Hearts and Hands : charity event

seen@dempsey saw its signature long table put to good use on Saturday, 10 April 2010. The table was completely laid out with cakes so beautiful they could make you cry, and savoury items that whet the appetite.

Such was the labour of love from Hearts and Hands, a group of "avid bakers and cooks" as they call themselves, hoping to do an annual cookout for charity. Donors from the Law Society were invited to partake of this private reception.

The donations arising from this hearty meal will go to the new building fund for Eden School, previously known as the Singapore Autism School.

Ms Denise Phua, MP for the Jalan Besar precinct, gave her speech as guest-of-honour. She spoke of how children with special needs should be given a dignified education, and beautiful schools that normal children envy, not despise.

The principal of Eden School thanked all present for their support, and described the upcoming building at Bukit Batok, with facilities to help the children learn working skills such as a Mr Bean kiosk and a farm. The present school building at Yuan Ching Road is a former secondary school.

seen@dempsey owner Lionel Boh was presented with an artwork done by the children of Eden School.

The (normal) children who came along with their parents were kept busy and happy with floor chalk, face painting, and lego.

Speaking to Eden School's principal, I learnt something new from her:

"These special children view the world very differently from us," she said. "Sometimes I think they are the ones who see things the right way, and we have to learn from them."

Still these children have to learn to cope with life in our world, from things like how to be calm in chaotic situations, to being equipped with specific working skills like manning a beverage kiosk. It is a different kind of education they have to master, one that is far removed from the Higher Chinese, Integrated Program and GEP results that normal children and parents get stressed about trying to achieve.

Thank you, Eden School, for showing us that we have much to learn.