About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
This initiative was born from the passion and vision of high school students in Singapore, driven by a deep commitment to exploring how financial inclusion can transform lives in our community and beyond.
About The Project
In the vibrant heart of Singapore, amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, migrant workers form an essential yet largely invisible backbone of the nation's workforce. Comprising 38% of the labor force, these workers are often overlooked despite the critical role they play in industries like construction, maritime, and domestic services. They have left behind their families and familiar surroundings, driven by the hope of providing a better future for their loved ones.
Yet, despite their immense contributions, many migrant workers face a harsh financial reality. Earnings for Work Permit holders typically range from SGD 450 to 1200 a month, with much of their income directed toward repaying agent fees and supporting their families back home. This financial strain is compounded by unexpected expenses, poor financial planning, and the threat of predatory loan schemes, leaving many trapped in debt. Even after years of labor, many workers face the uncertainty of returning home without savings or a safety net, particularly if illness or injury forces them to end their careers prematurely.
The Dare to Dream project, a key initiative under the Skills Development Program, was created to address these challenges. In partnership with the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO) and the Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA), this project aims to uplift migrant workers by offering them the tools, resources, and knowledge to take control of their financial futures.
Objective
The objective of the Dare to Dream project is to empower migrant workers in Singapore by equipping them with essential financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. Through this initiative, we aim to help workers build a foundation for long-term financial independence, both while they are working in Singapore and after they return to their home countries.
Our program provides migrant workers with practical training on financial management, savings, and starting their own businesses. We also focus on helping them create secondary income streams, which will support their financial security and provide a future safety net for themselves and their families.
By fostering entrepreneurship and financial resilience, the Dare to Dream project seeks to ensure that migrant workers are not just surviving, but thriving. The ultimate goal is to help transform their dreams of a better life into a reality—empowering them to plan for a secure future and break free from cycles of poverty and debt.
Past Initiative
Our first cohort, D2D Batch 1, ran from September to December 2024. It was a hands-on, transformative journey. Participants completed the financial literacy course and then moved on to develop concrete, actionable business plans. Each individual received one-on-one mentorship from ICAI professionals to refine their ideas. The program culminated in a Shark Tank-style pitch session, where participants presented their business plans as presentations to a panel of judges! Winning ideas received seed funding – prizes made possible by the SGD 4,000 we raised through the Giving.sg platform (https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/project-dare-to-dream--empowering-migrant-workers-with-financial-literacy-and-entrepreneurial-skill).
Chinniah Pandi’s winning business idea was titled – Revolutionizing Dairy: Organic Milk & More; a plan to invest in 2 acres of land and 10 cows, and create infrastructure like sheds and delivery bikes, to deliver fresh organic milk every morning to wealthier residents of towns near his village in Tamilnadu, India. Simple but profitable.
Dairy was clearly a popular business, Islam Rahmatul’s winning idea was to convert fresh milk to produce value-added products, such as yoghurt, ghee and paneer, in his home village in Khalishpur, Bangladesh. Value-addition in a different form.
Soliman, who won the 3rd prize wanted to start a poultry farm of 500 chickens in Hasannogar Village in Bangladesh, to produce eggs and chicken. He expected to be fully profitable from month 15 onwards, having recovered all costs!
While these ideas might seem simplistic, just the process of thinking about a business, gathering relevant numbers, assessing the viability, developing a presentation, working with a mentor and then presenting to an audience, was I believe transformative for participants. They were all winners. D2D Batch 1 was more than just a training course – it was inspiring for me and empowered the workers to believe in their potential and gave them a launchpad for real change.
Current Initiative
D2D Batch 2 was designed with a slightly different focus. Currently underway for 4 Sunday's in May, it is structured as a series of thematic workshops. The aim is to deepen financial literacy by covering core aspects of financial management: budgeting, saving, investing, and risk awareness. Participants are introduced to the power of compounding, the value of early investments, and the need for prudent financial planning. We also explore various investment avenues and compare risk-return profiles to help workers make informed decisions. Simple digital tools and platforms are introduced, and sessions conclude with presentations by local banks (whom we have partnered with) on remittance and savings products specifically geared toward migrant workers. We also address financial scams and stress the importance of cautious, intentional spending.
If you would like to volunteer please reach out to us.