Bright Idea: Society Change Through Spare Change

Written by Chan Gin Kai.

Social innovations are new strategies, concepts, ideas and organizations that meet various kinds of social needs. For centuries, capitalism has pushed the brightest minds and ideas to improving corporate processes, productivity and products by leaps and bounds, while improvements in the social sphere, by comparison, has lagged behind. Over the last decade, an encouraging trend towards social innovation has brought some really brilliant ideas and practical help towards the meeting of social needs. As income gaps incessantly widen and our planet spins inexorably into destruction, it has become imperative for us to find new and better ways to save our world. This new series celebrates some of these bright ideas.

Troco Coletivo (translates as Payback Collective) is one of these bright sparks.

A widening income gap is the blight of most modern cities. In societies where the wealthy and the homeless traverse the same streets in their daily commute, Troco Coletivo provides a convenient way for the rich to extend a helping hand to the poor, by assisting them in their journeys. The new initiative in Brazil enables commuters to leave their small change at bus stops or on buses, so those who are financially challenged can use it to travel.

The conceptually and literally bright idea, by marketing agency Mark+, involves placing bright yellow strips with pockets on bus stop posts and bus handrails. Text on the yellow strips informs passengers that they can donate small change in the pouches, and those who need some coins can take what they require. This initiative is helpful for those who can’t afford their bus fares, and those who happen to be short of change. Embarrassingly, this has happened to me a couple of times before and I would have been delighted if this help was available during those awkward moments.

While it is true that schemes like these (like all other efforts to help people) may sometimes be taken advantage of, the weaknesses of a few shouldn’t discourage us in helping meet the needs of many. Indeed, the creators believe this social experiment has the potential to become a standard at bus stops across Brazil. I hope too, the idea can proliferate to the rest of the world as well. Sometimes, the simplest ideas can create really powerful impact, and this idea rallies the community to help each other.