Diversity by Default
A conversational card game that intersects various forms of diversity while making dialogue more accessible
We help organisations
bridge social sustainability
with interfaith, interracial,
and intercultural diversity.
We help organisations bridge social sustainability
with intercultural, interracial, and interfaith diversity.
WHAT WE MAKE
We develop award-winning
DEI products and programmes
that nurture social cohesion.
WHAT WE OFFER
We consult on community-driven
and sustainable ESG projects
that contribute to social harmony.
WHO WE HELP
We support corporate organisations, government agencies,
educational institutions, and faith-based communities
seeking harmony amidst interpersonal diversity.
We support corporate organisations, government agencies, educational institutions, and faith-based communities
seeking harmony amidst interpersonal diversity.
We are a Singapore-based
social enterprise and consultancy
with expertise developing practical community-building interventions
around issues of diversity and social cohesion.
WHO WE ARE
We are a Singapore-based social enterprise and consultancy
with expertise developing practical community-building interventions
around issues of diversity and social cohesion.
WHY ENGAGE US
NATIONAL PUBLIC CREDIBILITY
ICCS2022 Industry Recognition
Our sensitive work in Singapore has been formally recognised
at the prestigious International Conference for Cohesive Societies,
with some of our projects honoured with public accolades by
leading government officials at the industry-wide gathering.
Our sensitive work in Singapore has been formally recognised at the prestigious International Conference for Cohesive Societies, with 2 of our projects receiving public accolades from top government leaders at the industry-wide gathering.
President Halimah Yacob opening the ICCS conference with praise for Basil Kannangara, founder of Being Bridges, and Nicholas Pang, creator of the award-winning Smol Tok conversation cards, for our collaborative project designing Diversity By Default, a card game for social cohesion.
MCCY Minister Edwin Tong commending Being Bridges founder, Basil Kannangara, at the ICCS closing address for our innovative interfaith VR tours project, Being Guests, which was awarded the top prize at the international 'Mission: Unite' hackathon for social cohesion.
CONTENT MATTER EXPERTISE
Global Interdisciplinary Specialisation
Diversity is a wide field especially when it comes to race, religion, and nationality.
We are certified with formal training from renowned secular and religious institutions,
mentored by leading global experts in multiculturalism and community development.
Leveraging research from the fields of anthropology, psychology, and philosophy,
we are used to troubleshooting and customizing strategic projects and programmes
around concerns of culture-based, ethnicity-based, and faith-based diversity.
Diversity is a wide field especially when it comes to race, religions, and nationality.
We are certified with formal training from renowned secular and religious institutions, mentored by leading global experts in multiculturalism and community development.
Leveraging research from the fields of anthropology, psychology, and philosophy, we are used to troubleshooting and customizing strategic projects and programmes around concerns of culture-based, ethnicity-based, and faith-based diversity.
CONTEXT-SPECIFIC RELEVANCE
Practical On-the-Ground Experience
With over a decade of hands-on experience building up the space of
diversity and dialogue in different parts of the world, we understand the need
to engage at different levels for different segments of the community.
Our ground-up work advancing the international goals of social harmony
chartered by the UN enables us to adopt what works from other cultural contexts
and adapt them aptly in ways that are beneficial to specific local contexts.
With over a decade of hands-on experience building up the space of diversity and dialogue in different parts of the world, we understand the need to engage at different levels for different segments of the community.
Our ground-up work advancing the international goals of social harmony chartered by the UN enables us to adopt what works from other cultural contexts and adapt them aptly in ways that are beneficial to specific local contexts.
WHY CLIENTS SEEK SUPPORT
Clients and community partners engage us for various purposes,
depending on their sectors and needs.
Some frequent reasons why they seek our help:
Enviromental, Social, and Governance (ESG) missions
As consumers become more concerned about ESG impact of their pruchases and investments, ESG
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings
Organisations are becoming more aware of the significance of diversity in the workplace. Formal efforts at equity and informal efforts to foster inclusion have been shown to improve the sense of shared identity and belonging amongst employees, contributing significantly to levels of positivity and productivity. We provide range of opportunities to build awareness...
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects
Values in Action (VIA) support - Schools and other tertiary institutions have...
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goals/lens/aims -
Some international organisations align themselves with the global SDG aims of the United Nations (UN). Our work falls under SDG#
ICCS2022 Industry Recognition
We are blessed to have our sensitive work formally recognised at the prestigious International Conference for Cohesive Societies, held recently in Singapore.
Two of our projects were honoured with public accolades by government leaders Mdm. Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore, and Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth during the industry-wide gathering.
I think it has the potential to break boundaries of what is deemed sensitive. Many shy away from issues that really matter/should matter to us because they're worried of bringing up 'sensitive', difficult topics. This should never be the case.
~ Christine May Yong, participant for Diversity by Default (DBD) gameplay dialogue session
I think it has the potential to break boundaries of what is deemed sensitive. Many shy away from issues that really matter/should matter to us because they're worried of bringing up 'sensitive', difficult topics. This should never be the case.
~ Christine May Yong, participant for Diversity by Default (DBD) gameplay dialogue session
How We Help
Our Philosophy
This is complex, sensitive, and very hard work. How do we approach or even touch these important issues in our multicultural society? We offer unique angles for the work of diversity and community building. Get in touch with us to hear more!
Doing diversity and dialogue differently.
Diversity is not a fault - it's our default. It's not our end point, but our starting point. So then dialogue isn't the solution - it's the organic consequence of our natural human foundation.
Building bridges for being bridges.
We make tools that are not ends in themselves, as they in turn make us. The external bridges we build serve a purpose - so that internally we may be bridges; and serve our purpose.
Connecting communities through the catalyst of their own conversations.
We curate conversations that are contextualised to the lived realities of each community that works with us. Every community has a distinct context, so our engagements are never identical as our conversations are always collaborative. Crafted by communities themselves, this approach has deep potential for connecting with participants and catalysing them for the greater good.
We are a social enterprise providing award-winning products and programmes for interfaith, interracial, and intercultural diversity.
Our Partners
In the work of diversity, the community is our essential partner. We work with clients and collaborators, benefactors and beneficiaries, organisations and individuals, who range across the public sector, private sector, and civic society. Social harmony is too important, so we need all the help we can get. (Case studies soon...)
Our Participants
We interact with many people in the course of our work - participants, volunteers, and clients. Who are they and what do they say about their experience of our products and programmes?
I think it has the potential to break boundaries of what is deemed sensitive. Many shy away from issues that really matter/should matter to us because they're worried of bringing up 'sensitive', difficult topics. This should never be the case.”
~ Christine May Yong, participant for Diversity by Default (DBD) gameplay dialogue session
This volunteering activity got me interested in the different houses of worship - some I may not even know before! I think it's helped me want to spread the awareness [of religious diversity].”
~ Mathilda Choo, Youth Network (YN) volunteer for Being Guests at Racial Harmony Day (RHD) festival
We were looking for a speaker to share about How To Enact Change, and Basil [from Being Bridges] really went above and beyond. Pulling in a range of examples from his experience in diversity dialogues and beyond, his sharing was clear, relevant, and convincing.
He was warm and friendly towards our students, creating a conducive environment for them to buzz and ask questions as well. The response for the event was great, and we’re definitely looking forward to working with Basil again!”
~ Rachel Wong, NUS High School Senior Council President, Organising Committee, Student Leadership Summit
Our People
We are a consulting firm helmed by a Singaporean team of multicultural heritage. Part of the diversity landscape for over a decade, we are supported by a large network of specialist collaborators, freelancers, part-timers, and volunteers.
(BEHIND THE SCENES)
