Hi everyone, meet Mdm Ah Heng, 95 year old box collector from Kreta Ayer. Despite being the OLDEST box collector we’ve ever met in SIngapore, she is also one of the most cheerful and positive. And amazingly at 95, she’s still very agile and strong. Maybe what keeps her going strong is her positive energy. Although some may claim that it is because she keeps herself fit by “exercising”, we beg to differ because other box collectors too, “exercise” however, many of them shouldn’t be walking at all along dangerous roads if they are limping in pain due to their aging limbs. So it has to be her positive energy that keeps her strong.
She speaks Cantonese and a tiny bit of Malay and I could barely understand what she’s telling me, but she never stops trying and she seems to enjoy talking a lot. She will walk a few metres and turn back and continue talking then walk away again and turn back and continue talking.
One of the things that i can understand, she said was “Saya susah tapi saya tak nak susahkan orang.” (translated: I’m poor but I do not want to trouble others.) She says that in the most positive manner that she sounds like she’s thankful to even be alive and do not have anything to complain. She’s not married and do not have children and surviving on her own. What an amazing woman. Many of the box collectors we met, who are in their 70s and 80s could barely walk properly. But this lady was ever so lively and cheerful. We talked and talked all along standing by the side of a small road for almost half hour. She was so full of energy and very appreciative of the vouchers and meal coupons that we just gave her. We promised to meet her every month to continue paying forward her following months’ meals at the nearby Mixed Vegetable Stall at the coffeeshop of No.85 Keong Saik Rd.
If you speak CANTONESE and you LOVE TO CHAT, why not PM us and we will intro you to her. You’ll have a great time chatting with this lady!
Very special thanks to Stephanie for helping out with the distribution and helping explain to the box collectors on how to redeem the coupons. And thank you for your help stamping next month’s coupons.
And also a very special thanks to everyone who contributed to our Monthly Meal Funds for the box collectors.
“No One Can Do Everything But Everyone Can Do Something”
Source: Happy People Helping People Foundation
