Siti Adriana Rasip Turns Her Own Experience of Support Into Help for Families

Siti Adriana Muhamad Rasip says the best way to support families on lower incomes is to recognise what they can do, rather than focus only on what they lack. That belief shapes the work she leads at Empowered Families Initiative (EFI), a programme she co-founded in 2022 with Sonia Mariana Muhammad Jalal and Palvindran Jayram. EFI helps families pursue goals they have identified for themselves. According to the account, its support can include start-up funds or grants for people hoping to begin a home business, as well as assistance for those who want to continue their education but do not have enough money. Rasip said her approach is rooted in seeing the strengths and potential of people who may be facing financial hardship. Her commitment has a personal history. Rasip recalled that while she was in secondary school, a donor helped cover part of her education costs and trusted her to keep moving forward. She said that experience encouraged her to offer similar support to others who need it. Before establishing EFI, Rasip spent more than a decade in social services, working directly with families. She described going into communities to identify people’s abilities and resources, connect them with relevant agencies, and bring parents together to exchange experiences and find solutions to shared challenges. The initiative also encourages families to save. Under its matching scheme, EFI contributes two dollars for every dollar a participating family puts aside over six months, up to a stated maximum of $1,200. Rasip said funding comes from several sources, including Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development and private contributions. EFI’s third approach brings families together in peer-support groups, although the supplied report ends before giving further details.