Singapore
Pools extended its support of local social enterprise with the official opening
of Personalised Love (PLove) Community Studio at the second-level of Singapore
Pools’ Jurong East Branch. This is part of Singapore Pools’ decade-long
community initiative that began in 2007 to provide non-profit organisations and
social-enterprises at their start-up phase with affordable office space at the
second-level of Singapore Pools branches. PLove is the fifth organisation that
benefited from this programme.
Set
up in 2014, PLove is founded by practicing architect and urban planner, Ms Yeo
Hwee Khim who decided to leave her professional career behind to give back to
the less fortunate in society.
PLove
specialises in artisanal leather craft and aims to empower special-needs
persons through various tailored programs and inclusive employment to realise
each individual’s full potential. Youths who graduate from special education
schools have limited choices for further training or employment and PLove
endeavours to fill the gap in the current pathway by providing customised
training and employment for youths with special needs. Through this initiative,
PLove hopes to offer career development in a dignified workplace for special
needs youths; and engage the youths to improve their life skills and social
well-being through social interaction with their colleagues, community and the
public at large.
Ms
Yeo Hwee Khim, PLove’s Founder, shared: “We are very thankful to Singapore
Pools for underwriting the 3 years rent-free renewable lease for our community
studio to use the second-level of its Jurong East Branch. Singapore Pools also
sponsored the renovation to create a conducive and uplifting environment for
our special needs artisans, volunteers and employees. Without this support, it
would have been impossible for PLove to operate in such a space given the high
cost of business operations in Singapore, rental cost being one of the major
ones.”
“Resource
Sharing is one of the pillars of Singapore Pools community engagement
initiatives that we endeavor to create shared value with our community partners
towards building an inclusive and caring society. We are very happy to provide
a space that meets the needs of PLove to advance their social objective of
building an equitable society for youths with special needs. Our support for
PLove is aligned with our belief in empowering the disadvantaged to create a
brighter future for themselves and their families,” said Mr Tay Boon Khai,
Senior Director, Compliance, Community & Communications, Singapore Pools.
Find
out more about Singapore Pools’ resource sharing initiatives here.