Bobby (part 2)

It has been almost three years since I joined ServeHope. Some changes are made to my work. Perhaps I shall share some with you. Comparing to past years, I have my scope of work changed from data entry to web related assignments and email marketing. ServeHope expands my potential in websites maintenance and expose me to learn more. I have learned to use some softwares such as, WordPress, MyVideoTalk, Constant Contact, SBI, Facebook, Twitter and so on. Learning the software is not a simple task. There is no one to ask. I have to explore on my own. Luckily, some softwares provide video tutorials and help files to assist me in my learning. I may not have completely mastered all skills but as long as I am willing to learn, there should not be a problem. Keep on practicing. 

Whenever a problem is encountered, I will google for solutions. I am doing constant updates to our ServeHope and iWishClub websites, newsletters and flyers. Gradually, I gain more in depth knowledge of MS office skills. I am free to use my creativity when designing logos, no restrictions.

When I made a mistake, my boss will email/call me if immediate change is required. My boss is very patient with me. At the end of every month, workloads start to increase and the company understands it. Once a while, the company will check on my progress. Adjustments are made so that workloads are spread evenly.

About my health, there is no improvement. My speech has deteriorated, making me unable to convey messages on the phone clearly. That does not refrain me from learning. Other than my speech, I am fine overall. Life has to go on. Every day, I will try to stay away from my pc after few hours of using it.

It is not easy to find jobs nowadays, especially for people with disabilities. It is even harder to secure a job if you do not constantly upgrade yourself. If you have difficulties attending courses outside your comfort zone, you can always learn from the web at your home. Opportunity comes once and never twice unless you are lucky. Always be grateful with what you have now and cherish it. I am thankful that ServeHope gives me the opportunity that not everyone can get. Keep on trying and build your confidence even if you fail. Do not give up learning new things. It may come in useful in time to come. Click here for Part 1.

Joshua Rajkumar

My name is Joshua. I am a Singaporean aged 42, and have been visually handicapped since birth. I have been diagnosed with Congenital Glaucoma in both eyes.

Even though I can see only partially and had difficulty in my school work, I thank God for a supportive family who helped me to complete my GCE O Levels. My teachers and classmates were also helpful.

After my GCE O Levels, I took up Telephone Operation, Telemarketing, Computer Courses, etc.

I am determined to be independent as much as possible and have a passion to be successful in life. My role models are Madam Curie and Stevie Wonder, both totally blind.

I joined ServeHope in 2008 as a Telemarketing Consultant.

I am thankful to Ms Grace Wong, Founder of ServeHope Pte Ltd for training and creating jobs for People With Disability (PWD) jobs such as in Admin, Web Support, Sales & Marketing etc. I enjoy working in ServeHope because we work together, as a family in unity with people with various types of disabilities.

Indeed ServeHope is a company that serves to give hope to People With Disabilities.

Edwin Chew

I am diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 5, when my parents discovered I had difficulties in climbing up the stairs. This had something to do with my mum who faced problem climbing up the stairs when she turned 18. blood test revealed the truth that my mum was the carrier, when my parents brought me to the specialist at the old TTSH . That was hard to accept such a cruel truth.

When I was 5,I was not walking and running properly. Suffering from this disease ,my muscles weakens overtime. But still I manage went through mainstream education in normal schools. All along, my mum was always there for me despite her own plight.

I start having difficulties in getting up from my seats , as I get older, often complaint about having cramps on my calf muscles. At the age of between 8 to 9, I fell down as more than often. On seeing that my parents, decided to get me a wheelchair, and so I became confined to a wheelchair at the age of 10.

But it was not over yet, later I get to know more about Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. I knew I may not live over the age 25, at the most 30. But who knows for sure. I used to be able to bath and dress myself, now at the age of 26 I cannot even hold a pen or feed myself, which I am still able to do 2 to 3 years back.

I graduated from ITE College, completed Higher NITEC in Accounting in mid 2006. Since, then I have been looking for home based job. I came across a rare opportunity, through one of the VWOs, they had a vacancy for a data entry job and so I forwarded my resume. A few weeks later, I was called up to go for an interview ,with this company called ServeHope employing persons with disabilities.

It was pouring on the morning of the interview, still my mum accompanied me to the interview. The rain did not put off the hope for an rare opportunity to get a job. It the end I got this telemarketing job, it was a challenge for me, I cannot hold or even pick up the phone.

I joined ServeHope as a tele-sales marketer, On June 2011, using Skype to make calls. I faced many difficulties as a newbie in this job, thanks to the advice i received advice from Aunty Grace,my superior acting as my mentor as well as an advisory. She gave me useful advice on the difficulties I faced with.

I appreciate their willingness to give me the chance to prove myself, and at been keen in giving me help and support on the job. I hope to help ServeHope get more people to know them to show my appreciation.

(Updates) Through the past couple of months that I had been with ServeHope, I had learned a lot.it has been tough calling up people, getting them to know more about ServeHope. Eventually,responding to support I Wish Club. From zero sales, i slowly began to built up my sales after the first few months, although I had made not over 5 sales so far, I find it somewhat fruitful.

I recognize the importance of building rapport with customers, working with my colleagues with different disablities and capabilities,it is important to have team spirit. Ones capabilities compliment for disabilities, is a great challenge to work as a team thus learning from one another. Nevertheless, its all about team building.

I would still have more to explore,and will to it.

Helen Chong

Hi! I am Helen Chong and was an accountant/secretary.

I had heart problems when I was five years old and underwent 2 operations when I turned 12 years old. My illness took a turn for the better under the love and care of my parents but I was exempted from many forms of activities as advised by the doctor. Henceforth my outdoor activities were very uneventful and I was very pessimistic about life. I confided to my parents and siblings regarding my aspirations to be an accountant. They gave me their moral support, and I was able to fulfill my career wish despite my relapses throughout.

I met my husband and was married at the age of 24. By a stroke of wonder, God gifted me with a son despite my health problems. I am also thankful that I have a caring mother-in-law and husband there to help me overcome any crises that I encounter. Unfortunately, in the year 2000, I was attacked by a mild stroke and my health started declining again. In 2004 I was diagnosed with stomach cancer 2nd stage and had to undergo chemotherapy. I was devastated, firstly because of my health problems, and secondly because my beloved mum died of stomach cancer in June that year. I almost surrendered my life. I wondered whether God was punishing me because I had led a sinful life. Nonetheless, I told myself a firm “no”, and forced myself to rise out of my depression. Using my mum as a source of inspiration, I constantly reminded myself about how she retained her fighting spirit and will to live on despite being in the terminal stage of stomach cancer.

I realized that I have been very selfish and thoughtless to my family despite their endurance and tolerance for my weird and sometimes-bad temper. However badly I behaved sometimes, my caring son and husband were always there to comfort me and lend me their moral support. Due to my health and the fact that I had to give up my full-time job, I again became pessimistic and depressed. My son told me that I should be more hopeful in life and made arrangements for me to engage in home-based work to occupy my time in the house.

I was recommended to Servehope and my first meeting with Grace and Uncle Chu gave me a deep impression. Grace welcomed me with a warmth and sincerity which at once made me feel comfortable and at ease. After joining Servehope I have become relatively knowledgeable about data entry and it has helped to enhance my quality of life. Countless words of encouragement and enlightenment from Grace and Uncle Chu and other colleagues such as Timothy, CC Yeo, Jeremy, and Wendy Ng have also helped to uplift my perspective in life. Through them, I have learnt to crystallize the memories of my good times in my mind, and to treasure my loved ones and people around me.

Jeremy

As a disabled person born with Cerebral Palsy, I do lack fine skills in my motor coordination. This lack of fine skills would affect me adversely and slow down my movements in everything that I do; most especially when it comes to work. Due to this lack of motor coordination in skill control, I do have a special keyboard-guard that has been custom made to fit to the keyboard. With the keyboard-guard onto the keyboard, I am able to type in the right keys without pressing the rest of the other nearby keys. Yet my speed efficiency slows me down when I struggle to meet datelines of assignments that needed to be completed on time. Prior to my working life, I would be doing freelancing work for people most of the time. I also would equip myself with basic computing knowledge through the courses I attended. These computing studies have grown my understanding of IT operations.

Since 1st March 2008 when I joined ServeHope Pte Ltd, I started working as Data Entry Assistant. Through this position, it has allowed me to practice the computing skills in my daily work. In doing so, I am able to produce quality work for the company. In 2008 as a new staff trainee of two months into the job, I clearly remember how I had to rush my work throughout the day and night for the PowerPoint presentation to be completed within three days in that week. During those times, I really struggled through typing out the words. Each typed word would take me about 1–2 minutes in order to ensure that the spelling was correct. During working time, I would try to communicate with my colleagues about anything under the sun from work-related issues to social aspects of life.

Today as IT Support Assistant staff, I thank ServeHope for helping me to gain self-confidence to work in full capacity of my ability. I also thank the company that I can learn website maintenance whenever they need me to update the website.My future dream is to be a good writer/author of writing articles or producing books that tackle moral issues (secular and church perspective of viewpoint) facing by the society in the world today. Also, I hope to be a good speaker to the audience at large through clarity of my speech. Through writing and speaking, it is my dream to be an inspirational person.

Bobby

I am suffering from degenerative disease since I was in my teens. Some of the symptoms’ are slurred speech, in coordination of weak limbs, tremors and instability slow movements. Currently, I am on long term medications including routine visits to my doctor. I am trying to keep my condition stable.

It has been a struggle finding a job as my condition limits me on the type of job I can do. As I am unable to use public transport, taxi is the only choice. Traveling is a major problem to me as I require assistance getting a taxi. Even though I am wheel-chaired bound (manual), I am unable to move myself when the surface is uneven or slopped.

I need to secure a job so that I can be financially independent with no worries. Past few years of searching led me to jobs that are temporary or part time basis. I seldom step out of my comfort zone (my house) as I do not want to trouble anyone every time I step out. I do not want my family to worry about me. Well, I like surfing Internet, playing simple online games when I am free to keep my brain on the move.

I am surprised when Servehope calls me up for an interview after several unsuccessful attempts. Servehope offers jobs to people with disabilities and I am grateful to that. I am given the chance to work at home, doing data entry, with flexible working hour. It has been a year since I joined Servehope in March 2009.

It may not help much financially but it gives me a sense of security. Servehope unleashes the potential in me. Working in Servehope made me learnt skills that build up my creativity and confidence.

When I was young, I dream of becoming a doctor to save lives. Hopefully, in the advanced medical society, there is a cure for my condition. Now, I do not dream of anything unrealistic. What I want is to lead a simple life and contribute to my family.

To the people who are facing difficulties: Do not give up trying. There is Hope if you try.

Lastly, I will like to thank my family members. To my friends that helped me through my tertiary years, for all the memories I had with all of you. I will like to thank Servehope for giving me an opportunity to work. Click here for Part 2.

Winnie

The psalmist says, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want even though I walk through the valley of death, I shall not be in want, I will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1,4).

I would like to give all glory to God,telling me how much He loves me and has led me through two major ordeals over the last 8 years. My first ordeal happened in 1999 during my confinement, I had a ruptured appendix during this period I was operated on twice. Yet I thank God for being faithful how He has provided me a very good surgeon during the critical period that He had saved my life.

My second ordeal happened 3-4 years when I was down with very high fever and my hubby brought me to the hospital the Singapore General Hospital where I was diagnosed with bacteria meningitis was admitted and stayed for 2 months and for almost 1 week. I was in the high dependency unit for the first 2 weeks I could not move or make a sound I was totally motionless the doctor in charge even told my husband to prepare for the worst she said even if I recover I may become a vegetable as 20 percent of my brain was affected by the bacteria.

I thank God for His grace as has blessed me with many people who prayed for me in did god has performed a miracle on me. In addition, He has blessed me with a very loving mother in law who visited me in hospital everyday. God has also blessed me with a very loving husband who was there for me even though he was very busy with his work outside. He has never failed to visit me in the hospital regularly. He took time to give me a face massage while playing songs on radio for me to listen when I was in a coma. I am very thankful to my mother in law and my hubby. They have tirelessly provided for me as I was recovering gradually especially most of my senses and movements came back slowly. Through my ordeal, I have learnt to be very patient. I have also learnt to be humble.

I used to work in an MNC where I had to communicate with people from all walks of life. But since my illness, my speech has affected my communication and it has become much of a challenge to me when I converse with people. Nevertheless, I don’t want to give up as I promised God that I want to be able to serve him in teaching Sunday school. I think I am rather fortunate that I can do many things on my own. I can even do simple housework.

At work, I do also want to thank auntie Grace and uncle Chu for hiring me under their employment to work as a data entry person for their encouragement and patience.

Tim, Bobby and Jeremy have shown me their encouragement – telling me not to give up trying to do my work. I would like to help ServeHope in the area of business development. I do hope that my speech will have much clarity when I speak to people.