Project Dignity

18 Sep

This week many things happen

Different newspapers field different response. In the Chinese paper, I got over 300 calls mainly from people lookng for work & wanting to be trained. On the English version I get over 100 calls & in this case mainly volunteers and even some wanting to donate money. It was funny. I come to conclude that there are really good people out there. I noted all incoming calls and will call back when the school is up and running.

I also come to believe things happen for a purpose. I was struggling with finding the food for stall number two when a call from a company wanting to find a consultant who can take their food product overseas. The food product is Ngoh Hiong - a local delicacy. Meeting with the company (started in 1928) it dawn on me the potential of the product for stall no 2. After some convincing they agree to help me set up stall no. 2. Their food is good & very traditional, my school & students will preserve the heritage

Finding trainee is not difficult, finding the trainee who is willing to be trained and thereafter to restart their life is the difficult. So far I have 4 trainee will need 4 more by end Oct.

Arrange a meeting for the trainees of the blind boy & the mother to meet with their trainers. The ldea is for the trainer to assess the trainee. Feedback is that it is not going to be easy. Attitude & the keeness to learn is very important. The trainee tried the product,tasted the food & even take away. I believe both the mother and his son is ready for the class.

Project Dignity

12 Sep

Another newspaper interview and the article will come out tomorrow. Looking for a Yong Tau Foo trainers. The trainer must be an ex hawker, comfortable to train and willing to work with disabled. Not an easy task,hence the newspaper article.

Why an ex-hawker? Most of hawker training in Singapore is from going to community centre attending classes, the hawker environment is missing. The other training option is to pay $3000 for an existing hawker to train you at their stall worklng for free or nominal, in this situation one do not learn the rudimentary of cooking. There is the other option of working for a hawker and later starting out on your own. Likewise do you really learn cooking & whether the hawker will teach you his/her secret recipe.