W the Pen Salesman
Note: This is not my personal account. Just sharing the story from the Homeless Hearts of Singapore
https://www.facebook.com/homelessSG
Editor's note: Wow. Inspired by this hardworking young 19-year-old man, whom I met at City Hall Starbucks tonight. This is his story.
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Today I was in City Hall Starbucks, and working on my laptop, when I saw him trying to sell pens. So we chatted and I offered to treat him to a drink, and he graciously accepted my offer. Sipping his cup of iced cappuccino, I asked him more about his life story...
Wilson's his name, and he's 19 this year. He's selling pens, because his alcoholic dad has kicked him out of the house (which makes him "homeless" in a way). Fortunately, the company he's working for does give him a place in the Lavender area to stay, and seems like his boss is a nice man, from the way W talks about him.
W does have a quota of pens to sell per day (100 pens - and at 11pm, he'd only managed to sell 40). So he did look a bit frustrated. Fortunately, his pay and stay don't depend on him meeting his quota, but the look on his face told me that to him, he felt responsible to give his best to meet the quota. His boss didn't scold him, but yes, could see W was committed to give his best.
Then Wilson pointed to my laptop and asked if it was mine. When I said yes, he asked whether he could use it to check his Facebook.
"Sure bro! Help yourself."
So there he was, taking a break, sipping coffee, and Facebook-surfing like any other youth, when suddenly, an older man came along, selling keychains!
Was quite amused, 'cos was wondering how it'd look to have one peddler trying to sell to another. Well, what happened next was bro-cool indeed.
The older man naturally thought W was just another ordinary customer, so he approached him. But W showed him his panoply of pens, and the older man gave him a surprised "Eh you too bro!" look. Friendly chat ensued, ending with a heartfelt exchange of fist bumps.
Ooh. 'Cos turns out that both of them have done time in the system - the older man's been a drug addict and had done time in jail, while W had done time in a Boys' Home.
Wow. Shared brotherhood here indeed. Complete with fist bumps. You could feel the bro-ness flow through the entire place, man.
Well, after the older man left, I found out from W that he has a WSQ IT skills certificate in computers, and that he hopes to set up his own business soon. He plans to set up shop in Textile Centre - and turns out he's been attending my own church too! A fellow Christian!
------
After he left, I had a lingering sense of being encouraged by his can-do and non-bitter attitude towards life. He's had a difficult life and he has some mild handicaps too, but what strikes me is that he doesn't blame anyone.
On the contrary, he just keeps working hard and taking ownership of whatever he's been entrusted with. And perseverance too - selling pens every day is no easy job. And yet he still keeps his goal ahead - to set up his own business one day, even though he's realistic about the difficulties and high rents that he'll face.
I wonder how we can help support such courageous young men like him in fulfilling their dreams. In a way, I think he is a type of "homeless" young man - but the kind who don't let their difficulties define them, but instead let their convictions, values, and dreams be their shapers of who they are.
I do think, in a way, Wilson represents what is possible when we provide not a series of day-to-day handouts, but a new foundation for them to build and rebuild their lives upon. If they have fixed pays and a relatively stable living arrangement, then often that gives them a stable basis upon which to start saving up and planning towards.
(I still do have my reservations about the company that he works for (the website looks a bit shady), but hey, the company put the disclaimer that they are NOT a charitable organization.)
And feeling very thankful for the social enterprises that do their part to help people get back on their feet (young men especially), and become positive and constructive members of society, and who will be true bros to their fellow neighbors as themselves.
Wilson, here's a bro-fist for ya today. I don't think it's a coincidence that we got to meet twice, and in such a short time. I believe it's all part of God's plan, that your story might be an inspiration to many others in time to come. May the good Lord bless the works of your hands and watch over you always. See you again bro!
https://www.facebook.com/homelessSG
Editor's note: Wow. Inspired by this hardworking young 19-year-old man, whom I met at City Hall Starbucks tonight. This is his story.
--------
Today I was in City Hall Starbucks, and working on my laptop, when I saw him trying to sell pens. So we chatted and I offered to treat him to a drink, and he graciously accepted my offer. Sipping his cup of iced cappuccino, I asked him more about his life story...
Wilson's his name, and he's 19 this year. He's selling pens, because his alcoholic dad has kicked him out of the house (which makes him "homeless" in a way). Fortunately, the company he's working for does give him a place in the Lavender area to stay, and seems like his boss is a nice man, from the way W talks about him.
W does have a quota of pens to sell per day (100 pens - and at 11pm, he'd only managed to sell 40). So he did look a bit frustrated. Fortunately, his pay and stay don't depend on him meeting his quota, but the look on his face told me that to him, he felt responsible to give his best to meet the quota. His boss didn't scold him, but yes, could see W was committed to give his best.
Then Wilson pointed to my laptop and asked if it was mine. When I said yes, he asked whether he could use it to check his Facebook.
"Sure bro! Help yourself."
So there he was, taking a break, sipping coffee, and Facebook-surfing like any other youth, when suddenly, an older man came along, selling keychains!
Was quite amused, 'cos was wondering how it'd look to have one peddler trying to sell to another. Well, what happened next was bro-cool indeed.
The older man naturally thought W was just another ordinary customer, so he approached him. But W showed him his panoply of pens, and the older man gave him a surprised "Eh you too bro!" look. Friendly chat ensued, ending with a heartfelt exchange of fist bumps.
Ooh. 'Cos turns out that both of them have done time in the system - the older man's been a drug addict and had done time in jail, while W had done time in a Boys' Home.
Wow. Shared brotherhood here indeed. Complete with fist bumps. You could feel the bro-ness flow through the entire place, man.
Well, after the older man left, I found out from W that he has a WSQ IT skills certificate in computers, and that he hopes to set up his own business soon. He plans to set up shop in Textile Centre - and turns out he's been attending my own church too! A fellow Christian!
------
After he left, I had a lingering sense of being encouraged by his can-do and non-bitter attitude towards life. He's had a difficult life and he has some mild handicaps too, but what strikes me is that he doesn't blame anyone.
On the contrary, he just keeps working hard and taking ownership of whatever he's been entrusted with. And perseverance too - selling pens every day is no easy job. And yet he still keeps his goal ahead - to set up his own business one day, even though he's realistic about the difficulties and high rents that he'll face.
I wonder how we can help support such courageous young men like him in fulfilling their dreams. In a way, I think he is a type of "homeless" young man - but the kind who don't let their difficulties define them, but instead let their convictions, values, and dreams be their shapers of who they are.
I do think, in a way, Wilson represents what is possible when we provide not a series of day-to-day handouts, but a new foundation for them to build and rebuild their lives upon. If they have fixed pays and a relatively stable living arrangement, then often that gives them a stable basis upon which to start saving up and planning towards.
(I still do have my reservations about the company that he works for (the website looks a bit shady), but hey, the company put the disclaimer that they are NOT a charitable organization.)
And feeling very thankful for the social enterprises that do their part to help people get back on their feet (young men especially), and become positive and constructive members of society, and who will be true bros to their fellow neighbors as themselves.
Wilson, here's a bro-fist for ya today. I don't think it's a coincidence that we got to meet twice, and in such a short time. I believe it's all part of God's plan, that your story might be an inspiration to many others in time to come. May the good Lord bless the works of your hands and watch over you always. See you again bro!
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