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As someone with visual impairment since birth, Ms Lee Lee Lim (56) knows exactly the employment prejudice that persons with disability (PwDs) face.

“There is no restriction for PwDs to receive an education, but in terms of employment, PwDs still face many challenges like wage disparity, rejection from potential employers and more,” she highlights.

For example, when engaged for advocacy talks or gig performances, organisations would typically only cover their transport cost and do not pay PwDs engagement fees.

Explains Lee Lee: “The disabled sector is largely working on a charity model. PwDs often get hired at a wage that is less than desired or doing mundane jobs which do not equate to their qualifications attained.”

 

This is why she co-founded , a social enterprise that works with disabled artists to help them make income via collaboration.

However, there have been many trials and errors and disagreements with her co-founders over the last three years due to her lack of knowledge of how to run a company.

“I felt that the company should be run this way but they, as businesspeople, want to do it another way,” Lee Lee recalls.

And this is the kind of gap that Dr Richard K M Eu – SIM Social Entrepreneurship Centre (RESSEC) hopes to bridge.
 

 

WHAT IS RESSEC?

A collaboration between SIM and its late founding chairman, Dr Richard Eu’s family, RESSEC seeks to nurture social entrepreneurs and support social service agencies to make a positive impact in society.

Says Jonathan Eu, grandson of the late Dr Eu: “My grandfather was not only a pioneer in his field, but he was committed to uplifting the communities around him. His passion for positive social impact with an unwavering belief in the power of entrepreneur solutions inspired many of us.

“Through collaboration and partnership in the social entrepreneurship space, we aim to create a more inclusive and equitable future.”

As part of RESSEC efforts, a bespoke Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship (SDSE) was launched to equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to launch impactful solutions that address pressing societal challenges.

 

“The centre’s mission is to advance ²ÝÁñÉçÇø's social sector and increase social consciousness of the challenges faced,” Ms Euleen Goh, Chairman of SIM says. “And we do that through learning programmes to nurture and develop talent in the sector.”

Bursaries were also awarded to support SIM Global Education students engaged in community or social service initiatives.

ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY IN SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

Encouraged by her director to join the SDSE programme, Lee Lee has since benefited from the experience.

“The learning journey has been great thus far,” the scholarship recipient shares, citing the exchanging of resources among her course mates and the sharing of work experiences from lecturers-cum-market-leaders.

She also affirms SDSE’s impact on inspiring social enterprises to be more viable in terms of marketing validation, seeking out collaboration partners and more - which will enable social enterprises to deep dig and thrive in the long run.

“Coming to this course, I learnt a lot of stuff. Now I can see where my business partners are coming from and it’s easier for me to bring the company forward.

“I hope to carry on promoting artists with disabilities and to help create social impact while ensuring financial sustainability in the long run.”