Low-income families can be denied access to courses and traineeships due to inability to afford them. How do we create a sustainable platform targeted towards closing such gaps?

Hope to have groceries voucher & bills subsidies for low income group..

It is not just access to courses alone but also afford all the hardware/equipment required to handle the assignments eg a laptop, data access, ability to get to the first step like how to set up zoom ( their IT literacy may be limited to daily communications of calls n text). It requires a complete package to buoy up the individual.

While I think there is some merit to the idea of enabling access to courses and internships to allow exposure and skills development, it may not be in itself sufficient to lift individuals out of poverty. There are also several government initiatives that looks at lowering cost of training, so there seems to be some duplicity there. Not sure if it may be more beneficial to think about a mentor/ apprentice kind of model for employment.

While I think there is some merit to the idea of enabling access to courses and internships to allow exposure and skills development, it may not be in itself sufficient to lift individuals out of poverty. There are also several government initiatives that looks at lowering cost of training, so there seems to be some duplicity there. Not sure if it may be more beneficial to think about a mentor/ apprentice kind of model for employment.

While I think there is some merit to the idea of enabling access to courses and internships to allow exposure and skills development, it may not be in itself sufficient to lift individuals out of poverty. There are also several government initiatives that looks at lowering cost of training, so there seems to be some duplicity there. Not sure if it may be more beneficial to think about a mentor/ apprentice kind of model for employment.

It's a great idea to help reduce the barrier to access available courses, but there needs to be greater unpacking of the underlying reasons why people from low-income families might not even choose to access these courses - lack of time, lack of understanding their benefits, and even if they did attend these courses, how can they put it to good use if the jobs and current qualifications they have are inadequate to eventually help them find a job that lifts them out of poverty? One course won't beef up a resume significantly. Is there another form of help we can extend to complement the funding, like matching them up to courses that come with actual work attachment that pays? Remember that 'learning' and 'experience' can result in a huge opportunity cost for an indiv who might need to spend the time generating income. This needs to be sustainable for the beneficiary.

I agree that your identified target beneficiaries are relevant to your issue but I disagree that they may be completely denied access to upskill courses. There are grants and also bursaries in place to facilitate some (admittedly, not all) upskill courses. Also, there are lots of free/reimbursed online courses that one can do as well. Therefore, it is important to identify that to being stuck in poverty may not be entirely due to the lack of funds for courses. Could it be the lack of a conducive space to learn, grow? Could it be the lack of technological devices to keep individuals in the know? Could it be the lack of money for daily activities that it may derail them to focus on other priorities. Rather than to tackle funding opportunities, the team can look at creating opportunities. For instance, opportunities to learn & earn. And the platform can help to match individuals to their interests, and organisations who can offer such mentorships.

I believe that there will be little incentive for normal citizens to even visit the website/app to donate money. Usually for crowdfunding webpages, only the few viral ones would get all the attention and donation needed. It might not be sustainable in the long run.

I’m a little confused as to why there is mention of “impact investing” when it seems to be a donation and you don’t get your money back? Also, someone could crowdfund for educational opportunities via platforms like give.asia, Ray of Hope, etc. What makes your platform different?

As the saying goes teach someone to fish and he’ll never go hungry - I see how this has inspired your idea. 10/10 agree with you that own way to move upwards is education and upskilling and some further points to consider can be: allow for larger investors to also provide mentorship, adopting the model of venture capitalists. I believe when investors are not just passively investing but also giving time, knowledge and expertise - ideas can be exchange between both investors and beneficiaries. Learning is one step, a further step is giving them opportunities as well - a foot into interviews, some funds/loan to start a business.

You could try answering this question: Why would I invest my money in this cause? Many of us are aware of the struggles of different vulnerable group but why hasn't it brought about any change to those groups yet. I would say its like of empathy. You guys could look into ways to provoke empathy amongst the public by finding way to relate some struggles of the public's to the low- income families'. This way it allow the public to be in the shoes of the vulnerable group and provoke them to help them as well.

Perhaps concretise what are some of the courses and traineeships, in which fields? Also assess first what are the aspirations of your target audience - low income families = nuclear families with parents and children? What are some of their needs and lifestyle patterns, for eg: parents who might be focused on working hard to provide food on the table for their children might not want/need such courses. On the other hand, if digital courses require internet devices and other accessories eg sketching pen for touch screen appliances for a digital art course for eg, how might the youths, assuming they are the target audience, get access to it? If they’re living in cramped rental flats, will they be able to blast the lectures out loud with no earphones for eg.? Just a note that financial support is not the only means to reduce the barriers to participation, perhaps also try to situate the person within their ecosystem. But a great idea no doubt!

In one new article , i think it is Food from heart and TCS had been mentioning like biscuit too hard , they throw away, I want to ask the team , what do you think it is the problem and how can we make an app to get we can see each beneficiaries won't give the same item like eg one give cai png another give cai png, how can we make an app for beneficiaries name and food receive in its digital platform and what is the problem ?