Many people believe that you need to help yourself before you can help others. One must overcome challenges in life and then impart the experience to guide others.
Being wheelchair-bound never stopped Chong Siew Hua from giving back to the community.
At her YouLing Kindergarten, Chong provides education for special needs children at a minimal fee or for free if they come from low-income families. She has dedicated more than 20 years of her life to helping children with special needs.
“It started when I began noticing that I have a number of special needs students in my kindergarten. Over time, I would get more of these students and I didn’t want them to feel left out or left behind and decided to help them make their lives better,” said Chong.
As her students progressed in life, she realised she needed to continue helping them. She then started Otak Wu Café.
“About five years ago, I opened Otak Wu café where those with special needs could work and develop social and culinary skills while earning a living. I have six employees in the café and four with special needs,” said Chong.
She explained that some of her first special needs students are now in their late teens and they need to experience the world unsheltered, to socialise, feel independent and become individuals in a community. The café serves as a platform for them to learn and experience the closest thing to the normal life that the rest of us go through.
