Mr Chan Chun Sing checking out some of the projects that were being showcased at the opening of the PSIRC.

People sector organisations (PSOs) such as voluntary welfare groups, non-profit charities, grassroots organisations and community groups can now get help in making use of infocomm technologies to enhance their public outreach efforts as well as improve productivity and efficiency.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) have collaborated to make this happen, with the launch of the People Sector Infocomm Resource Centre (PSIRC) in NYP’s Engineering Building. The Centre provides infocomm advisory services, gives organisations access to information repository systems and provides them with networking platforms to interact and exchange ideas with other PSOs.

The PSIRC, which started its operations in October 2011, was officially launched by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, on Friday, 27 April 2012. In his address, Mr Chan said more than S$600,000 will be invested in the Centre in its first two years, “so that Singapore’s People sector, or ‘heart’ sector, which comprises Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), grassroots organisations and community groups, can tap on infocomm to further reach out and increase participation in their activities”.

Manned by one centre manager and five development technologists, the PSIRC has the backing of the entire NYP and can draw on the polytechnic’s staff and students to help in the development of various projects.

Since its inception, it has touched base with over 400 PSOs, and is working with several organisations on more than 30 projects at different stages of development. The completed projects include creating a Web 2.0 website for Central Singapore Community Development Council , developing a video dictionary for the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) to compile signs for local words such as durians and the Esplanade, and revamping the website for the Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled in just two months.

Mr Dennis Lim, Chief Executive of the Bishan Home, declared the newly-revamped website a success after two previous websites were found wanting. Traffic has grown fivefold as more people go online to keep abreast with the latest developments.

“It is no longer static. We now have a website that is vibrant and engaging. It was difficult for the management, who grew up pre-social media, to give the directions, but in this collaboration, the PSIRC gave invaluable advice and they were prepared to try out new ideas,” said a very pleased Mr Lim. “In the four months since Bishan Home’s website went live, on 12 October 2011, we saw a noticeable increase in our donations.”

The PSIRC is also working with YWCA on a siren mobile app to enhance the protection of women. The app triggers a siren or sends out an SMS or email to programmed recipients when a woman is in distress. The information relayed could even include the user’s location for quicker assistance. Mr Chan challenged the developers to create a similar app for the elderly to enhance their personal safety.

The Centre has also given NYP’s students a chance to collaborate with the industry. Zayd Wei Siong Waliyullah, a final year student doing his diploma in Multimedia and Infocomm Technology, said working on the SADeaf project, supported by Community Chest, honed his skills in video production, and also gave him confidence to communicate clearly with the hearing impaired. His team member, Ms Lim Hwee Tiang, who is in in her final year of a Diploma in Electronics, Computer and Communication, concurred. “We picked up new skills in the process,” she said.

Principal and Chief Executive Officer of NYP, Mr Chan Lee Mun, said the collaboration was a win-win situation that would benefit the PSOs and NYP alike. The polytechnic’s  students and staff can get involved in developing real-life applications. The scheme also fosters a spirit of enterprise among students and alumni, as well as complements NYP’s efforts in developing greater corporate social responsibility.