Let’s talk about Jom: Singapore’s new digital magazine

Let’s talk about “Jom”: Singapore’s new digital magazine

“Jom” (Malay for “let’s”) is Singapore’s new weekly digital magazine covering the arts, culture, politics, business, technology, and more in the country. With co-founders Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, Charmaine Poh, and Tsen-Waye Tay, we ask them about how they got started, their plans to cover civic issues that are somewhat controversial or contested in society, and navigating long-term journalistic integrity and financial sustainability.

Seeking Shelter: Homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore

“Seeking Shelter: Homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore”

“Seeking Shelter: Homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore” is the country’s second nationwide street count of its unhoused and homeless, conducted in 2021. With its authors Dr. Ng Kok Hoe and Jeyda Simren Sekhon Atac, we begin by reviewing the first street count and report in 2019. Thereafter, we dive deeper into their most recent report, to understand the state of homelessness during COVID-19, explore the role of social policy, and discuss volunteer engagement and ethical priorities.

The future of… Finance and leaving nobody behind

The future of… Finance and leaving nobody behind (with Givfunds’ and Masref’s Edward Yee)

With Edward Yee of Givfunds, a non-profit which lends low-cost funds at scale to South Asian social enterprises, and Masref, a Swiss fintech which seeks to increase the accessibility of safe and secure saving accounts, we chat about his three big ideas on finance and leaving nobody behind. First, the removal of persistent biases; second, the reduction of servicing costs; and third, the incentives for impact in the financial sector.