Giving What She Wished She Had

Having experienced financial challenges in her own childhood, Xiu Lin understands firsthand the struggles of children with limited resources.

“I was from a low-income family and wished someone could tutor me for free back then.”

Wanting to help children from a similar background, Xiu Lin signed up as a volunteer in our Tuition Programme. The programme supports children from lower-income families by providing them with academic coaching, conducted in small groups for more effective teaching.

Choosing the subject to teach was an easy decision. Mathematics, her favourite subject, was the obvious choice.

“I enjoy teaching Maths very much as it’s the subject I love most and I don’t mind spending more time explaining till the kids understand the concepts.”

Teaching has not come without its challenges as the children can be “very playful”. Xiu Lin shared that she would “try to ensure that they complete at least one assignment during class and learn something before the end of the class”.

Her efforts have not gone to waste as she has seen some of them score well during their recent exams. While others still need to catch up, she is determined to help them improve. “I will try my very best to bring them up to mark”.

Even though her students may be a handful at times, she knows that they appreciate her. Once, a student gave her a paper with the handwritten words “Happy Teacher’s Day”. “It’s a simple piece of paper with some writing, but somehow it makes everything seem even more worthwhile,” she said.

“If my efforts can help them improve their interest, understanding and grades, then I believe I have done something meaningful.”