Donations
If you came here 'cause you saw The Straits Time's Lifestyle section on 23rd April 2006 then here's the original entry, I have to say that everything is based on my personal opinion and if you don't feel comfortable then go away :D
Apparently the school population only raised about 9k for the ORA. RGS is not satisfied and returned us the collection cards and urged us to ask our families, relatives and friends to donate more. They're giving us one more month to get more money, I'm not going to touch my card anymore. I bet they will not collect the cards back till they ever reach their target amount.
Behind the ORA donation card states:
"The Old Rafflesians' Association is organising a Walk-a-Jogathon on Saturday 8th April 2006 to raise funds for RI, RGS &RJC. RGS will channel the funds raised to:
ORA hopes to raise $300,000: All we need is for each Rafflesian to contribute just $50 or more and we wil be able to meet our target."
They didn't even state the percentage of funds they will give to charity organisations or whatever. And we still have to donate for 'school redevelopment programme', I don't see RGS undergoing reconstruction every year. Pack of lies.
At the beginning of the year we paid some $500 for some miscellaneous fees and then this week we got another form stating that we had to pay another $300 for enrichment activities. So what if we're on scholarships or whatever shit. We pay about $200 less for monthly school fees and then pay $800 on the other hand for other school-related stuff. I'd rather not have these dumb courses.
$50 or more per Rafflesian: Uh, if the school needs donation then don't be independent, go extort money from MOE instead.
I don't see why I should even donate 1 cent to this fund.
On top of this fund there's still a 'Support an RGS girl Fund', what the hell. There's the existence of this fund, and they say '$50 or more' per Rafflesian, it contradicts.
I used to think that I'm doing a good deed as long as I donate money. It doesn't matter who I donate to, I just donated. As you walk along Orchard Road you'd definitely see some students selling flags or people who claim that they're selling souvenirs for charity. We just donate blindly. In Primary school days, I always asked my aunts to donate to NKF 'cause I wanted to get the rewards. And then Durai was busted last year or something. You realise that you've been donating to a rich ass all these while who takes first-class airplane flights, lives in a bungalow, owns a BMW and whatever. I thought the actors, actresses and singers who performed for charity never got money for performing, and I thought the prizes and rewards NKF offers somehow just popped out from nowhere. You realise that you've been paying for the stunts you see on the television and prizes other people win instead of donating to those who are really in need. I've never called any donation hotlines since a long time ago. I've stopped donating to random people who ask for donations. It's only the authentic beggars/ disabled street performers on the streets I donate to. How sad is this, none of the charity organisations is reliable. My family used to buy food like tins of biscuits and donate them to homes, I guess that was the best way to do good.
Yesterday during assembly a few students gave a talk about Joan Chan Shu Fang. She is an ex-RGS girl who went to RJC and then NUS but forced to quit school 'cause she was diagnosed with cancer and it was the 4th stage, I think. First they showed this picture of her before she had cancer and then towards the end of the presentation they showed another picture of her. She was bald and all that. It was really saddening. She's so good at her studies, CCAs and everything and she got cancer (If I ever get cancer and need the school's help, they'll have nothing to say about me and no one would donate to me and then I'll die.). It will be like wasting her talents and intelligence if she can't pull through. The new drug (Iressa) costs about $6000 per month. Each pill costs more than a hundred dollars and if she doesn't take it then she'll have only a year to live. Her family's not very well-off so the school's appealing for donations. Wish her all the best. Tan said that if the whole school popluation donates $3 a month then it'll be enough. Well, I think donating $3 a month is all I can do.
Apparently the school population only raised about 9k for the ORA. RGS is not satisfied and returned us the collection cards and urged us to ask our families, relatives and friends to donate more. They're giving us one more month to get more money, I'm not going to touch my card anymore. I bet they will not collect the cards back till they ever reach their target amount.
Behind the ORA donation card states:
"The Old Rafflesians' Association is organising a Walk-a-Jogathon on Saturday 8th April 2006 to raise funds for RI, RGS &RJC. RGS will channel the funds raised to:
1. The Tent- welfare home for teenage girls
2. AWWA TEACH ME Services
3. RGS service learning progrmmes, both local and overseas
4. School redevelopment programme
ORA hopes to raise $300,000: All we need is for each Rafflesian to contribute just $50 or more and we wil be able to meet our target."
They didn't even state the percentage of funds they will give to charity organisations or whatever. And we still have to donate for 'school redevelopment programme', I don't see RGS undergoing reconstruction every year. Pack of lies.
At the beginning of the year we paid some $500 for some miscellaneous fees and then this week we got another form stating that we had to pay another $300 for enrichment activities. So what if we're on scholarships or whatever shit. We pay about $200 less for monthly school fees and then pay $800 on the other hand for other school-related stuff. I'd rather not have these dumb courses.
$50 or more per Rafflesian: Uh, if the school needs donation then don't be independent, go extort money from MOE instead.
I don't see why I should even donate 1 cent to this fund.
On top of this fund there's still a 'Support an RGS girl Fund', what the hell. There's the existence of this fund, and they say '$50 or more' per Rafflesian, it contradicts.
I used to think that I'm doing a good deed as long as I donate money. It doesn't matter who I donate to, I just donated. As you walk along Orchard Road you'd definitely see some students selling flags or people who claim that they're selling souvenirs for charity. We just donate blindly. In Primary school days, I always asked my aunts to donate to NKF 'cause I wanted to get the rewards. And then Durai was busted last year or something. You realise that you've been donating to a rich ass all these while who takes first-class airplane flights, lives in a bungalow, owns a BMW and whatever. I thought the actors, actresses and singers who performed for charity never got money for performing, and I thought the prizes and rewards NKF offers somehow just popped out from nowhere. You realise that you've been paying for the stunts you see on the television and prizes other people win instead of donating to those who are really in need. I've never called any donation hotlines since a long time ago. I've stopped donating to random people who ask for donations. It's only the authentic beggars/ disabled street performers on the streets I donate to. How sad is this, none of the charity organisations is reliable. My family used to buy food like tins of biscuits and donate them to homes, I guess that was the best way to do good.
Yesterday during assembly a few students gave a talk about Joan Chan Shu Fang. She is an ex-RGS girl who went to RJC and then NUS but forced to quit school 'cause she was diagnosed with cancer and it was the 4th stage, I think. First they showed this picture of her before she had cancer and then towards the end of the presentation they showed another picture of her. She was bald and all that. It was really saddening. She's so good at her studies, CCAs and everything and she got cancer (If I ever get cancer and need the school's help, they'll have nothing to say about me and no one would donate to me and then I'll die.). It will be like wasting her talents and intelligence if she can't pull through. The new drug (Iressa) costs about $6000 per month. Each pill costs more than a hundred dollars and if she doesn't take it then she'll have only a year to live. Her family's not very well-off so the school's appealing for donations. Wish her all the best. Tan said that if the whole school popluation donates $3 a month then it'll be enough. Well, I think donating $3 a month is all I can do.
1 Comments:
Hi Emelia,
My name is Sandra Leong and I am a journalist with The Straits Times. I stumbled upon your blog entry on Joan Chan and was wondering if I could get in touch with you?
You may or may not remember but on Xmas Day last year, I wrote a story about Joan and her battle to overcome cancer as part of an inspirational series about how ordinary people have overcome hardships. I was also the one who contacted the ORA when I found out that Joan needed help for her medicine.
I understand that RGS and its students have since raised a considerable sum of money for her. I am about to do an interview with your principal Mrs Deborah Tan, but I was also hoping to get some opinions from the RGS girls who helped with Joan's cause as a follow-up story to her case. It would be a nice way to show that there is some kindness left in this world! After all, you did not know her but made the decision to help anyway.
My email address is sandral@sph.com.sg and my mobile phone is 97760833. If you're open to giving one or two quotes over the phone (it will only take 5-10 minutes), can you get in touch? I would be most grateful.
I know this is a bit of long shot, but I look forward to hearing from you. My deadline is Friday afternoon (April 20) so your quick response would really be appreciated.
Thanks for your time.
Sandra Leong
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