I remember few months back during my internship, I happened to chance upon this organization online and was hoping that i could make my trip down one day and i was so glad that this opportunity arrived so quickly for me(:
So... i figured that i should probably do a reflection on my trip to Dignity Kitchen (:
Dignity Kitchen is Singapore's first training hawker centre which hires disadvantaged and disabled people. What attracted me was the fact that operating a hawker centre is already a tough job even with experienced hawkers and in Dignity Kitchen, they focused on people with disabilities. Most people like us would have drop the idea of it even without trying because we know that this would definitely be a route filled with challenges.
Upon our arrival, we were given a really inspiring talk by Mr Koh Seng Choon, the executive director of Dignity Kitchen. I was amazed by the speech he gave; from how he started off without any government support, the challenges faced by him as well as his burning passion for this cause.
"People with disability are enabled in many ways." This sentence hit me hard, many times when i tried to brainstorm what i can do to help people with disadvantage, i always find myself focusing on what their limitation are instead of looking into their strengths. Mr Koh's speech really allowed me to think from another perspective. With that being said, I was really impressed by Mr Koh knowing that the challenges faced and effort put in by him was way more than what i expected to be.
"People with disability are enabled in many ways." This sentence hit me hard, many times when i tried to brainstorm what i can do to help people with disadvantage, i always find myself focusing on what their limitation are instead of looking into their strengths. Mr Koh's speech really allowed me to think from another perspective. With that being said, I was really impressed by Mr Koh knowing that the challenges faced and effort put in by him was way more than what i expected to be.
So just two main takeaways!
1. Be PASSIONATE about the cause
Passion > Anything else
This is because the route to social entrepreneurship would definitely be filled with never-ending challenges BUT it gave one the ability to pull through even the hardest moment like Mr Koh where he was once on the verge of giving up but because of his PASSION, he perserved and made Dignity Kitchen successful as it is today.
2. Have a DREAM, a VISION.
By having a dream and vision on what we wish to do, we will feel motivated to work towards it and one day, what we visualize will turn into a reality. Just like Mr Koh! he drew what he visualized Dignity Kitchen to be one day and BANG! it became a reality ^^ but of course in exchange with all his hard work. Mr koh is truly an inspiration and a role model that i look up to.
Hi Kiah Gek
ReplyDeleteI agree that the trip to Dignity Kitchen was a very fruitful one! :) Mr Koh not only have taught us what passion is all about but also inspire us to chase after the dreams that one has. Like what he had mention "Think big,start small." This is a common quote that I have heard from my internship supervisor, Mr Terence Quek from Project Happy Feet. He also advise people to sketch out ambitious plans for the things you have dream to achieve but start and progress bit by bit. So do you have a dream to achieve Kiah Gek?
Hi kiahgek!
ReplyDeleteYes! This visit to dignity kitchen was truly an inspiring one.
Similar to you, my vital takeaway from his talk is 'having the passion '. With the passion, no matter how big or difficult the challenges are, we will be able to brave through. Like what he said, social entrepreneur and social enterprises bud from PASSION and not profits.
Additionally, I learned a lot from him on starting and managing this SE. I was amazed by how he was able to get free advertisments, and even from our President, Mr Tony Tan!
I believe that all of us had taken away a lot from his talk. I'm truly inspired.
^^
Hi Kiahgek,
ReplyDeleteThe talk has really let us thought of many things that we had never thought of. I had always thought that a dream can never come true, however, after the trip down, understand dream plus the passion can really make dreams come true. So I believe that we as future social entrepreneurs can help more people in the future if we persist our dream.