"A Mother's Wish" Thank You to Channel 8's "Joy Truck"

Dear everyone,

Thank you, Channel 8's "Joy Truck"!

What a month it has been! Our biggest surprise was being contacted by Media Corps to appear in Channel 8's "Joy Truck" programme, Episode 8 (if you are in Singapore, click here; if you are overseas, click here). Through this opportunity, Sebastien and I got to share our autism story and homeschooling journey, which led us to "A Mother's Wish" campaign that seeks to provide affordable quality programmes for individuals with moderate to severe autism. 

• We would really like to thank the simply awesome "Joy Truck" TV crew and the artistes who organised the exhibition, celebrated Sebastien's birthday, and ultimately put together a heartwarming narrative of our lives, as well as Media Corp, the volunteers, the Musa Abode gallery, and Skateline. Hats off to you all! 

• Through the fundraising game app, TV viewers of "Joy Truck" gave "A Mother's Wish" fund a big boost of $8,000 (it will take one month to process) — thank you for helping us to reach the target. Five paintings were also sold during the exhibition featured in the TV programme (of which 70% of the sales went towards the campaign). 

• Singapore, you rock! I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outpouring of encouragement, support, and love from friends and the general public, who viewed the programme — your words and actions have really strengthened my faith in the goodness of humanity. Many also purchased my published books, and Sebastien's paintings  (30% goes towards the campaign fund). Thank you all — we are truly moved and surprised by this heartwarming response. 

Fund Update

Beyond the TV show,  others have also contributed to the fund with purchases of paintings (30% goes towards the campaign fund) and the picture book, All Because of the Hummingbird... or the Horse (70% of the sales goes towards the fund). We also received a donation of $100 that went fully into the fund. 

The fund now stands at: $4,057.02 (As we have not received the $8,000 from "Joy Truck", I will update it later.)  

Purpose of the Fund

As mentioned before, I am engaging in a dialogue with the Disability Services Division of the Ministry of Social and Family Services to identify ways to collaborate with existing organisations and improve the quantity and quality of services. Why am I doing so?

• I truly believe that government support is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of affordable (government-subsidised) quality programmes (academic learning, vocational training, lifeskills, creative arts, and fitness) for individuals with moderate to severe autism (end-users) so that we can help many families with individuals with moderate to severe autism in the years to come. 

• Essentially, "A Mother's Wish" campaign's central goal is to set in a place a community that would continue to provide guidance, support, and love for end-users and their families, even when the primary caregivers (particularly parents) have passed away. This would be a community that would supplement and support these families and help to ease their burden in terms of the caregiving needs for their loved ones with moderate to severe autism..  

• While waiting for this negotiation to bear fruit, I aim to initiate the community slowly, on a small scale (to stretch the fund and rally more support), with our first project: a five-day, 3-hour holiday programme (50% subsidy from "A Mother's Wish" fund) during the school holidays in December to test out "A Mother's Wish" podular model that involves professionalising caregivers and tapping into a network of small-scale, but experienced, service providers. Moreover, we will be taking our end-users on public transport to cultivate their lifeskills and mingle with mainstream society. More details will be provided in early October, as the planning will commence in the latter half of September...  

Sebastien's "Raw Art" Updates

• As Sebastien's art is our principal source of fundraising, I would appreciate you all spreading the word about Sebastien's art and the key role he is playing in "A Mother's Wish" campaign. He is doing his part for his future! We appreciate your support in helping a moderately autistic young man to be both an artist and a philanthropist who is donating 30% of the sales of the paintings to "A Mother's Wish" campaign! You guys are making this 'little miracle' happen!

• Here are the latest additions to Sebastien's portfolios. For all the updated portfolios, all the latest paintings are inserted at the beginning of the slideshow (www.awakeningminds.sg).    

1. Petits Tableaux II
2. Humanity Series: Updated
3. Nature Series: Updated
4. Colours, Textures, Temperatures Series: Updated 
5. Artism Series: Updated
6. Sold Portfolios: Updated [A very special thanks goes out to all the people who have purchased paintings — This slideshow is an acknowledgement of your contributions to "A Mother's Wish"!]

• Sebastien's art can also be found on the covers of notebooks that has been produced by a wonderful non-profit organisation called The Everyday Revolution (featuring art done by artists with autism), which can be purchased at: http://www.hipvan.com/collections/the-everyday-revolution. Sebastien is receiving a flat royalty fee of $200 for his art work in this project; he will also be contributing 30% of this amount to "A Mother's Wish" campaign.

• Finally, for those of you working for large corporations that engage in CSR, please keep "A Mother's Wish" campaign in mind. We can explore many ways of raising awareness and funds for a good cause. Together, we can make Singapore a more equitable society for all. 

Thank you! High-Fives! Hugs! Kisses!

Kah Ying