With Help, Late is Never Too Late
17-year-old Poon Yue Ling lives with her 71-year-old grandmother Mdm Annie Chong, and the two have only each other for support since 2013.
Mdm Chong sells probiotic beverage products for a living, and her meagre income goes towards monthly bills and living expenses for her and her granddaughter. The job’s flexible hours allow her to take care of Yue Ling, who sometimes accompanies Mdm Chong for work deliveries.
A dollar saved is a dollar earned
Mdm Chong's greatest wish is for Yue Ling to be healthy and progress in her studies to pave the way for a better life. “In Singapore, many children attend tuition classes after class, but the fees are too expensive for us,” says Mdm Chong.
Hence, when Mdm Chong discovered that the CDAC offers subsidised tuition, she rushed to apply for her granddaughter.
“It was fortunate that our application was approved! Yue Ling has been attending CDAC tuition classes almost weekly since she was in Primary 3. She is now studying at Anglo-Chinese Junior College, and these sessions have helped her greatly in her studies without breaking the bank,” says Mdm Chong.
Coming out of her shell
Over the years, apart from benefitting from tuition classes, Yue Ling was also accepted into the CDAC’s “Project Excellence” experiential learning programme customised to help promising students gain confidence through various learning opportunities.
“Yue Ling attended many extracurricular activities and learning journeys through the CDAC and got to visit places like the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park. She learnt so much during these excursions, and these are experiences that I could not give her,” says Mdm Chong.
According to Mdm Chong, Yue Ling used to be somewhat introverted and did not talk much, but has since gained confidence after attending two years of Drama Bilingual classes at NAFA under the CDAC’s sponsorship. Yue Ling lit up at the mention of the course, recalling how much she enjoyed those classes.
“My classmates and I got to perform and roleplay during lessons and learn how to interact and work with one another. It was a truly interesting experience!”
Helping others through self-help
Mdm Chong actively participates in CDAC activities designed to help parents support their growing children. Through talks on parenting skills, Mdm Chong learns how to communicate better with her granddaughter. She also attends courses and seminars targeted at senior citizens.
“I picked up tips on interacting with children and learnt how acupuncture and meditation help support personal wellness. Courses about using the mobile phone to surf the web or make e-payments also come in handy, and I benefited a lot from these activities,” says Mdm Chong.
With CDAC by their side providing support and assistance over the years, Mdm Chong and Yue Ling have navigated through hard times with greater ease. “If not for the help from CDAC,” says Mdm Chong, teary-eyed with gratitude, “I can’t imagine how life would be for my granddaughter and me”.
Yue Ling shares her grandmother’s sentiments and appreciation to the CDAC for supporting her since she was a child. “I am deeply thankful to the CDAC for my academic progress and personal development. I hope that in time to come, I can also use what I have learnt to help those in need.”
