Alvin Yong: The Renaissance Human Who Dreams Big
August 18, 2018 – When I first ran into Alvin Yong, the Singaporean social entrepreneur, behind a boardroom or a reactor of sklearn, I was struck by his infectious optimism: “If you’ve got the energy to dream small, why not dream bigger?” And boy, he does!
From Code to Crayons: A One‑Man Powerhouse
Alvin’s taste for adventure is as varied as his résumé—he can troubleshoot a stubborn server, negotiate a partnership, coach executives, climb granite cliffs, shred down snowy peaks, and spin a wheel of pottery. He lives in the “no‑half‑way” philosophy; every project is a full‑on, feet‑on‑the‑ground, head‑to‑toe commitment.
Global Impact, Local Heart
- Tigerland – a rice‑farm eco‑holiday in Thailand, born in 2009.
- Solar‑powered tribal schools in eastern India – lighting up classrooms one watt at a time.
- Children’s Garden Home – a slum‑child residential school in Kenya, for which Alvin raises funds.
“You gotta feel it’s worth it,” Alvin says. “You put your whole life into it, and when you go in with total intensity, you get this electric feeling inside—not just from others, but from yourself.”
The Spark that Lit a Thousand Suns
It was in 2011 on a backpacking stint through India that Alvin’s lightbulb moment happened. A month in Ghatshila, Jharkhand, he dove into a tribal school that was dark in more ways than one.
He noted the glaring absence of electricity and came up with a game‑changing idea: solar panels. “We had no clue if it’d work or add value to teaching,” he reminds. But when he checked back in 2017, the bright‑spot spread like wildfire.
- Every tribal school now boasts its own solar setup.
“That’s the power of possibility,” he says. “What’s possible starts to spread like viral memes—epic.”
Respectful Collaboration Over ‘Know‑It‑All’ Do‑It‑All
Alvin keeps it real. He’s careful not to tread on the autonomy of the communities he serves. “My approach isn’t about outsiders stopping a place and saying, ‘Here’s the way.’ We’re more like sparring partners, catalysts, building from the ground up.”
Kids Turning into Future CEOs
“I picture some of these kids growing up to be entrepreneurs, plotting their own wins, becoming the role model others follow,” Alvin says.
In short, Alvin’s dream is simple yet powerful: unlock potential, light up lives, and share that spark with others.
This article first appeared in Our Better World.
