SUPERSEED

Latest News

It has been way too long since I've updated the SUPERSEED site, so let me apologise first to anyone who has come here recently and wondered what's going on.  Now, I'd like to share two updates - i'll post them as separate links - one good, one bad. The good news - we've just distributed over 2500 brand new pre-school storybooks.  Expect lots of smiles from that one.  The bad news - we can no longer store items at the warehouse in Sembawang that we've been using.  OK, details in the few entries below.

"The Case of the Missing Animals"

The author of the pre-school storybook, "The Case of the Missing Animals", has generously donated 2,520 copies of her book.  Here's how they're being distributed:

1. CARE CHANNELS INT'L
2.  SINDA
3.  Beyond Social Services
4.  Child at Street 11

The donation is bound to bring smiles to the faces of thousands of children as well as contribute to their education!

New Storage Space Urgently Needed

The US Navy can no longer offer SUPERSEED storage space.  We have a number of items stored there and need to either identify qualified recipients or move them to another location quickly.

Some items that are not in good working condition have already been delivered / are slated to be delivered to a place called "88 Kiosk @ KMSPKS" which recycles computer parts.  If a new location is not identified quickly, the US Navy will likely deliver all of our items there.

US Navy officials here in Singapore had also applied for SUPERSEED to be officially recognised as a "Project Handclasp" partner.  Unfortunately their request has been neither approved or rejected - which basically means it is not moving forward.  Without this recognition, the US Navy can no longer provide transport on its ships for SUPERSEED donations.  In practice, they have not done this since 2007.  (They have twice shipped items from here to The Philippines - in 2006 and again in 2007).  The Chaplain's assistant has said that they will continue to try to obtain this status for SUPERSEED, but in the meantime there isn't much he can do.  Apparently the hold-up is because SUPERSEED is not a US-registered organisation. 

The US Navy has been a fantastic partner - not only storing and transporting items, but also providing volunteers to refurbish computers, take inventory, collect and deliver domestic donations and more.  It's a shame that red tape is now getting in the way.

Items Available for Donation

a.  Computer microphones (nearly 600) - unused, still in packaging
b.  Computer speakers (about 150) - unused, still in packaging
c.  Computer Joysticks (160) - unused, still in packaging
d.  Computer keyboards (about 100)
e.  Computer mice - 17
f.   Computer ribbon cables - 160
g.  Computer installation CDs - 91
h.  Computer hard drives - 21
i.  Computer monitors - 16 in Sembawang + 3 at another location
j.  CPUs - 12

SUPERSEED in the News

Our largest international project to date - 54 computers, 56 monitors, new computer speakers and microphones, keyboards, cables, mice - for a project to end the Digital Divide in The Philippines. Thanks to the US Navy for its support. Here's an article about the project on the Channel News Asia website.

Our largest project to date - the delivery of some 170 refurbished computers to students from low-income families - attracted a good bit of press coverage. Go to our "TV Coverage" link to watch news reports in Chinese, English and Malay. And here are some articles that appeared in the media:

The Straits Times

Channel News Asia

CSR Asia Weekly

MEANWHILE, Here's a feature story about ONE (SINGAPORE) and SUPERSEED from the January 2006 edition of XL magazine. Download a .pdf version of the article here. ONE (SINGAPORE) is committed to raising public awareness and taking concrete actions to make poverty history. ONE (SINGAPORE) supports SUPERSEED's initiatives. [Full disclosure: Michael Switow is both Founder of SUPERSEED and President of ONE (SINGAPORE).]

RADIO COVERAGE
Radio 93.8's Michelle Martin and Keith DeSouza interview Michael Switow and Manbeer Thomas on "The Breakfast Club" about ONE (SINGAPORE). This 15-minute segment aired on 18 January 2006.

Report on 93.8 LIVE

"The Asian Journal" Radio Feature by Justin Teo broadcast on Radio 93.8LIVE. The 10-minute program was broadcast several times the week of Monday 24 October.

And an article in TODAY about the donation of new fire extinguishers to children's homes, centres for the disabled and homes for the elderly.

Media coverage is great for a number of reasons. Best of all - it generates donations. Our initial splash in the local press led a pharmaceutical company to donate 1200 new T-shirts and another gentleman to give away a digital camera, which we directed to Special Olympics Singapore.