What is KeYi?

KeYi is a joint collaboration by the prominent Eastern Blossoms network, an organisation created to inspire collaboration between China focused communities and 2015-16 cohort of the Diaspora Leadership Group, a programme run by Lord Wei of Shoreditch to develop, connect and mobilise cohorts of young people with links to China.

Drawing on those origins, KeYi aims to empower individuals from East to West.

KeYi is a social enterprise that seeks to help people give time to charitable causes in the UK.

The contributions to society through active involvement in charitable causes are recognised through a points-based system which gives awards to those who have made the greatest impact over a sustained period of time.

What does the name mean?

KeYi (可以) means “can” in Mandarin. The choice of word is emblematic of what the social enterprise sets out to do, which is to empower young time-givers to think that they:

• Can make a positive difference to other people’s lives in their community
• Can make a positive contribution to society
• Can better themselves through fantastic experience

How does it work?

KeYi is a digital platform that connects people to charitable organisations through advertising relevant activities through an online directory.

People will be directed to the site through advertising on social networks and other avenues. As the name and background of the idea suggests, the focus will initially be on providing charitable activities in the Chinese community. However, this will diversify going forward. Also, although the idea has origins in the Chinese community, there is no restriction on who can take part as a time-giver.

Those advertising the need for people to give time will simply state what help they need, what skills may be appropriate to have, what skills will be developed by being involved in the tasks they are offering, and the time that they think it will take for the task to be completed.

Visitors to the site then search through the directory and apply to tasks that they believe best suits them.

The KeYi award scheme functions through a points-based system that calculates time each individual gives to the projects they have been involved with.

1 point is equal to 1 minute of time given, which equates to the following award tiers:

What else are we offering?

We are also developing a way in which teams of people – from either organisations or social groups – can be involved in giving time as a collective. This would increase engagement and motivation for being part of the KeYi scheme, leading to awards for groups/organisations as well as individuals.

Where are we now?

KeYi is in the final stages of development, having undergone an extensive programme of refinement through the dedicated work of the cohort.

We now need help from outside organisations to bring our idea to fruition.

What’s in it for us to get involved?

KeYi has links in the Chinese community, from Chinese students through to local community groups. Involvement with KeYi would have a positive impact with those communities for your organisation via the ‘halo effect’ of partnering with a social enterprise seeking to give back to and improve society.

There is also a clear benefit in taking part as a team for your organisation as it will help towards corporate CSR targets.

Partnering with us would put your organisation to the fore of KeYi’s work, through co-branding of awards and events, alongside premier coverage on our website and marketing communications.

Furthermore, your organisation can be involved with targeted events which would introduce the brightest and most active young people in the UK seeking to improve their skills.

We also have provision for outside involvement in our management structure, with the ability to allocate membership of our advisory board for those who could provide the expertise to help drive our social enterprise forward.

Thank you!

Team KeYi

www.keyi.org.uk