Yvette Chen vividly recalls sitting amidst a group of freshly minted high school students, listening as they spoke of dreams that had once been out of reach. “They talked about the colleges they wanted to attend, the majors they wanted to study, and the careers they aspired to build,” says Temasek’s Vice President for Investments, Shanghai.  

“In China, especially in the underdeveloped and rural areas, education is everything,” she explains. “It’s a chance to change your path in life.”  

It was this that inspired Yvette and her Temasek colleagues to sponsor a ‘Pearl Class’ under China NGO ​Xin Hua ​Compassion ​Education Foundation’s Hope for Pearl initiative. Through this programme, students who perform well academically but lack the means to complete their education are offered a place in a “Pearl Class”, often in one of the top schools in the area they live in. 

The sponsorship was a way for Temasek’s staff to make a difference in the community, she says.  

“Many people want to give back, but lack the right platform. Temasek not only supports these opportunities, but fosters a culture of giving back.” 

Yvette’s passion resonates with many of her colleagues. “Education transformed our lives – without it, many of us wouldn’t be where we are today,” she says. “Now we have the ability to help others.”

Building for the future

A finance graduate, Yvette joined Temasek’s life sciences team in Shanghai in 2014. “At that time, China was beginning its shift from generic to innovator drugs,” she recalls. “As one of the earliest investors in this emerging field, we witnessed the evolution of its capabilities in drug innovation.”

“The office was very small then,” she says. “When I first joined, there were about ten people, so when we went for a team lunch, we only needed one table.” As Temasek’s interest in China grew, one table became two, then three, and then four. “Today, we have a large portfolio of companies across various sectors, and the Shanghai office has almost 50 people, so we need five tables,” she laughs. “That's how quickly we’ve expanded. In just ten years, we’ve been able to create a really meaningful presence in China.”

Yvette’s own role has grown from conducting due diligence as an investment associate, to identifying trends, pinning down strategies, and contributing to the broader growth of the company in her current role. “I have spent the majority of my career in biopharma, and work closely with our global life sciences team in Singapore. Most recently, our focus has been on creating a life sciences innovation park in Suzhou to help foster an ecosystem, and support the growth and internationalisation of innovative companies,” she says.

She sees little difference between her “day job” supporting drug and healthcare innovation, and the philanthropic work she does with Xin Hua ​Compassion ​Education Foundation. “At their core, both are about creating a better future for everyone,” she points out. 

Under the Hope for Pearl programme, schools waive tuition for the 30 to 50 students in the Pearl Class, while sponsors cover the scholars’ living costs. 

The Temasek team chose to sponsor a Pearl class for high school students, says Yvette. China's free and compulsory education ends at middle school, leaving high school out of reach for families grappling with limited resources. Many, particularly girls, are forced to abandon their education due to financial constraints, she explains.  

Temasek’s Hope for Pearl sponsorship draws on a dedicated fund called Dandan De Ai Xin (A Touch of Love), to which more than 20 Temasek China staff contribute. “We called it Dandan because the Chinese name for Temasek is dan ma si, and among Temasek staff and alumni, we refer to ourselves as people from Dandan,” Yvette says.  

“We’re very careful about how we use these funds,” she says. “Someone usually proposes an idea, and then we discuss and vote on it.” Projects have to be approved by a two-thirds majority to be accepted. So far, the fund has contributed towards two programmes, a telescope for Peking University’s astronomy program, and now, a Pearl Class. 

“We wanted to focus on education because many of us are beneficiaries of the education system,” she explains. “It is an indescribable feeling, opening the door for others.” 

More than just donors 

Funds from Dandan Ai Xin are currently used to sponsor a class of 40 students from Huaihua in Hunan province, covering a portion of their living expenses through their high school years. But the sponsorship’s impact goes beyond financial.  

"The teachers told us that the students needed role models as much as they needed funds,” says Yvette. This saw her and her three colleagues sit down with the students to share their own stories and career paths. This summer the class was taken on a week-long trip to Zhejiang. “This was to help students learn more about university life and work in the big cities.” 

​​The team hopes to eventually extend the programme so more students can benefit. The goal is to create a ripple effect, empowering future generations to dream bigger and achieve their potential.  

“What we hope to achieve is very much in line with Temasek’s purpose. In our investments and philanthropy, the well-being of both current and future generations is considered. It's how we build a legacy of lasting impact.”