“Kind” and “gracious” are not adjectives commonly associated with Singaporeans. We are often stereotyped as selfish and inconsiderate, and sites like STOMP, to our dismay, constantly perpetrate the ugly side of us.
While that may have been true in the past, Singaporeans have dispelled that notion in recent years as more and more acts of kindness are beginning to surface. Here are 10 commendable deeds by our local heroes that will warm the cockles of your heart.
In August last year, members of the public spontaneously came forward to save Mr Kim Sung Mo, who was trapped under a truck. They used their collective strength to tilt the truck so he could be pulled out. Mr Kim escaped with only a fractured leg. The Korean Association of Singapore expressed their gratitude by rewarding these good Samaritans with five-day trip to Korea. Singapore Civil Defence Force also presented public-spiritedness awards to them.
S$1.1 million is more than enough for Singaporean cabbie Sia Ka Tian to retire and enjoy the rest of his golden years. Instead of quietly keeping the cash for himself, he made a respectable decision to return it to the Thai couple who had left the money in his cab. In return, Mr Sia received a cash reward from the grateful couple.
We know how easily scuffles can break out between unhappy fans over a game of football. But to Rooban Kanth, football is a sport that unites people. He moved his TV set outside his house so that foreign workers around his neighbourhood could enjoy the matches together after a long day at work.
“I love football, so I try my best to reach out to everybody and share what I have,” he had said. It was a thoughtful effort on his part to make these workers feel welcomed in our society.
To date, there have been two instances of ordinary Singaporeans donating their liver to people they have never met before. In the most recent case, 10-year-old Phyllis Poh received almost 30% of civil servant Toh Lai Keng’s liver. This is a whole new level of giving without expecting anything in return. Both operations went smoothly, and thanks to Mr Toh’s selflessness, Phyllis has been given a new lease of life.
You don’t necessarily have to give a part of yourself to make a difference – sometimes the smallest act of kindness is enough. A thoughtful student warmed the hearts of commuters on a cold rainy day when he opened his umbrella to shelter passengers at the bus stop from the rain, just so they could board the bus without getting wet.
Willing Hearts distributes free food to the underprivileged – all 365 days of the year. Spearheaded by good Samaritans, 3000 meals are cooked and delivered to those in need everyday. “When I was poor, I was helped without any questions asked,” founder Tony Tay had said, “So now, I give.”
With over 50 volunteers in the kitchen preparing food every morning, this is truly a step towards active citizenry as our own people are taking it upon themselves to help the less fortunate in our community.
A Republic Polytechnic student filled 20 red packets with the money he received over Chinese New Year. With S$5 in each packet, he handed them out to workers at a construction site to show his appreciation for their hard work. This young man’s empathetic behaviour is a leading example for our younger generation.
The owners of Strangers’ Reunion and sister branch Curious Palette raised over S$40,000 to fund head chef Sebastian Tan’s medical bills when he was diagnosed with lung cancer last December. Staff volunteered to work for free and the owners, baristas and managers pulled 7-day work weeks. Crowds thronged both cafés and also contributed monetary donations to help Mr Tan during the fund-raising period.
Thanks to the generosity of Singaporeans and the compassionate nature of his bosses, Mr Tan was able to undergo treatment with less worry about the hefty medical bills.
When a customer demanded a dishwasher suffering from a skin condition to be fired, Ms Sharon Guan Xue-er defended her employee without hesitation. She retorted that she would rather lose the customer than 53-year old Jimmy Wee.
Mr Wee was rejected by eight employers before Ms Guan finally hired him. “Don’t cast aside the unfortunate,” she had said. Since the incident went viral, many customers also made the effort to visit Mr Wee to offer him support and kind words of encouragement.
While most people would have been repelled at the stench, and distance themselves, it is heartening to know that Madam Noriza Mansor voluntarily cleaned up an elderly stranger who had soiled himself in public. She even bought him a new pair of shorts. Madam Noriza was subsequently named Singaporean of the Year by the Straits Times, but remains unfazed by her act of kindness. It is humbling to know that she took the uncommon initiative to offer help given the circumstances.
These uplifting stories about our own people suggest that Singapore is making promising progress towards becoming a more gracious and thoughtful society. It really doesn’t take much for us to extend a hand of kindness and offer help to those in need. We hope that these ordinary Singaporeans have inspired you, just as they have inspired us!
(Header image: Qoo10)
Also read: Cycle X Makan – 5 Best Food And Night Cycling Paths In SG
