What is Transbefrienders?
Founded in 2019 by a group of transgender individuals from various professionals, Transbefrienders emerged from a recognition of the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals in our Singaporean community.
Transbefrienders recognises the need for peer support. While professional support systems such as counselling focus on medical and mental health, they are not always accessible due to cost and time constraints.
Additionally, mental health providers may not always be transgender themselves, potentially limiting their ability to fully understand and empathise with trans youths. This gap highlights the crucial need for peer support, where fellow trans individuals who serve as role models can provide help and a listening ear.
Our Vision
Gender-diverse Lives with Independence and Happiness.
Our Mission
To bring accessible and holistic care to transgender and gender-diverse individuals through integrated mental health, medical, and social support.
Our Befriending Programme
Our core initiative is the befriending programme, which matches youths with trained volunteers who have personally experienced gender dysphoria in Singapore, or around the world.
This unique approach ensures that our support comes from a place of genuine understanding and shared experiences.
Our Impact
Since our inception, we have expanded our services to include:
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One-on-one emotional support through befriending services
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TransNB Friends Support Group for sharing experiences and healing
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Educational programs and events to empower transgender youth and raise awareness
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Binder redistribution to assist with gender dysphoria alleviation
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Pageturner Book Club exploring identity and sexuality through literature.
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We are proud to be able to support 5 youth for three months at a cost of just S$20
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With the implementation of our initiatives, we are able to provide better support for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
Our Finances
If you would like to understand our financial landscape, download our Audited Finance Statements 2025 and Annual Report 2025.
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Here are our past Audited Financial Statements 2024 and Annual Report 2024, and Audited Financial Statements 2023 and Annual Report 2023.
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Transbefrienders' has its Constitution as governing instrument.
Our Team
Transbefrienders is proud to have a diverse and dedicated team of more than 30 talented cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse individuals contributing to our cause. Their tireless efforts and commitment to the community are deeply appreciated.
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Our Board of Directors
Our Management Team
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​​​​​​​​Tan Joo Hymn (She/her) - Director.
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Joo Hymn is an active volunteer in civil service groups and past-president of AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research) and a founding member of SAFE (Supporting, Affirming and Empowering our LGBTQ friends and family). She is also a trainer, lawyer and an early childhood educator.
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Dr Zheng Zhimin (She/Her) - Director.
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Dr Zheng is a consultant psychiatrist in private practice with over 10 years of experience in general psychiatry in the public sector. She specialises in gender & sexual minority mental health and established the Gender Care Clinic in the public sector in August 2016.​
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Lu Liu (She/her) - Director​
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Lu Liu is the Co-Founder and Special Advisor of JustCo, a Singapore-based coworking company. She is a mentor, educator, and business leader. Lu Liu worked at Procter & Gamble across the US, Europe, and Asia, as well as Ernst & Young in New York. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science from NYU Stern. She is excited to contribute to Transbefrienders and support its important mission.​​​
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​​​Zhan Chiam (He/him) - Director
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Zhan brings extensive experience in human rights advocacy, philanthropy, and international nonprofit governance, currently serving as Global Coordinator for the LGBTI Pathways Project at the Global Philanthropy Project. He previously served as Deputy Director of Transgender Europe, co-founded ILGA World's Trans Advocacy Week, and served on the Board of Directors of the International Trans Fund, where he played a pivotal role in establishing and shaping the organisation's governance structure.
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Coen Teo (He/Him) - Executive Director
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The idea of a befriending service was inspired by the peer support he received from a trans woman on SGButterfly, an online forum for transgender Singaporeans in the 2000s. To give back to the community, he conceptualised Transbefrienders to enable more youth to access peer support. Coen began his community work by documenting his transitioning journey on YouTube and providing information to transgender Singaporeans. He holds a BSc in Aviation Business Administration and is a counsellor-in-training. He has contributed to several other LGBTQ+ groups, including Pink Dot SG, over a decade of advocacy.​​
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Aderyn (She/They) - Case Manager
​Aderyn is a non-binary trans woman with a background in social work, sociology and anthropology. Her journey into supporting other local queer folks began in her university years, be it as a support group facilitator for Transbefrienders, or event organizer for queer student groups. Wanting to provide others the support she wished she had when she first began transitioning, she is now frequently the first touchpoint for anyone seeking the support and services of Transbefrienders.​
Our Home
​We have a physical space called Lavender Nest by Transbefrienders which is a place where young individuals can find acceptance, gender care resources, and a community that understands and celebrates their unique journeys.
If you would like to visit, fill out our contact form to book an appointment.
Collaborations and Partnerships
​We have forged strong partnerships with other LGBTQ+ organizations in Singapore, including The Greenhouse, Oogachaga, The T Project and Pink Dot. These collaborations have resulted in impactful campaigns and initiatives, further extending our reach and support for the transgender community. Click here to find out more about our partners.
Join Us
At Transbefrienders, we believe in fostering an inclusive and welcoming community where everyone can feel safe, accepted, and empowered to be their authentic selves.
Whether you're seeking support or looking to volunteer, we invite you to be part of our journey to create a more understanding and supportive Singapore for all gender-diverse individuals.