Esther Liaw

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Tales of Kindness in our Little Red Dot

Mar 1, 2024 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey. Indeed, little acts of kindness can often be spotted like beacons of hope in everyday life, and today, we want to share some stories by three individuals recounting acts of kindness they’ve received. Next stop: Kindness station!How often have we strolled to the nearest bus stop, only to find the bus departing just as we arrive? It’s a common scenario we’ve all experienced.
Unity in Diversity: Love Beyond Cultural Differences

Feb 8, 2024 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw |Kristelynn Lim

Mr Murali Dharan and Ms Sandie Soh’s first dinner date conversation veered far from the typical romantic script. Driven by concerns about Murali’s dietary restrictions, Sandie wanted to seek clarification on his ethnicity and religion. In an attempt to broach the topic, she awkwardly blurted out, “What are you?” Despite the initial surprise, Murali understood her intentions and they shared a laugh afterwards. However, the subject of race continued to linger throughout that evening.
Connecting Generations- Lion Dance with Pride

Feb 2, 2024 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw

I remember when I was still in primary school, cheering excitedly as I watched the cool lions prance around on the large stage, bolstered by the jubilant clangs of the cymbals and rhythmic beating of the large drums. Lion dance performances always brought a unique celebratory atmosphere that signalled— Chinese New Year was officially here.
Puppy Pages: Painting a Brighter Future for Shelter Dogs

Jan 26, 2024 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw

From a young age, Ms Tan Sze Wei, 43, has always loved books and dogs, adopting her first stray when she was 13 years old. So when she learned from a friend who volunteers at the Forget Me Not Shelter that it costs about $450 monthly to care for a stray, she wanted to help ease this financial burden. “I initially wanted to raise funds with one of my son’s space-themed paintings featuring a dog, but I realise one painting might not suffice. So I thought how about I write a book?” she said.
It’s More Than a Wee Problem if Coffee Shop Toilets in Singapore are Dirty

Dec 18, 2023 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw |William Wan

Singapore often plays host to high-profile conferences and prominent events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix in September. It is consistently voted as a top Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) destination. On an international cruise last month, I listened to guest speaker and retired Canadian diplomat Terry Greenberg give a glowing picture of Singapore as an extremely clean and green nation as the vessel prepared to arrive in Singapore.
Heart, Sweat, and Tears: The Grit of Social Workers

Dec 8, 2023 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw |John Lim

The rain pelted the grounds, and lightning flashed dangerously. It seemed a gloomy start to what was supposed to be a day of celebration, highlighting the outstanding social workers who inspired others with their sterling contributions. But none of this could dampen the spirits of the social workers gathered at the Istana to celebrate the awards. And eventually their spirit won. Just before the start of the ceremony at 3pm, the rains cleared.
You're Not On Your Own, Kid

Dec 4, 2023 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw |John Lim

Please note that for this article, names and identifying details have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the clients mentioned. When I used to work in the social services, I often worked with children from the poorest families. Let me take you into the lives of one of them. Joe is the third of five children. With her children aged one, two, four, five, and six respectively, Kathleen, the mother, was extremely stressed when I first met her.
Their Golden Years: Stories of Continued Purpose

Nov 17, 2023 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw |Kristelynn Lim

I reckon many of us have had our fair share of gripes about the daily grind, yearning for the days when our lives will revolve around endless leisure and relaxation – that elusive retirement dream. But in a world where retirement often beckons once we hit a certain age, here are five senior citizens who are defying that script, crumpling it up, and tossing it out the window.
TGIS: A Book Club for the Curious Soul

Nov 15, 2023 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw |John Lim

Gosh. There are more people in the room than I expected. It’s July 2023, a year since this non-fiction book club started. Against all odds, this book club has been surviving. No, scratch that. You could say it’s thriving. But I can hardly believe it. Because when it first started, I didn’t expect this to last more than a few months. It was more a hopeful toss into the unknown, than a purposeful, intentional effort to make something as hopeful as the community I saw in front of me today.
There Is No Age Limit for Pursuing Your Passion

Nov 3, 2023 | pride.kindness.sg | Esther Liaw

“All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise…” This is a line from a popular Beatles tune but could very well refer to Stephen Gomez’s love for music. “I was young when I realized I wanted to have a life that involved music,” the 68-year-old says. “My father was not happy, but how do I just ignore what I was good at? I just knew I wanted this life.” He knew he wanted to be a musician since he was a young lad in the 1960s, and this belief stayed all the way into adulthood.