FINMATE -GXS OVERVIEW
SUMMARY
Financial inclusion for the incarcerated to facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration into society , whom traditional financial institutions often disregard.
This proposal will highlight the design collaboration between GXS and the incarcerated- Reimagining Finance for the Incarcerated.
COLLABORATORS
Angela Toh Lee Ting (Communication Designer, NAFA)
Shanice Chong Hui Li (3D Designer, NAFA)
TIME
OCT 2023 - DEC 2023
TOOLS
Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Midjourney
METHODS
Storyboarding userjourney,
Root cause analysis, Prototyping,
CHALLENGES
WORRYING RECIDIVISM RATE
4 out of 10 formerly incarcerated individuals who were released in 2017 re-offended within five years of their release (Samuel Devaraj, 2023).
Ex-offenders confront financial challenges upon their release from jail, such as
1. Restricted access to basic banking services for several years
2. Limitations on their bank accounts
3. A low percentage of job retention.
In addition, they battle emotionally with the urge to re-offend, particularly in the case of unemployed individuals.
TARGET
DEMOGRAPHIC
Individuals incarcerated for over 3 years
due to higher recidivism rates associated with sentences exceeding three years.
CURRENT MEASURES -
A THROUGHOUT CARE APPROACH
Incare
These comprise various family, academic and arts programmes to guide inmates to take responsibility for change.
Pre-release
Towards the end of their sentence, pre-release programmes like skills training for employment are introduced to prepare them for reintegration into society
Aftercare
They are then placed in various community-based schemes like the Halfway House Scheme where they go through employment programmes through Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRS).
INTERVIEWS WITH
LOCAL EX-CONVICTS
Interviews were conducted with local ex-convicts in and out of prison.
Based on insights gathered from the interviews,
there is a general lack of satisfaction with current schemes, making them unsustainable for ex-convicts in the long run.
BOON
KENG
“[The inmates] work because they have to, the jobs that are available are not what they want”
BRUCE
MATHIEU
“Low paying jobs offered in the Work Release Scheme were not sustainable in the long run.”
SIMON
KHUNG
“Felt demoralised when doing a moving job at Halfway House, and eventually relapsed due to a lack of direction.”
PROBLEM
Financial insecurity directly impacts the rise of recidivism due to the inmate’s lack of preparation before release.
WHAT CAN
GXS DO?
Enable the incarcerated to take charge of their financial journey while serving their sentence
PERSONA
AGE- 28
FRUSTRATIONS
1. Lack of access to basic banking facilities
2. Unable to retain his job for more than 6 months
3. Limitations set on his bank account
Introducing GXS FinMate,
a 2-year holistic programme that enables the incarcerated to take charge of their financial journey while serving their sentence from during to release
Onboarding
This encourages them to earn Xp and develop a liking for the programs. Initial awareness of GXS FinMate is created through posters in the prison courtyard during dedicated yard time.
Operation
Upon completing the Xp Card, inmates can unlock access to the GXS FinMate application through their prison supervisors.
YARD POSTERS
A series of posters put up in the prison courtyard to
attract inmates during their dedicated yard time.
Xp Card
A basic list of in-house programmes given out to encourage inmates to participate and allow them to earn Xp, unlocking access to the GXS FinMate app upon completion.
USER-JOURNEY PHASE1
ONBOARDING
GxS Finmate app
After unlocking access to the app, the inmate will be onboarded with a series of questions to understand their personality and interests better.
DIRECT
The GXS FinMate application will be accessible through the Digitization of Inmate Rehabilitation and Corrections Tool (DIRECT), providing inmates with a suite of tablet applications as part of their daily routine.
PORTFOLIO
This application serves as a platform for inmates to build up their portfolios while participating in more exclusive programs. The application's main features include an Xp Wallet, a profile with a portfolio and curated programs for individual inmates.
Xp WALLET
GxS Finmate app
After unlocking access to the app, the inmate will be onboarded with a series of questions to understand their personality and interests better.
By participating in current in-care and
pre-release programs, inmates can accumulate Xp, managed in the Xp Wallet.
A track record of completed programs and earned Xp is kept under the portfolio, serving as a resume for job applications and a credit score for basic banking facilities,
minimising hassle for
incarcerated individuals.
Program dashboard and progress , This allows users to track their programs and access more available ones to build their portfolios. The progress feature motivates them to sign up for more programs,
developing a sense of achievement upon completion.
PERSONALISATION
USER-JOURNEY PHASE2
Using avatars in application profiles mitigates bias, enabling self-representation within prisons and fostering an authentic portrayal for prospective employers
GXS- RELEAF KIT
A welcome kit to conclude the programme and celebrate their release.
This kit serves as a symbol of their new journey towards reintegration
ReLeaf Tag
Resume
Singtel Sim
This kit includes a Releaf tag, generated resume and a Singtel SIM card.
The ReLeaf tag allows ex-convicts to utilise their accumulated Xp with selected merchants. These merchants can permit ex-convicts to indulge in meaningful transactions like dining out and shopping, or they may provide them with the opportunity to learn new skills and pursue short courses and seminars.
It broadens the scope of reintegration activities to include enriching experiences and job searching.
A resume generated from their GXS FinMate profiles, listing their completed programmes and credentials is included in the kit.
MEANINGFUL TRANSACTIONS
ReLeaf Tag
A tag in the form of a wearable or a keychain for inmates to spend their
accumulated Xp with selected merchants.
USER-JOURNEY PHASE3
CONCLUSION
Finmate- GXS digibank
Once the inmates are released, they are given a 2-year period to use the GXS Finmate account to earn and spend credits, which will be transitioned to a normal GXS bank account.
During this period, 5% of their salary will be transferred into Xp points, which they can use with specific merchants who provide facilities or learning paths.
STRATEGY
This methodical strategy after their release fosters intentional spending habits in addition to supporting financial security.
What makes this program special is that it reduces the likelihood of recidivism while promoting a comprehensive reintegration process by rewarding positive engagement in addition to job searching.
CSR OF GXS
Through this innovative banking experience, GXS gives prisoners the resources to handle their money within and beyond prison. GXS FinMate recognises that true freedom extends beyond just employment and enables prisoners to pursue a variety of goals.
The lack of stability among those who are incarcerated affects not just their ability to reintegrate into society but also their support networks.
STRATEGY
Through increased security, both inmates and their families benefit, making it easier for them to transition back into society.
This effort seeks to implement GXS’s corporate social responsibility and break the cycle of recurring offences by promoting reintegration into our communities, strengthening family bonds, and implementing resilience-building strategies.
OPPORTUNITY
How might we initiate the process of obtaining a stable income stream so that they may achieve financial stability upon release and reduce recidivism?