Tan Kia Huat and Catherine Toh

Tan Kia Huat:

KH wanted to build a house. The house was not for himself. He wanted to build a place where seniors could come together and rest, play, and enjoy life. 

There were challenges. There was opposition. It was not easy. Every brick, every frame, every piece of the house needed time, effort, finances. But the most important ingredient was what KH had.

Perseverance. Where there is the will, there will be a way. KH came up with creative solutions. A muddy, unusable field was covered with wooden planks, decorated and made ready for use.

The opposition said it couldn’t be done. They threatened to sabotage his hard work. KH planned ahead. He never gave up. He gathered like-minded volunteers to work together.

Today that house continues to flourish and grow. One building has become a community. The same challenges and opposition exist. He looks at a new generation, hoping to find the same perseverance in them to keep on building.

Catherine Toh:

Inspired by KH’s house, John wanted to do the same. He gathered bricks and materials, got ready and started building.

He spent days and nights, following the footsteps of his senior, KH, doing exactly what he did to build the house. Just as he was almost done, an earthquake struck the house and the house was shattered.

John was taken aback. It was the first time the country has experienced an earthquake. He did not know what to do, not even his senior, KH.

He thought about KH’s advice, “Perseverance”. John decided to try again. He researched and found stronger bricks. He built his house again. No one knows if this will stand strong against the earthquake.

The earthquake came and the house toppled. John adjusted his strategies and tried again. He doesn’t know when he will build a house that can withstand the earthquake. But he knows he just got to keep going, just like how KH did.