Social News

Another job where I got to see and hear the real world. Not one but 2 in a day. This is what I consider the one of the perks of the job.

The Chinese Development & Assistance Council had a 2 day event for its members where free school bags and vouchers were given out to needy families to prepare the kids for the new school term. It was a carnival-like event with games, food, free hair-cut for kids, 2nd hand books for free etc. I did not expect the turnout to be so overwhelming. According to the press release, they hoped to give away the school bags to 9000 children and a family pack of basic necessities to about 4500 famiiles. From what I saw, they would have no problem surpassing that beneficiary figure.

A long queue was formed for the collection of free school bags and vouchers. I decided to "forgo" the VIP his offering of "photo opportunity" and stay put at where I thought the main story was, the collection point. I wanted to get a picture of kids turning around after they got their school bags with a big grin on their faces. Initially, as I lifted up my camera. I could see 1 or 2 parent turning away. This always happen, and I could understand that behaviour this time. Other that that, most did not seem to mind. I got my picture, but at the same time saw dozens of families walking past me. These are the Singaporeans which I can identify with.

Im not sure if some need the freebies given out as they showed no emotion after collecting it. But it sure made the children happy. The efforts by CDAC is definitely praise-worthy and the idea of giving out such gifts for children to go to school is a good initiative. Maybe it was my own preconception that Singaporeans are generally living a comfortable life that still makes it hard to take in the huge turnout right in front of my eyes. The other events later in the day knock some sense into my misconception.

I saw a 4 yr old girl with her mother and 11 yr old brother sifting through the used books. They are entitled to 2 books per coupon. The little girl caught my eye, with the way she held up the book she chose as though it was a brand new carton book right off the bookshelf. It touches my heart. A child does not differentiate between used and new.



4 yr old 林丽君 picks a 2nd-hand book. Together with her mother and 11 yr old brother, they got to take their pick of 6 books from the collection organised by NEA and CDAC.


I tried to talk to her mother to get their names. She could not write down their chinese names for me and showed my her IC. And she did not mind that I took their picture under such circumstances.

Soon after, I was eating at a foodcourt nearby, and a family of 3 kids and Mother sat down beside me. The eldest boy is a smart chap. Barely 11 years old, he went to buy food for the whole family. The 2nd daughter was helping her 3 yr old sister eat. She is about 10 yrs old. She ask her mum if she could buy a drink from the fast food outlet next door. Her mum said its too expensive at $1.50, the one at supermarket only cost 70 cents. The kids did not buy any drink from the foodcourt either, they ask for soup for their chicken rice. They were holding the free school bags from CDAC.

The next job was about parents who does not have the means to teach their 6 yr olds, who are progressing slower in Kindergarten. The weekly programme is provided free to teach the kids, together with their parents literary and numeracy before they go to Primary 1. They are from low-income families. One family of 4 which we interviewed have a monthly household income of $1800.

My job allows me to meet the rich and famous, and see how they live their lives. It could be an interview with a tycoon in the bungalow, followed by a house visit to a poor family later in the day. Most of the time, its the rich and famous that makes the news. Its sad but it is what I have come to realise. Once in a while, covering stories of people whom i can relate to brings back the emotions required to take "real" pictures, pictures which revealed what I saw and felt.

Just today, I was covering a press conference held by the company who is building our Marina Bay Sands. I have no objections against boosting our economy with such mega projects, but please don't package a social ill into a way of life. Gaming and Gambling are 2 different definitions used to define such social ills, depending on how you see it.

Aging

This has always been a favourite subject of mine, in photographic projects. I did a photo story on a home for the elderly for my Photojournalism module in NTU, and I like talking to old folks, not those grumpy ones of course.

3 incidents, 2 of which happened in a day set me thinking about what I will be doing 20 years later.

I covered the story of a job fair for the elderly on a Saturday afternoon. It was organized for those above 50 years old. The turnout of over 500 in 4 hours was more than expected. I was among the aunties and uncles as they looked through the list of jobs on the board and enquired about the qualifications required. Types of jobs offered are mostly cleaning, security, fastfood outlets, hotel chambermaids. Not much of prestige, but Im glad there are such jobs left for our elderly.

20 years on, a job as a security guard might not seem as bad as it is now. I can see how expectations and one's arrogance can change with age. But that was not the case for a few. I overheard a man in his 50s saying to a staff who tried to help him on his job search, "I was a supervisor, do yo have any supervisory job?" The staff was patient and asked what type of job does he do as a supervisor?

I respect those who came and tried to find a job. I hope to be able to do that when my time comes.

The 2nd and 3rd incidents were more heart-wrenching. I just finished a job at Chinatown and was walking to the carpark when I saw that an old man has defecated in his pants. He was holding onto a piece of newspaper and trying to clean the floor and himself as he walked away. I watched him from a distance, and he seemed to be senile but knows what he should be doing. The packet of tissue in my pocket won't help much. He walked away along the backlane, trying to find a washing spot. All I could do was to try observe from a distance so that he would not feel embarrassed. I guess he must be feeling unwell.

The last incident happened about an hour later. I was buying food at a foodcourt when the cashier suddenly looked behind me in shock. I turned around to see an elderly man lying on the floor. He passed out for a moment and by the time a few of us around helped him to his seat, he had regained consciousness. The security was quick to take over the situation and called for medical help. The old man seems ok, he was alone this time, but I hope there will be others around should it happen again.

I thought about all 3 incidents together and how they are linked.

U there?

Great. I was told that there is at least one other person out there reading my blog besides my wife. I had thought of stopping this ECA, but Thao told me not to. Probably because its a way for her to read things which I don't tell her in detail.

XL, thanks for taking the time to read. I shall keep writing... once in a while.