Yishunite of the Year Madam Sarimah just wants to help people
She has fostered five children in the last eight years, and in that time also started a community initiative to help needy families and vulnerable seniors in her estate.
Housewife Sarimah Amat also runs a programme to provide stationery to needy children here and abroad, has helped orphans in Thailand and Indonesia and organised relief efforts for flood victims in Malaysia.
For her efforts, the 53-year-old was recognised as the inaugural Yishunite of the Year yesterday. Organised by Nee Soon Town Council, the award recognises a Nee Soon GRC resident who has contributed to the community and embodies the spirit of service and giving.
KNEE INJURY
Madam Sarimah, who received the most votes among five finalists in a Facebook poll, had to leave her job as a childcare teacher and silat instructor in 2010 due to a knee injury. Having worked for a decade, she wondered what to pursue next.
She found out about the Ministry of Social and Family Development's fostering scheme from her brother, and decided to apply. "I wanted to do something that is satisfying to the soul, and not just for monetary value. It is more of helping people out of their predicaments and their challenges," said Madam Sarimah.
In 2012, she took in a four-year-old girl, who is still living with her.
The following year, she took in a three-year-old boy but he died from infantile epilepsy seven months later.
In 2014, she fostered another three-year-old boy for half a year, and in 2015 took in a two-and-a-half-year-old boy for five months.
The following year, she welcomed into her home a two-month-old girl who is still living with her.
Madam Sarimah's own three children are all grown up. Her eldest son, 29, is married and has a 10-month-old daughter.
She also has a 27-year-old daughter and another son, 25, who is serving his national service in the Singapore Police Force.
Her husband, 54, is a construction safety supervisor.
The nine of them live in a mini jumbo flat in Yishun Street 71, where Madam Sarimah has lived for 35 years.
She started a community initiative called Yishun 71 in March this year, to help vulnerable seniors and needy families in 16 blocks in her estate, including by delivering food, taking them for health check-ups and buying groceries for them.
She said she is honoured to win the inaugural award, and commended her fellow finalists. "The main thing is we're helping the community. It just makes me more determined to do more and reach out to more people."
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