Nearing the end of a year provides for a good opportunity to reflect on a period that is about to end. Almost two years have passed since I joined the board of APC and it has been a truly rewarding experience to be part of this Group at a broader and deeper level. When Laurence first mentioned that venn2018 was to be held in Manila, with the request that we co-host, I had no firm concept of what a programme would look like, as Hazel and I have attended the conference once only, in Jakarta. I did of course welcome…
Launch of The Givers Network in Bangkok
On 15 September 2018, The Givers Network was launched in Bangkok at Centara Grand. Co-founded by APC member Thippaporn under her DT Families Foundation, with APC, Khon Thai Foundation and Thai Young Philanthropist Network, the event and network aims to encourage everyone from all walks of life to give, in their own ways, as they can. The morning session was truly inspirational – the featured speakers included APC’s very own Stanley Tan, who recounted his own childhood experience when he made the decision to give up taking the bus from school in order to save enough money to donate to…
APC promotes Social Entrepreneurship with Ashoka
By Valentina Ko APC members gathered together at *SCAPE on 18 August for the second meeting of the social entrepreneurship member interest group (MIG). The meeting was held at *SCAPE, a non-profit organisation with its mission and vision rooted in support of youth, talent and leadership development. Members first met at Pope Jai Thai, a food and beverage social enterprise that works with different beneficiary groups. Owner of Pope Jai Thai, Daniel Teh introduced himself to members and gave an overview of his journey from a previously incarcerated individual to owning his own restaurant now and working with vulnerable communities…
Does Collective Impact really work? Results from 25 case studies
By Valentina Ko & Stacey Choe The idea of collective impact is quite central to APC and our work but what is at stake is figuring out how to make it work effectively. Given that and with our members in mind, we referred to a recent study conducted by Spark Policy Institute and ORS Impact on 25 such cases, outlining what are the key lessons in making collective impact work; what kind of projects they are good for, what are the critical ingredients; what can be applicable for us. Collective Impact Study: It has been about seven years since John…
Learning Through APC: Four things I learnt making a mid-career switch into the development sector
By Atikah Amalina At the end of January this year, I took a leap of faith and left the teaching service after four years. I was ready to explore other options, primarily my longstanding interest in the development sector. Throughout my time in teaching, I’d remained involved in various work in the non-profit sector on the side, including running programmes with orphanages in Batam, coordinating bake sales to channel funds to charity causes and organising an awareness-raising trip to a refugee camp in Aceh. Soon after leaving, I had the opportunity to work and learn with Asia Philanthropy Circle, a…
APC Funders Roundtable in KL: Culture and Faith: Why we need more Inclusivity
By Wei Kong In response to APC member concerns on the rise of cultural and religious intolerance in the region, in collaboration with APC, YTL Foundation hosted the 14th Funders roundtable in Kuala Lumper on the topic of Culture and Faith: why we need more inclusivity. The roundtable explored how private funders can play a role in promoting tolerance and understanding between different religious and ethnic groups. To set the stage for a well-informed discussion an expert panel outlined the current situation in Malaysia and the region, addressed misconceptions, and explored approaches to tackle them. The panel consisted of: Rita…
Sharing on Philanthropy amongst like-minded peers in the heart of the Philippines
By Stacey Choe It was our first time holding venn in Manila but it appears to be the best yet – there were lots of learning, some laughter, unexpected tears, tons of sharing, and an endless source of inspiration from the whole group that gathered. We listened to members’ feedback from previous years and added more opportunities for interaction within the group, and to be able to hear more about what each other are doing. What set the tone for this was the simple game of getting members to find their “mission targets” with cryptic clues. This was part of…
Why a Green Paper on Effective Public-Philanthropic Collaboration in ASEAN?
As social problems becoming increasingly complex, APC believes that more can be done if governments and philanthropists work in concert. There is value in coming together to align goals and harness each other’s unique strengths. This would leverage the collective intelligence and capacity for better social outcomes. The Green Paper on Effective Public-Philanthropic Collaboration in ASEAN is a first attempt to draw attention to the benefits of governments and philanthropists working together for social good. It examines the current public-philanthropic landscape in ASEAN and suggests practical ways that governments and philanthropists can work together in the near to long term….
25 Impactful ASEAN Philanthropists: What can we learn from them?
On our journey to build a better Asia, we at Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) have been inspired by numerous philanthropists who are willing to take innovative approaches to create systemic social change and to effectively improve the lives of their communities. APC has compiled, for the first time, the narratives of 25 such impactful philanthropists from across the region to form ASEAN Impact 25: a catalogue that outlines the overall impact of their efforts, the motivations that drive their philanthropic work and the milestones they have set for their philanthropy in the coming years. Our hope is that these stories…
Convening around Education and Nutrition issues with APC Philippines members
The APC team kicked off our Filipino roundtable on 1st February 2018 presenting to our members and guests from Jollibee Foundation and Alcantara Foundation on the workshops that were held just the day before with Ayala Foundation on education mapping for the Philippines. Borrowing from the model used in Indonesia for the Education Giving Guide, which was launched in December 2017, the research has been convening education sector experts in the country to discuss the top pressing issues in the sector. The final report is set to be released by May, and the next step is to look towards mobilising…