Hi All SHCians
This is an afterthought from an earlier post by Terence on Education centre as a source of income. Just wish to share my thoughts and welcome your views.
From what I read surfing the net, there appears to be a need for babysitters for toddlers and even afterschool care. I wonder if so, can childminding or afterschool care as a SHC business activity, with the objective of conducting enrichment activities for the children, work? Do you think, among the SHCians, there are some with the experience and interest in getting together to form a parents/grandparents/uncles/aunts playgroup or education centre or and running activities eg teaching EL/CL through songs, rhymes,computer aided learning, guitar playing, dance and drama etc.
If the group is small, we can use our homes. I will volunteer my flat for this as I’m a grandma with a toddler grandson whom I would like to see in a playgroup. I don’t really see this as a moneymaking business, more perhaps as giving assistance to working mums and dads.
Regards
Joan
Hi Joan,
You can rope me in should you need help in running a Student Care Cente as I am trained in this and have run the aftercare for more than 15 years.
Regards,
Anne
Hi Anne
Yes we’ll keep in contact on this site and if there are details we need to discuss, then thro your email address. Your experience in runing an aftercare centre would be ideal. Hopefully we can put something together.
Regards
Joan
Hi Anne, the topic of childcare was discussed very briefly at the first meeting. Do you personally see opportunities in the childcare business. Frank was of the opinion that the childcare in Singapore may be saturated and over-regulated. Like to hear your views. Other members, any views on this?
Terence Seah
Hello Anne!
Adding to Terence’s comment #03, I still think that, given a suitable premise, an apartment or a semi-detached/bungalow with at least three rooms to spare in a convenient district, Homestay is my best bet – it’s a better and more profitable project than childcare business.
Besides, there are not much stringent or complicated governmental formalities to meet with; we could also maximise usage of the place by organising properly scheduled private tuition and English language classes for stay-in students and others to supplement income.
Any comments!
Frank
Hi Frank #4,
Thank you for the homestay idea. However, I have been noticing for a long time on this forum that no one, other than Joan, has offered a place to start a homestay project for student care or residence. If you have suggestions to your homestay idea, please share with us.
Terence
can someone update regarding the outcome of the meeting over the education opportunities meeting?
Hi,
I am new here.
I had some discussions with my wife to start a homestay with in house tuition classes for them. It is a good idea. Should set up a meeting to explore it.
Hi All
Frank felt that it’s better to run a homestay with enrichment/EL lessons etc.I’m going to explore this idea with Anne #1 when I’m down in Singapore. Jeff #7 also shares this thought. Perhaps Jeff and those of us who are interested in this idea can meet up and discuss together. Possible dates can be 1 Apr or 6 Apr onwards.
As mentioned by Terence, I’ve an apartment which I’m thinking of using. Jeff, you seem to also have a place for the idea.
Those who are interested in meeting with Anne and me can indicate thro this post and we can confirm a suitable date.
Regards
Joan
Hi Joan,
I remembered you try to fix the date of 11/4 (Sat) for a
meeting at yr condo (still waiting for your address).
Is this appt confirmed? Can we schedule at 1.30pm?
I’m keen to know what does it take to start up a homestay
program – govt rulings, procedures we have to run for the
students, parents of homestay students’expectation, how
much time to devote and types of enrichment subjects to
offer.
Maybe Frank can come along to enlighten us on more details.
rgds,
james
i managed to scroll down, down to read the updated posting on the education business meeting.
Hi James #9,Anne, Frank,Jeff, Feztus and All
Am waiting for replies as to which is a preferred date and time. James, yes first posted 11 Apr. Maybe we’ll use that date and as suggested 1.30 pm.
Do you all want to meet at my condo at Bartley/Paya Lebar area or at a more convenient spot? If so, will email you my address. If at another spot, please give suggestions as I’m not sure which is a convenient place to chat.
#1 Anne wrote that she had run an aftercare programme and is interested. Frank seems knowledgeable too. Perhaps they can tell us more of what’s involved. I know we cannot run a tuition centre as a home business but no mention of afterschool centre. Perhaps those in the know can enlighten us at the discussion.
Regards
Joan
Hi Joan, I wish I could join you; but I am in Perth during this time.
Frank is experienced with start-up businesses. I wish he can join you. James, Anne, Frank, Jeff, Feztus and yourself would be ideal in the business. One point which was revolving in my head during the last meeting was the wide variety of ideas and interests. After a number of meetings, I think we have to ask ourselves if we are willing to run this as a business or on an informal basis.
For those who wants to be a trainer, a tuition teacher or a coach, I guess this group would rather do so on an informal basis. First, there is the recommendation, a fee and then the trainer takes over.
Joan, I guess you would like to be the business owner.
Terence Seah
Hi everyone!
Apologies! I was actually contacting Joan thru my personal email and have forgotten to look in SHC for more comments! Sure folks for the delay replies, sorry sorry….
Wow! looks like we certainly have a BIG BIG project ahead all of us and really thank you all so much for your input and interest just like Joan and myself.
I guess we could all sit down and brainstorm in the matter of where and how to run the Education Centre which Joan and some of you has decided to meet on April 11, 2009. I am alright with the date as well as the time. Please count me in.
Get ourselves prepare with these :
1) Are we going to set up a
a) Childcare Centre
b) Studentcare Centre
c) Education Centre
d) Tuition Centre
Take note, all these run different and some do need the Government guideline….
2) What is our objective for this Centre?
3) Any suitable location (I have come across some Centre for ‘takeover’- we can talk on this as well..
4) Who are we reaching out to? Children definitely but where is our ‘client’ coming from?
5) Manpower – Paid staff? Volunteers?
Please do feel free to add on any important points that we may need to take note of….
Zzzzz….very sorry…my eyes are closing but looking forward to hear from you all…….Zzzzzzzzzz
Thanks and regards,
Anne Chua
PS-Joan, I will send you an email tomorrow on the BR available….you know what I mean….heh…..zzzzzzzzz
Hi all,
I think Terence’s presence in this meeting is important as
he’s spearheading this project. He’s also a good moderator
as well.
Shall we have our meeting on 18/4 (Sat) 1.30pm at Joan’s
apartment? Terence, will you be in SG on this date?
Joan, pls provide meeting point.
james
Hi Anne#13,
Those points you mentioned were brought up during our last
meeting last month. You can view Terence’s posting on
http://silverhairsclub.com/2009/02/2389#comments
esp comment #56.
So, I believe the major point of discussion will be on
the Homestay.
However, if there’s something you want to share regarding
other aspects of the education biz, you may bring it up
since you were not involved in the first meeting.
james
Hi James, Joan, and everybody participating in this “Education as an alternative income”,
I am available on the 18 April. Guess if Joan and James are ok, we meet then. Joan, your call for a place.
Terence Seah
it is very assuring there are so many experts in education service and experienced business folks here.
if we just move on in this type of discussion, we might probably be a management business co-ordinating the available resources and personnel in education services of shc folks. in any case we still need some/one to be the owner/s so that the rest can plug in.
maybe in the next discussion/meeting, it can be known who can head which business whether in singapore or overseas.
Hi All
Apr 18 at 1.30 pm then can be a possible date and time to meet. I will email all those who indicate they would like to attend direct thro email, my address. Terence will be back from Perth then (Terence, sorry not able to meet up with you there,otherwise can get more thoughts on the matter.
On my list so far are:
Terence, James,Anne, Feztus, Jeff, Frank and Vivian.
Re:the idea of homestay with tuition in EL etc. Is this the only topic that you all wish to discuss? Homestay would involve someone with room/s to let out and foreign students who are looking for accomodation+supervision. I believe there is a market out there. However as I’m in Singapore only 2-4 mths at a time, homestay would mean I need someone to live in and supervise the students including meals, tuition etc. This homestay idea would suit perhaps an SHCian in S’pore all the time, with rooms in the apt/house. Then other SHCians can come in to give tuition in EL/Maths/CL etc. I am not considering homestay myself.
Instead I am looking at how my condo apt can be used to run activities which SHCians can carry out.This means that the apt is used for some hours, in the daytime – evening.
As Terence mentioned, I can be a business owner eg have an experienced SHCian to run activities eg small playgroup for 4-6 toddlers or perhaps SHCians who can teach enrichment lessons to small groups and need a training place. These can take 2-4 hrs per session. This means that I’m thinking of owning a home-based business. I’m not allowed to use the flat as a tuition centre. There are some guidelines to use of home premises for home-based business.
Like to hear from you all.
Joan
Hi
Noted that Terence will be back from Perth and able to attend. The meeting at my place is confirmed on 18 Apr at 1.30 pm. So far, those attending are Terence, Vivian and James. Anne is unable as she has a meeting on that day.
Anyone else who wishes to join in the discussion or have an education business idea, please indicate that you are attending. I will send out an email directly to those who will be attending giving my address and contact no.
Cheers
Joan
Hi
Those who wish to discuss education activities can meet me at Spotlight on Sat 18 Apr at 1.30 pm. Also posted this on An enriching life
Regards
Joan