#R2FR: Cycle Uncles 2.0

Speaking with Mr Jimmy Kwang, a team member of Cycle Uncles 2.0, we learned what
drives him to give back to the community. 

CRS: How did you find out about RFR?

JK: I got to know RFR from a team member, who has been a regular rider for many years. As friends, we all supported him as an individual rider. Only last year did we officially form a team together. We thought that doing things together as a group was more exciting and that together as a team, we could contribute back to the community more significantly.

CRS: How big is your team and are you inviting more friends to join you by signing up for RFR?

Jimmy (left) with members of Cycle Uncles 2.0

JK: This year, our team has expanded to 6 members - an addition of 2 from 2022. We are all friends who share similar traits; former IBMers & colleagues from the same exercise groups on Sundays. Chin Hui and I have been friends for at least 20 years. Although we have moved on to different careers and lives, we continue to keep in contact as a group and try to meet at least once a week to keep fit and have makan sessions together.

CRS: What is your/your team’s training routine?

JK: We don’t have a fixed routine, but we do try to alternate our activities every week - between riding, cycling, and brisk walking. We typically cycle casually for 35-40km around East Coast Park (ECP) or the PCN route. Other times, our cycling route would either be along the east, towards Changi Village, or westbound towards Kallang. It always varies because we like to search for eatery spots. However, we do cycle very early in the morning so some eateries may not be open.    

CRS: Did you/your team set any goals for Ride and Ralk for Rainbows 2023 (#R2FR)?

JK: I believe that as a group, we would use our network to solicit more donors. In terms of our team’s goals, we are simply trying to accomplish our initial target. Now, we are smashing our initial target, hence, we plan to double the amount. I would say that we are quite aggressive considering we are all salespeople in a technology industry. From that, we are very passionate about creating a new baseline for the team to achieve.

CRS: What is something you would like to share with everyone who has yet to sign up for R2FR?

JK: From my perspective, it is dependent on the individual’s passion to give back to the community and generally what the whole event is all about. Fundamentally, it's also about creating awareness and in this case, supporting children with lifelong illnesses.

Personally, after completing my medical treatments and gaining my health back last year, it has become my drive to give back to the community. This is because life is always going to be challenging, however, there will always be someone who is in need more than myself, and you. With this, I believe people can still benefit from me - even just a little.
- Jimmy, Cycle Uncles 2.0

CRS: Could you share words of encouragement for our beneficiaries and their families?

JK: Perseverance is very important. I am a firm believer in the mindset that “The cup is always half full” - as opposed to being half empty. From this, we need to look at things differently and always view challenges and life from a positive perspective. There will always be opportunities and potential for us. Believe in hope, and not give up on it.

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You can make a difference
even though you are not a Rider or Ralker.

Support Ride and Ralk for Rainbows and make a difference today

Innovative Event Management That Gives Back

As part of the vocational development programme, Club Rainbow organised a bake sale earlier this year, in which our beneficiaries and caregivers participated to gain new skills and earn supplementary income.

Dream Station, a local events management and production company, contributed to the sale of baked goods by purchasing items from our beneficiaries. When asked why they chose to support us, they explained that their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) arm has the vision to collaborate with charitable organisations like Club Rainbow and to promote sustainability in their events. At the time, their client's CSR programme mandated that the items in their event's goodie bags have a CSR angle, and since it was around Chinese New Year, Dream Station had the idea of sourcing edible goodies to fit the theme. In addition, they also supported two other non-profit organisations (NPOs) besides Club Rainbow.

Dream Station initiated its CSR programme in 2020 and has been actively helping the community. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they provided hygiene packs containing masks and hand sanitisers to foreign workers living in dormitories and donated excess mask stocks to other non-profit organisations. They focus on in-kind contributions and efforts to give back to the community. Dream Station suggests that clients use services offered by charitable organisations and does not charge mark-ups or surcharges if clients decide to engage them. For example, from packing goodie bags to delivering them, it is passed on a cost-to-cost basis, which is atypical of events management companies that usually charge mark-ups for such services. Dream Station offers such angles to all their clients, especially MNCs with their own CSR arms, and the uptake by their clients depends on the business angle. However, Dream Station tries to push for the engagement of charitable organisations.

After emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, Dream Station plans to restart its CSR efforts, focusing on giving back to society by providing services to help and encourage giving back to the community. If they have excess logistics or stocks after organising events, they give them back to society for better utilisation.

Moving forward, one of the pillars of Dream Station's CSR efforts is sustainability, which aims to reduce the wastage of consumables by encouraging clients to use sustainable supplies. They also want to empower underprivileged employees by hiring freelance staff from lower-income families who have teenage kids or mature workers looking for part-time jobs, providing them with another source of income.

Dream Station will continue fundraising campaigns on the giving.sg platform and will be directly involved physically in fundraising events, such as sourcing in-kind sponsorships for events management to run carnivals. They will also focus on empowering the community, which aligns with what Club Rainbow is trying to achieve through the rollout of vocational programs that support caregivers and beneficiaries, providing them with supplementary income while reaffirming that their journey is not just to take care of people with special needs, but also to show that people with special needs can contribute to the community.

Into the fourth iteration of the programme, one of the CRS participants could work in a baking establishment based on their experience and certification gained from the programme. Club Rainbow is grateful to Dream Station for their support towards the Vocational Programme.

Care and Support - Being There For Your Child

Featuring 2022 Exemplary Caregiver Awardee, Mdm Junnie Lim

Mdm Junnie Lim, is the mother of Ashley, 19, and has been awarded the Exemplary Caregiver Award for taking care of Ashley. Mdm Lim works full-time, juggling her time to take care of her two daughters both with chronic illnesses.

Ashley began having chronic migraines 4 years ago and was diagnosed with small fibre neuropathy, Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) and Sjogren’s syndrome. Due to a lack of medical information locally and general awareness of Sjogren’s syndrome, an accurate prognosis regarding how Ashley’s case can be effectively treated or cured remains unclear.

When Mdm Lim takes care of Ashley, she shares that as a parent, it is brutal to endure seeing her daughter in pain every day. For Ashley, her condition warrants the use of a port-a-cath.

It has been very tiring for Mdm Lim over the years, constantly worrying for her daughters. They also started to plan for Ashley’s worst-case scenario during surgery. While death plans have always lurked in her mind since she has 2 daughters with chronic conditions, her younger daughter has 2 liver transplant surgeries which have given Mdm Lim the will to fight till the end for her daughter.

Mdm Lim shares that she finds the most joy when they have their family trips together. She finds that it provides quality family bonding time, clear from any digital distractions which lets them truly spend time with each other. She enjoys their travel together in December and always looks forward to it because, to her, no amount of money can buy their meaningful time together. During their vacations, Mdm Lim always plans ahead by seeking out the nearest hospital in case of emergencies and is prepared at all times.

Thanks to Club Rainbow, Mdm Lim has managed to get both financial and emotional support. Mdm Lim first came to know Club Rainbow 16 years ago through 2 doctors, who acted as her pillars of support, when she felt at her wits’ end as she learned that her younger daughter had biliary atresia (a congenital chronic disease where the bile ducts are blocked or too narrow). The Club Rainbow social workers made her feel like family as they helped her through the emotional roller coaster. Club Rainbow has also supported her financially for her younger daughter’s first liver transplant when she had difficulties raising the pre-surgery deposit and once again when her younger daughter underwent a second liver transplant.

Mdm Lim wants to tell the world that not every sickness has a cure, but that is not the end of the world. Not every parent has a smooth journey and she hopes that everyone has more empathy and sympathy toward parents who are going through tough journeys with children suffering from chronic illnesses and undiagnosed conditions. She believes parents with special needs children should tell their story to the world because if parents can talk about it publicly, they can destigmatise their child’s condition and create awareness. Being embarrassed does not help the child and certainly not those around them because those who have not journeyed with the parents will not understand how much the family has endured and how they can help.

Despite all odds in her circumstances, Ashley has stood her ground and fought her illness with positivity and resilience. She currently provides free tuition to children along the borders of Myanmar and Thailand and has registered for the Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) programme. Aspiring to be a social worker to give back to society, she applied for a psychology course at a Polytechnic, which she was accepted into. As we admire Ashley’s never-say-die attitude and wish her all the best, we hope you share her story with your friends and family to raise awareness and support Ashley and her family in their journey.

Celebrating Heroes 2022

Watch the Exemplary Caregiver Video - click here

Ride for Rainbows 2022 and 30th Anniversary Birthday Bash

Club Rainbow (Singapore)’s biggest event of the year, Ride for Rainbows 2022 and the 30th Anniversary Birthday Bash have successfully concluded on 27 November 2022.

The physical Ride for Rainbows is back after being virtual for 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic!

In conjunction with Club Rainbow (Singapore)’s 30th Anniversary, this year's edition for Ride for Rainbows is met with a hybrid format, giving our riders the flexibility to participate in a physical or virtual ride. We also had a birthday bash carnival with a tons of carnival games and rides at the end of the physical ride to celebrate this very special day and spend a fun filled day with our beneficiaries and their families!

On that day, there were over 600 participants and volunteers who turned up at Marina Barrage. This includes 78 families, close to 200 riders and over 100 staff and volunteers.

With that, we would like to take this opportunity to express our utmost gratitude to all our supporting parties, including our beneficiaries and their families, sponsors, riders, donors, staff and volunteers! This event would not be possible without everyone’s help and support. 

We hope to see you all again for Ride for Rainbows next year!

Please email rfr@clubrainbow.org to be a part of Ride for Rainbows next year!

Club Rainbow (Singapore) Family Retreat

We had the SUN, the SEA and all (Club Rainbow) Hearts on board the Spectrum of the Seas!
Our annual family retreat is back!

Bouncing back from the pandemic, Club Rainbow (Singapore) (CRS) is much pleased to bring back the annual family cruise trip this year! The specially curated event is open to all CRS beneficiaries and their immediate family members only. To ensure that all families get the opportunity to be part of the Club Rainbow Family Retreat experience, priority was given to families who have not been on any CRS-organised overseas family retreat event or cruise in the past. 

During this 4D3N cruise getaway, the workshops and activities organised by CRS on board were for the beneficiaries and families to unwind, learn and forge new friendships. The ice-breaker activity saw both young and young at heart getting up and about, scouring around to complete their Bingo sheet.  

One of the highlights of the 3-Day programme is the self-care programme for the caregivers on Day 2. The session was well received by caregivers, with many sharing that it was a good opportunity to reflect, self-comfort and relax. They had an enjoyable time, chatting and laughing with other Club Rainbow parents making reference to being like a big family. Miss Ng, an immediate family member of one beneficiary shared, ‘Time to reflect on me. Do a gift for my child. Write a card to encourage myself and self-meditate time. Best of all, 2 hours away from kids to relax (no worries as we know they are well taken care of by CRS)’.

The most popular activity among the caregivers is the DIY keychain with folded stars carrying the wishes and hopes that the parents have for their children. Many found it to be therapeutic and meaningful. For one parent, the activity showed them how much their son has achieved. Apart from penning their thoughts and wishes for their children, expressing heartfelt feelings into a keepsake was memorable for the parents. Mdm Yeap, mother of a beneficiary looks beyond positively, making new goals and hopes for 2023.

In closing the Day 2 session with self-encouragement, a number of caregivers expressed that they have never once thought of writing to themselves as they are constantly focused on caring for their special need child. ‘I seldom think about my own strength. A bit blank initially as I was not used to self-encouragement but it is good exercise’, shared Mdm Elvira. With much emphasis on the importance of a self-care routine, Mr Teo, father of a CRS beneficiary mentioned that the postcard writing activity helped him with self-care check-in of his own mental health and well-being. Resonating with Mr Teo’s sharing, Mdm Chew was happy that she learned to self-appreciate, ‘I love myself more, my well-being.’

Day 3 shouts out for teamwork and family bonding through the Club Rainbow Fashion Show. ‘Fun & innovative. We are glad to be able to design & create something special!’ said Miss Ng, the immediate family member of the CRS beneficiary. Many inclusive activities are planned to encourage parent-child engagement, ‘Quality time together is so precious. Thank you for organising!’ shared gratefully by Ms Lai, a mother of a CRS beneficiary.

All the families agreed with both mothers of CRS beneficiaries, Mdm Yap and Mdm Lee that the retreat was ‘Enjoyable, refreshing. I feel happy.’ and more importantly ‘We do things as a family!’.

Celebrating Heroes 2022 : Beautiful Inside & Out

365 days, 7 families, 5 commendable siblings, 4 selfless caregivers and 3 outstanding siblings with one common motivation – a loved one.

Celebrating Heroes, an original event by Club Rainbow (Singapore) has been honouring countless caregivers and siblings over the decade. Taking a hiatus from 2021, we continue to recognise these heroes walking in our midst.

Starting as Caregivers Appreciation Day, the event evolved to Celebrating Heroes (CH) in 2015, where the first Exemplary Caregiver Award was presented. Whilst the common saying goes ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ but the most important support comes together as a family unit. Siblings are often forgettable when immediate priorities surround children with chronic illnesses. Acknowledging these young ones as part of the core support system of the family, we appreciate outstanding siblings too who share the daily responsibilities of caring for their brother or sister together with their parents.

This year, we received numerous nominations for many caregivers and siblings from all walks of life and even ages. After many tear-jerking encounters from the interviews with nominated caregivers and siblings, we are proud to share this year’s Celebrating Heroes 2022: Beautiful Inside & Out awardees – 5 commendable siblings, 4 selfless caregivers and 3 outstanding siblings! These awardees are true representatives of the many caregivers and siblings of Club Rainbow who give selflessly of their time to their loved ones.

Exemplary Caregiver Awardee, Mr Gan Keng Aik together with Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament Singapore (left) and Dr Sashikumar Ganapathy, President of Club Rainbow (Singapore).

Mr Gan, father of Aloysius and one of the Exemplary Caregiver awardees shared, ‘every parent must dare to dream that their kids can have a dream!’ Mr Gan supports his son’s passion for Boccia as a coach and athlete competition partner. Aloysius has been representing Singapore in the Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) for Boccia and brought pride to Singaporeans with his first gold medal from the Bahrain 2021 AYPG. Sharing similar sentiments, Karen who is a teacher, a mother of 2 children and a caregiver 24/7 for her son, Mikkel, strongly believes that no child is the same as another. Putting a lot of effort into learning special education techniques and therapy exercises, she hopes that Mikkel would be as independent as he can. Through Karen’s perseverance and guidance, Mikkel has achieved many goals and skills, which were far from an imagined possibility at the point of his diagnosis.

Sharing the same room since the birth of his little brother Yao An in 2008, Yao Kang has been a key part of his brother’s life even before the diagnosis of Yao An’s rare disorder in 2013. He was an elder brother to whom Yao An looks up and bonded very closely. With his brother’s condition degenerating over time from verbal to non-verbal, Yao Kang has never given up on communicating with this little brother and spends his daily life playing music with Yao An to encourage sensory stimulation. A Year 3 student at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine now, though with a demanding academic schedule, Yao Kang still makes time for Yao An. An avid supporter of siblings with special needs, Yao Kang recognises the important role of siblings in a family unit. He is the co-founder of SibsUnite, a volunteer-run organisation.

Like Yao Kang, Auni, an Exemplary Sibling awardee of 2022, takes care of her little brother, Royyan while her mother is at work since the passing of their father. The 11-year-old has stepped up to support her mother in caring for Royyan by encouraging him on every single step of his daily essentials, guiding him on how to get home, helping him with personal care, and supporting Royyan with his academics. 

To hear more of our awardees, watch the Celebrating Heroes 2022 videos here:
Exemplary Caregiver Award 2022
Exemplary Sibling Award 2022

“It’s not what you look at matters, it’s what you see.”

Celebrating International Nurses Day

By Tang Su Yen, Content Contributor

International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May. This is also the birth date of the founder of modern nursing – Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale overcame societal norms to professionalise nursing for women in the Victorian era and spurred the revolution of hospital hygiene practices following her experience caring for soldiers during the Crimean War in 1853. Her practice of making rounds to tend to wounded soldiers with a lamp in hand gave her the moniker ‘The Lady with the Lamp’. By implementing concepts that are still being used by nurses till this day, such as infection control, therapeutic communication, public health advocacy, etc., the death rates at hospitals were greatly reduced due to her efforts.

In modern times, nursing has become a much-respected profession within the healthcare sector. It is defined as the care of individuals, families and communities so they may attain, maintain or recover optimal health and quality of life. In reality though, nurses face many challenges in their work. It is a physically and emotionally demanding job, not to mention the stress of having to be exposed to illnesses and chemicals as part of their work. While they are required to be patient, compassionate, strong and efficient while doing their job, nurses are only human and they deserve our respect and care too.

For International Nurses Day this year, we spoke to several beneficiaries of Club Rainbow to collect some heart-warming stories of their experiences with healthcare professionals and gave them a chance to show some love to the nurses and healthcare professionals who cared for them during their time in hospital.

10-year-old Nur Fitri Soleha and Daddy -

“Soleha was born with Thalassemia Major (Alpha) which causes extreme anemia. She had to go for monthly blood transfusions at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) since she was diagnosed at 3 months old until she turned 7. We are extremely grateful to the medical practitioners and nurses at KKH, including Sister Nurse Chewing, Sister Anh, Sister Wai Wai, Sister Nurse Munirah, to name a few, that have taken care of Soleha throughout her journey. May Allah bless you all and repay your good deeds for caring for my family.”

Lotus Flower by 14-year-old Elijah Sim

14-year-old Elijah Sim and Mummy -

“A special shout-out to Nurse Fang at KKH’s Child Development Unit who has constantly been warm, gentle patient with Elijah during his visits, always going the extra mile to render assistance. We have been touched by her kindness and would like to take this opportunity to thank Nurse Fang for her hard work.”

Message from Mdm Wang, Mother of Elijah Sim
The roots of the lotus are in the dirtiest water however they still managed to produce the most beautiful flowers. The nurse just like the lotus flower with their inner strength and determination are able to come out of any difficulties. Thank you nurses for all the selfless  contribution during this pandemic, keep on frighting. We will stand with you.

Thank You by 7-year-old Chevelle Tan

7-year-old Chevelle Tan and Mummy -

“Thank you to all nurses, especially Chiu Ying and Danlin who took care of Chevelle when she was at KKH Children’s Day Therapy Unit. They were caring and gentle while handling Chevelle’s special needs and behaviour issues during her treatment. Thank you for your professional advice and care especially during instances when Mummy felt lost and panicked. We are also deeply grateful and would like to show our appreciation to the nurses in KKH oncology ward 76 who helped and supported us from March 2018 to December 2019. We really appreciate all that you have done for us”

Note: In this article, we have also featured artwork from Club Rainbow’s beneficiaries in appreciation of the healthcare workers who have taken care of them in commemoration of International Nurses Day.

Choose to be Happy!

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy!”

Everybody tends to say this to someone having a wrong time, but what does happy mean? Is it that easy to be satisfied?

The word happy is generally defined as a feeling of pleasure or contentment. Such feelings could arise from something as simple as eating something delicious or seeing something beautiful; and can be immediately felt by a child who just got a new toy.

So, what do we do when we are having a bad day and finding it challenging to feel happy? Although we are told that it is fine to embrace our negative feelings, we could always go a step further by embracing those bad feelings and then taking action to exchange them for more positive thoughts. A bad day is no reason to ignore all other good parts of life. Many studies have linked happiness to health as a good mood helps us smile more, sleep better, and feel more energetic. 

One easy way to feel pleasure and contentment is to be thankful. I like to keep a gratitude journal to remind myself of things I am grateful for throughout the day. Small mundane things, like the bus arriving on time or remembering to bring an umbrella on a rainy day. By doing so, you will likely realise that you are luckier than you think. I also know someone who practices ‘gratitude hour’ where he spends an hour every Friday sending emails thanking people who helped him throughout the week.

Most people have also heard of the adage – It’s better to give than to receive. While rewarding ourselves, we must also remember that we are all capable of spreading happiness by building a more compassionate world and not forgetting the needy. You could start by gifting to those who need it or volunteering your time, as experiences provide a higher level of happiness than material items.

If there is one particular day each year where we should put in extra effort to purge all negative emotions from our system, that would be 20 March, also known as the International Day of Happiness. First celebrated on 20 March 2013, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Happiness to make people worldwide realise the importance of happiness in their lives. Building on the idea, the United Nations also launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals aiming to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet to make people’s lives happier. (More information can be found here: https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals)

Here at Club Rainbow, we hope that our beneficiaries can live as happily as possible despite the challenges they face in their lives. In conjunction with this year’s International Day of Happiness, we would appreciate your support for our efforts to make this world a better place for children in Singapore living with chronic illnesses. Actions matter, and you can make happiness a choice every day!

Written by: Tang Su Yen
Edited by: Club Rainbow (Singapore)

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We welcome volunteers to support our beneficiaries and passionate individuals who like to kickstart creative fundraising initiatives. Email us at crscpm@clubrainbow.org to start your journey with us today! Other ways you can be part of - https://www.clubrainbow.org/take-action.

Using your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers for Good

By Eugene Koh, Content Contributor

Club Rainbow (Singapore) beneficiaries visit the Singapore Zoo and Madame Tussauds thanks to Pay-it-Forward programme by Trip.com.

As of 28 March 2021, it was reported by the Ministry for Trade and Industry that only 760,000 adult Singaporeans have used their SingapoRediscovers vouchers (SRV). Amongst those that have used their SRVs, a small number of Singaporeans have decided to do good by donating their S$100 tourism credits to charity organisations. Some of which are the 220 beneficiaries of Club Rainbow Singapore (CRS) for a day trip to the Singapore Zoo and 58 beneficiaries to Madame Tussauds Singapore.

Facilitated by Trip.com, the online travel agency is one of the authorized booking platforms appointed to facilitate the redemption of the SRVs. Apart from giving Singaporeans the best staycation and attraction deals, Trip.com is taking it a step further to provide an alternative way for Singaporeans to fully utilise their travel credits in a meaningful way through their “Pay-it-Forward” programme.

Launched in 1 December 2020, the initiative allows Singaporeans to donate the products bought using their SRVs; such as attractions, hotel stays or tours tickets to specific local beneficiary groups.

Through this initiative, Trip.com aims to raise awareness about the specific beneficiary groups, rally and inspire their stakeholders to support them in various ways during and beyond this campaign. In conjunction, they also wish to maximize the level of support to the local tourism industry through SRVs through ticket purchase. “It is our responsibility to step forward and support social service agencies and non-profit organisations which have been doing an amazing job empowering and caring for those who are more vulnerable or in need in our society. Their work and services will have a lasting impact on these beneficiaries.” Says Trip.com.

When asked about why Singaporeans would rather spent their credits on charity, Trip.com highlighted Singaporeans’ continuous support towards less-privileged communities and recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic could have also motivated this support.

Moving forward, Trip.com is looking for fresh and exciting ideas that can help raise awareness and encourage Singaporeans to support less-privileged individuals and families. “We are committed to playing our part in building a caring society and we are looking to expand our support and collaboration with these agencies beyond this "Pay It Forward" campaign.” Says Trip.com.

Apart from using their SRVs, Singaporeans may also support the Pay It Forward programme by paying for the products with their credit/debit cards as well as Trip coins. Alternatively, one can support Club Rainbow Singapore through sponsorship of our programmes, annual events, supporting online campaigns and even volunteering with us.

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EUGENE KOH

A social butterfly at heart, Eugene enjoys engaging with the people around him and building meaningful connections. He aspires to use his gift to engage and influence mass markets and make an impactful change in society.

When not mugging for his exams or fulfilling his National service duties, you can find him lurking around the pantry or queuing for bubble tea.

Love is Never Rare; Rare is Endless Love

by Rachel Kok Chian Yee, Content Contributor

As a 12-year-old, Umaira enjoys going to school and meeting with her friends, listening to relaxing music and taking walks at the park. One of Umaira’s most striking traits is her carefree nature and her excitement towards meeting others, a testament to her desire to be undeterred in her daily social interactions despite living with Global Developmental Delay and multiple congenital anomalies. 

Umaira has weak lower limbs and balancing issues as such; she needs assistance in her mobility. She is also non-verbal and requires the need for diapers.

We spoke to Umaira’s mother, Madam Noorliah, to find out more about Umaira’s daily life.

1. How does a day in the life of Umaira look like? 

Umaira attends a special education school and loves seeing her classmates. Even though she is non-verbal, she loves interacting with people. She also likes watching Didi & Friends, watching me cook every day and taking walks at the park below our house. I feel so blessed to have Umaira in my life. This journey is not easy for us, but I believe things will work out well as God will take care of us and plan for our lives.

2. As Umaira’s primary caretaker, can you tell us what your greatest concern is for her?

I am most concerned about her eating difficulties. I separate the dishes every meal for her and feed her in small portions as she has a cleft palate, and we have to remind her to chew and eat slowly so that she does not choke on her food. She also has flat feet and tires easily when walking, so we usually use the wheelchair for her safety when we are out. It is not easy because she is non-verbal, but we always do our best.

3. How has life been like since CoVid-19 at home?

Life after CoVid-19 has changed a lot for my family since we cannot leave the house as much as we used to, mainly because Umaira does not like wearing masks. It is quite risky for Umaira as her immunity is not strong, and she can easily get sick. We try to avoid malls and crowded places and keep adhering to the safe distancing guidelines and monitoring our health. We will keep praying for good health and safety. 

4. How is it like for Umaira to be a part of Club Rainbow?

I want to thank my social worker Janeth from Club Rainbow, for her great help. She has helped us a lot ever since we joined Club Rainbow. Through Janeth, we have been able to seek speech therapy, physiotherapy and play therapy for Umaira, and I can see that the therapy sessions have been greatly beneficial to Umaira. Janeth has also helped us with food rations, getting diapers and applying for bursaries for Umaira. This has helped us a lot as Umaira is usually in a wheelchair, and it has been easy to communicate with drivers on this. I feel blessed and am thankful for Club Rainbow for bringing colour and sunshine into Umaira’s life.

Thank you, Janeth, for being so thoughtful and showing concern for Umaira and my family all these years.

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Rachel Kok

a marketing university student in Singapore who loves bubble tea and coffee more than anything. She also enjoys music and film, and tries her best to read as much as she can.

As a language lover, she is proficient in English, Mandarin and Japanese, and enjoys the occasional debate about the areas these 3 languages have in common, especially when it comes to dissecting song lyrics.

Rachel identifies her purpose in life as engaging with like-minded people and bringing joy to others through her words.