Former radio presenter/media personality, Emily Teng, is the founder of award-winning and globally recognised community organisation, Blessings in a Bag. It journeys with under-served children and youth - whether that's through meeting physical needs or through supporting youth to become resilient, compassionate and loving agents of change who uplift their own communities.
In 2018, Facebook named Emily as one of the world's most inspiring leaders alongside 110 other mission-driven change-makers. She also received Singapore’s president's award that same year for her decades long journey of championing the community spirit in Singapore. Most recently, she was selected to represent Singapore as part of the United State's Women in Leadership in ASEAN as part of the Young South-East Asia Leadership Initiative by the State Department of the United States of America.
In 2019, Emily relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area where she remote leads her Singapore team as well as embarking on her biggest passion: cheer-leading other community leaders to start where they are, own their superpowers and change the world.
You can read more about her here and read more media here.
You can follow her adventures via: @emilywjteng on instagram
Taken from GOOD INC's 2014 'GOOD 100' List.
Some of the awards in recognition of Emily's work:
Yahoo! Singapore 9 Awards - Winner in the Social Enterprise Category in 2012
Cosmopolitan Magazine's (Singapore) first 'Fun Fearless Female' winner to represent Social Activism in 2012
Top 16 Finalist from Asia in the Singapore International Foundation's Young Social Entrepreneur Program in 2013 (Emily bowed out due to the inability to commit at the time)
GOOD 100 Global Changemaker, alongside the likes of Laura Bush in 2014
JCI The Outstanding Young Person's Awards in 2016
1 of 15 participants selected for the Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leaders Program by Asia-Link + Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) in February 2017 (Emily was selected to represent her country of Singapore)
1 of 20 participants selected for the UnSchools Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program in April 2017, representing Singapore.
A fellow of the Starting Bloc Institute for Social Innovation (New York City Cohort) in August 2017, representing Singapore.
Facebook Community Leadership Program Leader, 2018 - Present
Singapore President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards, 2018 in the Kampung Spirit Category
Women in Leadership for ASEAN (representing Singapore) at the Young South East Asian Leadership Initiative by the State Department of the United States of America, 2019.
TALK OF THE TOWN
Read what others are saying about Emily.
'EXCITING PURPOSE'
Laurence Lien - Nominated Member of Parliament, Ex-Chief Executive of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre and Chairman of the Lien Foundation.
“Ms Emily Teng, in her mid-20s, has spearheaded her own volunteer-driven social initiative, Blessings in a Bag, and is now setting up an exciting non-profit organisation called World Change Agents, which will help youths gain the skills and confidence to create their own social initiatives and become community leaders. Despite being newly established and desperately in need of funding, World Change Agents has already enabled 14 new social projects, all run by youth volunteers.”
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'AN INSPIRATION'
Lawrence Wong - Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State, Minister of Communications and Information.
“Another young role model is Emily Teng, the founder of non-profit organisation Blessings in a Bag. A producer and presenter at radio station Power 98FM, Emily wanted to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. She started Blessings in a Bag to partner communities, schools, and other organisations to provide for the needs of underprivileged, abused and medically-ill children across Asia. Emily also started OKRA ASIA, where disadvantaged women in Philippines and Cambodia make handicrafts, giving themselves and their families a source of income. These examples are an inspiration to us all. They remind us that amidst our fast-paced lifestyles and many responsibilities, we also need to take the time to reflect on how we lead our lives.” ”
Here are some of the things that get her (or have gotten her) out of bed!
She's frequently spotted running around the streets of Singapore for purpose-driven organization, Blessings in a Bag. What started out as a small recycling project run out of Emily's wardrobe in 2007, quickly turned into motivation for action and operates out of Singapore to deliver 'blessings' in the form of donations-in-kind, programs and services for kids and communities in need across South East Asia.
Emily created a community of youths who used their passion, talent and skills to make a difference in the lives of others.
Previously a Producer/Presenter with Mediacorp's 987FM and Power98, Emily has hosted for the likes of Nike, World Kindness Day, Ben & Jerry’s, Mall Launches, APEC Economic Leader’s Meeting and more! She has hosted Nike races, led Nike Training Club experiences and hosted a web series by Singtel.
She is currently one of Singapore's Nike Women Ambassadors