Monday, May 4, 2015

Thank you MP Baey Yam Keng and MP Tin Pei Ling


Recently been to Tampines Street 44 and Pipit Road together with the Founder of Project Awareness, Elson Soh, to visit the families there. First of all, we would like to thank MP Baey Yam Keng and MP Tin Pei Ling for helping the residents, as many residents sing praises of them. They help the lower income family to apply for higher grants depending on each of their situations, lowering their housing rental, providing a free wheelchair for the physically challenged people, changing their electric meter when the residents moved in and were charged at an erroneous rate, and even see photos of them with the residents in their house! This show how much care and concern they have for the residents there.


Over at Tampines, we spoke to one of the Malay family Mr Buang, who suffered stage 3 lung cancer, who was diagnosed last year, and currently quit his job as security officer, in order to continue with his medical treatment. They mentioned that MP Baey had assisted him to lower his flat rental from $250+ to $50+ a month, and applied a grant of $1300 from CDC to support his family of 8 children and a pregnant wife. In order to keep the SP bills lows, they hardly on their lights and the TV. Initially, we thought that this family is okay with their large TV, but after talking with them, we realised that most of the items in the house were donated to them. So we should never judge any family based on what we see. We never know what their story behind every door is. The family top up their phones by $2 dollars. We didn’t know this was possible until they told us about it. In order to keep their expenses to the minimal, the children had to cycle to school daily. The family of 8 have to sleep on the living room floor as the bed room is not big enough for everyone.


After understanding the situation of this family, we are shocked to see that their fridge is empty, and the daily meals they have is only white rice, and a bowl of sardine, their worst experience is that they go by a day without any food and the babies only had water to drink. We immediately asked the two children (boy studying in Polytechnic and girl studying in Secondary) to follow us to nearest FairPrice to stock up their rations. To our surprise, the two children didn't dare to pick up any of the items from FairPrice even though we told them to select what type of food is good for their family. They told me that their family never had a chance to do shopping in such a way as their financial and expenses are very tight.


Over at Pipit Road, we met this Chinese old couple at the lift lobby while conducting house visiting last night. Mrs Huan spoke to us in mandarin that MP Tin had given her this free wheelchair due to her stoke condition and also assisted them to apply for medical grant. Mr Huan (72 years old), currently working as a cleaner, living with his wife and son who is working odd jobs. They didn't ask for any assistance but just hoping Project Awareness can provide them with some goody bag to lighten their daily expenses. We accompany Mr Huan to the nearest hawker centre and treated him and Mrs Huan to Rojak and ice Kacang, as this is their favourite food. On behalf and request by Mr Huan and his wife, we thank MP Tin for your kindness and thoughtfulness.


Another family we met is a Indian lady named Achi D/O Rengasamy Veeramuthu (73 years old). She has diabetes and her right leg had severe gangrene and is at a stage where her leg has to be removed. It was a very sad scene for us. She told us about her story, having living alone, and cook for herself, it was not easy for her to go down and purchase groceries for her daily living. Just we are chatting with her, we chanced upon a photo of MP Tin and her together in a photo. I’m very glad that MP Tin has visited her before and had rendered help to her as much as possible.

Kindness is everywhere and a little thought can mean so much! Remember to share and walk with us in Project Awareness.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

My life as a insurance agent

I didn't wanted to be a insurance agent. At first. It was due to quite a series of events that I eventually become one.
 

My dream job is to help people manage their finance in a better way. I believe that no matter how rich you are, what background you come from, how you end in life financially largely depends on how you manage your money. You can be a multi billionaire, but if you splurge on unnecessary things or indulge in gambling, you will end up with nothing one day. Unless you own that casino.  :)
 
I thought that being a personal banker should fit my characteristics of dream job. Just before entering into National Service, I plan my life out accordingly to what a banker needs and I intend to study Banking and Finance after I finish the army.
 

After being in army for a year, my close BMT buddy ask if I wanted to be a insurance agent. I quickly rejected the idea of being a insurance agent due to the negative hearsay and rumours about them, and some of the black sheeps in the insurance industry. Coincidentally, I happen to meet a few bankers during networking sessions, and they shared their stories as a banker. "Crazy sales target", "Demanding bosses", "Have to sell many range of products altogether", "No day, no night". These were the complaints I heard from them. One of them said, "I wish I was a insurance agent". 

Why?
 
Because they have flexible hours, work as and when they like, much more carefree, can 'choose' what they want to sell, and much more meaningful when they process a claim for their clients. After hearing these words of wisdom, I decided to read up more about how insurance agent actually work without all the previous judgment and prejudice. I learnt that insurance are indeed very meaningful if everyone is being educated in a proper manner. 
 
 
The financial products are good, just that there might be a few unscrupulous or high pressure selling salesman. Insurance is something useful when you need it, but when you really need it and you do not have it, life will be a mess. Just like a lock to a house, when the day you need it and don't have it, your house will be a empty house when you are back.

And so, I started to embark on my journey to be a insurance agent. I phoned my BMT buddy up, found out more info about it, started studying and taking all the basic 4 insurance test, and finally become a insurance agent.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Never knew such places actually existed in a first world country

After being together with Project Awareness, I realised that we are fortunate compared to the needy families in Singapore. I never knew such places actually existed in a first world country. 


Looking at so many families having to squeeze at a small accommodation together with their many children, having this consistent worry of not having food on the table, having various medical conditions, having not enough money to feed the whole family, and when they share their difficulties they faced, it makes my heart break.


There is a family at King George Ave, single mother with 7 children. Taking care of 7 children at her age is no easy feat for her. With that many children, she can never work as her youngest child is only 1 year old and she has to take care of the rest. Luckily, her eldest child is the most obedient of them all, having good results in school, learning to cook for the family and helping to take care of his brothers and sisters. I hoped that all of them grow up to be a fine person.


No matter how busy my schedule is, I will always spend time to volunteer and help those in need as much as possible. Let’s do our part and provide whatever help and support we can.