How a grassroots charity is tackling inequality in one of the world’s wealthiest nations
In the gleaming metropolis of Singapore, where towering skyscrapers pierce the sky and luxury shopping districts attract millions of tourists annually, a sobering reality persists beneath the surface of prosperity. Despite boasting one of the highest per capita incomes globally, Singapore harbors a significant population living in poverty—a truth that challenges the narrative of universal affluence in this Southeast Asian success story.
Enter ONE Singapore, a locally registered charity that has been quietly but persistently working since 2005 to address this paradox. With a bold mission to “Make Poverty History,” the organization serves as both a safety net for those in immediate need and a voice for systemic change in how Singapore approaches poverty and inequality.
The Hidden Crisis
The statistics are striking and often overlooked. According to research cited by ONE Singapore, approximately 387,000 Singaporeans—more than one in ten residents—cannot meet basic needs including food, shelter, clothing, and other essential expenditures. This figure becomes even more remarkable when considered against Singapore’s status as a global financial hub with a GDP per capita that consistently ranks among the world’s top nations.
“Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity,” reads the United Nations definition that ONE Singapore embraces. “It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society.” This comprehensive understanding of poverty goes beyond mere income statistics to encompass the broader human experience of exclusion, powerlessness, and vulnerability.
The absence of an official poverty line in Singapore has long complicated efforts to address and even acknowledge the extent of hardship within the nation. This statistical void has allowed poverty to remain largely invisible in public discourse, making the work of organizations like ONE Singapore all the more crucial in bringing these realities to light.
A Multi-Pronged Approach to Change
ONE Singapore’s strategy extends far beyond traditional charity work. The organization operates through multiple interconnected programs designed to address both immediate needs and long-term systemic issues.
Emergency Relief: The ONE Emergency Fund
At the frontlines of crisis response, the ONE Emergency Fund serves as a crucial lifeline for individuals and families facing urgent financial distress. The fund addresses situations where traditional support systems fall short—either because assistance isn’t available elsewhere or cannot be obtained quickly enough to prevent crisis.
The scope of emergency support reflects the diverse nature of modern poverty. Beneficiaries might receive help paying a utility bill to prevent disconnection, funding for an EZ-link card to maintain transportation for work, money for prescription eyeglasses, or other essential items that can mean the difference between stability and crisis.
This immediate response capability serves a dual purpose: providing critical support while also serving as an early warning system for broader social issues. The types and frequency of emergency requests offer insights into systemic gaps in Singapore’s social safety net.
Nourishment and Dignity: The Fresh Food Programme
Recognizing that food insecurity affects even working families, the ONE Fresh Food Programme takes a hands-on approach to ensuring access to nutritious meals. Rather than relying solely on food banks or processed donations, the program employs volunteers who purchase fresh groceries—eggs, vegetables, fruit, fish, chicken, and other healthy items—directly from neighborhood stores.
This model serves multiple purposes beyond mere nutrition. By sourcing food locally and delivering it personally, the program maintains the dignity of recipients while supporting local businesses. The emphasis on fresh, healthy food acknowledges that poverty shouldn’t condemn individuals to poor nutrition, which can perpetuate cycles of disadvantage through health impacts.
The volunteer-driven delivery system also creates human connections that can be as valuable as the food itself, combating the isolation that often accompanies financial hardship.
Breaking Cycles: The Livelihoods Fund
Perhaps most ambitiously, the ONE Livelihoods Fund addresses poverty at its roots by promoting self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and skills training. This program reflects a sophisticated understanding that sustainable poverty reduction requires more than temporary assistance—it demands investment in human potential and economic opportunity.
The fund supports what the International Labour Organization calls “Decent Work”—employment that provides fair wages, job security, and opportunities for advancement. By enabling low-income workers and their families to develop skills, start businesses, or access better-paying employment, the program aims to create lasting change that extends beyond individual beneficiaries to their families and communities.
This approach acknowledges that many of Singapore’s poor are actually working—caught in jobs that don’t provide sufficient income to meet basic needs despite full-time employment. The working poor represent a significant portion of those living in poverty, highlighting how traditional assumptions about employment as a pathway out of poverty don’t always hold true in modern economies.
The Invisible Population
ONE Singapore’s work takes on additional complexity when considering Singapore’s migrant worker population, which comprises approximately 30% of the total population. These workers face heightened vulnerability to poverty due to several factors: debts incurred to secure employment in Singapore, generally lower wages, and increased susceptibility to exploitation.
The exclusion of migrant workers from many official statistics means that the true extent of poverty in Singapore may be significantly underestimated. These workers, who perform essential functions in construction, domestic work, and other sectors, often live in precarious conditions while contributing substantially to Singapore’s economic success.
ONE Singapore’s recognition of this population highlights the organization’s commitment to inclusive definitions of community and responsibility. While migrant workers may not be Singaporean citizens, their presence and contributions make them part of the social fabric that requires consideration in any honest assessment of poverty and inequality.
Advocacy and Awareness
Beyond direct service provision, ONE Singapore engages in public awareness campaigns and advocacy work centered on poverty, inequality, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This educational mission addresses a crucial gap in public understanding about poverty in Singapore.
The organization’s advocacy work operates on multiple levels. At the international and policy level, they push for systemic changes that could impact large numbers of people. At the local level, they work to shift individual attitudes and behaviors, recognizing that lasting change requires both top-down policy reform and bottom-up community engagement.
This dual approach reflects an understanding that poverty is both a personal crisis and a societal failure. Individual charitable actions, while important, must be accompanied by broader social and political changes to address root causes rather than merely symptoms.
The Economics of Inequality
Singapore’s situation illustrates a global phenomenon: economic growth and overall prosperity don’t automatically translate to poverty reduction for all segments of society. The nation’s remarkable economic transformation from developing to developed nation status in just a few decades has created unprecedented wealth while simultaneously generating new forms of inequality.
The concentration of wealth in global financial centers like Singapore can actually exacerbate poverty by driving up costs of living—particularly housing—faster than wages for lower-skilled workers. The result is a society where extreme wealth and significant poverty coexist, often in close geographical proximity.
ONE Singapore’s work serves as a case study in how civil society organizations can address these contradictions through direct action while also advocating for systemic reform. Their model suggests that effective poverty reduction requires both immediate humanitarian response and longer-term structural change.
Community Engagement and Participation
The organization’s approach to volunteer engagement reflects broader philosophies about participation and empowerment. Rather than positioning volunteers as saviors helping the less fortunate, ONE Singapore frames involvement as mutual benefit—an opportunity for all community members to contribute to collective wellbeing.
This framing is evident in their membership structure, which for just S$10 per year provides individuals with opportunities to engage in meaningful volunteer work, participate in organizational governance through annual general meetings, and access educational opportunities about poverty and inequality.
The low barrier to membership reflects an understanding that fighting poverty requires broad-based community support rather than reliance on wealthy philanthropists or government programs alone. By making participation accessible to people of all income levels, ONE Singapore builds a more inclusive movement for social change.
Challenges and Limitations
Operating in Singapore’s regulatory environment presents both opportunities and constraints for organizations like ONE Singapore. The nation’s efficient governance systems can facilitate certain types of charitable work while potentially limiting advocacy efforts that challenge existing policies or structures.
The absence of an official poverty line, while providing flexibility in defining and addressing need, also creates challenges in measuring progress and building public support for anti-poverty efforts. Without official recognition of poverty’s extent, organizations must invest significant resources in documentation and awareness-raising that might otherwise be directed toward direct services.
Additionally, Singapore’s success story narrative can make it difficult to generate urgency around poverty issues. When a nation is globally celebrated for economic achievement, acknowledging significant internal poverty requires overcoming both institutional and psychological barriers.
Getting Involved: How to Connect and Contribute
Contact Information
ONE Singapore welcomes community engagement and inquiries through multiple channels:
Main Office: ONE (Singapore)
218 Pandan Loop
Singapore 128408
Email: [email protected]
Program-Specific Contacts:
- For ONE Emergency Fund applications and inquiries: Available through their online application form
- For questions about the Fresh Food Programme and volunteer opportunities: Details available on their volunteer page
- For ONE Livelihoods Fund assistance: Applications can be submitted through their dedicated online form
Ways to Get Involved
Volunteer Opportunities: ONE Singapore makes volunteering accessible and meaningful. Volunteer roles include:
- Shopping for and delivering fresh groceries to families through the Fresh Food Programme
- Supporting emergency fund distribution and client services
- Participating in awareness campaigns and community outreach
- Administrative support and special events assistance
Registration is straightforward through their volunteer page and giving.sg platform, making it easy for community members to contribute their time and skills.
Financial Support: The organization offers multiple convenient ways to make donations:
- QR code scanning for quick mobile donations
- Bank transfer options for larger or recurring contributions
- Online donations through giving.sg platform
- Annual membership at S$10 per year, which includes voting rights at the Annual General Meeting, volunteer opportunities, and merchandise discounts
Membership Benefits: Becoming a ONE Singapore member demonstrates commitment to making poverty history while providing tangible benefits:
- Participation in Annual General Meeting with organizational voting rights
- Priority access to volunteer opportunities
- Discounts on ONE Singapore merchandise
- Regular updates on programs and impact
- Networking with like-minded community members committed to social change
Fresh Food Programme: What’s on the Menu
The ONE Fresh Food Programme prioritizes nutritious, culturally appropriate food that supports both health and dignity. The program’s approach to food selection reflects understanding of Singapore’s diverse dietary needs and preferences.
Protein Sources:
- Fresh eggs from local suppliers
- Chicken portions suitable for family meals
- Fresh fish varieties common in Singaporean diets
- Occasional inclusion of other protein sources based on availability and dietary requirements
Fresh Produce:
- Seasonal vegetables including leafy greens, root vegetables, and cooking staples
- Fresh fruits with focus on locally available options
- Herbs and aromatics important for flavor and nutrition
- Staples like onions, garlic, and ginger that form the foundation of many meals
Selection Criteria: The program emphasizes foods that are:
- Nutritionally dense and suitable for family meal preparation
- Culturally familiar and appropriate for Singapore’s diverse population
- Fresh rather than processed, supporting both health and dignity
- Sourced from neighborhood stores, supporting local businesses while ensuring quality
Distribution Model: Rather than operating a traditional food bank, volunteers personally shop for groceries and deliver them directly to families. This approach ensures food freshness while creating personal connections between volunteers and beneficiaries. The shopping-and-delivery model also allows for customization based on family size, dietary restrictions, and cultural preferences.
This personalized approach distinguishes the Fresh Food Programme from institutional food assistance, maintaining recipient dignity while ensuring nutritious options that families will actually use and enjoy.
Looking Forward: Sustainable Solutions
ONE Singapore’s vision extends beyond temporary poverty alleviation to fundamental transformation—making poverty history rather than merely managing its effects. This ambitious goal requires sustained commitment from multiple sectors of society and recognition that poverty reduction is not just a charitable concern but an economic and social imperative.
The organization’s multi-faceted approach provides a model for how smaller nations can address poverty through coordinated efforts that combine immediate assistance, skills development, and systemic advocacy. Their work suggests that effective poverty reduction requires understanding local contexts while applying globally recognized principles of human development.
As Singapore continues to evolve as a global city-state, the work of ONE Singapore represents both a moral commitment to inclusive prosperity and a practical investment in social stability. Their efforts demonstrate that even in the world’s wealthiest societies, the fight against poverty requires dedicated organizations willing to challenge assumptions, provide direct assistance, and advocate for transformative change.
The Path to Making Poverty History
Nearly two decades since its founding, ONE Singapore continues to adapt its approaches while maintaining its core mission. The organization’s persistence reflects both the intractability of poverty as a social issue and the possibility of meaningful progress through sustained effort.
Their work offers lessons that extend beyond Singapore’s borders: poverty in wealthy societies requires specialized responses that address both material needs and social exclusion; effective anti-poverty work must combine service provision with advocacy; and sustainable change requires broad community engagement rather than reliance on professional service providers alone.
For Singapore, ONE Singapore represents a crucial voice ensuring that the nation’s remarkable prosperity story includes all residents. For the global community, their work provides insights into how civil society organizations can address poverty in contexts where it might otherwise remain invisible or ignored.
The ultimate success of ONE Singapore’s mission to make poverty history will depend not only on their direct efforts but on their ability to inspire broader social transformation. In a world where inequality continues to grow despite unprecedented global wealth, their work in Singapore offers both hope and practical guidance for those committed to ensuring that prosperity truly benefits all members of society.
As Singapore looks toward its future as a global city, the work of ONE Singapore serves as a reminder that true success must be measured not just in economic indicators but in the wellbeing of all community members. Making poverty history remains an ambitious goal, but organizations like ONE Singapore demonstrate that progress is possible when communities commit to both immediate assistance and long-term transformation.
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