GMF#5 | Finding a New Home for Give.Asia
TL;DR: From our days as National University of Singapore (NUS) students with a dream, we wove creativity into funding our startup, leaning on business plan competitions as stepping stones. The snug room at NUS's Eusoff Hall transformed into our sanctuary, while camaraderie, thrift, and boundless generosity set the groundwork for Give.Asia's current form. Today, we reflect on this journey from our new Pearl's Hill home, embracing humility and gratitude, keeping the flame of giving alive.
Give.Asia's origin story began as a passion-driven dream during our NUS undergraduate days.
Despite financial constraints, creativity flourished, leading us to embrace business plan competitions as funding avenues.
The windowless room at NUS's Eusoff Hall, gifted to us for a nominal fee, became a pivotal hub for creativity, friendships, and brainstorming.
Every saved penny, combined with acts of generosity, formed the bedrock for Give.Asia's platform of trust and charity.
As we embrace a new chapter at Pearl's Hill, we carry forward the values of humility, gratitude, and the enduring spirit of giving.
Hello, dear future self, 🖐️
As you read these words, I hope they evoke a sense of nostalgia and reflection, a glimpse back into the early days of Give.Asia. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit those moments that paved the way for where we stand today.
Cast your mind back to the year 2008. We were wide-eyed undergraduates at the National University of Singapore (NUS), filled with a burning desire to make a difference. Remember the birth of Give.Asia? It was more than just a project – it was a movement, a call to inspire others to join us in reshaping the world through kindness.
Now, let's talk about the practical side of things. Our wallets weren't exactly overflowing with funds. We were making ends meet with our scholarship allowances and doing odd jobs. But that didn't dampen our spirits. No, it ignited our resourcefulness. We embarked on a journey of creativity, seeking ways to fund our fledgling startup.
Those two years, from 2008 to 2009, were like a whirlwind adventure. Business plan competitions became our compass, guiding us toward our dreams. Each competition was a stepping stone, an opportunity not just for prize money, but for turning Give.Asia's potential into reality. Remember those days of juggling three different offices across Singapore – NTU, NUS, and Orchard Scape. Each space was a chapter in our story.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, there's one place etched in my heart – that cozy storage room within NUS's Eusoff Hall. Picture it: a room without windows, but overflowing with creativity and determination. It was our sanctuary, a space where ideas flowed freely, friendships flourished, and dreams began to take shape. Late nights were filled with brainstorming sessions, fueled by the camaraderie that bound us. And let's not forget the incredible generosity of Prof. Tan Tin Wee and NUS, offering us that room for a mere $300 a month. Their kindness is a memory that still warms my heart to this day.
Those moments, those precious pennies saved, they all played their part. They formed the foundation on which Give.Asia stands today. They were the building blocks of trust, the bedrock of a platform where charities and givers come together to create real change. And now, as we look back from our new home at Pearl's Hill in Chinatown, we see just how far we've come.
So, future self, let's carry forward the spirit of humility and gratitude. Our journey is far from over, and the path ahead is still unfolding. But we can rest assured that the steps we took, the memories we created, and the connections we fostered have shaped the Give.Asia of today. Until we meet on the pages of another chapter, let's keep the flame of giving alive. 🌟🤗🖐️