Latest news with #JunLe
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘Taking care of a child with autism, I learnt things won't always go my way'
Photographer Bob Lee and his son Jun Le wear matching shirts featuring Jun Le's calligraphy, which has become a symbol of his artistic journey with autism. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA 'Taking care of a child with autism, I learnt things won't always go my way' Your Singapore Story: While helping his autistic son find his place in the world, this photographer is also rediscovering the important things in life Raising a child with autism comes with unique challenges, but photographer Bob Lee, 49, refuses to set limits on what his son, Jun Le, can achieve. From discovering his son's gift for calligraphy to starting a fundraising campaign for his art, Mr Lee and his wife have dedicated themselves to ensuring a future for their son, who is now 18, to thrive. Watch their video here. Their journey has not been easy. They left their full-time media jobs to focus on Jun Le's needs, faced rejection from schools and navigated new challenges when Mr Lee's wife was diagnosed with cancer. But through it all, they have found strength in family. 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? Mr Lee guides Jun Le during a calligraphy session at home. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA 'We discovered Jun Le's talent for calligraphy by accident. To keep him occupied during the circuit breaker in 2020, we encouraged him to copy Chinese characters from the ancient Buddhist text Heart Sutra, which he did in a unique style. We coined it 'Junlefont' and held a fundraising campaign for his creations. Because of their popularity, we have since printed his designs on items like bags, pouches and hongbao envelopes to sell, and also taken on commission requests. Our hope is that this provides Jun Le with a way to support himself after he graduates from school. We recently partnered with Starbucks on a special collection and are thrilled to see Jun Le's calligraphy come to life in the heart of vibrant Chinatown. This collaboration is a meaningful opportunity to share his unique blend of creativity and tradition with a wider audience. My wife and I used to work long hours in the newsroom and had very irregular schedules. But when Jun Le was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, my wife took time off to take care of him. Eventually, we decided to quit our jobs and focus on him full-time. We now run our own company offering photography and translation services. Taking care of a child with autism, I learned things won't always go my way. When I tried to enrol Jun Le into pre-school, I was rejected by all the kindergartens I called. Even though I understood that it was because they didn't have the means to support a child with autism, I still broke down. But over the years, we've learnt to accept things as they come. I believe that it was also through our experience taking care of Jun Le that we were able to better cope with my wife's diagnosis of nose cancer later. We knew it was okay to slow down, to ask for help, to not be okay. Now, our family bond is stronger than ever. We spend a lot of time doing things together – whether it's going on long bike rides or making pizzas and chocolate cakes. Regardless of the activity, it's more important that we enjoy every moment together. Awareness of persons with autism has definitely improved through the years, but acceptance still has plenty of room for improvement. As a photographer, I often give talks about photography at schools and companies. I always take the opportunity to also draw attention to the topic of autism. After all, if we as parents of children with autism don't tell their stories, who will?' For generations, The Straits Times has told The Singapore Story. To celebrate our 180th anniversary, we're putting the spotlight on our communities – for you to tell us yours, from all around Singapore. Discover the stories from your neighbourhood as the series continues at Your Singapore Story.
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
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 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.'
