Unlikely Partnership

The Caffeine Experience (TCE) has teamed up with Singapore Polytechnic to redefine social norms. Ex-offenders have traditionally been viewed as negative influences, but in this instance, they have become role models for our next generation.

The two were drawn together by a common goal to provide second opportunities to individuals who are released from prison. The engagement between TCE and Singapore Polytechnic started out as a project looking into how TCE can meet the needs of their customers through design thinking and text analytics. However, it has grown in the last 6 months to encompass product marketing, streamlining of back-end operations and even managing their social media platforms.

The staff at TCE have mentored the students in their respective projects, and provided them with a platform to make a difference using skillsets picked up in school. In return, students have provided TCE with insights which have driven increases in revenue and made work more efficient, facilitating TCE's expansion to a second branch at Tan Tock Sent Hospital.

Perhaps most importantly, they have redefined what a role model looks like. People with a tainted past still have much to contribute.

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