Sparking Curiosity in the Next Generation: Peter Ang Nielsen's Mission to Build Racial and Religious Harmony in Singapore

Peter, a member of the Working Committee for Youth Leaders @ Harmony Circle.

Advocating for racial and religious harmony is a cause close to Peter Ang Nielsen’s heart. Born to a Singaporean Chinese mother and a Danish father, the 32-year-old grew up navigating life with a mixed-race identity.

Those experiences shaped his curiosity about people from different backgrounds and the importance of building understanding across communities.

Peter’s growing-up days, in secondary school (left) and with his family (right). (Photo credit: Peter)

Today, through years of community outreach and volunteer work, Peter has seen firsthand how meaningful interactions can connect people across different backgrounds. 

In a world increasingly divided by online echo chambers and misinformation, he believes championing racial and religious harmony has become more important than ever.

Shaping and Moulding His Volunteering Journey

Peter giving a briefing for the volunteers at a Community Service Club (CSC) Event. (Photo credit: Peter)

Peter’s journey began with a simple phrase he encountered in secondary school: “Bloom where you’re planted”.

“When you go to any new place, there can be uncertainty about whether you will fit in. When I saw the phrase, it made me think, ‘Okay, just do your best, just be yourself. People will accept me and be friendly.’"

With this new mindset, Peter dedicated himself to trying new things. It led him to join overseas volunteer trips and participate in his university’s Student Union committee, where he supported logistics and volunteering initiatives. 

When completing his master's degree, Peter met Yang Sheng, who was then the Vice Chairman of the People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM) in Simei and also Chairperson of the Changi Simei Youth Network. Seeing how Yang Sheng was involved in large-scale, community-level work inspired Peter to join his constituency’s PA Youth Network. 

“When it comes to volunteering, it’s a case of ‘If you don't put your hand up, you will never know’. I was like, ‘I'm free, I’ll sign up and go for that.’”

This marked a turning point in Peter’s volunteering journey, propelling him into a deeper involvement in grassroots initiatives. Over the next few years, he co-organised the Kovan City of Sharing (KCOS) food drive, mobilising 200 volunteers to collect food donations from 14,000 households and redistribute them to needy beneficiaries in and around Kovan. 

Additionally, he served as treasurer and set up an entrepreneurship engagement programme for youths. During this time, a collaboration between the PA Youth Network and the Racial and Religious Harmony Circle for a Racial Harmony Day event introduced him to the Harmony Circle’s work. 

Peter with fellow participants at Chingay 2024. (Photo credit: MCCY)

Peter participating in Chingay Parade 2024. (Photo credit: MCCY)

Finding a Home in Harmony Circle

That introduction marked the start of Peter's journey with Harmony Circle. He went on to participate in a range of initiatives, including Haw Par Villa tours, the 2024 Chingay Parade, and interfaith dialogues. Among these initiatives, being part of the Chingay Parade was especially memorable for Peter.

“To see different communities in Singapore coming together, aunties dancing, and residents designing and wearing their ethnic clothing was great. When kids see us together, they are curious and ask, ‘Oh, what’s happening? What are they wearing?’ They become more aware of Singapore’s multicultural society.”

He realised that for racial and religious harmony to endure in Singapore, the next generation needs to see it in action. Spurred by this insight, Peter stepped up his involvement in the Youth Leaders @ Harmony Circle (YLHC) and was appointed to the Working Committee in April 2026 for a three-year term.

Interweaving, One Booth at a Time

Peter at the Harmony Circle Youth leaders retreat in 2025. (Photo credit: Peter)

In this capacity, Peter co-led Harmony Fest! 2026 alongside two others. His role involved brainstorming new ways to engage more youths and encourage them to participate in the event.

Officially launched in 2023, Harmony Fest! is Singapore’s largest celebration of racial and religious harmony, marking the start of the Racial and Religious Harmony Month. Themed Interweaving: SG in Harmony, the festival highlights how Singapore’s multicultural harmony is built through everyday interactions across generations, cultures and communities. 

This year’s Racial and Religious Harmony Month honours those who built Singapore’s unity while looking ahead to those who will carry it forward.   

The theme was inspired by President Tharman’s speech at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2025, where he emphasised the importance of strengthening social cohesion through mutual respect and meaningful interactions across communities.

Festival-goers enjoyed performances and interactive booths in the main 10x10m outdoor area. Alongside the Harmony Circle booth, the diverse religious communities in Singapore hosted booths, displaying their religious texts and objects, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about different faiths through conversations with volunteers.

Peter hopes Harmony Fest! will remain a platform for open dialogue and sharing among Singapore’s diverse racial and religious communities. He also envisions Harmony Circle becoming a trusted resource for anyone seeking to understand Singapore’s cultures, customs, and religions.

“Young people are more digitally savvy and can spot misinformation more easily than older generations. But they can still be misled. That’s where Harmony Fest 2026 can play a vital role by featuring booths with religious artefacts, opportunities for people to learn about different faiths, and knowledgeable volunteers available to answer questions and address misconceptions.

If each visitor shares what they have learnt with one or two others, then through word-of-mouth, the message spreads.”

What We Risk Losing and Why He Keeps Going

Pre-installation event for Harmony Fest! 2026. (Photo credit: MCCY)

To Peter, creating channels for open dialogue is the best way to counter division in an increasingly polarised world. Drawing on his experiences growing up and observations of rising misinformation, he believes that maintaining Singapore’s multicultural harmony can no longer be passive and requires active, intentional effort. 

“If we don’t have social cohesion, we won’t be united in times of difficulty and crisis. If that happens, then that's it for Singapore lah. We are only so small, right? 

“We’re all from different cultures, but now we're trying to make our own Singaporean identity in the world. And what it means to be Singaporean is to be united—it’s always been there; it’s part of our pledge.”

Beyond Harmony Fest!, communities across Singapore continue to mark Racial and Religious Harmony Month through more than 28 initiatives organised by the 97 Harmony Circles. These include family carnivals, learning journeys to places of worship, harmony walks, youth dialogues and interfaith blood donation drives. 

Backed by a growing network of nearly 2,000 members and over 400 religious organisations across 97 neighbourhoods, these efforts continue to strengthen understanding and deepen racial and religious harmony across Singapore. 

While Harmony Fest! 2026 has concluded, Racial and Religious Harmony Month continues across Singapore—whether you're looking to learn more about different cultures, meet new people or be part of something meaningful, there are still many opportunities to join the celebrations throughout July.