| Ian has fond memories of his childhood days. He is thankful for his parents' guidance and strict Catholic upbringing. He remembers clearly his mum often reminding him and his brothers to put aside some of their pocket money for the needy. His mother succumbed to illness in 1982.
“As a tribute to her, I joined the Society of St Vincent de Paul as a volunteer,” recalled Ian. “There are many highs and lows in our work with the poor and needy.”
He remembers visiting a family of four including two school-going girls. The wife worked as a dishwasher while the husband was begging for a living. SSVP helped them and also put the girls through to tertiary education.
“The girls are now doing well in their jobs,” said a visibly happy Ian. “With SSVP, I've learnt that prayer is very important. By sharing a prayer with the needy, it helps to heal and overcome many difficulties.”
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