In a bid to reignite the the Kampung spirit (village) in Singapore, a new online donation platform has emerged, aiming to streamline the process of providing essential goods and services to those in need, with the assistance of social workers.
Image: KampungSpirit
Dubbed KampungSpirit, the platform, which launched on Jan 24, has already garnered significant traction, raising $4,515 from 86 donors within just two weeks. These funds were swiftly utilized to fulfill 17 requests, ranging from necessities like wheelchairs and washing machines to adult diapers.
Operated by Open Government Products (OGP), an arm of GovTech dedicated to developing technology for public welfare, KampungSpirit operates on a unique model that leverages the insights and connections of social workers. These frontline professionals, deeply familiar with the circumstances of the households they serve, identify and publicize specific needs within the community.
According to Jan Donyada, senior product manager at OGP, social workers play a crucial role in articulating the significance of each requested item, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding among potential donors of the impact their contributions can make on the recipients' quality of life.
Image: KampungSpirit
The platform's streamlined process ensures efficiency in matching donations with needs. Social workers simply submit requests, and KampungSpirit takes care of the rest, from publishing listings to procuring items and arranging delivery to beneficiaries. This simplicity not only expedites the provision of aid but also alleviates the burden on social workers, sparing them the need for extensive coordination efforts.
For co-founder Jan, the inspiration behind KampungSpirit stemmed from a desire to minimize logistical hurdles and consolidate support channels for communities in need. Together with a team of engineers and designers, the platform was developed in less than two weeks, marking the beginning of an ongoing endeavor to enhance its functionality and user experience.
Moving forward, KampungSpirit aims to introduce real-time updates for donors, social workers, and beneficiaries, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the donation process. Efforts are also underway to streamline payment processes and enable users to benefit from tax incentives for their contributions.
Moreover, the team intends to equip social workers with tools to enhance storytelling and effectively communicate beneficiaries' needs, with the ultimate goal of fostering a stronger sense of community solidarity.
Image: KampungSpirit
In essence, KampungSpirit embodies the collective effort to build a more compassionate society, where individuals from all walks of life come together to support one another, not only in meeting basic needs but also in improving overall well-being.
KampungSpirit was first covered by The Straits Times on Feb 13.