For Government Agencies
Building trust, empowering communities, strengthening the Public Service
At Skillseed, we believe that a responsive public service is rooted in deep community understanding, citizen-government partnerships, and ultimately, trust. Our programmes equip public servants with the skills to engage communities effectively, encourage citizen participation, and catalyse collaborations towards a more resilient and cohesive society.
Partner us to strengthen public service capabilities in partnerships, engagement and community development.
Agencies we’ve worked with
See through their eyes: Deepen understanding with Empathy Mapping
EMPATHY MAPPING
In this course, participants will be introduced to the methodology of Empathy Mapping. The generation of an empathy map helps us better understand our intended end user(s), including their fears and hopes. The intent of exposing participants to this empathy mapping tool is to equip them with the ability to understand their intended stakeholders (i.e. persons of interest/ end users) on a deeper level, and help them identify and test any inherent assumptions they might have about their intended audience. We will take participants through the practice of Empathy Mapping in projection, observational and retrospective modes.
Join us to sharpen your stakeholder insight and decision-making by seeing through the eyes of those you serve.
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3 hours
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By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Understand the principles and purpose of Empathy Mapping.
Apply Empathy Mapping techniques to better understand the fears, hopes, and needs of their stakeholders or end users.
Identify and challenge assumptions about their intended audiences through structured reflection.
Practice empathy mapping in projection, observational, and retrospective modes.
Use insights from empathy maps to inform decision-making, design processes, and stakeholder engagement.
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To foster participative citizenry
Asset-based Community Development (ABCD)
Discover a strengths-based approach to community work that starts with what’s strong—not what’s wrong.
In this module, participants will learn to identify and map a wide range of community assets—individual, communal, and environmental—and practice applying ABCD principles through hands-on fieldwork in the local community.
After exploring real-world local case studies where community gifts have driven sustainable, dignity-promoting change, participants will leave the workshop with a powerful lens for community development that centres empowerment, possibility, and people.
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3 hours
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By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
Understand the principles and paradigm of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) as a strengths-focused approach to community work.
Identify and categorise different types of community assets—individual, communal, and environmental.
Practice asset mapping in real-world settings through applied exercises in the local community.
Recognise the role of ABCD in fostering dignity, empowerment, and sustainable change.
Analyse local case studies to understand how community assets can be effectively mobilised in diverse contexts.
For ground sensing and dignity promoting skills
Resilience Trails™ is an immersive, community-driven program that invites participants to join guided trails co-created by individuals from under-resourced communities, such as those with disabilities or single mothers. Led by Community Guides— empowered individuals who actively contribute to their communities —these trails offer a unique opportunity to explore local neighbourhoods through the eyes of those who have lived and shaped them. Participants gain firsthand insights, challenge perceptions, and witness the power of asset-based approaches while supporting the guides with dignified, flexible employment that enables them to better care for their families and contribute to community growth.
Walk with purpose—join Resilience Trails™ to challenge perceptions, support dignified livelihoods, and experience the strength and potential within every community.
Resilience Trails™
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3 hours
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By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
Gain insights into the lived experiences and empowerment journeys of individuals from under-resourced communities.
Reflect on and challenge personal assumptions and perceptions about marginalized communities through direct engagement.
Identify and understand the strengths of individuals, communities, and environments, and how these contribute to sustainable development.
Adopt an asset-based approach to community engagement and problem-solving in their personal and professional lives.
Contribute to the empowerment and dignified employment of Community Guides, positively impacting their financial and personal well-being.
For conflict resolution (communication)
Relational Communication Competencies: Discord Resolution
Relational communication is key to building empathetic, mutually empowering, and sustainable relationships among different stakeholders. Projects and programmes are often never smooth-sailing. Hence, being able to respond relationally is even more critical when one has to relay bad news or constraints to stakeholders, or when your stakeholders are already upset or angry over a certain situation of which you had influence over. Modules include Discord Resolution: Affirming Responses (AAARR)™ and Relational Questions.
Communicate with courage and care—join us to master the skills that turn difficult conversations into opportunities for trust, empathy, and deeper stakeholder engagement.
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3 hours
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By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
Understand the importance of relational communication in building trust and sustaining meaningful stakeholder relationships.
Apply the AAARR™ (Acknowledgement, Accountability, Authenticity, Recognition, Reliability) framework to craft affirming responses during difficult or high-stakes conversations.
Practise using relational responses to manage discord and communicate constraints or bad news with empathy and clarity.
Formulate relational questions that deepen understanding and connection, particularly in challenging or emotionally charged situations.
Strengthen overall communication skills to support more effective, empathetic, and empowering community and stakeholder engagement.
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Discord Resolution: Affirming Responses (AAARR)™
In this dynamic module, participants will step out of their comfort zones to learn and practise the key components of affirming responses, namely - Acknowledgement, Accountability, Authenticity, Recognition and Reliability. Affirming Responses will be especially useful when we need to communicate constraints or undesirable news.
Relational Questions
In addition to crafting affirming responses, participants may need to ask questions that promote relationality. This segment will explore the fundamental aspects of relational questioning, and relate to the Empathy Map.
Why choose Skillseed?
Grounded practitioners with proven track record
Skillseed doesn’t just teach—we actively co-build and journey with communities. With over a decade of experience across youth, disability, and community development programmes, we bring lived expertise to every partnership. Our Resilience Trails™ have engaged national institutions like NYC, MSF, MCCY, and GIC.
Direct social impact through dignified employment
Partnering with us supports meaningful livelihoods for under-resourced communities. Our programmes provide Community Guides with flexible, dignified income—addressing income inequality not through charity, but through empowerment and capability-building.
Trusted by the government and recognised nationally
We are the only social enterprise featured by MSF in their ‘Year of Celebrating Social Service Partners’ campaign 2024 and have been spotlighted by CNA and NVPC for our role in trust-building and thought leadership. Our work is known and appreciated across the people, private, and public sectors.
Cross-sectoral insight with systems thinking
As members of MCCY’s PEEP and established trainers at the Civil Service College, we bring perspectives that span grassroots realities and policy-level considerations. This allows us to tailor experiences that are both strategically relevant and deeply human-centred.
Scalable vision for national impact
We are actively scaling Resilience Trails™ with aligned public and philanthropic partners. Our programmes are future-ready and built to grow with ComLink+ and other government initiatives aimed at creating resilient, cohesive communities.
It was a great afternoon of fun and learning!
The workshop was very engaging, re-energizing and conveyed practical skills. Despite the little time we had together, the session was very well planned. The time allocated to each segment felt right - not rushed nor slow, and each segment complemented or reinforced the learnings from the preceding one.
Learning through doing was also evident throughout the workshop, from the various hands on activities to interviewing the citizens. The group sharing and reflections were also helpful for me to get to know my colleagues better.
— Tan Wei Keat, Specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist with the Ministry of Health (MOH)
Skillseed delivered a highly contextualised course relevant to the needs of our participants. Contents such as understanding stereotypes and dignity violations offer immersive experiences and takeaways. Working with the Skillseed Team was an immensely enjoyable journey as we implored pertinent topics and deepened the analysis for learning outcomes. Thank you Skillseed very much once again for the partnership! :)
- Kathleen, Learning Facilitator, National Community Leadership Institute
Ready to shape a more engaged and empathetic public service?
Drop us a message to enquire about how we can help you enhance meaningful impact through citizen-centric leadership and community engagement!