Think about graveyards, and a displaced family is not something that comes to mind.
You’d thus be shocked to know that this family of 3 has apparently been living on the grounds of Lim Chu Kang cemetery over the past 3 years, in a make-shift shack hidden in the jungles.
Upon hearing about their unfortunate situation, a group of kind volunteers from Project Hills decided to help the family find a proper place to settle down.
They shared the trio’s story in a Facebook post on Tuesday (12 May).
Tok Adi, his wife and his 8-year-old son live in the woods of Singapore, in close proximity with the sea of graves nestled in Lim Chu Kang.
They reside in make-shift homes made out of simple materials like plywood and signboards to put a roof over their heads over the past 3 years.
Volunteers in Project Hills visited the family to find out more about their situation, in hopes of helping them find a permanent home.
Upon exploring this make-shift shack, they realised that the family had hand-built a toilet and an electrical system.
They also retrieve water from a DIY well, a lifestyle that is unknown to many Singaporeans who live in the comfort of a HDB flat.
The area was also packed with mosquitoes, necessitating a constantly burning bonfire to keep the insects away.
Project Hills explained that Tok Adi is actually a gravedigger at Lim Chu Kang’s cemetery, but allegedly hasn’t been paid properly for his job.
This is because he is not tech-savvy and could never send photos to prove the work he has done.
Because he is unable to read, finding alternative work hasn’t panned out well for him either. This has also impeded his process of applying for a proper house, stated Project Hills.
Hence, when the kind Samaritans at Project Hills heard about the Tok Adi’s story on Saturday (9 May), they did not hesitate to lend a helping hand.
Video courtesy of Project Hills
They immediately gathered a group of volunteers and headed down to 24-hour supermarkets to purchase essential supplies, according to Project Hills.
In this Facebook video posted on 10 May, volunteers are seen trekking to Tok Adi’s remote living grounds and talking to him to understand his situation.
They also played some games with the little boy during the day visit to the family’s Lim Chu Kang shack.
MS News reached out to the organisation to enquire about the progress of their efforts.
As of Wednesday (13 May), the volunteers have kindly helped Tok Adi’s wife and son return to Batam for a temporary period, due to a visa issue.
They are also working round the clock to speed up his HDB applications and retrieve new documents and sourcing for the help of shelters.
Hence, any contribution from the public is very much appreciated as they do need funding to make the above come true.
You can find out more about how to donate here:
With the combined efforts of Project Hills and organisation Blessing In Disguise, we trust that Tok Adi can reunite with his wife and son soon.
We wish the family all the best in finding a more permanent home to settle down in, so they can live comfortably.
Featured image adapted from Project Hills.
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