DiD staff not up to standard?

My trip to Dialogue in the Dark was amazing experience. It was definitely thrilling to be put into the shoes of a blind person.For some it was not as thrilling as they felt vulnerable and not in control of their fate which might have scared them.

What I find amazing about Dialogue in The Dark was that it was very well established. It had its management structure, itinerary, plans, schedules all planned out. The mini-games were exciting although possibly highly overused. The maintenance if the place is extraordinary.

However, after Yonghao's ,Vanesse's ,and Francine's presentation in Business Management last week i realised thatin every seemingly perfect organization, they are all flawed. In fact DiD might not even be operating at its optimal strength. Facing problems with staff and interns is just minor compared to what the manager deals with all by himself.

This leads me to think of something Enoch Teo once said,"We as a social enterprise have to be more understanding." I do agree to some extent. Sure, a social enterprise are possibly more empathetic. But should that get in the way of the business such that it adversely affects the operations. Allowing staff to slack off is not my idea of being empathetic. Thats being "silly" to put it in more relatable and polite terms.

If I were to ever set up a social enterprise I would definitely make it clear that we were running a business and that in no way would i be able to allow unco-operative behaviour. We would need to be a team and it wouldnt be fair if others had to work harder than others simply because i could be empathetic.

Signing off,
Abigail

The Art Scene in Singapore

In Singapore, the government has been trying to place more importance on creating a more artistic society.
Be it the art of : Animation, Architecture, Body art, Brief art, Cinema art, the art of Comic Writing, Dance, Digital art, Drawing,Engraving,Gastronomy,Graffiti,Music,the Opera,Painting,Photography,Pottery,Poetry,Sculpture,Singing,Theatre,Woodwork and Writing.

Various social enterprises have also been set up with the aim to conserve the arts and culture in Singapore. Of the 8 pointed out on raiSE, i will talk about Pangolin Films. The Vision of Pangolin Films is "We want to be the regional source and eventually a global source of award-winning content especially in the area of social service and public awareness, and the centre for nurturing and promoting creativity in the industry."

To date Pangoling Films has released 23 films. And won 2 Awards. One of the most popular films released was "Hentak Kaki" which at the 3rd Singapore Short Film Awards was awarded Best Performance and Nominated for Best Director, Script. The director James Khoo said ,"Whether it’s the characters and their context to modern society or the direction of the piece, what this basically shows is the ability of the Singapore audience to appreciate a local film in a variety of ways yet still take away something from it and share it with others. It shows engagement beyond the film and it is deeply encouraging for me (and I hope for other filmmakers as well) that there is so much potential in engaging the local community in positive ways through film or art as a whole."

This is the part i would like to touch on. Unlike other arts and culture conservation SE's, Pangolin Films release material that is truly local and very much relatable to any Singaporean. Unlike Asylum Theatre and BeatABox which are also SE's that are working for the same cause, Pangolin Films is a Singaporean Start-up.

I feel that nowadays, due to globalization, art in Singapore has also been westernized. It is common to see classes for hip-hop dance and jazz and classes to learn how to cook sous-vide egg. But are there enough Singaporean representations of these art forms. As we continue to fight for a more creative society, we should also remember to fight for the conservation of our Singaporean Culture.

With Sg50 just having ended, dont we have something to think about?

Khoo(2013, 1 May) The Filmmaker's thoughts on "Hentak Kaki". Retrieved from:
http://pangolinfilms.com.sg/pangolin/the-filmmakers-thoughts-on-hentak-kaki/

Eighteen Chefs & Ex-convict Employment

When the Eighteen Chefs branch at Ang Mo Kio first opened, me and friends were extremely excited because it meant nice meals at student prices. It was easily accessible and the meals looked really good on the menu. Upon my first step into the restaurant, my friend whispered "Do you know all the staff here are ex-convicts?" 

"Oh really?" I replied, intrigued. I wondered after that as i scanned the faces of the staff. What was so special about this place hiring ex-convicts? Does it mean that they're gonna be rude or be impatient? My friends were extra careful and wary about their valuables that day. I just sat there and ate my food thinking, "Its a restaurant all the same, as long as they serve good food, it doesn't matter who I am being served by." 

By far, Eighteen Chefs is one of the most successful social enterprises stemmed from local ground. The founder, Mr Se Teo attributes this success to his business model. Now, Eighteen Chefs yields in profits but it would not have been possible without some losses.

The article dated April 14, 2014 talks about the history of Eighteen Chefs and its founder Mr Se Teo. In the beginning of the article Mr Se Teo was said to have almost went into a drug relapse due to the loss and disdain he felt while Eighteen Chefs was first facing financial losses.

The article is linked here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/former-drug-addict-cooking-up-social-change

This thought me that every social enterprise like every other business will be suffering losses. It will be especially difficult if we were supposed to set aside a certain amount of profit for our beneficiaries. To do good and earn profit is not easy. But Mr Se Teo has also thought me the most important thing about social enterprises and that is the main reason it exists is to make a social change. He has touched the lives of many ex-convicts and youth-at-risk and most importantly, he has turned over a new leaf by not going into drug relapse that first time.

Eighteen Chefs is a very good example of an enterprise that has manged to socially integrate their beneficiaries into society but till today, ex-convicts still face discrimination. In every interview, in every employment form, there is bound to be the question , "Have you been convicted of any criminal charges?" or the likes. Singapore still has a long way to go before the ex-convicts will be seamlessly integrated into our society. However, ex-convict employment rates have seen a rise.

According to Jantai (2014) "Not only has their starting pay risen, more are able to hold on to their jobs. Last year, about 60 per cent of the former convicts retained their jobs for at least half a year, compared to 37 per cent who manage to do so in 2007." and "Things are also looking up for the ex-offenders because a criminal past seems to matter less now, with more employers lining up to hire them. About 4,145 employers are registered with Score now, up from 2,459 in 2010." This shows that slowly and steadily, the ex-offenders are being accepted into our society and this is truly a great thing to create a more inclusive society.

Signing off,
Abigail

Is GrabTaxi a Social Enterprise?

Although the online newspaper article mentioned GrabTaxi very briefly, it brought me back to the third lesson where we first discussed in class what a social enterprise was. By Mr Hon's definition, "A social enterprise exists to create social impact. Never lose track of this.Yet in a social enterprise, the business has to deliver for the social stuff to happen. Never lose track of this too."

At the start of the year I had initially wanted to start up a social enterprise for foreign workers and I asked my mother "Aren't all companies considered social enterprises then?"

And she rolled her eyes at me and went "Its not all that simple."

So the question of this post today is, Is GrabTaxi a Social Enterprise? According to the article, "Founder Anthony Tan is on record as saying that the app is a social enterprise in that it helps taxi drivers earn more money .GrabTaxi said it also conducts free health checks for drivers in other countries." If we base it solely on the definition we have learned in class, no it is not. 

This is because I fail to see the social impact that is supposed to be achieved here in Singapore. I suppose that the health checks provided to taxi drivers from other countries may be creating some impact but is it great enough to create some social impact.What other social impact could GrabTaxi be providing besides perhaps, more effective transportation of passengers from one place to another? However i am sure that the founder is earning quite the profit.

In my opinion, GrabTaxi is NOT a Social Enterprise. This is because i do not see the taxi drivers of Singapore as marginalized. Sure they do not earn a lot if they are unable to pick up passengers or if passengers do not wait for their booked taxi to arrive. However, they are quite able to provide for themselves and for their families. I mean, they even have the option to not pick up passengers that flag them down. Hence, i believe that this is not a very social-minded cause.

I believe that because there is no right or wrong definition of a social enterprise clearly defined here in Singapore as this niche market. Singapore's social enterprise market is still young despite the startling increases of start-ups in the past two years.Is it necessary to have  a set definition? Yes i believe that it is very necessary for that. This is because to take on the title of Social Enterprise and use it to market/advertise your goods to consumers, is a very despicable thing to do. 

However, GrabTaxi might be approved as a Social enterprise in other countries in which drivers are usually marginalized because of low income or old age. NOT in Singapore.

Signing Off,
Abigail Fernandez





References:

Goy, Priscilla. (2014, July 22).Rise of social enterprises in Singapore prompts calls for greater regulation.

The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/rise-of-social-enterprises-in-singapore-prompts-calls-for-greater-regulation?page=17

Visit To Enoch's European

Last Friday, my group consisting of Bryan, Adalene, Shawn and myself went to interview the founder of Enoch's European, Enoch Teo. Although it was for a project and for educational purposes I was very inspired by what his Social Enterprise was doing. Enoch's European is basically a small restaurant that offers top-notch French cuisine at good prices and provides stellar service.Enoch European started out as Le Petit Paradis ("The Little Paradise" in French) and operated at Alibabar Hawker Bar for two years.

Visit the website here://www.enochs.com.sg/

His social cause is to empower vulnerable youth and children. He is in partnership with the Boy's Home and Boys Town (if I'm not  mistaken) to provide a platform where the boys can learn a skill by working at the front of house or in the kitchen. 

Before this I never knew that this was a way to engage the beneficiaries of your social enterprise. I always assumed that the money made would be donated to a certain organization or that SE's would just employ workers that come from their beneficiaries. Such as being done by Eighteen Chefs. I never knew that we could go into partnerships to provide a platform for the beneficiaries to learn skills. I feel that this is really amazing and has greatly broaden my prospects for the future social enterprise I may want to set up.

Enoch also shared that on his own, he has yet to break even but he is happy that he is doing something to make a difference. That is something i believe is quite admirable. Many people who wish to start up a business would have the main goal to be earning profits and likewise many worry about whether they will be able to do good and make money all at the same time. However , for him, he sees success as when he has managed to change the way the vulnerable youth looks at life.  I think that my outlook on life is much like this in that aspect.

For me, it is important for my business to  make money, it is important that I am financially stable. But all in all what is more important is that i am making a change for the better in the lives of others. This might be my weakness when I start a social enterprise in the future.

Enoch himself found solace in cooking when he was an at risk-youth and drop out. He is a truly great example and i think we should learn how to overcome our challenges from people like him. Many of us are fortunate that we are not at-risk youth or that we are no longer at risk youth due to help we have received. Enoch is only one in a few that are making a conscious effort to help these stray youths. I think we can also do something for them seeing as we are of the same age and think the same. I hope that one day i can be able to make even more positive changes in society like what Enoch is doing.

Signing off,

Abigail

Is Singapore rich?

By definition from the site Investopedia, "Minimum Wage is the minimum amount of compensation an employee must receive for performing labor. Minimum wages are typically established by contract or legislation by the government. As such, it is illegal to pay an employee less than the minimum wage."

Does Singapore have a minimum wage?
The answer to that, is no. To this you may ask, why not? Why is establishing a minimum wage so important?

For many countries, the minimum wage often  establishes whether you are living in poverty or whether you are living a good normal average life. The de facto minimum wage for Singapore can be taken as that of cleaners and security guards at $1,000. Which is the LOWEST minimum wage amongst all developed countries as of late.

Even more appalling is the fact that in Singapore, a poverty line is not established. A Poverty Line as defined by Merriam-Webster online dictionary, "a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards —called also poverty level". The estimated amount of Singaporeans that are living in poverty is 30%.

So, are Singaporeans rich? Is Singapore rich? Even as Singapore is now ranked the most expensive city in the world by The Economist, we are also the country in which the gap between the rich and the poor is the largest. Meaning the rich are very rich and the poor are very poor.

How is it that we fail to see the many people living a hard life? How is it possible that we fail to extend our help to make the lives of these people better? Why is the government so focused on increasing our economic value that they are living the poor straggling behind?

Worst still, why are we Singaporeans not protesting against this? Dont you think that a minimum wage should at least be established ? Shouldn't cleaners for all that they do for us, dealing with our shit (quite literally), get paid more?

I feel that this is quite saddening. We fail to see the things that truly matter and instead focus on trivial and superficial matters like mrt trains disruption. Why havent we woken up yet ?

References:
http://thehearttruths.com/2014/11/05/this-is-what-is-wrong-in-singapore-now-are-you-willing-to-see-it/
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/minimum_wage.asp
http://i.word.com/idictionary/poverty%20line

Singapore an Age-Friendly society?

AGE FRIENDLY IN SINGAPORE:

"Outdoor spaces and buildings" in Singapore are highly developed and very age-friendly such as can be seen in the picture above. All elderly citizens that have the elderly ez-link card or concession pass, can tap the card onto the reader to prolong the time they have to cross the road. This is a very helpful invention as some drivers could become impatient with elderly pedestrians and refuse to wait for the light to change before driving.

Community Centre's are age friendly. this is because in accordance with 

"Respect and social inclusion" , one of the 8 interconnected domains of social life. In community centres, there are a wide-range of activities available for the elderly to participate in. At community centres, they also come into contact with the younger generation of volunteers thus creating a socially-inclusive community.

"Community and health care" is a well-established area in Singapore. In all HDB estates, without fail there will be more than one medical clinic, dental clinic and pharmacy. This shows that in Singapore , the needs of all elderly are being well taken care off.

NON-AGE FRIENDLY IN SINGAPORE:

As seen above is a ramp for wheel-chair bound individuals and elderly offered by buses.Although a very good effort to create a more age-friendly society in accordance to "Transportation" ,one of the 8 interconnected domains of social life, it is however not implemented in every bus and only certain buses are wheelchair friendly. This is something that should be change in order to cater to the needs of the elderly in Singapore.

In Singapore, the interconnected domain of social life with regards to "Civic participation and employment" for the elderly is lacking. This is because they are seen as not as educated and incapable of handling the job of an average working adult and hence are given odd jobs or unfavorable jobs such as that of cleaners or dishwashers. They may also be working under unfair working conditions such a low-pay, unhygienic working conditions and hard labor which is detrimental to their health.

"Social participation" as one of the above mentioned 8 interconnected domains of social life

is not very well integrated here in Singapore. There is a stark difference to what is a social 

activity for the young and what is a social activity for the old. Very rarely are

there opportunities for both the elderly and the younger generations to enjoy a social 

activity together. Hence, i feel that Singapore has still a long way to go to establish an age-

friendly society with regards to social participation among all age groups.

Done in reference to the following article: http://agefriendlyworld.org/en/age-friendly-in-practice/

Signing off,

Abigail