I was in Taiwan for work for the past week. My schedule was packed with lots of interviews and shows, I was totally worn out. Finally one day I was free of work, I asked my friend and fellow artiste Javier Ng along and we both headed to Long Shan Temple. I heard that there are a lot of homeless people who often hang around that area. When we got there, my heart sank. I was reminded of Project Awareness in Singapore. So i decided to do something impromptu. I walked up to an uncle selling porridge and noodles and I bought off two big pots of his porridge and we distributed to everyone there. I'm glad to be able to help more than 100 people in that short period of time I was there. Suddenly I felt a sense of happiness and relief off the stress I feel for the past week.
I hope to be able to influence more people to help more people, be it in Singapore or Taiwan. Let's all work together! As some of you may know, I visited Aunty Jenny and her two sons, Andrew and Andy, last weekend. Followers at Project Awareness may have seen this family before. Aunty Jenny is taking care of her two disabled sons since birth and the passing of her husband 20+ years ago. Aunty Jenny teared as she tell me of the many times she fell while carrying her 100kg son off and on the bed. Despite getting on with her age, she stayed strong all these years. A strong willed woman she is, she never once she asked me for help, no matter how hard things go. A walk to the nearest market is 45mins for her and another 45mins on the journey back. But for the sake of her two sons, she has to make at least 2-3 trips a week to buy food and groceries as she is the only person in the family who can walk. I bought them lunch that weekend, along with groceries to stock up for the week. I sat beside Aunty Jenny as she ate her lunch. After eating about halfway through she stopped eating and packed her food in a container. I asked her why, she says she is already full. But deep inside I know she is saving it for dinner. That is how she is, dividing her meals into two portions just to thrift, while giving her sons everything they wanted as long as it is within her means. I was heartbroken, yet not wanting to hurt her pride, I kept quiet and chatted with her, telling her jokes to cheer her up. Seeing her smile, is worth a million dollars to me. Friends at Project Awareness, I am sure many of you may want to help out Aunty Jenny to tide through this. It is a long term project and a life-long commitment for her.
Those who genuinely want to help, can get her food and rations to last her for a week every week so she doesn't have to make the long trip to the market every week, which is affecting her weak legs and body. I am flying off for my Taiwan trip tomorrow and I cant help but worry for them. Sighs. I can still be contacted via my email projectawarenesssg@gmail.com or Facebook inbox message at Project Awareness. Kindness is everywhere and a little thought can mean so much! Remember to share and walk with us in Project Awareness. Elson Soh 蘇奕銓 Project Awareness - Share & Walk with me Today is Hari Raya but not every family can celebrate this festive day, especially those elderly who stay alone. I went to visit this Malay grandpa at Beach Road today and was kind of upset when I saw his living condition. He is 78 years old, staying alone in a rented flat. He refused to accept any assistance from the government agency despite that they are so willing to help him. I feel that this Malay grandpa is quite selective toward the people that coming forward to him. He reminds me of the Marsiling Lane grandma with three grandchild as they are equally stubborn. Check his kitchen and realized that he is eating very unhealthy and maybe at time eating food that left there for days. Nobody is taking care of him and he also refuse to stay in old folk home. I spent two hours chatting with this grandpa, as I'm trying to understand what he need and why he refuse public and government assistance. I told him that I will help him to clean up his house and will try to settle his outstanding utility bills within my own means and my own contacts. I brought him for a simple lunch at nearby fastfood restaurant, as most of the Muslim stalls is closed today.
Bought him some ration and packed him a packet of dinner after that. This is the most I can do for him as I'm also depending on my shows and events income for the people that I want to help. Project Awareness is different from the past, we no longer call for public donation and everything is done through my own means and contacts to help the needy people. Everybody can be like me, set up your own volunteer group, help as many less-fortunate people as possible using your own mean. Otherwise join me or any volunteer group to lend them your helping hand. Project Awareness often post different volunteer's group and their projects at our page, you can check it out too. Here are some photo from Day 2 Tribute to Mdm Tay (鄭婆婆) Memory Ceremony outside Mandarin Gallery. Take note that there will be no more Memory Ceremony as we had ended the ceremony yesterday (17 June 2014).
Photo courtesy from Ms Angela and Ms Irene, plus a big THANK YOU to both of them and a couple of volunteers for the time and effort in organizing this Memory Ceremony. Accordingly to our volunteers, there are many visitors and supporters specially making their trip down to pay their last respect to Mdm Tay. Thank you everybody for your support and Project Awareness believe that Mdm Tay will be greatly appreciate and happy in the other world. Once again, thank you to the management of Mandarin Galley for allowing us to hold this memory ceremony. More photo at Ms Angela Facebook, click HERE. Here are some photo from yesterday Tribute to Mdm Tay (鄭婆婆) Memory Ceremony outside Mandarin Gallery. Photo courtesy from Ms Angela and Ms Irene.
Thank you to all the friends, supporters and strangers for dropping by with your flowers, make cards and the messages for Mdm Tay. Today (17 June 2014) is the last day for this Memory Ceremony for Mdm Tay, from 4pm to 10pm, and hope to see you there to pay your last respect to Mdm Tay. Once again, thank you to the management of Mandarin Galley for allowing us to hold this memory ceremony. More photo at Ms Angela Facebook, click HERE. This posting is a tribute from Elson Soh 苏奕铨, founder of Project Awareness to our lovely Orchard Cineleisure old lady (婆婆). Thank you Sharian Shariff for all the photos. Project Awareness would like to thank everybody who brought some of her stuffs in the past and do continue to spread your love around.
Project Awareness also thank everybody who help to share the posting of Orchard Cineleisure old lady (婆婆) and lastly a big thank you to Mandarin Gallery Management as you guys had never chase Orchard Cineleisure old lady (婆婆) away when she is selling her stuffs there. Message from Sharian Shariff: Hi Elson, Just read the tragic news of the Cineleisure Aunty's passing. Thank you so much for spreading this news, I wouldn't have gotten to know about it if it weren't for this page. The Aunty was someone I held close to my heart. I would usually see her sitting with her head down, with a packet of tissue paper on hand. That was for the first few years that I've seen her around (I didn't approach her because I was shy and scared then). It wasn't until late December last year that I got enough courage to have a seat in front of her and just start a small conversation. And I never regretted that moment! Trying to get to know her was a pleasure even though she would speak in Mandarin most of the time and I'd just nod my head trying to understand what she was saying. I got to know that her name was Tiok Lang (yeah I probably heard it wrong but it's a name I call her affectionately), and she'd talk about where she lives, the things she has on sale (a 3-in-1 instant oatmeal drink and an umbrella! who wouldn't want that :p) and the occasional grumble and complaint about paying expensive bills and doctor check-ups. I'll usually buy a packet of tissue from her and give her a hug before heading home. For the following few occasions that I pass by Orchard and was fortunate enough to see her, I would always sit in front of her chair and mat and say hi. It's a shame that I couldn't get to meet her before she passed on. But it truly warms my heart to see so many comments of past endeavours, from simply buying a pack of tissue from her or giving her a ride back home late in the night. And it's a testament to my belief that us Singaporeans (no matter how reserved or 'uncaring' others might perceive us) are nothing less but compassionate and kind souls. Attached are a few photos I took of Tiok Lang for my school assignment in December. Hehe hope she won't have to grumble too much in Heaven God bless her soul and may she rest in peace. I pray for her safety and happiness in the afterlife too. Yes she will be missed by all of us, and I'm sure she's in a happier place now. I've read about Project Awareness and I'd just like to thank you for the amazing work that you're doing! It's for such an amazing cause and I too strongly believe in giving and sharing with others. I'd love to help out if you are ever in need of volunteers. |
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