Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of The Arts In Placemaking Singapore, Su Fern Hoe

Social Space

Singapore is no exception. This is palpably evident in the recent disappearance of cherished spaces such as Rochor Centre, Sungei Road Flea Market and Pearl Bank Apartments. As Janadas Devan once aptly stated, “forgetting is the condition of Singapore.”

This leads one to wonder: in a cityscape where the only constant is change, how can we foster a sense of place and belonging? How and where do we develop social relations beyond our own homes? Are we still able to form meaningful experiences with others as well as our surroundings?

The Inclusion Index: Common Terms In The Discourse Of Social Inclusion, Trang Luu

Social Space

The equal availability of services, facilities, opportunities and resources to people belonging to disadvantaged groups.

Youth And Volunteerism: What Gives?, Emma Glendinning

Social Space

As a volunteer, I’m one of many in the world. Data from Figure 1—a survey about volunteering among a number of OECD countries—shows that at least one-fi fth of the population in many countries engages in volunteer activities.1 Though Figure 1 does not provide details on the amount of time spent volunteering—or indeed if this volunteering is one-off or recurring—we see that volunteering rates in Australia, Canada and the United States stand out for being particularly high, whereas those in Italy, Spain and Sweden are remarkably lower than the OECD average.2

Collective Philanthropy: The Strength Of Giving Together, Rob John

Social Space

Giving to charity has never been a solitary activity in any culture. People have joined together to give for millennia. In Asia, clan associations, religious groups or just friends have enjoyed the benefits of giving as a group. But there appears to be a renaissance of collective giving with the advent of more organised, strategic and outcome-focused philanthropy. At the Asia Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy (ACSEP) where I am presently based, our research team’s curiosity about giving circles was first piqued when investigating the nature of innovation in Asian philanthropy in 2012.1 In that study, we reported several …

Venturing Into Venture Philanthrophy, Martina Mettgenberg-Lemière, Kevin Teo

Social Space

Grantmakers and social investors (funders) are successful only to the extent whereby their grantee or investee organisations— collectively known as social purpose organisations (SPOs)— achieve sustainable social impact. More often than not, we hear of SPOs caught in the daily grind of responding to urgent beneficiary needs, and not having the opportunity to introduce more effective practices. The foundation for sustainable social impact arises through engagement from grantmakers and social investors in capacity-building and impact assessment of the SPOs. Capacity-building and impact assessment are two key venture philanthropy (VP) practices. In the last year, the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) …

Are We Really Making A Difference?: Lessons From Nesta's Innovation Lab, Philip Colligan

Social Space

Are public and social innovation labs achieving impact? Philip Colligan from Nesta's Innovation Lab looks at how we can answer the most important question of whether labs are indeed making a difference to societies.

Defining An Asian Social Economy: Valuating The Social Sector, Jared Tham

Social Space

While the social impact of the social economy is clearly understood and welcomed by Asian governments, the sector’s contribution towards national measures of Gross Domestic Product operates along indistinct lines, and is often undervalued. Jared Tham considers the terminological definition for the future purpose of measuring and establishing its economic value.

Unpacking Radical Philanthropy: Purpose Driven Philanthropy In Action, Poh Wah Lee

Social Space

Being a proponent of radical philanthropy, the Lien Foundation’s approach is to tackle the problem at its roots and offer long-term solutions. Lee Poh Wah tells Social Space how he equates radical philanthropy with practical remedy, and demystifies the term with a lucid explanation of his work at the Foundation.

The Wisdom Of Tupperware: On Field Building And Finding The Right Container, Geraldine Cahill, Satsuko Vanantwerp

Social Space

Drawing from the ongoing research in lab practices at Social Innovation Generation (SiG) National, Geraldine Cahill and Satsuko VanAntwerp acquaint us with the concept, role and structure of social innovation labs and field building work.

From Fragmentation And Silos To Tri-Sector Collaboration: Social Innovation In Hong Kong, Ada Wong

Social Space

Social innovation is gathering momentum in Hong Kong. It is connecting silos and developing partnerships for change. Ada Wong describes how five social innovators are approaching social change to bring about cohesion amidst a fragmented political landscape.

Social Space Editorial, Chi Chiu Tan

Social Space

At the National Day Rally on 18 August 2013, the Prime Minister of Singapore radically redesigned the compact between the people and the government. In a speech that was widely lauded as breathtaking and game-changing, PM Lee Hsien Loong articulated sweeping changes to policies on many aspects of life in Singapore, notably in the areas of education, health care and housing. Everything within the government’s capability will be done to mitigate the effects of the widening income gap, level up and ensure the social mobility of all groups. In a country famous for hard-headed economic and social policies over its …

The Poverty Line: A Visual Examination On What It Means To Be Poor In Singapore, Stefen Chow, Hui-Yi Lin

Social Space

The Poverty Line project explores a simple question: What does it mean to be poor? Through photos of daily amounts of food that could be bought if one’s income lies at the poverty line, the project creates a visual impact on the choices faced by a poor person in a country.

Methodological Craft: Comparing The Hunches And Assumptions Behind Social Change, Sarah Schulman

Social Space

Social innovation labs are emergent spaces for naming social challenges, testing hypotheses, developing and spreading interventions. Despite the common denominator of experimentation, they vary in methodology. Dr Sarah Schulman makes explicit her observation of the hunches and assumptions embedded in the current social change methodologies.

Measuring Poverty In Singapore: Frameworks For Consideration, John A. Donaldson, Jacqueline Loh, Sanushka Mudaliar, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Biqi Wu, Lam Keong Yeoh

Social Space

Singapore does not have an official poverty line. Should there be one? And what are the frameworks that have used or could be adopted for the measurement of poverty in this country? The Lien Centre for Social Innovation and SMU School of Social Sciences report on their investigation into the complex issue of domestic poverty.

Unmet Needs In Portugal: Tradition And Emerging Trends, Helena Gata, Sara Almeida

Social Space

An indepth study on the unmet needs in Portugal was conducted by Tecnologia, Educação, Saúde e Engenharia (TESE ) with Dinamia-CET from the Lisbon University Institute from 2008 to 2010. Helena Gata and Sara Almeida offer us the first English translation on its findings and update us on the programmes created in response to the needs and vulnerable groups identified.

Foresight And Policy: Thinking About Singapore's Future(S), Adrian W. J. Kuah

Social Space

The last three decades have seen the Singapore government’s strategic foresight enterprise shift from the area of defence and security to the socio-aspirational space. Lead Strategist, Dr Adrian W. J. Kuah discusses how strategic planning in the governing of Singapore has evolved over the years.

People Powered Social Innovation: The Need For Citizen Engagement, Julie Simon, Anna Davies

Social Space

Citizen engagement is widely regarded as critical to the development and implementation of social innovation. What is citizen engagement? What does it mean in the context of social innovation? Julie Simon and Anna Davies discuss the importance as well as the implications of engaging the ground.

Do Efficient Outcomes Dull Resilience, Viswa Sadasivan

Social Space

Viswa Sadasivan challenges us to rethink our response to imperfect situations.

Assessment-Based National Dialogue Exercises And Social Protection Floors In East And South East Asia: Methodology And Findings, Valerie Schmitt, Rachael Chadwick

Social Space

The International Labour Organization conducted landmark studies in four Southeast Asian countries between 2011 and 2013 to come up with concrete recommendations for creating nationally defined social protection floors. Valerie Schmitt and Rachael Chadwick1 discuss the studies’ methodology and findings in a unique paper that sees its first publication in Social Space.

Measuring Poverty In Singapore: Frameworks For Consideration, John A. Donaldson, Jacqueline Loh, Sanushka Mudaliar, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Biqi Wu, Lam Keong Yeoh

Social Space

Singapore does not have an official poverty line. Should there be one? And what are the frameworks that have been used or could be adopted for the measurement of poverty in this country? The Lien Centre for Social Innovation and SMU School of Social Sciences report on their investigation into the complex issue of domestic poverty. Team: John Donaldson, Jacqueline Loh, Sanushka Mudaliar, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Wu Biqi and Yeoh Lam Keong.

Social Innovation Labs: A Tool For Social Integration, Pradeep Ghosh

Social Space

The Organisation for Awareness of Integrated Social Security (OAS iS) has designed a different approach to innovation in India by creating social innovation labs to work across the social sector. Pradeep Ghosh describes the approach and the work of OAS iS, and shows how social innovation labs can play an increasingly important role in creating solutions for the Indian society.

Post 2015 -- What Comes After The Millennium Development Goals, Michael Switow

Social Space

In June 2013, a High Level Panel appointed by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on UN member states to adopt a sustainable development agenda that will “Leave No One Behind.” Michael Switow shares civil society’s analysis of this report, taking a look at what it got right, what was wrong and where it missed out altogether.

Mapping Out An Age Friendly Singapore: Lessons From Pioneering Work In Ageing And Eldercare, Mary Ann Tsao

Social Space

As the Tsao Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013, Social Space catches up with the indomitable Dr Mary Ann Tsao who explains what it means to be a catalyst for change and how the Foundation will continue in transforming the experience of longevity in the community.

Bottoms Up, Jack Sim

Social Space

Who says those on top will always remain up there? Jack Sim believes the day will come when the bottom will rise, if we will only help them to.

The Promise And Challenge Of Ecotourism, Biqi Wu

Social Space

The following article is adapted from an ecotourism case study conducted by Wu Biqi. It was supported by the Lien Centre and supervised by Associate Professor John Donaldson of the School of Social Sciences at the Singapore Management University.

The Future Of Singapore's Civil Society, Gillian Koh, Debbie Soon

Social Space

Civil society activists are now in open disagreement with citizens and sometimes, other civil society groups. Gillian Koh and Debbie Soon explore how that horizontal relationship might develop.

The Promise Of Impact Investing, Yvonne Li

Social Space

Charitable foundations have traditionally provided for the needy and marginalised where governments and markets have failed. In the face of increasing global challenges, Yvonne Liargues that, with the right approach—specifically impact investing—these bodies can do more, and for better and longer.

Reclaiming Singapore's Lost Soul - An Interview With Stanley Tan, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

As Singapore’s volunteer chief, Stanley Tan has been championing a more active citizenry and finding back the lost soul of Singapore. Social Space catches up with the chairman of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) for his insights on Singaporeans and the social sector.

Impact Investing: Will Hype Stall Its Emergence As An Asset Class?, Philo Alto

Social Space

From when it was first coined five years ago, “impact investing” has now become more mainstream for traditional investors. However, Philo Alto argues that its development is lagging behind the promise of what it can do, and this, in turn, is hampering its emergence as an asset class in its own right.

Spawning Social Enterprises Across Asia - An Interview With Mechai Viravaidya, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Mechai Viravaidya, also known as “Mr Condom,” believes that Asia is fertile ground for promoting social enterprises. He tells Social Space why and how he thinks this should be done.