Sending Heartfelt Mail to Socially-Isolated Elderly in Nursing Homes

What happened when a tight-knit group of former JC schoolmates came together during the circuit breaker? In this particular instance, Hey, You Got Mail! was born.

In our very first episode of A Singapore Story, we find out from team member Wei Lin why they felt it was important to send personalised, handwritten mail to the socially-isolated elderly in Singapore’s nursing homes.

Producer/Interviewer: Arman Shah

Video/Editing: Naufal Azman

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Everyone has an incredible and powerful story to share. These are such stories by the everyday people in Singapore. #everydaypeoplesg

“One of my most memorable experiences working at

“One of my most memorable experiences working at the hotel was taking care of an Australian family from Queensland. It was their first holiday together but they checked in really late because their flight got delayed.

They had three kids and they were all so tired by the time they arrived. I thought I could do my part and take care of them the best way I knew how. I brought them to their room and made sure everything was settled for them without any hassle.

The next day, they came down to thank me and we had a conversation right here at the lobby. They actually wanted to know more about Singapore and the Chinese culture – particularly calligraphy – so I told them where in Chinatown to visit and what books to buy.

When I found out that they didn’t manage to find time to visit Chinatown, I decided to buy the calligraphy books for them. It was my day off on the day of their check-out, so I went down and presented it to them as a farewell gift, just before sending them off.

They were so happy they actually emailed the hotel. This was three years ago. They were supposed to come back last year but couldn’t because of COVID-19. I look forward to having them back here again when it’s possible. I think the kids are six, 10 and 12 now.

I’m a Senior Guest Relations Executive at @rasasentosa. I’ve been with the hotel for almost five years now. I joined as an intern in April 2016. When there was an opportunity to convert to being a full-timer the same year, I went for it.

What I love most about my job is that I can create a lot of memorable stays for our guests. It makes me happy and fulfilled knowing that they are happy. I also love working here because it doesn’t really feel like you’re in Singapore. The vibe is very calm and relaxing.

I have a Malaysian grandmother who loves to travel and go on beach holidays. A few years ago, she had to stop travelling because age caught up with her. But because she still wanted to go to the beach, I got her to stay at Shangri-La in Sentosa...

“Everyone thinks boxing is for guys, but I’ve

“Everyone thinks boxing is for guys, but I’ve always found girls who can fight very cool. I just love it because it’s very rough. Yeah, I know. I’m a girl but I don’t really behave like one. My mum always tells me that.

My uncle introduced me to boxing. When I was younger, I always saw him shadowboxing and stuff, so I’ve always wanted to learn how to fight the proper way. But I didn’t dare join a boxing gym because I was scared to get judged for being a girl.

My uncle knew I was interested because I was always watching boxing videos at home. So in 2017, he brought me to a boxing gym in Farrer Park. I didn’t even know I was registering as a member. I was clueless! Next thing I knew, I was talking to the head coach, Coach Bala.

I still remember my very first training session. Class started at 6pm but Coach Bala got me to come at 4pm, just to teach me how to put on hand wraps. He also wanted to see me punch. I think he was just prepping me so that I didn’t feel awkward or lost once class started.

It was only during my second session that I saw @leonahui. She was the only girl I saw in the ring. I later found out that she had already competed at SEA Games. For some reason, I thought she was going to be arrogant or stuck-up because she was so good.

But she was so humble and nice! Leona always took the effort to arrange training sessions with me. I didn’t feel like I deserved to train with her because I was so new and didn’t know much back then, but she never made me feel that way.

I started competing in 2017; it all happened in that same year. Coach Bala told me there was going to be an amateur fight in four months and he wanted me and Leona to take part. I loved training but I wasn’t sure about competing. It was never really my intention to fight.

That was also around the same time my dad fell sick. My dad suffered from chronic heart disease for 18 years. He was in and out of the hospital for months, especially in 2017. There were so many complications with his health when he was nearing the final stages of his life...

“When my mum passed away two years ago, my persp

“When my mum passed away two years ago, my perspective on life changed. I took care of her and wanted to give her the best life. But to do that, I couldn’t really spend time with her. I had to work hard to be really successful. It felt like I was trapped in a vicious cycle.

I’ve always been a career-minded person. I came to Singapore from Vietnam to study and start my work life here. I’ve been in the hospitality industry for 16 years. For the past 12 years, I’ve had the chance to open six hotels and was involved in nine reopening projects.

But after my mum passed away, I realised that you don’t need a lot to survive. You can be happy and fulfilled in whatever you’re doing, without compromising the time you have for yourself and your family. You don’t have to work yourself to the point of a burnout.

It sounds really simple, right? But it’s not. Being mindful is actually really hard. If I offered you a cup of coffee, would you take your time to enjoy it? Or would you down everything in one gulp because you’re in a rush? It feels like everyone’s busy and in a rush these days.

Being mindful is the same thing. It’s a journey and we have to make a conscious effort to constantly be mentally present. If we don’t practise now, it’s going to be really hard and we’ll most likely just forget to be mindful.

So that’s why I left my old job four months ago and started my own consultancy called Trinhique Consultancy. I felt that it was time for me to do something else – to pursue my passion and my purpose. And my passion is in mentoring and coaching.

I have always loved dealing with people. People development is what makes me tick. When I see people happy at work and living their best lives, it makes me feel fulfilled. Even when I was managing my own team in my previous company, I did a lot of mentoring.

I remember someone who held this belief that as long as you are the boss or manager, you have the power to rule by fear and authority. I was able to change this mindset because for me, I believe in nurturing and inspiring people. That’s how a leader builds a great team...

"When I was 18, I was a junior in the national tra

"When I was 18, I was a junior in the national track and field team. Although I hadn't yet been classified as an 'elite' athlete, I was one of the top 10 runners across all schools in Singapore. Everyday, I’d rush to the National Stadium for training once I’m done with school.

Back then, there was no emphasis on the importance of sports massage or strengthening and conditioning. The focus was on performance and results. Sports massage was only made available to elite runners, which was unfair to the younger, up-and-coming athletes.

As time went by, I got injured and was not able to perform well. I didn’t have much money and I couldn’t get sponsors, so I wasn’t able to get the treatment I needed. I’m 39 now and I just underwent knee surgery for cartilage wear and tear that accumulated since my youth.

I signed on as a regular with the Singapore Navy and took up a Diploma in Sports Coaching at the same time. It was a suggestion by an ex-girlfriend, but yet in my heart, I knew I wanted to do something in the sports industry. I wanted to do something that would bring about good in people’s lives.

But for two to three years after leaving the Navy, I couldn’t get a job. It was a very difficult time for me. I performed many odd jobs, working long hours, often requiring tough physical labour – all for meagre pay. But I had no choice as I just had to support myself.

This went on until an ex-boss asked me to join him in sports therapy because he felt I had the potential. For six months, I worked as a maintenance staffer at the Singapore Zoo from 9pm to 6pm, then rushed from Mandai to Novena and trained under him from 8pm to 11pm.

He taught me everything from the eastern to western style of sports massage. Although it was a very tiring routine, I felt motivated to learn something new. As time went on, I was able to build my clientele...

In need of a respite from the hustle and bustle of

In need of a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life? Arman Shah recommends a reconnection with nature at Admiralty Park in northern Singapore.

To view the whole gallery, click on the link in bio or visit the url below:

bit.ly/AdmiraltyParkLovelyPictures

#storyteller #visualstoryteller #photoessay #photography #documentaryphotography #streetphotography #everydaypeoplesg #parks #admiraltypark #woodlands #leisure #nature #walk #mentalhealth #explore #exploresg #sunday #sundayfunday #covid19

“I was a very shy person back in school. A teach

“I was a very shy person back in school. A teacher shared her feedback one day and said I needed to be more open. My friends even suggested I joined camps because that would make me more vocal; so, I became a freelance instructor.

That experience made me a more confident person. It also helped develop my ability to control a group’s attention. I had to learn how to communicate with teachers and students well, and that came in useful when I started working as a Fort Siloso guide four years ago.

Fort Siloso in Sentosa is Singapore’s last preserved artillery fort. Working as a guide there was a whole new challenge for me. I didn’t have much knowledge; but, because I can pick things up fast, I was able to learn its history and the names of the different exhibits quickly.

Every year since then, I’ve had to constantly adapt and learn new things, especially after being promoted to Senior Officer under the Environmental Management department. My job is to curate and run programmes that touch upon preservation, maintenance and outreach.

I wouldn’t say I’m an expert in any one area but Sentosa has made me a well-rounded guide. And that’s the impression that I want to give! I want people to see me as someone who knows all about the natural, heritage and wildlife sites that this island has to offer.

Job perks? I think having access to places that are not readily available to the public just yet. For instance, I got to explore the different southern islands and talk to different teachers, professors and experts about these locations for a tour that we are planning to offer to the public.

And the things you see here are different from the things you see on mainland Singapore. Here, you get to see hawksbill turtles that come to lay their eggs and dolphins that swim around our coast. It’s very cool...

In collaboration with @sentosa_island, we present

“I work for @eatkarana, an early-stage Singapore

“I work for @eatkarana, an early-stage Singaporean start-up. We make ‘deliciously indulgent comfort foods from whole-plants’. Meaty, meat-free products without the need for heavy processing or lots of added ingredients.

One of our founders has been vegetarian since he was 10. He knows more people are beginning to understand that as the world population grows, we can’t stick to the same approaches to food and food supplies. It’s not sustainable for the environment.

Our first range of products are made from the wonderful jackfruit. An abundant, sustainable, biodiverse ingredient with a naturally meat-like texture. We’re launching into Singapore restaurants in 2021.

Before KARANA, I spent the majority of my career in a variety of CPG (consumer packaged goods) marketing roles with a large multinational in both Sydney and London. A few years back, I moved to consulting whilst living in London.

It was very rewarding work to help SMEs and start-ups with interesting business challenges. Then about a year ago, I moved to Singapore with my wife and kids. I set out to join an early-stage start-up to get into the day-to-day challenges of a small business.

Working at KARANA as the Head of Marketing, it’s been an exciting journey with the founders. I’ve been with them for six months now and I can say that it’s been a big change; but a great change.

Like all businesses around the globe, COVID-19 has changed our speed on a lot of things. It’s been slow sourcing across borders or exploring manufacturing units in other countries. Finding office space where we could install an R&D kitchen wasn’t easy.

Luckily, we came across @workbuddy_sg . We can work from different co-working spaces across Singapore with lots of flexibility. COVID-19 has proven that you don’t need to have everyone sitting in an office five days a week to get results.

We’ll likely continue our Workbuddy membership even after we’ve settled in the new office...

“After I suffered a ligament tear about 10 years

“After I suffered a ligament tear about 10 years ago, I couldn’t play soccer anymore. I could still run but I just couldn’t move very fast. My kicking was all haywire. And when you can’t do what you normally do, you get frustrated.

I started to gain a lot of weight. I blame it on the combination of good food and flexibility that comes with my job at Prudential. I work as a Financial Services Manager. So while I was on the path to recovery, I needed to lose all that weight.

I needed an activity that would ‘tekan’ me. A lot of people asked why didn’t I try running? I hate running. I’m one of those people who would jog two rounds around the neighbourhood and stop for prata if I passed by a prata shop, so I can never complete my run.

I chose boxing because I know that the coaches would ‘tekan’ me. It’s cardio, really. I also know that no matter how tired I am and no matter how much they ‘tekan’ me, I just have to endure it for one hour. It’s a love-hate relationship.

My kids are still young and I want to be healthy as I grow old so that I can see them grow older. I also do not want to look my age! I box twice a week at @legendsfightsport now and I feel fitter and lighter. I even managed to achieve my weight-loss objective.

My second reason for joining boxing was to bond with my son, Iman (@wanpadawan). I have two daughters and Iman is my only son. I wanted to spend more time with him and teach him life lessons through an activity that we can do together.

I grew up with typical Malay parents who were busy working to make ends meet and I was left alone most of the time. I didn’t want to be that kind of parent. I want to be there for Iman, provide him with the fatherly guidance and mentoring that he needs.

And it’s also for Iman’s sake, really. He is small for his age. Many people don’t believe he is already in secondary school. I was exactly like him in secondary school. My school shorts looked like bermudas. I didn’t like it much back then because of my size...

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13 February 2021
In Activists, People, Video

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