As a Programmes Manager with Temasek Foundation (TF), Tan Joe En brings TF’s goal of building harmony in diversity alive by championing multicultural music performances such as Musical Mosaics and Lepak Tunes.
These include the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra (ACSO), and the Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir. The programmes bring music beyond concert halls into community spaces — heartlands, malls, schools, workplaces — supporting outreach and education.
“Each performance is a physical manifestation of different communities coming together to share a stage and create music that is appreciated by diverse audiences,” Joe En shares. More than performances, they are sustained efforts to advance social cohesion and harmony across languages and cultures.
In partnership with TF, ACSO commemorated Singapore’s 60th birthday with “Musical Mosaics: Imagineasian” at Victoria Concert Hall. The performance celebrated ASEAN friendship through a fusion of Southeast Asian and Western music.
Take the ACSO, for instance. Western instruments meet the Chinese erhu, the Indian bansuri flute, and Malay rebana — creating a harmony that reflects how diverse sounds can complement one another to form a richer whole.
Peace and Prosperity: Two Sides of the Same Coin
As part of TF’s Resilient Societies team, Joe En works with partners to develop programmes that build social cohesion and foster peace across communities in Singapore and Asia.
Joe En with the TF Resilient Societies team at the launch of the Harmony in Diversity Award, presented by TF and the 5P Global Movement (left), and enjoying a pickleball session together (right).
What drives him is the conviction that peace is the foundation of sustainable development.
For him, peace goes beyond the absence of conflict — it means building strong communities and institutions equipped to resolve differences constructively, enabling development that benefits all.
That is the vision Joe En and his team strive to realise.
Without peace, there can be no lasting economic progress. Instability drives away trade and investment, setting back critical areas like healthcare and education. Conversely, peace cannot hold without inclusive growth.
This is why peacebuilding efforts that strengthen social cohesion and participation today lay the foundation for societies to thrive tomorrow.
Champions Today, Leaders Tomorrow
What is the measure of social cohesion? For Joe En, the currency of peace is trust and understanding across cultures.
He focuses on harmony-in-diversity programmes, working with partners to pilot innovative solutions that can be adopted at scale with like-minded partners. While TF’s music programmes reach the wider public, its leadership programmes nurture young changemakers.
Together with youth-driven nonprofit Roses of Peace (ROP), TF’s Harmony Champions programme equips young leaders from Institutes of Higher Learning to be advocates for racial and religious harmony through workshops, projects, and learning journeys.
The Appointment Ceremony of the TF-ROP Harmony Champions Programme 2024 (left), and its cohort of almost 60 Harmony Champions (right).
Budding champions are trained to facilitate dialogues. This encourages open conversations driven by curiosity, and empowers them to lead mini projects in their schools — from podcasts to forums celebrating different cultures.
Shared heritage is another way of building bridges. From uncovering the stories of mama shops to designing walking trails around Singapore’s iconic trees and tours of the Southern Islands, the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme helps promote our rich heritage.
Two groups from the inaugural 2024 cohort of TF-NUS Heritage Champions presenting their ideas at the Heritage Ideathon.
Joe En, who recently stepped up to lead the programme, explains, “The idea is to equip changemakers, especially youth, who are already active in their communities or passionate to be agents of change.”
"Youth are among our priorities — they are not just participants, but active drivers of social cohesion. We empower young changemakers through different platforms to bring communities together."
— Tan Joe En, Temasek Foundation
He knows firsthand how resources and supportive communities can amplify impact.
Joe En and his fellow grassroots volunteers running food donation drives to distribute provisions to various households in his constituency.
Previously a grassroots volunteer, Joe En conducted outreach in Choa Chu Kang, from visiting nursing homes to food drives and recycling programmes. As part of the Youth Network at Keat Hong Community Club, he engaged youths, families, the elderly, and at-risk groups — an experience that continues to shape how he sees the role of community today.
Partnering for Peace
Joe En is involved in every stage of a programme — from curation to management. He works closely with partners to bring ideas to life: listening to the ground, understanding different social challenges, and shaping strategies and programmes with mission-aligned collaborators.
For example, the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme started with roundtable discussions among academics, historians, heritage groups such as the Singapore Heritage Society, and government agencies like the National Heritage Board and Housing Development Board. These conversations identified areas participants could explore.
The programme also draws on the National University of Singapore Libraries’ expertise in digital preservation and multi-disciplinary learning technology.
Joe En with colleagues from TF, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, and ABC Impact — all part of the Temasek Trust ecosystem — volunteering with EQUAL during Temasek’s Community Day 2025.
In his work, Joe En crosses paths with many passionate partners and funders, including those from across the Temasek Trust ecosystem. These partnerships and touchpoints are valuable opportunities for mutual learning, especially with regards to diverse approaches to programme design and delivery.
Living Side by Side
On a work trip to Abu Dhabi last year, Joe En visited the Abrahamic Family House, where a church, mosque, and synagogue stand side by side.
It reminded him of Singapore’s Waterloo Street, where four places of worship — a Buddhist temple, Hindu temple, Catholic church, and Jewish synagogue — share the same stretch.
For him, both places symbolise harmony: different faiths co-existing peacefully.
“Southeast Asia is very diverse. We must recognise our differences and respect one another’s perspectives,” Joe En says. “The question is: how do we build on each other’s strengths to create something better?”
Most of his team’s programmes aim to do just that — help people work harmoniously across differences. Over time, he has learnt to stay focused on the end goal: building resilient, cohesive societies.
Joe En at the launch of the Harmony in Action programme by Wahid Foundation and TF (left), and with fellow youth volunteers at a past overseas Community Involvement Programme (right).
His advice for those starting their impact journey?
“Be ready to take measured risks. Meaningful impact rarely comes from staying in the comfort zone. Sometimes it means trying new approaches, challenging assumptions, or stepping into unfamiliar spaces.”
Joe En’s story is part of ‘People of Purpose’, a series spotlighting colleagues across the Temasek Trust ecosystem who are driving meaningful impact. Each story reflects the spirit of collective action and our shared journey toward inclusive, sustainable change.
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