A Passion for Learning Blossoms

Hamidah Abdul Karim is a senior travel executive with a passion for floristry. So deep is her love for floral design that she regularly takes part in floristry competitions locally and abroad.

"Flower design has always been my interest and floristry is an avenue for me for enjoyment or to express myself, no matter how busy I am with my full-time job or family commitments," says Hamidah. "Entering competitions is just another platform for me to showcase my artwork and techniques."

For Hamidah, she values the exposure and creative environment that she gets at competitions. She explains: "I enjoy learning new things and I believe everyday is a journey to learn. And the more I learn, the more I crave for new ideas and opportunities. New ideas and creativity somehow nurtures oneself. "

Never Too Old To Learn

Mr Mohammad Bin Gelan seems to revel in the opportunities that life throws at him. The 63 year-old has had quite a colourful career, from working on a ship for almost his entire career to plying his trade in the construction industry.

Drifting from job to job, Mohammad came to a point where old age was catching up with him and he was finding work hard to come by. He however felt he had more to give and wished he could do more. And if only he was trained in something new, his job prospects could improve.

With this simple desire, Mohammad attended a job fair where he was interviewed and then introduced to programmes at his local Community Development Council (CDC)’s Career Centre, where he could enrol in a host of courses to upgrade this skills.

Never Too Old To Learn

Mdm Seah Huat Tin, 55, works as a cleaning lady at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The chatty and confident mother of four daughters recounts that she was a completely different person five years ago when she was still a housewife. 

“My children had all grown up and were leading their own lives. I did not know what to do at home all day, so I spent the whole day sleeping and watching television. For three years I suffered from depression,” said Mdm Seah. Seeing her mother so listless, Mdm Seah's daughters advised her to look for a job to break out of the cycle of inertia and depression.

Mdm Seah eventually found a job as a cleaning lady at a NTU hostel, but found that she had difficulties communicating in English with the multi-national students and staff residing there. When they ask her for directions, she could only shake her head in incomprehension.

Her daughters learnt about her difficulties and recommended that she register for the Workplace Literacy (Conversational) Course under the Workfare-Skill Up programme offered by WDA.