Inspirational SoulKids Mentor Ong Sian Tjoe, has worked tirelessly
helping children for many years, both in Singapore and abroad. One of which is
her involvement as a volunteer for the past decade with AWWA School which
serves children with special needs. Tjoe
along with AWWA School is featured in the Singapore Book of Records with the
unveiling of a 130m long footprint wall.
The imprinted footprints alongside a long ramp used by many of the
students in wheelchairs are symbolic of the collective contributions of each
and every student and that of those closely associated with the school.
Below Tjoe shares with us what inspired her to help children and her
journey as a SoulKids Mentor:
As a young
child, I was neither academically inclined nor motivated. Needless to say, it was very stressful having
my mother summoned to school on a regular basis due to my poor results. During recess time, in need of an escape, I
would often visit the orphanage that was located at the back of the school and
spend my time playing with the children there.
Their laughter and smiling faces brought brief respite before a
reluctant return to the classroom.
Little did I know the impact this experience would forever have on me. The enjoyment which I derived from being with
these children naturally evolved to my seeking other volunteer
opportunities. Over time, from being a
hands-on volunteer, I took on more responsibilities including honorary roles on
charity board committees as well as participating in overseas charity initiatives.
In
parallel, as an extension of my passion in working with and helping children, I
became a SoulKids Mentor and what a transformational journey it has been and
continues to be. Of the many SoulKids stories,
which I relate to, the one, which resonates most, is that of the Two Dogs. We
always have a choice and can choose to focus on the positives or the negatives
in our lives. We hold our happiness in our hands simply by making the choice to
be positive and to live life with a sense of gratitude for all that we are
blessed with!
Ong Sian Tjoe
To find out more about becoming a SoulKids® Mentor, or one of our SoulKids® programs, please contact:
Sally Forrest
Mobile: (65) 9875 2372
Email: info@soulcentre.org
Website: www.soulcentre.org
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