ONEfor10 Social Service Users - Community Chest 公益金

We struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis at first. We wondered if it was genetic, or if something had gone wrong during his birth. After we came to terms with that, the uncertainty of his future hit us, which made us worry even more.

Prior to joining Eden School, Noraidil couldn’t really communicate with others. He didn’t make eye contact, and spent most of the time in his own world. When spoken to, he would take quite a while to respond. His vocabulary was also limited to just a few common English and Malay words.

Over the past year, we have seen him improve by leaps and bounds, thanks to the unwavering efforts and support of the teachers and the school. Noraidil today is cheerful and sociable. Not only has he learnt to interact with his peers, he also addresses his teachers by name and knows how to approach them for help.

We are extremely happy with the difference we’ve noticed, and hope he will continue to progress – hopefully to a point where he has adequate daily living skills to live independently, and be employed in future.

Vaccinations were introduced in Singapore when I was one, but my parents never thought I would contract polio, and never brought me to get one. It started with just a fever and sore throat. By the time my parents found out, my right arm and leg had already been affected.

Previously, I got around with a walking stick, but switched to a motorised wheelchair as my legs were getting weaker and I kept falling. I was afraid at first, especially when it got stuck in the MRT platform gap. Now, I even race to the bus stop in it to get home more quickly!

I’ve been living alone for the past 14 years. My husband passed away from heart and kidney failure in 2000. Sometimes I feel sad when I can’t manage at home, as I don’t have mobility in my right hand. Thankfully, one neighbour always offers to help.

Before Bizlink, I worked at an electronics company, but was retrenched during the 1995 economic downturn. I couldn’t cope financially after that, so my friends told me about Bizlink. I’ve made many friends here – it feels like a family. Younger colleagues also look up to me, which is a very nice feeling. Right now, I’m doing a computer literacy course, and hope to improve my typing skills so I can take on a data-entry job.

However,the most important things I’ve gained from Bizlink Centre are the feelings of achievement, satisfaction, and most importantly, independence.All these – money can’t buy.

A philanthropic gift of $250,000 can support Wendy and others like her at Bizlink Centre – which provides training and meaningful employment for people with disabilities who are not ready or suitable for open employment. Those in the sheltered workshop programme go through structured vocational training before starting on sub-contract work in a supported environment that lets them earn a salary, receive CPF and other work benefits. Your donation will go a long way in helping them strive for independence through their work at Bizlink Centre.