Can an app bring back Singapore’s forgotten kampung spirit and ignite a new wave of community philanthropy?

In a city known for its rapid modernisation and digital prowess, Singapore’s traditional kampung spirit — a sense of close-knit community and mutual care — has often been cited as one of the cultural values left behind in the pursuit of urban progress.

GoodHood.SG is on a mission to change that. Founded by tech entrepreneur Nigel Teo, the platform aims to foster a renewed sense of community in Singapore, bringing neighbours closer together through technology and human connection.

"A citizen-led movement to bring back the kampung spirit” is how Teo describes GoodHood.SG, emphasising that it’s not just another app but a movement rooted in the values of kindness and support that were once the hallmark of village life in Singapore​.

Philanthropy is central to the operation and mission of GoodHood.SG. This isn’t just about funding or partnerships — although vital — it’s about fostering a shared purpose among everyone involved. “Philanthropy is at the heart of all we do,” Teo says. He points out that the entire ecosystem, from the platform's team to its partners, is driven by purpose.

“It also amplifies our mission by providing the resources and partnerships needed to offer more services and deepen our impact within communities to ensure that we grow together as a nation and no one is left behind.”

Philanthropic support has enabled GoodHood.SG to launch impactful initiatives such as #KindCooks, a project that mobilises home chefs to provide free meals to neighbours in need during the Covid-19 pandemic. This effort quickly expanded across Singapore, providing hundreds of meals and fostering a spirit of giving during a crisis​.

The digital kampung

It’s easy to mistake GoodHood.SG for a tech product first and foremost. But Teo is quick to clarify that it’s much more than that. “Many people think that GoodHood.SG is an app, but we are first and foremost a citizen-led movement,” he stresses. At its core, GoodHood.SG is about community.

“When it is community-first, we are most concerned with driving real impact to the community, instead of being influenced by various stakeholders who may have other objectives for doing community like profits or community.”​

The platform encourages residents to connect with their neighbours, whether it's through borrowing a tool, offering help with groceries, or simply engaging in conversation. GoodHood.SG also enables people to share goods, services, and information in real-time, intending to make neighbourhoods happier and healthier​.

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During the 2023 National Day Parade, GoodHood.SG took its community-first approach to new heights by fielding a marching contingent. The idea wasn’t conceived in a boardroom; it came from the ground up, driven by community members. 

“Fielding our first ever marching contingent in this year’s National Day Parade was first surfaced by community members as something they would feel very proud of,” Teo recalls. Unlike other contingents, which often incentivise participants, the 45 people who marched for GoodHood did so entirely as volunteers​.

Philanthropic partnerships that work

When it comes to partnerships, GoodHood.SG is discerning. “A successful partnership will be one where we understand the community needs from the ground up, jointly identify relevant metrics with the community, and co-create initiatives to address these needs,” Teo explains. 

This approach fosters a deeper sense of ownership and agency within the community. In Teo’s eyes, the best partners are those who share the platform’s long-term vision and values.​ 

This commitment to community-building means that GoodHood.SG attracts partners who are serious about making a difference. For example, collaborations with financial institutions and social service agencies have allowed the platform to scale its efforts while ensuring that any partnership adds genuine value. 

"Because we are supported by technology, our partners can also easily receive impact reports on the impact that they make, which makes updating various stakeholders a much more transparent process," Teo notes​.

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Challenges and hope

Like any grassroots movement, GoodHood.SG faces its share of challenges. For Teo, one of the hardest parts of his work has been “navigating the delicate balance between maintaining our core values of trust and community while scaling the platform.” As the movement grows, so too do the complexities of aligning diverse motivations and ensuring consensus among the community members​.

But amidst the difficulties, countless moments offer hope. Teo shares one particularly powerful story: “I got to know of a single mum who lives in a public rental flat who generously gave $100 to another community member who had just come out of prison and needed some resources to get started.” It’s these stories, Teo says, that keep the spirit of GoodHood.SG alive and inspire others to contribute in kind​.

As GoodHood.SG continues to grow, Teo sees three key philanthropic ideals that will help make their work even more impactful: altruism, social justice, and community engagement. “There is increasing evidence and literature that when people give, they receive in multiple ways,” Teo says. He notes the growing interest in skill-based volunteering and how corporations recognise the bottom-line benefits of engaging with their communities​.

The road ahead for GoodHood.SG is promising. With a strong foundation in philanthropy, an unwavering commitment to community, and a growing base of passionate members, the movement is poised to reshape neighbourhoods across Singapore.

At the heart of it all is a simple yet profound idea: that the kampung spirit can be rekindled in the digital age and that neighbourly kindness can be as powerful a force today as it was generations ago.