Search Results

If you haven't heard about it, our Make The Change Award Ceremony took place last Friday, on the evening of August 24th! Hosting our graduates from the 3rd intake of Essential Communications Design and 2nd intake of Digital Marketing, we are so happy to see their loved ones coming to celebrate their success as well. To add on, our graduates from the 2nd intake of Website and E-commerce design have already had their celebration separately at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore). Year by year, we are happy to be part of the movement to bring design and creativity to communities. As Nelson Mandela puts it: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world", we hope to open up more doors of opportunity for persons with disabilities to venture, pursue and dream. We are also heartened to have our co-sponsor, Excel Hardware, with us for the evening. Their lovely digital marketing manager, Ms Aerisha Lee, dropped by to share a few words about the employment of PwD graduates in their workplace. From an employer's perspective, she stressed that a good team is not so much on hiring the "best" people, but rather about hiring the right people. The welcoming culture in Excel Hardware is also testified by Michael, their new employee and an alumni member of Make The Change's programme in Essential Communications Design. Moving forward, Excel Hardware has committed to continue in welcoming more persons with disabilities to join their family, for they believe that their abilities can help to bring the team further into greater heights. To us, the journey of our graduates doesn't just stop at the last class. We hope to help bridge our graduates with suitable career options upon the completion of their course, and is always looking for employers with the same heart and goal as us. With our hearts full from the ceremony, our team will also move forward to receive and reach out to more people. Who knows, maybe a nudge of encouragement is all they need to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. It is never easy, and it often takes courage to challenge yourself in picking up a new skill, meet new people and grow. If you know of anyone who can benefit from our course programmes in essential communications design, digital marketing and website design and E-commerce, do visit: https://www.makethechange.sg/personswithdisabilities for more.

If you have been following us for some time, you will probably know that Design For Good is moving towards our very first year with the Krafters in Cambodia! A lot of growth has happened in our first year, as both teams in Cambodia and Singapore work together for progress. So, what has changed before and after Design For Good? We ran a short interview with the Krafters in Phnom Penh to see what they have to say. Q: The main before-and-after difference? 1. Learning to adapt to customer orders 2. Producing better quality products 3. Improving in time-management to send products on time Q: The most difficult challenge so far? The rug-braiding team feels that their main challenge is still to produce a quality rug by hand as the sewing process is not easy. Gradually, each member learnt how to work independently as well as in a team. Having said that, the production of their handmade products is also becoming more manageable overtime. Q: How is everyone's financial situation now? While many are waiting to settle their debts, Solutions to End Poverty (STEP) has already stepped in to collect their financial data and explore the potential of partnering with banks for micro-financing loans. Their products have also been sold in Cambodia and overseas, in Singapore and Switzerland. Q: Example of how living conditions became better? Ms. Kong Pov and Mr. Chay Yeng work in two of the teams in SMILE Village. To the two of them, the one year brought about a very big difference to their family. Compared to her previous situation, Ms Kong Pov can now better support her children's education, food and other expenses such as water, electricity and home rental. Q: What did the Krafters learn from their fellow team members? As a team, the Krafters started working together after becoming neighbours in SMILE Village. A first for many of them, this was a chance for them to learn from each other. They learnt how to work together and produce good quality works. Q: What are the Krafters' dreams now? Similar to when we first met them, the team still has the same answer when we asked them about their dream. A step closer today, they hope that their debts will be resolved completely, so that they can start afresh and get their own home in the future.

If the Krafters ever had a flagship product, it will most likely be their classic 50cm rug. Round like cookies and eye-catching like gigantic lollipops, these rugs are accent pieces that can complete the look of your favourite space. More importantly, they are braided by the hands of someone trying her very best to earn her own keep, with her own hands. If you have heard of our story, you will probably know how our products are co-created. This means that we bring communities-in-need, artists and designers in to create a product together. Through this process, we hope to share stories, skill-sets and knowledge to one another, and help chart a journey to financial independence. Here's how the process came about: Step 1: Working together for product development ideas We first start off by asking about the skills and strengths that the teams have, and bringing in opinions from designers and artists to explore ideal materials and colour combinations. Step 2: Purchase of excess fabrics from huge manufacturing factories For those who are familiar with the concept of upcycling, this is what the Krafters believe in. Purchasing excess fabrics from large factories, the team gave them a new life by combining strips together to braid rugs. Step 3: Colour and fabric selection The Krafters first select the right colours and fabric. Due to the nature of upcycling, many rugs are often one-of-a-kind (it's gone once it's sold out) and some colours cannot be purchased in bulk. Step 4: Braid fabrics together It is important to maintain a consistent pattern with the fabrics as the sewing Krafter braids the fabric together, rope by rope. Step 5: Sew and secure rug into place This is a highly challenging step, as the braiding team has to secure the rope rightly together so that the whole shape of the rug can be maintained. The effort behind this craft also results in an unique finishing to each and every rug. Step 6: Quality check by both teams in Phnom Penh and Singapore After completing the rugs, the braiding team will check on the quality before sending it over to Singapore. Sometimes, constructive feedback will be given so that mistakes can be corrected and avoided in the future. The rugs are then be sent to Singapore, and go through a quality check for a second time before the Singapore team adds on the finishing touch with the packaging and labels. Step 7: Passing the rug into your hands The last step is super important, because we appreciate every single person supporting us in this project. It is always a joy to meet people who see the value in our craft, and we always look forward to more encounters like such :)

Have you ever tried to know more about a person by looking at who they follow? Instinctively, we often choose what and who we want to see on our social media feed. It's surprising for some to zoom out and think about the content that they have been consuming continuously. Our digital footprints are as accurate as they are, arguably, scary. The critic can argue that our own feed envelops us in a bubble of our own, but it is also good ground for us to build on what we like and believe in. There is definitely merit in surrounding yourself with the content that you want to support and care more about. We all need some inspiration from time to time, to know that we are not the only ones who wants to make the change for the world to be a better place. If you want to have more content on doing good and supporting social causes from Singapore and beyond, we came up with a list for you here: 1. Hello Flowers! @helloflowerssg 2. Sidai Designs @sidaidesigns 3. xHundredfold @xhundredfold 4. The Mindful Company @themindfulcompany 5. Our Better World @ourbetterworld 6. Humans of New York @humansofny 7. SG Food Rescue @sgfoodrescue 8. Thankyou @thankyouaus 9. Bamboo Straw Girl @bamboostrawgirl 10. Seastainable Co. @seastainable 11. Pottery For The Planet @potteryfortheplanet 12. The Sustainability Project @thesustainabilityproject_

“Friendship is essentially a partnership.” – Aristotle Where will we be today if not for friends? At Design For Good, we are truly thankful to have met so many people who cheered us on along the way. Support comes in many forms, and a new venture is almost always as exciting as it is daunting. It is often tough to get the first steps going, and challenging to actually do the things necessary for dreams to be fulfilled. With that, you can probably imagine how help and encouragement meant a great deal to us. To us, our friends are also our ambassadors who have stepped out of their way to offer their time and effort into making this initiative work. Ever since our inception, we have had an amazing group of university students who started the marketplace by flying over to SMILE Village itself. They recorded the stories of the Krafters and gave their inputs on product development. Following that, several like-minded individuals also saw the value in what we are doing and shared our story on their own social media platforms. The word-of-mouth also got us many opportunities to share our stories and showcase what our Cambodian artisans have done. This was also the time where we really discovered how skilled volunteerism can benefit an organisation. We also had a few meetings with students who majored in marketing, and they suggested a few potential approaches to broaden our scope and reach. Another student offered to help us with our content writing as well. In August last year, we also held a brainstorming session where post-it notes were pasted all over the room, where we sat down with our friends to connect ideas with the right customer experience and storytelling approaches. We have friends with experience in the marketplace as well, and their advice was essential in helping us to come up with the most fitting pricing strategy and product bundles. We also kept checking our work with designers for feedback. That helped us greatly, and we were really touched when our young friends took time out to help us with our event booths. Not only did they participate throughout the whole event, they also shared our stories for us with a passion. Seeing such energy makes us believe even stronger in our purpose as well. Right now, we are having some friends who are helping to execute a digital marketing campaign to increase our outreach and engagement online. Putting all these together, we are now working to put together a web page to appreciate every single one of our friends who have helped us so far. We can never take these gestures for granted. This Labour Day, we would like to thank each and every one of our ambassadors for their hard work. A step at a time, we can build a community of ambassadors who believe in design, for good.

When did you first hear about social entrepreneurship? Many of us didn't hear about the concept of social businesses until we were in Junior College, Polytechnic or University. As much as this idea has been gaining traction in the recent years, you probably know that there is still a large number of people who are not quite familiar with the term yet. For our younger generation however, social entrepreneurship might just become an integral part of how they view the world in the future. In our past 5 years, Make The Change (MTC) has been working with numerous secondary schools. Our most recent one is with St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School. Taking the cohort of secondary 2 students, we were heartened to see how our young minds all have their own ideas to make the world a better place. As students use what they have and know, they identified the social enterprise model of their choice and matched it with the social cause they feel for. After crafting a business proposal, teams make their way to do an elevator pitch to the trainers, and top teams of each class get the chance to showcase their plan to the rest of their peers. Beyond winning the final pitch, we really treasure the process in which the teams took to think about Singapore's social issues to build up a creative solution that is both financially and socially sustainable. It was definitely a fun learning experience for us as well, the MTC team is looking forward to more workshops like this in the future!

How do you see Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Singapore? As Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat puts it: “Corporate giving these days is not just a business practice, but an integral part of how companies engage stakeholders and inspire their employees.” Other than consumers increasingly putting a higher importance on sustainability in their decision-making process, you will probably also agree that the upcoming generation is looking for a higher, more fulfilling purpose at work as well. Likely to be unknown to many, the first formal group advocating CSR was launched some 13 years ago, back in 2005. It was known as the Singapore Compact for CSR. 10 years on, the group became a formal network for the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), and rebranded itself as the Global Compact Network Singapore. It’s tough for us to disagree with Jim Owens, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caterpillar Inc, when he says that “in the next decade, the most successful companies will be those that integrate sustainability into their core businesses”. Relating this to our local context, how do you think we would fare in giving across the globe? Globally, Singapore ranks 30th in the World Giving Index 2017. This poll covers a total of 139 countries, and is a representation of around 95 per cent of the world's population. Looking at the rankings from a regional perspective, Singapore is still behind other Asian countries such as Hong Kong (ranked 25th) and Myanmar (ranked 1st). Given her ambition to be a leading sustainable hub, you can probably see how Singapore still has much room to stretch and grow in the art of giving. Corporate-wise, there have been much growth in this field as companies rethink about the way they give. From employee-driven activities to skill-based volunteering, here are 3 excellent examples of CSR done in Singapore. These companies are noted with reference to Champions of Good 2017 from National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). 1. Carousell Crafting their CSR strategy as part of their main business, Carousell promotes the spirit of inclusiveness by making the marketplace accessible for the elderly. Other than introducing the world of online shopping to our seniors, the team also shares tips on how to be safe online. Carousell will also continue to develop comprehensive follow-up lessons for seniors after they have mastered the basic functions of the mobile app. This definitely struck a chord with us, as our Digital Arts For All (DAFA) programme was also created to promote inclusivity, online safety and discernment against online falsehoods. As digitalisation will only get more and more prominent in the coming days, we love how Carousell weaved in their CSR strategy into their main avenue of business. A successful integration will not only introduce the elderly to their convenient marketplace to buy and sell online seamlessly, they can also be more discerning so as not to fall prey to scams. 2. ComfortDelgro Corporation The very nature and size of their business allows ComfortDelgro to be on the ground and actively involved in communities. Tapping on their profession, the company introduced wheelchair-friendly buses and provides free emergency taxi services for Northlight School Students via Kindness on Wheels. Along these lines, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear how they have Meals-on-Wheels, a service delivering meals to social service organisations. Under ComfortDelGro group, there is a social enterprise member, Gobbler5. Gobbler5 partners with SBS transit and others to run the Towkay programme. True to its name, “Towkays” receive training in financial management and mentorship support to kickstart their own business, and are given merchandise to sell at the end of the programme. The Towkay programme made a lasting impression on us, not only for its witty name but also for its resemblance to our design courses for persons with disabilities at Make The Change Pte Ltd. After mentoring them in design, digital marketing and website e-commerce courses, we strive to connect them with real world projects and career opportunities after they graduate. Truly, when we can provide the ways for someone to arise from the position of a receiver and take up the place of a giver, we lift them up in dignity for good. 3. Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee An excellent CSR strategy often comes from a group of key individuals who are committed to embed giving as a mandate. At Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee, their global citizenship policy encourages employees to contribute at least 25 hours of corporate-giving activities each year. Other than giving pro-bono legal advice to communities with financial needs, the team also pass on their knowledge to the people who need it the most. Other than that, they work closely with partners such as Ashoka to identify more areas where they can help social service organisations to grow. We believe this is one of the best examples of skilled volunteerism, where industry professionals can give back by sharing their knowledge with people who need it. A more precise matching of volunteers and social service organisations will definitely produce better impact. This is also why our team always strive to understand our volunteers first before linking them up with the projects most suitable for them. In conclusion, you can probably say that CSR is here to stay in Singapore. The culture of giving back is likely to grow even more in the coming years. Recently, every listed company are to report their environmental, social and governance practices from the financial year ending Dec 31, 2017 onwards. All these goodwill will not go unnoticed. According to Singapore Exchange, SGX’s own survey of institutional investors in 2015 found that more than 90 per cent of respondents consider environmental, social and governance factors when investing. Having being proven as a key factor in other countries like Hong Kong, investors are also increasingly keen to use social responsibility as a yardstick for future investments. Having said that, CSR advocates will also have to take up the responsibility to account for funding, impact and periodical progression, so as to maintain trust and optimised transparency in these corporate relationships. At Make The Change Pte Ltd, we tap on our network and experience to set things up the way they should go, and we exit when CSR managers can run it themselves. If you are looking to create real change, do drop us a mail at info@makethechange.sg, we would love to meet you.

Make The Change Design For Good Talk 2018: The Wonder Series Have you ever wondered why some people are so willing to use their entire lives to do good? What made a music teacher leave her career of 30 years to dedicate her life to charity work? How did a young talent unintentionally stumble into friendships with children from the slums of Kolkata? An annual affair, MTC’s Design For Good Talk is an initiative aimed at engaging and provoking communities to use works of creativity and design to positively influence the world. Moving well into its fourth edition in 2018, MTC’s Design For Good Talk had a wonder-full session on March 17th. Plugging into the world of social changemakers, the possibilities are endless and potential immense for real-life heroes and heroines to touch lives in their own ways, with their own hands. The talk was kickstarted by a real sharing from Suraj, our first "Wonder" speaker. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Air Amber, he seeks to positively impact and co-develop communities. His passion and dauntless spirit has led to numerous large, medium and small scale efforts to improve and dignify the lives of those in marginalised circumstances. In his engaging sharing, he touched on his personal journey thus far. Humble and uplifting, he encouraged the audience to notice the gold in every person. The individuals whom he met each had a skill or talent to offer the community. For instance, an elderly auntie at an eldercare was a seasoned coffee lover, and her knowledge and expertise in brewing coffee have impressed many. By matching the right talent to solve the right problems, social changed is created for the community, by the community. The session was continued by Aileen Ong, the founder of Solutions To End Poverty (STEP). After a golfing accident, she had a revelation on how she really wanted her life to be. She never looked back since then, and sought to understand what do people really need. An ardent believer of empathetic innovation, she always seek first to understand her communities before empowering them. Her vault of experiences accumulated from years of ground work in the Philippines and Cambodia has led her to craft out a holistic approach that radically overcomes poverty faced by slum dwellers. Her current multi-dimensional work is Smile Village- a home, campus and workplace in Cambodia. Investing her efforts in debt-financing and child-care, she aspires to lift people up for life. Michelle Lim, Founder of Make The Change Pte Ltd, drew the conversation to a close by thanking both the audience and guest speakers. Ultimately, design is about solving problems. Great design often comes from empathy, and this is what we need to create, resonate and connect to what really matters.

By: Tay Tian Wen The gleaming facades of Phnom Penh’s towering skyscrapers are a proud testament to Cambodia’s economic boom, but not everyone is embracing the future with rosy optimism. Beyond the glitz of the capital city’s swanky new condominiums and office buildings, more than 140 000 people endure destitute conditions in nearly 500 decrepit slums. Unsanitary and severely lacking even in basic amenities, these slums are perfect breeding grounds for diseases. As Phnom Penh continues to grow, slum after slum will be demolished, their inhabitants forcefully evicted under duress — any respite offered by the slums for the urban poor is all but temporary. The promise of a better life has been snatched away from the people of the slums by corporate avarice and public corruption, and as land values continue to soar, hope seems like an increasingly scarce commodity. Until one steps into SMILE Village. A residential community project founded by the French charity Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) in collaboration with BillionBricks, Solutions to End Poverty (STEP) and URBnarc in 2012, SMILE Village offers little to impress at first glance. The buildings are sturdier than the makeshift shelters of the slums, but aesthetically modest; homes are spartan, almost reminiscent of the worker dormitories in Singapore. Yet, it is here that the urban poor find many a reason to smile. It is here that families who were previously living in temporary slums find a sense of permanence and belonging. While the homes and communal buildings were the brainchild of PSE, STEP, Billionbricks and URBnarc, the families themselves also played a role in the construction of the new home. The construction skills they learned in the process may land them jobs in Cambodia’s burgeoning construction industry, and the homes they built are here to stay. At SMILE Village, families no longer live in fear of the sound of bulldozers and the crack of batons. It is here that families who struggle to make a living in the slums are given an opportunity to earn for their own keep. Workshops in SMILE Village provide a space for Krafters to hone their handicraft skills, and every braid they create weaves them a sustainable future. Sustainable livelihoods give these krafters and their families newfound confidence, and take them a step closer to eventually owning their own home. It is also here that families who previously lived in the slums find a voice to reach out to a wide audience, and know that they do not stand alone in their fight for a better future. At SMILE Village, these families are connected to a vast network of organisations and individuals committed to doing social good. From rural finance initiatives such as Cambodia Mutuel Savings and Credit (CMK), social enterprises such as Design for Good and 9Women to students on overseas service learning programs from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore, SMILE Village gives these families a voice to reach out to a global audience, and many shoulders to lean on. In rebuilding confidence, providing opportunities for employment and ensuring a self-sustainable future for its’ residents, SMILE Village is bringing smiles back to Cambodia by returning the promise of a better future to those who were forced out of their homes. Slum after slum may be demolished in the name of progress, but SMILE Village, and the wider community of people dedicated to doing social good, will make sure hope never runs dry. About the Author Tian Wen aspires to connect communities one story at a time. He believes words are more than proverbial bridges to everyone's little island, and is always on the lookout for the best tales told around the world. While not racking his brains on his next writing assignment, Tian Wen muses about everyday affairs and pens his reflections at awayintent.me. About Design For Good Design For Good is the marketplace celebrating collaborations among artists, designers and communities-in-need. An e-commerce platform set up to help transform existing skills into sustainable businesses, we started with the heart to be a business solution for social service organisations. Be part of our story at: https://www.designforgood.sg

By: Tay Tian Wen Long gone are the days where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was seen as a passing fad - with today’s socially conscious employees and consumers, companies are increasingly realising the importance of corporate sustainability and giving back to society. CSR activities not only provide opportunities for companies to give back to society, but also serve as a platform for companies to create creative solutions to everyday business issues. Yet, while companies acknowledge the value of CSR, many struggle at forging mutually beneficial partnerships: small-scale projects offer little tangible benefit to either the company or society, while corporate donations often leave the donating company out of the benefits equation. Even worse, CSR activities designed primarily to enhance a company’s reputation are not only dismissed as advertising gimmicks, but also potentially risky for the company’s public image. Forging a mutually beneficial CSR partnership is a challenging task, but with the right partners and efforts in place to ensure sustainability, both companies and beneficiaries can accrue significant gains from CSR activities. Here are 4 ways how CSR activities can be mutually beneficial! 1. CSR activities generate better operations sustainability of the donor company and the receiving beneficiary organisation Many studies have shown that effective CSR activities promote stronger employee engagement and performance in companies, motivating greater employee loyalty and productivity. On the other hand, beneficiary organisations on the receiving end gain a boost to their financial health, enabling them to sustain current operations and expand their scope of giving. Donor companies fret less over high employee turnovers or lacklustre employee performance, while beneficiary organisations can focus their efforts beyond securing more funding. 2. CSR activities provide a platform for both beneficiaries and donor companies to devise innovative solutions which are otherwise sidelined in normal everyday operations As initiatives which are designed to benefit both the company and society, CSR activities call for strategies which take the interests of both the donor company and beneficiary organisation into account. Effective CSR activities should maximise financial returns for the donor company while fulfilling the social mission of the beneficiary organisation, and conventional business or nonprofit solutions fall short of meeting these two objectives simultaneously. From business models such as “Buy One Give One”, “Goodwill Banking” to customer or operations-driven CSR strategies which shift the equation to a more equal balance between social impact and profit maximisation, Effective CSR activities not only connect the social sector with the private sector, but also motivate intra-sector change which would have been otherwise impossible with conventional routine. 3. Well-executed CSR activities encourage greater investment in both the donor company and beneficiary organisation Successful CSR activities are powerful signals to investors. Done on a consistent basis, they demonstrate commitment and long-term vision; as innovative solutions which adequately accommodate the interests of both the donor company and beneficiary organisation, they indicate creativity and inclusiveness. For beneficiary organisations, successful CSR activities also provide a boost to financial health and even the prospect of expanding the scale of their operations. All these indicate healthy prospects for growth and strong sustainability — ideal conditions for investors looking to make sound investments. 4. Well-executed CSR activities which are conducted consistently have a positive effect on the public’s perception of both the donor company and the beneficiary Just as successful CSR activities are powerful signals to investors, they are also particularly effective in positively shaping public opinion of donor companies and beneficiary organisations. Long-term commitment to a mutually beneficial CSR activity resonates with consumers’ demand for authenticity and social consciousness, and consumers will be better persuaded to stick to a particular brand they feel meets these demands. Beneficiary organisations in effective CSR partnerships also demonstrate that funds given to them are used for productive and ethical purposes. Plus, doing so proves that beneficiary organisations are consultative rather than unilaterally imposing their interests on the community — potential donors are more likely to support, rather than be intimidated by, beneficiary organisations which pay attention to the needs and wants of others in the larger community. About the Author Tian Wen aspires to connect communities one story at a time. He believes words are more than proverbial bridges to everyone's little island, and is always on the lookout for the best tales told around the world. While not racking his brains on his next writing assignment, Tian Wen muses about everyday affairs and pens his reflections at awayintent.me. About Make The Change Pte Ltd (MTC) Make The Change believes in doing good, well. For more information regarding our partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility projects, do visit https://www.makethechange.sg/projects or drop us a mail at info@makethechange.sg

What better time to introduce our newest huat project, DAFA, then the festive month of February? DAFA (Digital Arts For All) is MTC’s exciting venture to bring inclusivity to life. Seeing the value in both digital literacy and digital art, our DAFA team decided to take things up a notch and tapped on these two touchpoints to stitch the community together with the Media Literacy Council. With Singapore’s rocketing smartphone penetration rate and the public sector’s increasing focus on combating online falsehoods (cue The Green Paper discussion shared in January ’18), digital literacy has never been more essential. How else can we reduce the barriers for a safer environment online? On the other hand, the rapid development of digital art has enabled everyone with the tools to be creative. We no longer need to wave out degrees in the Fine Arts nor have Picasso’s works memorised at the back of your mind to be included in the conversation. Holding our hands in-between these two touch-points, DAFA calls for isolating walls to break down as participants create digital art with the DAFA DNA of being smart, safe and kind as a way of life. With a few more workshops coming our way, DAFA has positioned itself to provide value-added sessions pertaining to the interests, lifestyles and surfing habits of its community. Nearing the Chinese New Year, it is also a timely reminder for us to spend quality time together while keeping our loved ones safe. Prosperity comes in ways more than one. Here are 8 ways to DAFA this Chinese New Year: 1. Guard your heart Digital and Media Literacy is the discernment of how and why we create and receive content online. As we create content online to share on Social Media platforms and Micro blogging sites, be it an illustration or text created from scratch, it is always optimal to include a watermark so as to preserve the copyright. Other than that, we can be safer online when we protect our connections. Hiding your friend list on Facebook helps to reduce the likelihood of others leveraging on your existing relations for potential scams. As we tend to trust our known connections a lot more, many of us are much more susceptible to such invitations to give personal information. 2. Filter your emails with discerning eyes Other than these external platforms, our own personal email accounts have to be observed with discernment as well. It is not uncommon for spam emails to flood our inboxes, with some having compelling messages such as the winning of a lucky draw. 3. Double check the credibility of mass-sent/forwarded texts Often underestimated, personal messaging apps are a common avenue likely to cause widespread panic. Again, the messages forwarded from our loved ones naturally gain higher credibility, so when they forward news of “cosmic rays hitting the earth” or a “SGD 400 NTUC Fairprice voucher”, many are quick to believe. Not only should we remind ourselves to fact check these texts with other credible news sources, we should also take the time to remind those around us as well. 4. Look at the source before giving details Furthermore, DAFA’s master trainer for digital literacy, Carol Loi, also underlines how It is important for us to take note of the url and site domains before we key in our personal details as well. This is because there are look-alike sites with urls similar to the large, trusted organisations, posing to urge their audience into giving them personal details such as account passwords. 5. Explore what the digital sphere has to offer Digital art is defined as art created or modified using a computer of other digital mediums. The rapid development and proliferation of computers and softwares have brought about the rise in artists venturing into this space. DAFA workshops use the Procreate app, a detailed-oriented application that boasts of a diverse range of tools, brushes and options to create specific curves, shapes and colours. 6. Remember how the process is just as important as the end-product Besides, the Procreate app also has a time-lapse recording function that films down the process taken to generate the artwork. Popular with numerous artists, time-lapse videos are great to illustrate the perspective behind the scenes. DAFA’s master trainer, Carlos Diaz, uses this function to exemplify his own sketching process as well. 7. Anticipate a rapid flow of ideas DAFA’s workshops also encourage an open-space for ideation to happen. Participants can take a photo of themselves and sketch out the outline, or trace out some ideas from their research online. By adding a few more details, there is so much potential for creativity to manifest. It is also easier for people to create art digitally, enabling it to reach a wider audience than its traditional counterpart. 8. Share the joy across multiple platforms In the world of social-sharing today, there are also fitting options to share the artworks after the workshop. Highly accessible, digital art is a great sphere for facilitators and participants to share their thought process and experience in trying the tool for the first time. Who knows? This might be the beginning of many great conversations to come.

Naturally, the ever-changing society is constantly seeking and asking if it is keeping up with the way individuals communicate with one another. Be it instant sharing or a consistent subscription of newsletters, the nature of communication has been rapidly altered by technology. For the designer in the social service sector, it is crucial to face these changes with a receptive heart, discerning eyes and a pair of nimble feet. The subtle art of communication lies in its facilitation and design- how can we craft out an user experience as fitting as our second skin? Slowly and surely, the role of design has been steering the center role of decision-making and business processes. Albeit being an uncommon career path, design provides an alternative route for PwDs to seek employment. Adding to the list of existing viable professions, openings for designers should be advocated with a loudspeaker. Transforming receivers into givers, the full potential of this untapped pool of talent has yet to be realised. A rising trend in the recent years, more training courses have been focusing on visual communication, digital marketing and even web design for PwDs. Furthermore, there are numerous assistive tools like a special roller mouse and modified keyboard to help passionate designers to overcome disability and focus on ability. Above it all, the most important change that design can bring is a mindset change. As Robert M. Hensel, the Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, advocates: "As a disabled man, let my life be a reflection of the endless amount of ability that exists in each and everyone of us.” Design can open doors and make a way for PwDs to have a sustainable, dignified livelihood. Mimi Ng, a deaf entrepreneur, recounted how her interest in learning has sparked her to sign up for a course in digital marketing. At the end of the course, her positive mindset enabled her gain a better understanding in social media marketing and content creation. With new skills, she was able to further improve on her online business. Starting from home ground, social service organisations can disrupt the local marketplace by supportively engaging PwDs for creative projects. The Senior Manager of Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore (MDAS),Judy Wee, also advocates for more opportunities to link training courses up with employment opportunities thereafter. In order to put learnt skills into good use, these opportunities should follow up as platforms for PwDs to continue honing their craft. Other than freelancing, the corporate workplace is a great platform to engage these inspiring designers as well. Having said that, employers do need to take in a few considerations before making the commitment to engage PwDs. In Singapore, Gobblershop is one of the supporting organisations that engage communities-in-need for their creative projects. Their belief in helping individuals identify and harness abilities to gain self-confidence and meaning in life motivated them to welcome PwDs on board. Before the collaboration, their main concern was over the adjustments and crafting of work processes that would cater better to their new designers. Other than that, they also made sure their whole team was on the same page, with the right mindset and skills to create an inclusive environment for varying needs. Sometimes, a small tweak in the arrangement of office furniture or clearer instructions can drastically help to strengthen and productivity. Adding on to the conversation, we should also be careful so as not to put the cart before the horse. As mindsets change to embrace more PwDs in the design industry, constant attention will need to be given to design and provide quality training courses and exposure for better portfolios. We are definitely charting good progress thus far. For example, 9 out of 16 PwDs found new job employment opportunities after completing a digital marketing course in 2017. Another 2 of them enjoyed a salary increment at work, while 3 others started their own businesses. The remaining 2 students also had companies expressing interest to engage them after attending their final presentation. Facilitating design courses for PwDs are an unique experience as well. Wendy Chan, a lecturer teaching essential communication to PwDs, recalled how teaching a class with a diverse background calls for specific changes to her usual curriculum as well. Some classes have students with different special needs, and sometimes she has to be mindful to explain the content first and before writing or typing it out on the screen again. On anticipating future challenges, Wendy responded that both the employer and employee have to work together for the collaboration to succeed in the long term. While more can be done to strengthen genuine acceptance and celebrate inclusivity in the workplace, the latter also has to possess the confidence and courage to prepare themselves whatever that comes along. Moving forward to design, for good. There is still so much gold that the social service sector can draw out in the world today. For organisations to thrive in the disruptive setting today, effective communication is a poignant key. From crafting purposeful messages to conducting meaningful programmes, design is an essential plug-in to the social service circuit. It is pretty safe to say that there is much space and hope for it to develop further as a way of life, especially for persons with disabilities. For enquiries on where and how to collaborate with our ability-focused designers, we would love to meet up for a chat at https://www.makethechange.sg/contact. We are also honoured to share some of our thoughts on Social Space, the flagship publication of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation, at the Singapore Management University (SMU). The full piece can be viewed on https://socialspacemag.org/designing-for-a-better-tomorrow/. Useful Links and References Amy Eisenstein. Seth Godin on Successful Fundraising - Ask the Fundraising Expert. May 13, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsnap5Oh8S8 Godin, Seth. "The problem with non." September 15, 2009. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/09/the-problem-with-non.html Testimonial Digital Marketing For PwDs. September 11, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfK5ypf6Fo Inclusive hiring isn’t just about a barrier-free workplace. March 9, 2017. "MTC Integrated Programme for Persons With Disabilities." September 19, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=99&v=nF7JBMeW0a4 Make The Change Pte Ltd. "The MTC Spotlight: GobblerShop." July 13, 2017. SG ENable. "RECRUITMENT & HIRING OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES." SG Enable Online Series for Employers, 2016, 1-45. https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/sgenableprod/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/29062757/SG-Enable-HRM-Guide-Recruitment-and-Hiring.pdf Testimonial- Mimi Ng. September 11, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/MakethechangeSG/videos/vb.330697383702199/1222713521167243/?type=2&theater