MP Ellen Lee Praises Fundraising Initiative for Intellectually Disabled

Touch of the Hearts Committee, a charity organisation made up of students from Hall of Residence 4, held a fundraising event for the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. Toh Ting Wei finds out more.

By Toh Ting Wei

TEAM EFFORT: The event organising committee poses for a photograph with guest of honour Ms Ellen Lee.
PHOTO: CLIFFORD LEE

Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC (Woodlands) Ellen Lee praised students from NTU’s Hall of Residence 4 for their efforts in a fundraising event for the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).

The two-day event, named — gIVing, it’s a gift of a lifetime! — was organised by Touch of the Hearts (TOTs), a charity organisation comprising 25 Hall 4 residents. TOTs, which was set up in 1992, has been holding annual fundraisers in support of organisations such as MINDS and the Down Syndrome Association.

The event, which started yesterday (23 Aug), was held at Causeway Point.

FACE PAINTING: Ms Ellen Lee (second from right) shares a lighthearted moment with TOTs president Ashley Toh (third from right).
PHOTO: CLIFFORD LEE

Participants made donations by paying for booth activities, which included face and clay painting, balloon sculpting, and shooting Nerf guns. They also purchased coupons, which entitled them to candy floss and popcorn. Homegrown singers and dancers, as well as orchestras and choirs from local secondary schools, performed at the event.

Ms Lee, who was the guest of honour, said: “It’s a very good initiative because we always think that youth don’t bother with anything at all because they are busy studying, especially when it comes to tertiary education.”

“But I think the students have proven this sort of thinking wrong because they have been actively involved (in helping) the less fortunate in society,” she added.

SYNCHRONISED BEATS: Taiko drummers from MINDS perform for the audience.
PHOTO: CLIFFORD LEE

MINDS was in the spotlight earlier this month after being part of the marching contingent and performance at this year’s National Day Parade for the first time. Yesterday, beneficiaries from MINDS displayed talent and vigour with an upbeat taiko drums performance.

Ms Lee rejected the belief that intellectual disability is similar to mental disability, highlighting that those with intellectual disability can outperform those without it, in everyday tasks.

“I think it is important that we create this awareness among young people; that intellectually disabled is not mentally disabled, it is just that they have some biological setbacks,”

“When they are properly trained, they can do a better job than anybody else, because I believe they are very focused in what they learn and what they do,” she said.

TOTs president Ashley Toh, 24, agreed, noting that the event was a platform for the intellectually disabled to showcase their talents.

“Our main objective is to build awareness for the intellectually disabled and promote volunteerism. The event allowed us to engage the 500 residents in our hall in the spirit of volunteering,” said the third-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

Toh also expressed that due to the large turnout — about 3,000 members of the public were at the event — he was positive that his team had raised their target amount of S$20,000 for MINDS.

Participants in the event learnt about MINDS by interacting with TOTs volunteers, as well as through an exhibition corner.

The exhibition featured posters with information on MINDS, which included details on how people with intellectual disabilities can contribute to society.

PLUSH TOY: Event mascot Rilakkuma entertains a young boy at the event.
PHOTO: CLIFFORD LEE

Students the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to at the event said that they enjoyed themselves.

Low Shu Ling, 20, a second-year student from the Nanyang Business School (NBS), described it as “very fun and enriching”.

Low enjoyed the Rilakkuma (Japanese soft-toy character) photobooth the most, and added that information booths at the event had given her a better understanding of MINDS and its beneficiaries.

Noel Tan, a final-year student student from NBS, echoed Low’s sentiments.

“The Rilakkuma mascot this year was better than last year’s — which was a random lion,”

“The balloon artist at one of the booths was also very good, and she made a balloon of Elsa from Frozen, among other complicated things,” said the 24-year-old.

Kelvin Chuah and his family were among members of the public who turned up to watch the performances and participate in the booths.

The 39-year-old engineer said: “This is a meaningful event, the performances and activities are all interesting and I was happy watching it.”

“But (the organisers) could have stated more clearly that (the event) is for charity, so that people would be more willing to come and participate. I thought it was just a normal shopping centre activity, as there was no obvious indication that it was for charity,” he added.

First published: 24 Aug
Updated: 26 Aug