Impacting One Life at a Time

Earlier this year, the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) announced a $500,000 donation to two NTUC social enterprises to help underprivileged children and the elderly.

Of that amount, $200,000 went to the Bright Horizons Fund to provide children from low-income families with financial assistance, as well as to organise educational outings and movie gatherings to enrich the learning experience of My First School (MFS) preschoolers.

MFS is the preschool arm of NTUC First Campus Co-operative Limited.

The remaining $300,000 went to the NTUC Eldercare Trust to benefit seniors at NTUC Health Nursing Home (Jurong West). 

Late last month, SMOU held cheque presentation ceremonies at MFS Jalan Sultan and at NTUC Health Nursing Home (Jurong West).

Jalan Besar GRC Member of Parliament Denise Phua witnessed the presentation at MFS, while Chua Chu Kang GRC Member of Parliament Yee Chia Hsing was the guest of honour at the nursing home event.

We recently visited both MFS and the nursing home to find out who these donations will benefit.

Tia Ee Chin, 54, NTUC Health Nursing Home (Jurong West) Resident (Pictured Right)

Meet Tia Ee Chin, a 54-year-old who suffered from a stroke when she was just 39.

From the stories she shared, she used to be a strong, independent woman. She worked as a coffee shop runner.

While clocking 15-hour shifts at the coffee shop, she learnt how to speak six languages fluently. In fact, most of this interview was conducted in Malay.

“To be a coffee shop runner, I had to communicate with people from every race, every background. I had to learn because I needed to survive,” she said.

Mdm Tia has a son who is currently 28-years-old but she had been living alone in her Yishun flat since her divorce. Her son was only a year old when the divorce happened, and he went on to live with her ex-husband. They don’t really have a close relationship, she said.  

When she had the stroke, Mdm Tia had a friend who visited her daily at her flat. She used to be mobile enough to go down to the coffee shop and mingle with her friends from the neighbourhood.  

It was only when she lost her leg from diabetes that she knew she wouldn’t be able to live alone in her flat anymore. She needed help to get around and do daily tasks.

That was over three years ago.

Mdm Tia is now a resident of the NTUC Health Nursing Home (Jurong West).

She said that the nurses there take good care of her. Bingo is her favourite pastime and she’s always delighted when she wins the top-prize.

A tin of biscuits – that was the prize she won the last time she played.

She also doesn’t have to pay a single dollar for her stay as she receives subsidies from the Government as well as the Eldercare Trust.

“I feel very grateful for the help. But at the same time, I also feel very guilty because I have no money to pay. I want to thank everyone who has helped me,” said Mdm Tia.

Suzana Tan, 28, Mother of three whose children go to MFS Jalan Sultan (Pictured Left)

“If I don’t go to work, I wouldn’t be able to feed my children. But if I go to work, who will take care of them?”

Many single mothers find themselves in this dilemma.

Luckily for Suzana Tan, her sister introduced her to MFS. Her three children are now in K2, K1 and in the playgroup.

“My nieces and nephews all attended MFS, and my sister said that she received good support when she put her children there,” she said. 

Suzana benefits from school-fee subsidies from the Government and the Bright Horizons Fund. Her children also receive free uniforms.

“Without the subsidies, I don’t think I can afford to go to work. I’ll be staying at home, taking care of my kids. My kids won’t be able to go to school because it would be too expensive as there are three of them,” said Suzana.

Suzana added that her children get a holistic early childhood education at MFS.

“I like building robots!” said one of her children.

Two of her children also get learning support in class from Classroom Co-Facilitators through the Classroom Support Programme funded by the Bright Horizons Fund. This has helped the children improve their reading and build their confidence.

Since enrolling her children at MFS, Suzana has seen an increase in her children’s confidence when interacting with others. And like her sister who recommended MFS to Suzana, she now recommends the preschool to other parents.

Suzana’s hopes are simple – It’s to make sure her children know that she loves them, and that they have a bright future. 

“Whatever my children want to be, I will support them. I just want them to know that I’m always here for them when they need support. For me, I just want to work and do whatever I can for my children to be happy,” said Suzana.