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BrainTeasers: Desire Becomes Life Mission

Mr Thomas standing in front of his thrift shop (St. Isidore Centre). Image from Willing Hearts Orphanage website

Desires are bad but are they all bad? Desire breed from greed brings endless stress, anxiety, and hurt to yourself and others. however, if the desire benefits others rather than yourself, then it is a desire worth pursuing, even as a lifetime mission.

—— Dickson Idlier

I chanced upon this charity on a TV program (Neighbourhood Fixer 邻里来爆料) in Singapore on 16 March 2021. Mr Thomas Wee runs a thrift shop in Singapore and supports the Willing Hearts Orphanage in Bulacan, Philippines. Similar charity like the “Filiporean Project” by Colin Lau. 

I am not acquainted with Mr Thomas but just want to applaud his hard work. He collects items from donors and sorted them to be sold in his shop or give to maids. The profits from his shop, fund, care for and educate Filipino orphan children, who are vulnerable without any adults looking after or guiding them. He established an orphanage and a thrift shop in the Philippines and travels there with volunteers to visit and teach the children there. 

Mr Thomas is already in his 80s and mentioned that he has no one trusted to take over his thrift shop and his charity work in Singapore during the show. It is very disheartening to hear but with limited contacts and desire to keep his charity operation size manageable, there is little he can do. Succession planning is always an issue since it is not easy to find the correct people to continue such charity for the long term. I hope with the airing of the show, Mr Thomas may find a suitable person or organization to take responsibility for his hard work.

Source Info:

An article from Our Better World on Willing Hearts Orphanage Founders, Thomas Wee and Maria.

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