A Projection of Love for the Community

Caption: Mdm Mano (right) enjoying the company of her befriendee, Mdm Puranam (left).

Mdm Manoranjitham (affectionately called Mdm Mano) was originally born in a Chinese family, but raised by loving Indian adoptive parents. Growing up, she witnessed the boundless generosity of her adoptive Indian mother who inspired her to serve the community in a similar manner. Now at the age of 76, Mdm Mano has been volunteering at TOUCHpoint@AMK 433 as a befriender to the elderly such as Mdm Puranam. 

Caption: Mdm Mano dons a traditional red and gold sari, matching bangles on her wrist, and a red bindi on her forehead.

Following Her Mother’s Footsteps 

“I grew up in a happy environment. My mother and I were very close. My sister and I were looked after very well by my adoptive parents,” recalls Mdm Mano with a fond smile.  

Reminiscing about her kampong days, Mdm Manor vividly remembers the acts of kindness her mother showed. From providing advice and helping out with childbirth and naming ceremonies to extending hospitality to her guests, her adoptive mother was well-loved by her kampong folks.  

“Back in the days, my mother would never let visitors leave with an empty stomach. She would feed them. My aunty used to joke that when my uncle came back home, he’s only left with brinjal and curry. No fish! Because my mother would have served all the good dishes to guests. She was a very generous person,” notes Mdm Mano.  

Up to this day, Mdm Mano still holds her late adoptive mother close to her heart. As she shares more instances of her mother’s kindness, Mdm Mano states, “My mother helped quite a lot of people. So, after seeing all that, I thought helping is good! I didn’t realise that one day I would go from watching her help others to helping others myself.”  

Ageing Actively with A Community

It was a seemingly mundane day in 2019. Mdm Mano was on her usual route to the market when she passed by TOUCHpoint@AMK 433. She used to always see many activities such as exercises and games going on at the centre, which piqued her interest. She decided to join the centre that day. 

Caption: Mdm Mano participating in the Zumba Chair workout every Monday.

Caption: Mdm Mano enjoying the company of friends at TOUCHpoint@AMK 433.

“It has been really good! They would organise exercise sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And there are other activities like Rummy-O, Carom, and darts which we can participate in too. They also organised an arts and crafts outing which was very enriching for us, elderly people. Last week, they took us to East Coast Park for a five-kilometre walk, which was very rejuvenating for us. I think they are doing a lot for us!” she exclaims.  

On the Path to Giving Back 

One day on her usual visit to TOUCHpoint@AMK 433, Mdm Mano met centre staff, Mdm Tracy, who asked her if she would like to volunteer to look after seniors. 

Caption: Mdm Tracy Lee (left) and Mdm Mano (right) in front of TOUCH Home Care located near TOUCHpoint@AMK 433.

Caption: Mdm Mano interacting with a centre staff.

Despite being ethnically Chinese, Mdm Mano does not speak or understand Mandarin as she was raised in an Indian household. Despite the language barrier, she retains her friendly demeanour towards Mandarin-speaking residents by putting on a radiant smile and greeting them with a wave or a nod. Fluent in English and Hindi, Mdm Mano is able to connect with the Hindi-speaking seniors.   

“I was thinking then, “I’m a senior myself, so it's okay to know other seniors.” So that’s how I came to meet Puranam,” explains Mdm Mano.  

Caption: Mdm Puranam (left) and Mdm Mano (right) in Mdm Puranam’s house. 

As a befriender, Mdm Mano visits 72-year-old Mdm Puranam once a week at the latter’s home, where they would end up chatting for at least half an hour. As Mdm Puranam had a bad fall that caused her to injure her legs, she faces difficulties walking and rarely leaves her home.   

“I get along very well with Puranam. Whenever I visit, we talk a lot about her children, and other matters. She will sometimes tell me about her working life. If I don’t visit her for quite some time, she will ask “Why didn’t you come?”, Mdm Mano laughs.  

Golden Connections 

Mdm Mano does not think of befriending as volunteering. Instead, she views it simply as normal friends meeting to catch up. To her, talking to Mdm Puranam is satisfying, and Mdm Puranam, in turn, feels happier after her visits.  

“Befriending should come from your heart. Whatever you do, you have to be sincere about it and you must enjoy it. If you can help out, do so! Life is short, so do what you can to make the world a better place to live in,” advises Mdm Mano.  

Mdm Mano’s kindness extends beyond befriending, as she always looks for opportunities to bless others the same way her mother did.  

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TOUCH runs five Active Ageing Centres (AACs) located in Ang Mo Kio, Geylang Bahru, Wellington and Yishun. AACs serve all seniors living within the neighbourhood, and act as a go-to-point to receive timely access to quality care. Our AACs are supported by TOUCH’s trans-disciplinary team of eldercare specialists, leveraging community resources to achieve long-term wellness to prevent and delay frailty, and to help seniors age well in the community.    

Story published in 2024.