Caring Hearts

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child – something Mr Tay Tow Ping and his family have experienced for themselves. Four years ago, he was jobless and falling behind on rent and utilities, unable to afford the school fees for his elder daughter. Fortunately, various government subsidies and aid schemes, together with assistance from CDAC, helped to tide the family over. As Mr Tay finds stable employment, the family is about to buy their own two-room flat and start a new, stable life.

Mr Tay Tow Ping and his Vietnamese wife have a daughter and a son. When his daughter, who is now nine, started schooling, she had yet to obtain Singapore citizenship and her school fees of more than $400 a month were a heavy burden for the family. Mr Tay said, at the worst of his financial problems, the family had to rely on government aid vouchers to pay for their living expenses so they could spare the cash for his daughter’s fees.

After the little girl was granted citizenship, and he found employment in a food and beverage company, the family thought better days would be ahead. But he recently hurt a nerve in his left hand and would require surgery and days off work.

Mr Tay is grateful for the helping hand CDAC offered once again, “I’m very grateful for the help CDAC has given to people like us who are going through tough times,” he said. “The staff really takes time to understand our situation, then give us the help that we need.”