On social capital
I started to think a lot about why is Singapore so different in the way it is. First of all, it is so small, but so successfully managed. If I were to compare, the way Singapore is described as being small in Asia, many people in Estonia also like to describe themselves as small with 1.3 million people (compared to the other European counterparts).
One thing that I must agree is, Singapore definitely has a different perspective!
Comparing to how people are view, Singaporeans learn to stop seeing people as problems. That’s why in Singapore, we embrace diversity. I truly agree with Gerard Ee who wrote:
“the social service sector would have woven a social fabric that can be a safety net or trampoline for those on the margins. At the same time, there would be heightened awareness and understanding of our social challenges across society. Also, people will not shy away from reclaiming these challenges as their own and, as a result, will start organising themselves to act on them.”
Stop seeing people as problems. They’re assets who build social capital
Quite a long read (an opinion piece) but its well worth it:
It just doesn’t match if by learning the definition of ‘social capital’: which says that “social capital is the effective functioning of social groups through interpersonal relationships, a shared sense of identity, a shared understanding, shared norms, shared values, trust, cooperation, and reciprocity.”
What is your city’s way of “seeing people”?
Zannnie 