Thank you for participating in this study. I am a final-year Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major at the National University of Singapore, and for my honours thesis, I am delving into the realm of microfinancing. This tool is pivotal in offering financial services to individuals typically overlooked by conventional banking systems. My research focuses on its influence on low-income single mothers in Singapore, who encounter distinctive hurdles in achieving economic stability and financial inclusion.
This study evaluates how financial aid schemes locally are helping low-income single mothers gain better financial access and, ultimately, empower them economically. My research specifically investigates schemes implemented by Singapore's Self-Help Groups (SHGs), such as the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), the Malay-Muslim organisation Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura through the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and the Eurasian Association (EA), alongside the ComCare Fund administered by the Social Service Offices under the Ministry of Social and Family Development. These organizations play a crucial role in providing targeted financial assistance, educational support, and social services to their respective community members, aiming to uplift those in need.
Through your experiences and insights, I aim to understand the effectiveness of these initiatives and explore ways to enhance their impact. Your contribution is vital. It will inform not only the academic discourse on microfinancing's role in social welfare but also potential policy and programme improvements. The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
This study has been approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the Department of Political Science at NUS. Please be assured that your responses will be kept fully confidential and used only for academic purposes. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to speak with me about my study, please feel free to contact me on Telegram (@ananyamathur) or via email (ananyamathur@u.nus.edu).
