Your Singapore Story: A special series to mark The Straits Times' 180th anniversary is launched
(Clockwise from top left) Mr Bob Lee and his son Jun Le, busking duo Davidson Teo and Gillian Goh, Mr Ahmad Zahid Isnin, Ms Latha Govindasamy and Mr Davin Choo share their stories for ST180. PHOTOS: SPH MEDIA
SINGAPORE - Behind every morning kopi ritual, every stroll through the heartland and every festive gathering lies a story that connects us as Singaporeans.
Every Singaporean has a story to share, be it a moment of triumph, a time of struggle, or years of perseverance.
Take photographer Bob Lee, 49, who refuses to set limits on what his son, Jun Le, who has autism and is now 18, can achieve. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they discovered Jun Le's talent for calligraphy.
Mr Lee now uses photography and conducts public talks to raise awareness about autism because, as he says, if parents do not share these stories, who will?
There is chef and entrepreneur Ahmad Zahid Isnin, 47, who dons big-headed doll costumes at Chinese funeral processions.
'People find it strange that I... would take part in something so deeply rooted in Chinese traditions. But I never saw it as belonging to just one group,' he says.
'These rites, these performances – they are part of Singapore's cultural fabric. And, somehow, I found a place in them.'
Meanwhile, former educator Latha Govindasamy, 56, gives cheer to migrant workers through a soup kitchen in Little India that she co-founded with her sisters and their husbands in 2018.
Krsna's Free Meals provides free breakfast, lunch and dinner to these workers, many of whom leave their dorms before dawn.
Her family wants to do more. 'We want to go into the heartland, have a central kitchen and make food accessible to all Singaporeans,' she adds.
The Straits Times has told stories like theirs over the years, and will continue to do so.
To mark its 180th anniversary since its first edition on July 15, 1845, ST is launching a special feature to capture these stories that have an impact on communities and neighbourhoods, and reflect who Singaporeans are as a people.
Titled Your Singapore Story, the special series celebrates the lives, memories and dreams of people in every corner of the country, from tales of resilience and reinvention to the quiet moments in everyday life.
The first set of 12 stories is available at www.straitstimes.com/yoursingaporestory with accompanying videos, and more stories and videos will be added in the coming weeks.
Among those currently featured are long-time friends Davidson Teo, 66, and Gillian Goh, 70, who busk across the island as Silver Hype. The duo sing in different languages to reach a diverse audience, particularly seniors who may feel isolated in their golden years.
Also featured is fitness coach Davin Choo, 30, who during the Covid-19 pandemic taught Singaporeans on Instagram how to work out while self-isolating, with unorthodox gym set-ups made from everyday household items like wooden poles and rice sacks.
'It makes me glad that I made the right choice to try out fitness,' says Mr Choo. 'I'm also happy I'm able to use my story and this message to reach out to and motivate others to become the best version of themselves.'
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