Engineering Good (EG)
EG is a Singapore-based non-profit organisation incepted in 2014. We connect low-income and vulnerable communities with technology and engineering solutions.
At EG, our two main thrusts are Digital Inclusion and Assistive Technology.
Our Digital Inclusion activities include salvaging and repairing primarily laptops which are then redistributed to vulnerable communities such as low-income families. This helps reduce carbon and e-waste. Our Assistive Technology efforts focus on helping persons with disabilities through developing assistive devices that help them live a life of independence and opportunity.
Today, we support over 200 social service agencies in Singapore. Our collective efforts with our volunteers and partners have seen nearly 8,000 laptops / devices being distributed to various beneficiaries. We believe our geeks got no social skills everyone has a role to play in bridging the digital divide.
We have helped to improve digital literacy for single mothers, enabled low-income students to attend online classes, assisted a visually impaired senior in feeding his service dog, helped a child in a boys’ home to learn coding, and more.
Early Days
In 2014, a small group of volunteer engineers started their journey, initially operating from shared workspaces at Red Dot and SG Enable. As their efforts gained momentum, they secured their first dedicated rental space in NDC within One Maker Group (OMG) in 2017. Building upon their progress, the team moved to a donated desk at TinkerTanker in Tai Seng in 2018. Later that same year, they relocated once more alongside TinkerTanker to Apex@Henderson.
Then COVID hit. 😢
With the shift to online classes, a pressing need arose for thousands of low-income students who lacked access to laptops for home-based learning. Additionally, seniors and migrant workers also needed digital tools to connect with their loved ones. In response to these urgent needs, our Computers Against Covid program was initiated at Apex.
What began as a request we posted on Facebook for 24 laptops gained widespread attention and media coverage. This unexpected response transformed our initiative into a nationwide focus aimed at bridging the digital divide.
EG’s ‘Ambassador who is Large’ and former CEO, Johann Annuar, pulled a GOAT move to salvage donated laptops by himself for low-income children and vulnerable groups. But with heart work and Jo literally crying for help on television during the National Day Parade, Singaporeans (and expats!) from all walks of life got our signal beacon and appeared at our doorstep.
Volunteers dedicated countless late nights, enduring back pain, eye strain, fueled by caffeine and occasional snacks, as they worked tirelessly to refurbish over 2,000 laptops. With each passing day, both the stockpile of laptops and the volunteer community continued to expand. Grateful for the generous donations of food, their waistlines grew alongside their collective efforts.
In 2020, we embarked on a wild journey with our CAC operations, hitting the road and venturing into new locations. Our first stop was Jalan Besar stadium, where we set up our operations before moving on to Sprout Hub for a delightful two-month stay.
Come September, we found ourselves on the move once again, relocating to a charming shophouse nestled in the heart of Little India.
Finally, in January 2022, we found our current home, a cozy clubhouse located at 994 B Central Bendemeer Road. Accompanying us on this journey is our beloved CEO Cat, whom we affectionately adopted. With her sharp eyes and assertive meows during laptop speed-QC sessions, she ensures each device meets the highest standards of purr-fection, keeping us on track.
Life After Covid
In a post-Covid world, vulnerable communities continue to face challenges that often go unnoticed. Recognising the need to address technical difficulties faced by low-income families, we launched the Laptop Fixers Community initiative in 2022. This program aims to repair laptops in selected HDB rental blocks, ensuring that these families have access to functional devices.
Additionally, our Assistive Technology work has been expanding. We are dedicated to making a positive impact through our annual Tech For Good (T4G) festival, which remains the only event in Singapore that brings together young individuals, tech and engineering professionals, and the disability community. The festival serves as a platform for collaboration and innovation, focusing on developing affordable and open-source solutions.
In 2022, we witnessed the participation of 30 teams comprising 106 youth innovators who worked on six problem statements targeting six different disability groups. The selected prototypes underwent further enhancements and customisation by dedicated volunteers.
Building upon our success, we have upgraded EG’s Makerspace in 2023 to provide an inclusive environment for all aspiring tinkerers. This enhanced space is designed to support the development of prototypes aimed at addressing the unique needs of the disability community. We believe that through the cultivation of an inclusive and collaborative environment, we can build meaningful solutions rooted in empathy.
Contribute
EG expects to receive up to 2,500 laptop requests this year from vulnerable communities such as low-income families, single mothers, migrant workers, and ex-offenders. Refurbishing a laptop at EG costs ~ S$350, much less than refurbishing laptops in the open market (S$450 to S$800).
Due to the rising inflation in Singapore, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for low-income families to afford these laptops, making it challenging for them to pursue education opportunities.
Your donation will go towards improving older laptops by purchasing spare parts and upgrading their software. This ensures vulnerable children don’t fall behind in school compared to their peers.
Every dollar counts. To chip in, click here!
Much of the work we do is powered by volunteers—we open our doors all year for ad-hoc and long-term contributions. If you would like to get involved, please email Remi at volunteer@engineeringgood.org.
