100 Voices from Co-operators
Vincent Ng
Founding Member
A Good Space Co-operative
A Good Space Co-operative
Shaping the future of SCM
As we celebrate the centennial milestone of the Singapore Co-operative Movement, my hope for the next 100 years is that co-ops will remain a vital force for social progress, innovation, and equity. To achieve this, co-ops must adapt to our evolving societal landscape in three transformative ways.
First, by empowering marginalised communities, co-ops can enable charities to support their beneficiaries start worker-owned businesses, fostering income generation and social mobility. Second, co-ops can play a pivotal role in preserving heritage and jobs through the 'exit to community' model—transforming profitable SMEs without succession plans into worker-owned co-ops, thus safeguarding both the legacies of heritage businesses and the livelihoods of their long-serving employees. Third, by appealing to the next generation, co-ops can become a beacon for those disillusioned with hyper-capitalism. With their values of cooperation, equitable profit-sharing, and social justice, co-ops offer an alternative economic model to reverse inequality and champion sustainable development.
If the Movement continues to innovate while staying true to its principles, I am confident that we can pass on a thriving and relevant co-op ecosystem to future generations, just as our forebears did for us a century ago.
First, by empowering marginalised communities, co-ops can enable charities to support their beneficiaries start worker-owned businesses, fostering income generation and social mobility. Second, co-ops can play a pivotal role in preserving heritage and jobs through the 'exit to community' model—transforming profitable SMEs without succession plans into worker-owned co-ops, thus safeguarding both the legacies of heritage businesses and the livelihoods of their long-serving employees. Third, by appealing to the next generation, co-ops can become a beacon for those disillusioned with hyper-capitalism. With their values of cooperation, equitable profit-sharing, and social justice, co-ops offer an alternative economic model to reverse inequality and champion sustainable development.
If the Movement continues to innovate while staying true to its principles, I am confident that we can pass on a thriving and relevant co-op ecosystem to future generations, just as our forebears did for us a century ago.
Check out our other voices
U Dharshini
Co-operative Relations & Solutions Partner,
Singapore National Co-operative Federation
Industrial Relations Executive,
Amalgamated Union of Public Employees
SNCF Scholar
Ang Hak Seng
Professor
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Farhana Binte Nordin
Senior Executive
AUPE Credit Co-operative Ltd
Koh Yan Ping
Chief Executive Officer
Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations
Alex Shieh
Head, Co-operative Relations & Solutions
Singapore National Co-operative Federation
Ang Hin Kee
Chief Executive Officer
Singapore National Co-operative Federation
Audrina Tan
Associate Psychologist (Case Manager)
NTUC Health Co-operative Limited
SNCF Scholar
Edwin Tong
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
& Second Minister for Law
Prabha C Seth
Chief Executive Officer
Customs Credit Co-operative Society (Singapore) Ltd
A glimpse into the stories and reflections from co-operators as the Movement celebrates a century of collaboration and unity. SCM 100 Voices provides insights into the impact on communities and highlights our lasting legacy of shared purpose.