The social service sector has a supply-side challenge. We simply do not have enough professionals to meet overwhelming demand for our services. Many efforts are taking place to address this challenge, and Impart has a piece to add. In non-economics terms, we simply do not have enough professionals. But we have part of a solution.

Impart has been working with youths facing significant adversity over the past 5 years. Some of these youths come from high risk backgrounds, where gangs and substance abuse were the norm. Others come from high need backgrounds, where mental health challenges and neglect were the daily struggle. Over time, many of these youths have found their way back into stability and onward unto personal development. A question remains: Can these youths who were once the recipients of social services play a part in fixing the sector’s problems?

Impart believes that more pathways forward are possible. But it has to be paved by pioneers. These youths possess a wealth of lived experiences. Sadly, formal developmental tracks for accreditation often involve obtaining a diploma or university degree. Many of these youths simply do not have the time and means to pursue such 3-7 year options. Some of them have already gone through formal education in a different track, not thinking that they could be a part of the social service sector. And so they often pursue jobs to pay the bills – sustenance, rather than development and contribution, becomes their pathway forward.

‘Paving Pathways’ is Impart’s response to this challenge. Without diminishing the value of a professional diploma or degree, we want to pilot developing such youths through a 1 year-program. They will receive training and exposure to Impart’s model of community work, which spans theoretical and practical components to youth engagement, mental health care, and systems thinking. This experience will also set them up to pursue further education, which necessitates relevant work experience for youths who do not possess traditional academic qualifications. Through this process, you will join us in paving new pathways for youths to build on the strengths of their past experiences, and for the sector to experience growth from a new perspective.

Case Study:
Z, 24 years old, grew up in an environment with generational cycles of at-risk behaviour. He participated in this environment throughout his formative teenage years, which eventually landed him in a rehabilitative youth institution at the age of 18 where he was classified as a high-risk youth. Thankfully, his experiences in the institution catalysed his transformation. The active support of his caseworker, which continued even after he had left the institution, spurred him on to complete his studies in Retail Services at ITE with a GPA of 3.4/4. He proceeded to seek employment as a delivery attendant, before enlisting for National Service (NS). Z reflected on his past experiences during NS, and realised that he wanted to help youths break out of generational and circumstantial cycles of adversity. However, existing pathways towards such careers will require a minimum of 3 years of further studies before Z has a chance at an entry level job. This is a luxury that Z, who also helps to support his divorcee mother and younger sibling, cannot afford. He reached out to his former caseworker over the past 2 months, who is currently working at Impart, and will be a direct beneficiary of ‘Paving Pathways.’

Fund-usage:
Impart will cover the costs related to the selected youth’s training, supervision, and deployment. In response, we hope you will partner us by covering the youth’s training stipend and basic benefits. Most of them are above the age of 21 and shoulder familial responsibilities. A stipend with basic benefits will empower them to concentrate on their learning and development.
We have their engagement across 3 tracks.

‘Ad-hoc’ engagements are for youths who are not ready for full-time engagement, but demonstrate potential in learning more. They will be involved in part-time deployments to develop interest.

‘Interns’ are youths who have been deemed ready for full-time engagement, with minor reservations about their aptitude and/or attitude for maximising their potential. Youths in this role will be evaluated on a 3-6 month timeline before consideration for the next tier, ‘Trainees’.

‘Trainees’ will participate in a 12 month developmental program to acquire requisite knowledge and develop their skills, so as to supplement their lived experiences with professionalised expertise.

Trainee cost: $2,200/month
Intern cost: $800/month
Ad-hoc cost: $20/h
Target Amount: $65000

We are looking to support a total of 2 trainees, 2 interns, and up to 5 ad-hoc youths with the $65,000. 

About Impart

Contact: hello@impart.sg

About Ray of Hope

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