[EVENT] Premiere of DBS SPARKS Episode 6: New Beginnings

SPARKS, by DBS is the first in the banking industry to turn true stories revolving around a group of young bankers and how they go beyond the extra miles to solve unusual challenges by client into a mini-series. Through this mini-series, DBS hopes to redefine the meaning of banking to the public and to change the traditional perception that banking is just about transactions, but is also able to spark new ideas and possibilities.

"You bank to live,
not live to bank."

Photo Credit to DBS

SPARKS MINI-SERIES

Since the launch in February 2016, Sparks Episodes 1-5 and their trailers have already garnered more than 42 million views and over 1.7 million digital engagements across the region.

EPISODE 1: ONCE UPON A TIME - VIDEO LINK
EPISODE 2: SAVING SUNLIGHT - VIDEO LINK
EPISODE 3: FIGHTING GIANTS - VIDEO LINK
EPISODE 4: NEVER TOO LATE - VIDEO LINK
EPISODE 5: IN PURSUIT OF THE CURE - VIDEO LINK

Was invited to DBS Asia X for the preview screening of Episode 6 which will be launched on 17th March 2017. In this all-new episode, the bankers went on an incredible journey and was given a challenge that could change the future of an entire village.

EPISODE 6: NEW BEGINNING

Episode 6 is a true story inspired by social enterprise Zaya Learning Labs, the grand prize winner in the inaugural DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia. They are the ones who developed a tech-based learning platform for schools in low income areas and they are on a mission to reach out to 10 million underserved students by 2020. It's hard to develop social impact and be profitable at the same time, and the challenges they faced is not an easy task this time round. How will the bankers succeed in getting the stubborn village chief to adopt this system that would greatly be beneficial and close up the educational gap to the community?

Watch the Sparks Mini-Series at www.dbs.com/sparks to find out more.

Love how this video has convey the message that both girls and boys, no matter where they are should have the equal opportunities for school and to study. In that small community, girls were initially not allowed to attend school. This is really a very traditional mindset. Zaya Learning Labs bring about personalized learning in school and the bankers think out of the box to assist them to fulfil this mission in this village by assisting the village chief in his weaving business first by bringing it online.

DIGITAL DISRUPTION FOR IMPACT

A panel discussion was held right after the preview screening and the topic was about the digital SMEs of the future. In Budget 2017, there is a strong emphasis for business of the future to be sustainable, inclusive and to create social impact.

DBS has been an advocate for businesses that have a social mission and in 2014, they even launched a $50 million foundation (the DBS Foundation) in conjunction with SG50. Social enterprises like Zaya Learning Labs, Homage, WateRoam and some other winners are being awarded the grants, to provide support at every stage of their journey so that they can be sustainable, generate some income and continue in doing good to the community.

Digitalization of business is also crucial for the business growth as that would be how most businesses operate in future, by going digital. At DBS, digital innovation has always been the driving force and they are constantly striving to make banking simpler, quicker and more effortless to customers like us.

From left to right: Host and the panalists - Neil D'Souza, Dr. Alex Lin, Gillian Tee and David Pong

Neil D'Souza, the founder of Zaya Learning Labs was one of the panelists that night. How the name of Zaya came about was that Zaya is the name of his first student in Mongolia, and it means destiny. So he named it after her. A strong message that was brought across is to believe in yourself. Only when you believe in yourself, would investors also believe in you. Also, we have to surround ourselves with people who also believe in our cause.

Social enterprises that have a social mission at the core of what they do. They make a difference to the communities which is relevant to DBS vision is to create a positive impact beyond banking that transforms lives and livelihoods for the better.

SPARK SOME GOOD

This whole event inspired me to do something great with a social impact to benefit the society. I must agree that it would definitely be a lot more fulfilling when your business has created a positive impact to others, rather than working just for the sake of working. I thought of what is lacking in Singapore, and I felt that it would be great if we have a confinement centre to provide that one month care to mummies after giving birth. That is the period when mummies need the most help and support, from taking care of babies and nurturing our body back to health.