The Collective Philanthropy for Education Transformation in Timor- Leste : Action and Insights Report outlines a strategic case for collective philanthropy to enhance the education system in Timor-Leste. Produced by Better Purpose, the report showcases a young, post-conflict democracy with the lowest learning outcomes in the region, alongside significant opportunities for increased productivity, higher earnings, and sustainable growth.
Through a process that is open, inclusive, and country-led, the report identifies specific investment areas including early childhood development, foundational literacy in basic education, and the expansion of secondary and vocational training.
For targeted philanthropic capital to be successful, the authors argue that funders must align with government priorities and use evidence-based models to support local administrative capacity. This report was commissioned by the Education Collective for Timor-Leste (powered by =DREAMS Asia and Octava Foundation) to serve as a guide for interested partners looking to exponentially accelerate the learning outcomes and strengthen the education systems’ capacity to sustain the outcomes for the young nation.
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This research study aims to directly inform the direction of our new Mental Wellbeing work, by extracting a clear understanding of the science behind the mental wellbeing of children and young persons in Singapore. Drawing from relevant scientific disciplines, this white paper will conceptualize a developmental trajectory of mental wellbeing through childhood and the adolescence stage,before the average age onset of mental health symptoms. We will attempt to synthesize key factors across all available studies that influence mental wellbeing and highlight evidence-based practices for early mental health promotion and prevention.
The paper is underway, expected completion in May 2026.
A landscape brief of promotion, prevention, and literacy programmes for children aged 3-11
While the mental health of adolescents and young adults has received greater attention in recent years, significant gaps remain when it comes to addressing the mental health needs of younger children, both globally and in Singapore. As part of our new focus on upstream prevention in mental health, we supported this landscape mapping of the mental health and wellbeing provision for the formative years in Singapore, conducted by Singhealth Duke-NUS Global Mental Health Institute in 2025.
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Taking an evidence-based lens on the disparity existing among learners.
A socioeconomic disadvantage gap often results in disparities in academic achievement and learning attitudes, and such differences can be observed as early as in kindergarten.
To shift future outcomes of children from low-SES (socioeconomic status) backgrounds alongside national efforts to tackle the systemic barriers facing socioeconomic disadvantage, we need more direct ways to supplement classroom instruction and enhance learner effectiveness, by introducing more holistic, approaches beyond traditional methods.
This white paper discusses the interventions for Singapore to address the SES-related gap at primary school, taking reference from published global evidence with insights from local stakeholders, to draw out considerations for design and implementation in the Singapore context.
This white paper informs the strategy for our Young Learners Fund.
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With Southeast Asia’s recent economic growth, there has been greater government and parental spending on education, thus increasing access to education across much of the region. However, despite this progress, significant educational challenges remain, especially for disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
Technology presents an opportunity to complement the work of educators in driving improvements to learning outcomes. Yet, in the region, EdTech has remained largely the preserve of more affluent consumers, and its potential to improve access to quality education for under-served groups has not yet been realized.
This 2021 paper presents an overview of the status of education and use of technology to support education (EdTech) in five Southeast Asian markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
This paper informed the Octava Social Innovation Challenge.
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