SUPERSEED

Annual Reports

We take a moment to thank our partners, review our projects and publish the financial accounts.  Please take a look!

 
Download SUPERSEED's
2009 Annual Report

Download SUPERSEED's
2008 Annual Report

Download SUPERSEED'S
2007 Annual Report

Download SUPERSEEDS's
FY06 Financial Accounts


Check out this link for SUPERSEED's 2005 Year in Review report. You'll also find pix and entries about our 2006 work here on the blog.

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.

Request an in-kind donation

Charities and non-profit organisations can request in-kind donations from SUPERSEED by sending us an email with the following information:

(a) background on your organisation

(b) how the requested donation will be used

(c) the beneficiaries - who are they? how many?

(d) if the requested items are part of a broader project, are all of the other elements in place? if not, what plans are being made to implement? (For example, if the computers will be used in a training program . . . who will conduct the training? are trainers available? do you need internet connectivity and if so have you already made arrangements? etc.)

(e) items requested

Notes:

1. At the moment, the only items in stock are computers and computer peripheries (printers, etc.).  However, feel free to request other items.  We've had several cases of serendipity where a donor turns up soon after the request is made.

2.  SUPERSEED does not pay for transport overseas. In some instances, we can arrange free transport with our partners. Otherwise the recipient organisation will need to seek sponsorship or pay for this.

3. If you are a Singapore student from a low-income family and do not already own a computer, please ask your teacher or school principal to contact us.

IN FOCUS

IN FOCUS is a project to help people see better.  Imagine not being able to read the blackboard at school or having trouble at work because you can't make out the details of an assignment.  Or even worse - not being able to properly see your grandchildren.  And all because you can't afford to buy a pair of eyeglasses. 

With IN FOCUS, we accept donations of spectacles, measure the prescriptions, make minor repairs and  partner with local organisations to match the glasses with recipients.

V G Optical has volunteered to measure the prescriptions of our first batch of glasses -- 113 pairs.  They might also top up the batch with some of their own.

Mercy Relief and Meulaboh General Hospital will distribute the glasses to recipients in Aceh, Indonesia.

Make an In-Kind Donation

SUPERSEED accepts in-kind donations from corporations, schools and government agencies.  All donations should be in good condition.  While we have accepted and distibuted items ranging from fire extinguishers to projection screens, our biggest projects to date have been with computers.  Donated computers should be at least Pentium III (P-3) or better.

To make a donation, please write us or call 6827 9665.

Make a Cash Donation

SUPERSEED is set up to facilitate in-kind donations -- matching items given to us by corporate and public sector donors with recipients and organisations from disadvantaged communities.  We function primarily through the support of volunteers and partner organisations. 

The demand for our services is quite large - if we had the resources, we could send 10,000 computers this year just to The Philippines*, not to mention requests from other countries and within Singapore.  (GILAS aims to place 10 computers in every public school in the country. This year it is targeting 1000 schools.)  However to meet the demand, we need a dedicated staff and warehouse space.

VOLUNTEER!

SUPERSEED is an all-volunteer organisation.  We need your help!  How?  Here's a partial list:

1.  I.T. volunteers to follow up with computer recipients
2.  Spread the word
        a.  Contact companies, government agencies and schools to encourage in-kind donations
       b.  Contact volunteer welfare organisations to encourage requests for items
3.  Deliveries - do you have a vehicle?  We need help picking up donations and delivering them.
4.  Packing
5.  Identifying storage space.  SUPERSEED does not currently have a warehouse. This unfortunately restricts our ability to accept all donations and makes it more difficult to operate.  We need to locate companies or agencies that will support SUPERSEED by providing storage space.
6.  Fundraising.  We have plans to hire support staff, but at the moment, there's no budget.  We need help identifying sources of funds - gov't or corporate grants, foundations, public donations, events

If you would like to make a difference, please send us an email at  [email protected] and write "SUPERSEED - Volunteer" in the subject heading.  Be sure to include the following information:

    1.  Name
    2.  Organisation (company, school, other)
    3.  Telephone number
    4.  Email address
    5.  Volunteer Interest / Skills (I.T., identifying donors, identifying recipients, packing, fundraising, etc.)

Items Available for Donation

SUPERSEED has a number of items currently in stock to donate to charities and organisations working with communities in need. These include:



1. Televisions, with built-in VCR and headphones. These TV sets were previously used in the language lab of a school.
2. Steel 4-drawer filing cabinets
3. Overhead projectors
4. Computers and computer accessories
5. Computer monitors
6. Scanners

Press Releases

16 May 2006
"FEDEX PARTNERS WITH SUPERSEED TO REDUCE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE"

16 May 2006
"SUPERSEED AND DARUL IHSAN ORPHANAGE PARTNER TO GIVE COMPUTERS TO LOW-INCOME STUDENTS"

11 October 2005
"SUPERSEED'S FIRST DONATION INCREASES SAFETY AT HOMES FOR CHILDREN, AGED AND DISABLED"

29 September 2005
"HIGH-TECH 'KARUNG GUNI'? CHANGI INMATES AID LOCAL VOLUNTEER WELFARE ORGANISATIONS"

Note: These are .pdf files.

TV Coverage

TV News Coverage - in three languages - of SUPERSEED's largest project to date - the delivery of some 170 computers to students from low-income families. (Interestingly, the only version with a soundbite of me talking is the piece that aired on the Chinese channel.)

(Technical note: These are .mpg videos. If the clips are jerky when you play them, give the video a moment to download, then click play again.)

CHINESE

ENGLISH - Channel News Asia

MALAY

SUPPORTING SINGAPORE’S DISABLED ATHLETES

Singapore Special Olympics requested a digital camera to take pictures of its athletes. The photos are used to provide positive feedback to the participants and for use in public relations campaigns. SUPERSEED matched Singapore Special Olympics with a donor in November 2005.

Here are some of the first photos taken with the donated camera!

YEAR END REVIEW: ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

6 January 2006
In the last two months of the year, in-kind donations from SUPERSEED reached some 15 grassroots groups in Singapore. We distributed over S$20k in fire extinguishers, computers, projection screens, new t-shirts and other items. More than that, we have brought smiles to the faces of disadvantaged children, contributed to the excellent work of non-profit organisations, enabled Changi Prison inmates to make a contribution to the community and learn new skills, and facilitated corporate giving and civic responsibility.

We have set ambitious yet attainable goals for 2006, including plans to help eliminate the digital divide both here in Singapore and in The Philippines. Our first international shipment - which will aid two organisations working with Sri Lankans to rebuild their lives post-tsunami -- is scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka in February.

Our biggest challenge remains fundraising. Everything we've done to date has been accomplished with no money. Our partners and volunteers have been fantastic. In a way that makes our achievements even more impressive. On the other hand, though, a lack of funds will make it harder for SUPERSEED to achieve institutional sustainability.

To learn more, check out this year end report: "SUPERSEED 2005 REVIEW"

Note: This is a .pdf file.

WAREHOUSE

Food importer BAKEmaster Singapore Pte Ltd has generously agreed to let SUPERSEED store donations in its warehouse, free of charge.

The space in Paya Lebar is outfitted with shelving and has enough space to hold approximately 35 pallets, or one and a half containers of donated goods. This is a fantastic start. It's important to note though that we are still searching for a bigger space with a long-term pro bono lease. The pictures here show some of the donated items already placed in the warehouse - computer monitors, file cabinets, TVs and more. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Sameer S. for his gracious support.

PROJECTION SCREENS FOR THE DEAF

When the Singapore Association for the Deaf first contacted me to request projection screens for use in teaching sign language classes to the deaf and to those who would like to communicate with them, I wasn't quite sure if we'd be able to help. I replied that we did not have any screens at the moment, but if we found some, I'd let them know. Not long afterwards, Singapore Polytechnic contacted me to donate TVs with built in VCRs. The television sets had been used in a language lab. A couple days later, Singapore Poly wrote again to say they also had several mechanical projection screens and would we like them. Serendipity. Today, we delivered three screens to the Singapore Association for the Deaf. We are sourcing for nine more. If you would like to donate, drop us a line. Classes start in January.

Fire Extinguishers - Thank you notes!

"We have placed all the Fire Ball extinguishers around JCH facilty and especially @ places more vulnerable.
Once again pls accept our deepest appreciation to SUPERSEED and the sponsors and of course to your goodself for always remembering JCH & our residents interest always close to your heart"

*thuumb up*

Warmest Regards ...

Sophian Kayat
Superintendent
Jamiyah Children's Home

Received the Fire Ball Extinguishers. Now only i know how and what is a "fire Ball" .. :) Thanks so much.... Do keep in Touch....All the best !

Regards,
Kan See Mun (Ms)
Executive Director

More Donations and Volunteer Support!

On Monday 31 October, SUPERSEED volunteers are scheduled to pick up 64 computers, 53 monitors, 16 laptops and various computer accessories that are being donated by two private companies and a government ministry.

The US Navy has volunteered to transport the donations from the donors to Changi Prison, where inmates will once again install new operating systems and software. This projects provides the inmates in Cluster `A' with the opportunity to practice computer refurbishment skills and contribute to the community. After being refurbished, the computers will be donated to non-profit organisations implementing community projects.

Two divisions of the Ministry of Manpower
-- the Labour Relations Department and Manpower, Research & Statistics -- are participating in this project. Templeton Asset Management and Nexgen Financial Solutions are also making donations.

I would like to extend a special thank you to US Navy Chaplain David Bynum who is not only volunteering his time but has also secured a vehicle and at least one additional volunteer to assist in the transport.

Meanwhile the recent article in TODAY has triggered the donation of 1200 new t-shirts by a leading pharmaceutical company plus the donation of a digital camera from an individual.

That camera will be given to Special Olympics Singapore , which was looking for a camera to take pictures of its athletes.