Charity

Since the last post on the first 3 days in Italy, I've been MIA for quite some time. I shall conveniently blame it on work and busy social schedules. Truth be told, it has also been some time since I last switched on my laptop. Somehow, I don't really feel the urge to switch on my laptop when I get home. Think it has to do with my facing the computer at work for 8h. Simply have no desire to switch on my laptop. Would much rather read a novel on my iphone. Also miss holding a real physical book in my hands..

Anw, saw a video on Mon that had me battling back tears. It was a video put together by Operation Smile. Basically, this is a group which will help children born with a lip cleft to go for a free operation, so that they can look like normal children and lead a normal life free of horrified stares and pitying glances. However, due to limited resources, this group has to screen the applicants and select only a number to go for the free operations.

The video showed the screening process in Vietnam - how many parents brought their children with the defect to the screening site, simply because they were too poor to send their children for an operation to fix it; how they were silently praying that their child's name would be called as it would mean that their child had been selected to go for the operation. The contrast was heartwrenching - how some parents looked absolutely delighted and relieved that their child's name was called, and how some parents looked absolutely devastated and disappointed. Then it focused on a child. His mum hoped that after the operation, he would be a handsome boy. It showed the mother's anxiety in the waiting room when the operation was going on. It also showed the intense emotions the mother experienced when she saw her son. She clasped the hands of the doctor and thanked the doctor, and finally, overwhelmed with emotions, she cried into the shoulders of the volunteer worker. It was really touching. One flaw though - they showed it during lunch. It thoroughly spoilt my appetite. Luckily I had finished eating before they started showing the video.

But after viewing it, it also made me glad that I volunteered a day to help with the Operation Smile mission in Batam, even if it's only for screening day. It makes me proud to be part of such a worthy cause.

Another the video, another volunteer from Riverkids came forth to share about their cause - to help females in Cambodia who are potential targets to be sold into the sex industry. It broke my heart to hear tales of how they were not able to stop some girls from being sold in time, and how later when they managed to retrieve these girls, the time (years) and effort it takes to help these girls to recover from the trauma. Luckily no video for this. I doubt that I'd be able to stop tears from falling if there's a video for this.

Heavy topics for lunch. But I'm glad that RBS is starting a charity drive. It helps to remind all of us that despite the late working hours and stress, we are blessed. There are many others who aren't as well off as us and need our help.

They also motivate me further to help if I'm able to. God bless them all.