He uses his money in this one man show.
The New Paper (Singapore) Arul John reports…
This man has an unusual illness: He calls it “the virus of helping”. This virus has won him the Singapore International Foundation Award – the first time it has been given to an individual.
Mr Ravi Rai, 40, used to follow his parents to their ancestral village in India. He saw the poverty and need there. And there is where he is now. Making a difference. Helping the poor, sheltering the homeless, educating children.
Mr Rai worked here as an engineer for 11 years before going back to his roots. In 1998 he withdrew his savings of about $300,000, including insurance from a road accident in 1997, and moved to a village in Uttar Pradesh. He put $35,000 in a fixed deposit and used the rest to build shelters to help the needy. He says he was encouraged by his father, Mr Ram Awadh Rai, who joined the Indian National Army that fought against British rule. “He promised to join me in India in 1998.” said Mr Rai. But his father died in 1997. So Mr Rai had to work on his own.
He founded the Children of Mother Earth (COME) foundation. He is also its president. Not surprisingly, he is unpaid. Only six staff members get paid and the rest are volunteers. Said Mr Rai: “Money comes from my family, the interest from the fixed deposits and our ancestral land (in India) as well as the rent from my three-room flat in Singapore. But I’ve never had problems so far.”
Instead, he has given scholarships and bursaries to at least 26 needy children in India. Last year he also helped rebuild a school hit by an earthquake in Gujarat. ”I get a sense of satisfaction from helping others,” he said. Marriage is on hold because his life partner must share his goals and dreams. But he is glad two of his sisters and their husbands also help him in his work. He is the fourth of nine siblings.
“At first, it was difficult for me to adjust to life here (in India).
I was very aggressive.”
Now , he is happy. He proudly flies the Singapore flag wherever he goes in India, he says, and tells the people about “the honesty and hard work that built our nation”.
“At first, I wanted a low profile and no awards for my work,” he said. “But after (his brother) Shashi discussed the nomination, I realised the award could encourage and motivate more Singaporeans to do volunteer work overseas.”
His foundation has already opened a branch here and plans to open others in Thailand and Nepal. What is his message for Singaporeans? “If anyone wants to know what I do in India, I invite them to live and work with me for free. But most of all, help others with thankfulness and gratitude.”
Mr Rai’s brother Mr Shashi Rai, nominated him for the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) Award. And on May 10, Mr Rai was presented with the first individual SIF Award by Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan in a ceremony at the Oriental Hotel.
