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Full-Text Articles in Social Welfare

Collective Philanthropy: The Strength Of Giving Together, Rob John Jan 2017

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 …


Youth And Volunteerism: What Gives?, Emma Glendinning Jan 2017

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


Venturing Into Venture Philanthrophy, Martina Mettgenberg-Lemière, Kevin Teo Jan 2017

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 Jan 2014

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.


Unpacking Radical Philanthropy: Purpose Driven Philanthropy In Action, Poh Wah Lee Jan 2013

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.


Measuring Poverty In Singapore: Frameworks For Consideration, John A. Donaldson, Jacqueline Loh, Sanushka Mudaliar, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Biqi Wu, Lam Keong Yeoh Jan 2013

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.


Measuring Poverty In Singapore: Frameworks For Consideration, John A. Donaldson, Jacqueline Loh, Sanushka Mudaliar, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Biqi Wu, Lam Keong Yeoh Jan 2013

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 Jan 2013

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.


Post 2015 -- What Comes After The Millennium Development Goals, Michael Switow Jan 2013

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.


The Poverty Line: A Visual Examination On What It Means To Be Poor In Singapore, Stefen Chow, Hui-Yi Lin Jan 2013

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.


Bottoms Up, Jack Sim Jan 2012

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 Of Impact Investing, Yvonne Li Jan 2012

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.


Impact Investing: Will Hype Stall Its Emergence As An Asset Class?, Philo Alto Jan 2012

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 Jan 2012

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.


Enterprise, Not Aid, For Social Change, Kim Tan Jan 2012

Enterprise, Not Aid, For Social Change, Kim Tan

Social Space

A wind of change is blowing through the world of aid and philanthropy. The old formula of aid and compassion doesn’t work anymore. In its place, Kim Tanproposes a new model based on enterprise and financial capital.


Reclaiming Singapore's Lost Soul - An Interview With Stanley Tan, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2012

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.


Csr 2.0: Transforming The Role Of Business In Society, Wayne Visser Jan 2011

Csr 2.0: Transforming The Role Of Business In Society, Wayne Visser

Social Space

Corporate Social Responsibility (or CSR) comes in different forms and shades. But according to Wayne Visser, it also comes in different stages, most of which have failed. Save, perhaps, for one.


Hard Truths About Heart Work: An Interview With Jennie Chua, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2011

Hard Truths About Heart Work: An Interview With Jennie Chua, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Just as there are calls for leadership to bridge the business and social worlds, there are also calls for new models and inspiration in the nonprofit sector. Social Space catches up with the inimitable Jennie Chua,fundraiser and chairman of the Community Chest, to hear her thoughts on these issues. True to form, Jennie delivers a few hard truths about fundraising and charity in Singapore.


Celebrity Philanthropy: Reassessing Fame For Civil Society, Oranutt Narapruet Jan 2011

Celebrity Philanthropy: Reassessing Fame For Civil Society, Oranutt Narapruet

Social Space

Oranutt Narapruet argues for the support and enabling of philanthropy efforts by stars.


The Global Ecosystem For Social Innovation, Louise Pulford Jan 2011

The Global Ecosystem For Social Innovation, Louise Pulford

Social Space

Louise Pulford shares how the social innovation industry is applying its own medicine to accelerate social innovation globally.


Of Spatial And Mindset Change: An Interview With Tay Kheng Soon, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2011

Of Spatial And Mindset Change: An Interview With Tay Kheng Soon, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Amidst the gloom of the growing environmental crisis and unmet social needs, one man refuses to admit defeat. After 50 years advocating in civil society and the architectural space, Tay Kheng Soon has come up with yet another ground-breaking idea—Rubanisation—which re-imagines the city and countryside as a single organic whole. Social Space catches up with the social space maverick in his eco-office in the tranquil setting of a wooded area off Dairy Farm Road.


Finding The Human In Society, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2011

Finding The Human In Society, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Prior to the Singaporean General Elections in May 2011, not many had heard of Vincent Wijeysingha, executive director of TWC2. By the time he’d stood, and lost, as an opposition candidate, his profile had been firmly catapulted into the news and blogosphere. Wijeysingha recently sat down with Social Space to talk about his concern for the plight of migrant workers, social justice and how Singapore needs to change.


Bottom Fifth In Singapore, Jacqueline Loh Jan 2011

Bottom Fifth In Singapore, Jacqueline Loh

Social Space

Jacqueline Loh paints a numerical picture of the poor and cautions that without concerted interventions, many households could remain chronically poor.


The Promise Of Social Impact Bonds, John Loder Jan 2011

The Promise Of Social Impact Bonds, John Loder

Social Space

A financial tool from Wall Street is being adapted in the social market to nurture early interventions and incentivise capital flow. As John Loder reports, social impact bonds promise two fundamental shifts—for governments to overcome the politics of fear and for private investors to fund social causes with impact.


Of Modest Giving, Community Values And Social Change: An Interview With Hsieh Fu Hua, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2010

Of Modest Giving, Community Values And Social Change: An Interview With Hsieh Fu Hua, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Recognising the need for building capability and filling in critical gaps in management training, expertise and research in Singapore’s social scene, businessman and contemporary art enthusiast Hsieh Fu Hua has established Binjai Tree to make his contribution in a more structured fashion. Yet he reminisces about the cultural tradition of communities providing solidarity and support to its members and tells Social Space why a more modest and quiet approach to the simple act of giving is a way to encourage more Singaporeans to cultivate a spirit of altruism.


Storytellers As Philanthropic Champions: An Interview With Claire Chiang, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2010

Storytellers As Philanthropic Champions: An Interview With Claire Chiang, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Singapore’s charity sector is undergoing significant changes to enhance management quality, accountability and transparency. But despite these positive changes, Ms Claire Chiang, entrepreneur and philanthropist, argues that Singapore also needs to cultivate a more visionary and global approach to philanthropy. She shares with Social Space her thoughts on storytelling and the need for mentors to champion the most urgent causes of the day.


Contextualising Csr: Multi-Stakeholder Approaches To Development Initiatives In Southeast Asia, Christine Davis, Stephanie Soderborg Jan 2010

Contextualising Csr: Multi-Stakeholder Approaches To Development Initiatives In Southeast Asia, Christine Davis, Stephanie Soderborg

Social Space

As the focus on CSR expands throughout Asia, discussion prevails about the form it needs to take to be germane to the needs of each respective country. The authors discuss Kenan Institute Asia’s efforts in developing a responsible management education (or CSR curriculum and training) for future managers and business leaders in Vietnam.


Business Solutions To Global Challenges, Richard Welford Jan 2010

Business Solutions To Global Challenges, Richard Welford

Social Space

Despite the prevalence of CSR initiatives in companies, there is a need to leverage on current practices to make them more effective and meaningful. Richard Welford looks at the advantages to such an approach.


Microfinance For Migrant Workers: Asia's Next New Market Opportunity?, Patsian Low Jan 2010

Microfinance For Migrant Workers: Asia's Next New Market Opportunity?, Patsian Low

Social Space

Employment in developed countries is often the main source of income for many people at the bottom of the pyramid in developing countries and has led to the growth of an industry based on remittances. Patsian Low studies the ramifications this has for developing microfinance in host countries and the potential for cross-border collaboration in Singapore and Asia.


Apopo: Building A Rats-Based Detection Technology With The Capacity To Detect Landmines, Lien Centre For Social Innovation Jan 2010

Apopo: Building A Rats-Based Detection Technology With The Capacity To Detect Landmines, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Social Space

Rats are traditionally viewed as pests in most societies. APOPO turns this stereotype on its head by training rats to detect mines in a wide-scale effort to push forward demining efforts in post-conflict countries. Mine Detection Rats (MDRs), also affectionately called HeroRATs, are a sustainable landmine detection technology, adapted to low resources settings. Rats have a highly developed sense of smell. They can detect the smallest traces of explosives emitted by the mines. Rats are intelligent creatures that also love to perform repetitive tasks for a small food reward. They live up to 8 years, giving a good return of …