The Boy From Trengganu - A New Start

The happy news came earlier than expected. The police have finally closed their investigations and returned the passport to him.

When I met him this evening, he was overjoyed. He never expected his life would return to normalcy so soon. Just a week ago when I found him shelter at volunteer Lella's place, he was preparing to wait for months before he could live a normal life again.

We adjourned to the East Coast Lagoon Food Village for him to break his fast and have a dinner celebration. I asked for his plans. He said he was going to visit his good friend in Johor Bahru before returning to Singapore to look for work again. He wants to be able to earn some money to give his parents when he sees them. His dream ambition is to work in the airlines as he has completed a course in Malaysia to equip himself.

He had a good appetite and was all smiles throughout. A good samaritan has given him $300 for him to start afresh. As I passed him the money on behalf of the anonymous donor, tears welled up in his eyes.

The boy from Trengganu will be leaving Singapore tomorrow. As I bid him farewell and wished him well, he hugged me and thanked me profusely. He has indeed found friends in Singapore when he was down and will never forget the many helping hands that were stretched out to him in this foreign land. Lastly, thank you Lailan for bringing him to Project Awareness.