Creative Love

So what does Singapore, Wheelchair Ramps, Sacramento and Pedicures all have in common?They are all part of some of the creative love being shared over the last months to disabled children in the Tianjin area.

Putting business where your heart is

When Mr Hu Ting Long first came to Tianjin from Singapore, he anticipated to be here just for the short term and strictly for business.However he stayed longer and in that time, he married and settled into the local community.

“I have always wanted to make a difference in the world.It was just that the world’s problems seemed so big, where does one even start?After taking some motivational courses I realized that if ‘making a difference’ was really important to me I simply needed to start somewhere.Just take the first step.”He said.

After looking at many options he chose the Jian Hua Foundation (JHF) Vocational Training Project.“I see JHF making a difference in the Tianjin community.They have very low administrative costs so most of the funds going straight to the needs of disabled young adults”.

Mr Hu owns and operates the South Lake Spa with outlets in Isetan and the Exchange Building (4th Floor).The South Lake Spas are offer manicures, pedicures, as well as a full range of massage and spa functions.Hu designated October as Charity month and donated 10% of all the proceeds to JHF.It wasn’t an easy decision for his staff.His decision meant 10% of their income for the month was gone.But slowly Hu’s enthusiasm and dream began to catch on.

“I love my work because I enjoy making women feel beautiful and happy” recalls Ms Chen who works at the South Lake Spa.“I began to realize that I could make a difference in a other people’s lives that isn’t just outer beauty but really make a difference in their whole life.I am so glad that my boss came up with this idea to help turn my mind off of myself and onto others in a much deeper sense then I had ever thought before.”

A field trip with a purpose

When Jennie Fong, Donna Ye and Regan Wong agreed to come on a short-term basis as volunteers to Tianjin, they really didn’t have any idea what they were getting themselves into.

“We are not special education teachers or anything.We just wanted to help.Ann (the coordinator for the JHF disabled school programs) said that she needed volunteers to help take a class on a field trip and we figured why not” said Jennie.These three from Sacramento were part of a team of 6 persons that helped the JHF Physically Disabled Classrooms to go on a field trip to Tiananmen Square just before the October holiday.

“First there was getting all those wheelchairs into the bus.Then there was getting a parking space where we could get all the wheelchairs back out of the bus and kids strapped into them.Down curbs.Up ramps.Around security gates.They didn’t tell us we needed to be really physically fit when we signed up for this”, Regan says with a smile.“It was just wonderful seeing the students get so excited to be at their nation’s capitol as it was getting decorated for the 55th anniversary.When I was told we would be taking kids on a field trip I wasn’t sure that it was such a good use of my time” said Dona.

“Now I see that it was so very special to the children, and provided a platform for the teachers to share with the larger community about these special children.”As the volunteers maneuvered 19 wheelchairs through downtown Beijing the classroom teachers were constantly answering questions from curious onlookers.Yes, the children are smart.No, they cannot walk.Yes, they do have parents.Yes, they do understand what you are saying.“There is no way that anyone came back from Tiananmen that day without being changed.I know this experience changed my life more then it did these children.’’ said Jennie.

As we can see, love can be shown in many creative ways.The best part about love, is that when it is given, it never comes back without blessing many others in return.

For more creative ideas on how to reach out to the disabled in the Tianjin community please contact:

Ann Churchwell

Jian Hua Foundation

Disabled Persons’ Program

022-2392-6614