“You can’t change what happens, but you can change your reaction to the situation.” CAL C2C training programme graduate and caregiver Lim Hai Yen (林海燕), who approaches life with positivity, peace and compassion, shared this with CAL over brunch in December 2024.
December is traditionally the month of giving. CAL was thrilled when Louis Lee, Programme Manager who taught Hai Yen all about caregiving – 12 weeks on mental health issues, and subsequently 8 weeks on Dementia – shared the news that his grateful caregiver was making a donation in her will to CAL, to uplift the community of mental health caregivers in need!
A pivotal moment with a family member led Hai Yen, a renowned local playwright and director, to recognise the importance of legacy planning, not just for her family but also for the charities she supports. She decided to include various charities in her will, each representing significant aspects of her life:
Caregivers: As a caregiver herself, she wishes to support Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL). At CAL, she learned to confront her challenges, develop coping mechanisms, and benefit from support groups. Her legacy gift ensures that more caregivers can access the same training and support at no cost.
Education: As a graduate of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Hai Yen wants to support future generations from lower income families in their educational pursuits.
Nursing: She chose to give back to Woodlands Care Home, managed by Vanguard Healthcare, where a relative is receiving excellent care, as a way of expressing her gratitude.
Church: She is grateful to the church group who are giving her relative and her strength through spirituality.
Children: Hai Yen has been a long-time supporter of the Amitofo Care Centre, an organisation that helps the less privileged children in Africa pave a way for a better future.
As a giver by nature, Hai Yen dedicates her time to others. In conversations about her travels, it’s clear that her journeys are not just about the destinations but about the people she travels with. It is during these trips that she fosters even closer ties with her loved ones. Hai Yen took her mother on 4 holidays last year. She also enjoyed catching up with her son in Paris, and meeting the whole family (her daughters and husband) in Vietnam to usher in 2025.
Hai Yen also generously shares her talents. As a former journalist, she finds time to write columns and even authored 4 books about her life to inspire others. In this season of her life, Hai Yen believes in fate, living life with purpose, not sweating over the small stuff, and not allowing negative energy – such as anger and ego – from affecting her.
For Hai Yen, legacy giving is about helping people she will never meet. It brings her peace and assurance knowing that her gift will make a lasting impact on others' lives. Her story is one of compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
If you are inspired by Hai Yen and would like to explore legacy giving with CAL, contact us at donation@cal.org.sg.
Comments