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See this house?

Actually is less than a house. Its more like some bricks and zinc placed over a bed. But this is where 83 year-old Madam Han Fu-Rong calls home. Together with another 13 elderly poor, Madam Han lives in an abandon secondary school compound. Here is Madam Han:

I met the deaf Madam Han during my trip to Henan, China last week. I was there to assess the ground, to see if we can have Habitat start work in that province, which is one of the poorest provinces in China. Madam Han had 3 daughters, but 2 died and 1 went missing. So she was left to fend for herself until someone found her. And that someone is a person by the name of Yao Jin-Qi.

Now I am sure all of us know that there are millions of people all over the world living in poverty, and surely there will be work aplenty for Habitat for Humanity in Henan. The question is always related to resources available.

But you know something? My thinking processes were challenged by this Mr Yao who found Madam Han in his village. You see, Mr Yao is a humble Christian farmer, quite ordinary. He had no great organisation behind him, no great resources, no network of donors,no volunteers and the like. What Mr Yao did however, was truly most remarkable. He simply started by bringing abandoned elderly poor into his family. And he did whatever he could to take care of them. He started in 1998, and by now, he has 14 of these elderly poor living with him and his wife, including Madam Han. For the past 10 years, more than 50 elderly poor has come under Mr Yao's care. He would even bury the dead at his own cost.

How does he do it? He simply did.

This is Mr Yao and some of the elderly poor with him. One is blind, one is deaf, and there was one invalid in the house behind the picture. Mr Yao is the one holding on to Madam Han.

The place Mr Yao and the elderly poor live is an abandoned secondary school, with insufficient living space because the main building looks like this:

So in the end, three elderly poor would share one small room with no ventilation whatsoever. I was overcome with emotions when I saw one of those rooms. The condition was simply deplorable.

Thankfully, you and I can so something about this.Mr Yao has provided the costing needed to build rooms for 14 elderly, including dining and kitchen facilities. The amount needed is S$60,000.

Doing everything with nothing. I still can't quite believe it, but Mr Yao Jin-Qi is doing exactly that. Surely we can do better, and ensure that these elderly poor have a decent place to live in?

To help Madam Han and the elderly poor under the care of Mr Yao, send your cheque to "Habitat for Humanity Singapore Limited" and indicate "Henan Elderly" at the back. For other method of donation, click on "Support Us" at the menu above.

Blessings.



Yong Teck Meng, National Director