Long ago, there was a bright boy from Malaysia who won a prestigious ASEAN scholarship to study in S’pore way back in 1980. Not only was he very smart, he was a very active person and excelled in sports. He became an accountant eventually and was climbing the career ladder when a trip to Kenya in 1995 changed his life.
He decided to dedicate his time to helping the people in Tana River, to improve their living conditions. He worked to create schools and ensure that the children of the next generation had a brighter future than their parents. In 2005, he started the Tana River Life Foundation with the objective of assisting the marginalized through education and the acquisition of livelihood skills.
I met Gabriel way back in 1979 when he became my classmate. We were 14 years old. I lost touch with him for the next 33 years until we had a class reunion 3 years ago. A fellow classmate suggested that we showcase a guest speaker during the reunion. He was telling me of this interesting story of the person who had gone on a lifelong journey to help a whole community. I was most certainly intrigued by this man and gladly made time for him.
During his speech at the reunion, he shared his lifelong passion that touched the hearts of many that evening. He had also started to come to Singapore every year with a purpose of collecting unwanted stuff to packed into containers to ship back to Tana River to distribute to the schools and needy women. He will also bring along 2 well deserving students along every year with him to help with this annual exercise. This initiative has been happening for the last 12 years and a shipping company is now sponsoring the containers.
His network in Singapore assisted to connect with schools here to look for old school equipment which they are looking to discard, like desks and chairs. These could begin to have a second life in Kenyan schools where they are much needed. They also collect unwanted clothes and shoes which they will pack in multiple bags to be distributed to the resourceful women there, who may use them again or sell them for much-needed funds for their families.
https://tanariverlife.wordpress.com/
For this year, they had publicised their collection week on Facebook. I decided to start a collection myself via friends and family a few weeks before that. 2 days ago, I finally delivered all the collected stuff to the church collection point. Managed to meet up with Gabriel and to touch base with him again. He still has not lost the enthusiasm to assist the foundation he helped to set up. I wished him all the best. His legacy and effort have most certainly helped many students and families over the last 20+ years with his selflessness and dedication.
How noble is a cause like this? He had stepped away from a professional life, material wealth and family to push on for a cause he believed in. A road less travelled but spiritually rewarding. There is so much to admire about this man.
Most of us do admit that we chase material things all our lives but we have to remind ourselves that like a baby, we come into this world naked and we will leave it in the same way. As we become older, the sense of social awareness grows stronger. We question if there are ways in which we can give back to society, for we have been so lucky to have enjoyed the fruits of our labour. In small but tiny steps, I hope to do that. They may be a tiny fraction of what Gabriel has done, but I hope it is the beginning of more to come.
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