CDAC - a non-profit self-help group for the Chinese community

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From Sceptic to Believer

Mr Goh Choon Khee (pictured top-left), together with Mdm Woo (pictured bottom-left) and their two daughters Olivia and Sylvia.

“Social workers and social support groups? Never!” Mr Goh would insist. “You can ask my wife – I always felt they wouldn’t be much help.”

Mr Goh Choon Khee, a 45-year-old hawker stall assistant, is accustomed to working long hours to provide for his family. Like many others, seeking help from social services initially felt unfamiliar and unnecessary to this hardworking family man.

However, situational changes in 2020 prompted a shift in perspective. At that time, their older daughter, Olivia, had just started Primary 1 at Zhangde Primary, while their younger daughter, Sylvia, was only two. As his wife, Mdm Woo Soo Fan, was facing health concerns, Mr Goh encouraged her to focus on her health and the kids by becoming a stay-at-home mum.

He willingly shouldered the family’s financial burden, leaving for work at 5am and returning around 9pm daily, with only two days off per month. Mr Goh’s dedication stemmed not just from duty but from a desire to provide his family with a more stable life.

Despite their limited educational backgrounds, Mr Goh and Mdm Woo understand the value of education for their daughters’ future. Worries about money and their children’s education frequently weighed on their minds until a friend encouraged them to seek assistance at the CDAC Centre near their Redhill rental flat.

Mdm Woo said that the CDAC staff helped them with online applications, something she could not do as she was unfamiliar with computers. They helped Olivia secure a spot in the Tuition Programme and the Supervised Homework Group. They enrolled Sylvia in the Play-Based Learning Programme in 2023 and registered her for kidsREAD this year.

Mdm Woo’s limited English made dealing with matters about her children’s education challenging. However, the warm and approachable CDAC staff alleviated this difficulty.

“They not only help me with applications but will also remind us when programmes are ending soon so we can reapply on time,” Mdm Woo praises the staff at CDAC@ Redhill. “I’ve become friends with them, especially the uncle and aunty working at the counter, who are patient and helpful when explaining things to us.”

Mr Goh echoes his wife’s appreciation. “The staff’s support allows me to focus on work without worry,” he shares.

When the Goh family started receiving help from CDAC under the Family Assistance Programme, their assigned caseworker, Connie Tan, eased the couple’s concerns by recommending suitable programmes based on their needs. “Having a professional help find solutions is a relief,” says Mr Goh.

With a lighter heart and newfound trust, Mr Goh’s scepticism has since been replaced by confidence.

“If it’s CDAC,” he now assures his wife, “go ahead and get their help!”