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yoda
Posts:264
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| 01/20/2010 10:42 PM |
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Creating a Social Marketplace
Elim Chew, Founder and Owner, 77th Street
BEING on the board of Social Innovation Park Ltd (SIP), I champion Pop and Talent Hub (PaTH), a SIP's initiative. It is Singapore's first social enterprise talent development platform and champions social entrepreneurship via the Arts.
When Singapore's largest mall VivoCity opened in 2006, I saw the opportunity to create a version of London's Covent Garden right here on local shores. Having lived in England for some years, I always like the atmosphere of arts and expressions of creativity in Covent Garden at Camden Town. VivoCity became PATH's first venue partner to provide a commercial retail space for talents to thrive doing what they love and bring their creativity to the fullest of potential. We give first priority to less-advantaged talents, to learn to make their own income.
PaTH started out with the support and help from NVPC's New Initiative Grant and MICA's CCS Creative Fund. We also had our pioneer partner, eBay that came in and supported us in building 35 counters and expanded PaTH's capacity to help our Talents.
Today, the Market is being run by passionate volunteers and staff. We have up to 125 groups and individuals who have joined us at the PaTH Market. Among them is Sue, a homemaker, who makes beautiful greeting cards that resembles handbags, chocolate bars, wedding carriages, and many more.
VWOs like the Friends of the Disabled Society also caught on the dream of what we want to do to create a more level playing field for the traditionally marginalized, encouraged their members (mainly with cerebral palsy) to participate at PaTH and now PaTH is a regular place they look forward to go and sell their own handmade products.
Judy and her group of hearing-impaired friends have not allowed their physical limitation to hinder them from being some of the friendliest sales people at PaTH. They started at PaTH 3 years ago from doing small retail business and now also taking orders from corporations.
In 2008, we clinched a meaningful project with NETS and gave 6 of our special artists a great opportunity to showcase their works. NETS being a socially conscious organization came in as our Significant Partner and supported PaTH. Together we launched a Social Entrepreneurship Programme called "Connecting Talents, Transforming Lives" and the very first batch of 6 Special NETS CashCards featuring 6 of our special artists was created. The sales of the NETS CashCards had received an overwhelming response from the public and had attained a circulation of up to 550,000 units in Singapore. Through this experience, it was especially significant to our artists as it is no longer just about make a living out of their artwork but they were given a greater sense of pride and recognition as an artist.
Special Edition NETS Cash Card designed by PaTH Talents
I truly wish that every shopping mall in all the cities in the world will move to a greater level of social consciousness to create this kind of space for talents and supported by socially responsible companies.
As the saying goes, 'Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man a fish, you feed him for a lifetime'. We can create a thriving "marketspace" where talents can buy, sell, trade and eventually thrive and become a vibrant business ecosystem. I believe, slowly but surely, we can be an influence for change.
Come and experience the vibrancy at our PaTH Market @ VivoCity located on Level 1, along the Southeast Boulevard, Southwest Boulevard and West Court. The operating hours are from 11am to 10pm every first and last weekend of the month. For more information, visit www.popandtalenthub.com or email info@popandtalenthub.com. For more information on Social Innovation Park and its other initiatives, visit www.socialinnovationpark.org.
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