memorial explores the founding generation’s journey to citizenship and their experiences when they chose to become citizens of newly independent Singapore. Visitors are challenged to reflect on what being Singaporean means and their role in building Singapore’s future.

Look out for updates on the various pop-up locations on the Founders’ Memorial Facebook @FoundersMemorialSingapore and Instagram @foundersmemorialsg page. Be sure to pen a note and share it with the Founders’ Memorial during your visit for a chance to win Project Citizens merchandise.

3. Look out for the Opening of Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore

Come October 2025, visit Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore at National Gallery Singapore. This experience invites reflection and conversation on multiculturalism – how this value came to be, and continues to be, foundational to Singapore’s unity and progress – and how Singaporeans can play an active role in shaping it. It will also feature a Project Citizens media wall, which will showcase stories collected by the Founders' Memorial.  

4. Volunteer with the Founders' Memorial

Be the first to hear about our upcoming volunteer opportunities by joining our volunteer mailing list: www.go.gov.sg/fmvolunteer.  

Upcoming opportunities include:  

• Facilitator for the senior engagement programme

• Gallery host for the Not Mere Spectators experience

• Host for Project Citizens Pop-ups

The Founders’ Memorial will publicise recruitment efforts via its volunteer mailing list.  Interested volunteers will be invited for briefings to learn more about the volunteer roles and training.  
 
The Founders’ Memorial will be rolling out more opportunities to get involved in Project Citizens — The First Million throughout 2025. Visit this page and follow us on Facebook @FoundersMemorialSingapore and Instagram @foundersmemorialsg for more updates.