Geometry Global Singapore, Airbnb and TOUCH Community Services’ Social Impact Experiences program connects with senior citizens
Singapore’s rapidly ageing population means that there is a growing need to pay attention to initiatives that support successful ageing. Having spent a large portion of their lives working to pay off bills and support their families, retired seniors are keen to pursue their hobbies, while simultaneously explore and learn meaningful ways to connect with and contribute to their local community.
In a bid to deal with this challenge, Airbnb Singapore’s first series of Social Impact Experiences was launched. It is designed to allow seniors to share their passions and neighbourhoods by hosting travelers and locals on the Airbnb travel platform. TOUCH Community Services (a not-for-profit charity organization) and Geometry Global worked with Airbnb to help beef up content and creativity, to make the program engaging and compelling.
Airbnb Experiences are curated activities led by local hosts who can share an insider’s view of their city with curious locals and travelers. Here, it serves as a platform for seniors like Uncle James, Auntie Catherine and Auntie Maria to meaningfully volunteer their time by sharing their knowledge around their passion, as well as the secret gems of their neighborhood, Geylang Bahru – a place they have lived for decades. As an Airbnb Social Impact Experience, all proceeds go directly to TOUCH Community Services, which serves as a donation from guests.
Each Social Impact Experience is specially handcrafted by the seniors themselves and now, Singaporeans and international tourists can learn more about:
● Baduanjin Qigong with Uncle James: Enjoy the view of the Kallang river as you practice the Chinese exercise then have breakfast together (pictured top).
● Cooking Chap Chye with Auntie Catherine: Learn to cook traditional Hainanese chap chye (pictured centre).
● The Secret Life of Maria’s Plants: Learn the benefits of gardening and the techniques on how to grow various herbs and plants in a cityscape (pictured bottom).
Airbnb Social Impact Experiences help empower non-profits by encouraging Airbnb users to engage in meaningful social causes around the globe. Airbnb works with non-profit organizations to develop Experiences that will most help the communities they serve, and waives the fees so that 100% of the proceeds go directly to the host and the nonprofit.
Jane Perry, Managing Director of Geometry Singapore, said “Our Geometry Singapore team recognized that Singapore has an increasingly aging population. During our research, we saw the opportunities about helping the seniors showcase their skills and wanted to find a meaningful way for them to share their passions. We are really proud to have collaborated with TOUCH Community Services and Airbnb on this initiative that gives back to the community. Inspired by ‘Lifetime Experience’, we have also started our own internal initiative within Geometry Singapore by offering our staff time out of the office, in exchange for volunteer work. It’s all about empowering people to give back.”
TOUCH Community Services CEO James Tan added, “We are so proud of our seniors – for their courage to step out of their comfort zone to share their passion and skills with the wider community, including tourists. This project is in line with our goal of empowering seniors to help them lead purposeful lives.”
Sriram Vaidhya, Airbnb Head of Trips for Southeast Asia & India, commented, “Hospitality is intrinsic to Singapore’s culture, and it’s no secret that our seniors are a key part have shaped the community in the last couple of decades. With the rise of experience-based tourism, we are excited that Airbnb helps diversity the benefits of tourism to every Singaporean who is passionate about sharing their country. Moreover, Airbnb Social Impact Experiences help us support impactful organizations, vulnerable groups and local neighborhoods that are not normally on the tourist map. and helps us create long-term donors, volunteers, and ambassadors.”