SOAR - Singapore Chapter

singapore@soar-us.org

Singapore joined the SOAR family in March 2026. The Armenians in Singapore were among the earliest merchants to arrive in Singapore from the British Raj when it was established as a trading port by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. They numbered around 100 individuals at their peak in the early 1920s. Despite their small number, they had an impact in the commercial life of early Singapore, and members of the community co-founded the newspaper The Straits Times and built the Raffles Hotel. Armenian trading firms such as Sarkies and Moses (1840–1914), Apcar & Stephens (1826–1845), and Mackertich M. Moses (1820s–1839) were prominent in Singapore’s economy. In March 1836, the Church of St Gregory the Illuminator was consecrated and is today the oldest surviving one.

***See what our chapter has been doing***

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Nareh

Narreh Ghazarian
President

Narreh was born and raised in Massachusetts and earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Clark University. In 2015, she relocated to Asia, where she has since built a career as a program manager working with large multinational organizations, leading cross-functional initiatives and supporting operational excellence across diverse teams and markets.

Deeply proud of her Armenian heritage, Narreh has remained actively engaged in the Armenian communities wherever she has lived. Over the years, she has dedicated her time and energy to supporting a number of nonprofit and community organizations, including the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Amaras Art Alliance, and the AYG Foundation. Most recently, she has been involved with the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Singapore, continuing her commitment to service and cultural preservation.

Narreh’s passion for community engagement is rooted in her deep love for children and her homeland. She is especially inspired by initiatives that uplift and empower young people, and she is honored to join SOAR, where she looks forward to contributing to programs that support the enrichment, well-being, and long-term success of orphaned children in Armenia.