October 2010 

If you’re in Singapore and you are a young changemaker* then consider this your call to action!

*Yes, you are or can be. Don’t doubt so much lah!

This guide is focused on youth, but applicable to individuals of any age. It is also directed at individuals concerned with creating actual social impact—not for doing “feel good” work.

So…what have you done recently to create change in the world? Googled an issue you care about? Sent an email to a key contact? Sketched out a proposal? Created a new enterprise?

Anything?

Those of us in the field know it’s hard. We’re on the same path as you and we’ve experienced the same problems. We’re all busy. We’re all distracted. We’re all unsure of ourselves at times. But why let any of that stand in our way? Let’s take action. It can be big or small. Just do something.

Here’s a list of suggestions to get you on your way.

Learn More

• View and contribute to Singapore’s Wikipedia for people who care: http://www.concern.sg | http://www.concern.sg/Facebook (lists all of Singapore’s social sector Facebook groups/pages)
• Download and read the Singaporean-focused Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs: http://www.socialinnovationpark.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=175&Itemid=108
• Download and read the Singapore Social Enterprise Starter Kit: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44160/Singapore_Social_Enterprise_Starter_Kit.zip [Updates: http://www.jamesnorris.org]

Get Support

• Secure funding: http://www.sedc-seassociation.sg/cos/o.x?c=/sea/pagetree&func=view&rid=5633
  • Apply for support (including financial) for your project ideas from Young ChangeMakers: http://ycm.nyc.sg/content/view/23/28/
  • Sign up for Road Scholar to receive support (including financial) for your project ideas: http://www.thepatatas.com/about-us/projects/#Roadscholar
• Form social innovation mastermind groups to stay accountable to your project and life goals: http://curiousinsights.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mastermind-group-overview.pdf
• Contact me for brief 1-on-1 mentoring of your ideas: http://www.jamesnorris.org/contact

Stay Informed

• Join SocialEnterpriseSG to stay abreast with everything social entrepreneurship in Singapore: http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/SocialEnterpriseSG
• Subscribe to Lien Centre for Social Innovation’s email list: http://www.lcsi.smu.edu.sg/contact.asp
• Become a member of Social Enterprise Association: http://www.seassociation.sg/membership.html
• Subscribe to Centre for Social Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy’s email list: http://bschool.nus.edu.sg/ResearchPublications/ResearchCenters/CentreforSocialEntrepreneurshipPhilanthropy/ContactUs.aspx
• Subscribe to Social Entrepreneurship Forum email list to see snapshots of Singapore’s most interesting social entrepreneurs: http://www.seforum.sg
• Subscribe to Syinc’s email list to hear about youth-focused social innovation initiatives: http://www.syinc.org
• Subscribe to SGEntrepreneurs and start reading about social entrepreneurship-related initiatives: http://sgentrepreneurs.com/category/social-entrepreneurship-sustainable-development

Get Engaged In Social Entrepreneurship Competitions

• Participate in Rotary Youth Social Entrepreneurship Challenge (RYSEC): http://rysec.sg/
• Participate in Young Social Entrepreneurs: http://www.sif.org.sg/programmes/8/young-social-entrepreneurs.html
• Participate in Neue Methode: http://neuemethode.com
• Join Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and compete in Regional and National Competitions and World Cup: http://www.sife.org/aboutsife/countrylocations/Pages/Singapore.aspx
• Join Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) and compete in their National Competition: http://www.sagesg.org

Do Something Else

• Up to you! If nothing else, just start volunteering: http://www.sgcares.org

Advice

• Just start with something—what it is doesn’t matter all that much
• After you jump in, then the what, how, why, where, when, and who really starts to matter—strategic, disciplined action becomes more and more important the further you get in
• You will fail (a lot) and that’s okay
• Primarily aim for a series of small wins (although throw in a huge, audacious goal every once in a while, too)
• Be very careful with whom you share your ideas with—some people are poison
• Please do a competitive analysis before you establish anything new—chances are someone has already done it or is in the process so don’t duplicate their work (unless of course you have a clear differentiator that makes your initiative significantly better than theirs)
• Also if you are creating events, try to avoid crowding the same dates as existing events (you can coordinate through http://www.concern.sg/events)
• Have fun!