Homme
Product Spread
This is a hair product spread where I picked out the products and give them write ups. All the text is done by me.
Femme
I contributed in several of the buzz sections in the femme magazine. For Fashion, I wrote "Stormy Weather", "The Bling Factor" and "Season's Joy".
For the Beaute section, I wrote "Body Fantasy" and "Clear For Life".
In the Design and Living section, I wrote "Designer Kitchen", "Zesty Fun" and "Autumn Highlights". I also co-wrote a luxury travel piece.
Reinvention
This article is about reinvention where we talk to individuals who have transformed their lives and changed their way of life for a good cause. In this interview, the co founders of Project Namaste talk to me about how Project Namaste started and how it has affected their lives. I wrote all the interview questions and used Adobe Photoshop for the layout of the article.
Project Namaste
A huge blossoming flower grows from a tiny seed and this is just what happened with Project Namaste. Founder Ivy Wong was struck by inspiration one day with an idea to lead a team to Nepal and help out in the community there. She and co founder Chaan Hoa shares with Designare how Project Namaste started and how it has affected their lives.
-How did Project Namaste begin?
Ivy: The key that jumpstarted the Project Namaste engine was the extreme feeling of blank that overcame me during an internship one morning. It was the culmination of running the rat race that I began to fantasize about travelling to exotic places and running away from the rat world.
A Youth Expedition Programme (YEP) to Laos I participated in during my JC days came to mind and I was inspired to lead one myself. With the objectives of doing a good cause, creating the opportunity to interact closely with the local community and breathing fresh air in the countryside, I began my search for people who had networks in developing countries. One such lead led me to Yang Siew (founder of Bread and Water "http://www.breadnwater.com") and it was his stories about Nepal that got me hooked onto leading an expedition into the country.
Chaan Hoa: The catalyst was definitely Ivy, she brought up the idea to me and from there we really started thinking about how we wanted to execute our project.
-Why did you choose Nepal?
Chaan Hoa: We decided on Nepal because its one of the poorest countries in the world, and we were to learn that due to a possible loophole in the YEP funding support guidelines, overseas projects to Nepal cannot receive YEP funding, even though projects to Nepal's neighbouring countries India and China can receive the funding. Of course besides these practical reasons, Nepal in itself is a charming country which screams adventure, and since SMU didn't have any projects there then we thought it would be an educational addition.
-What difficulties did you face while starting Project Namaste?
Ivy: My co-founder and I faced many difficulties at first. There was no National Youth Council funding available because Nepal was not part of ASEAN. Our school also had strong doubts about the project and we had few NGO contacts in Nepal. However, with the support of our friends, families and the firm belief that nothing is impossible, we eventually managed to bring 25 students to Nepal in December 2006. It was an experience of a lifetime and all the team members remain firm friends to this day.
-What was your team able to achieve in Nepal?
Chaan Hoa: We raised money for the construction of a library room and furnished it with new furniture and donated used books. The money was also used to renovate the current classrooms, replacing the leaking roofs and adding new blackboards and furniture. Besides this, we painted the walls and conducted lessons with the children, and also participated in cultural activities such as a wedding and a funeral. Most of all I feel our biggest achievement was in encouraging a 5-trip plan to continually improve the educational facilities of the Armala district in Pokhara over the next few years with successive teams helping other schools in the district. Sadly they are now approaching the fifth trip but we're hopeful the teams can continue to raise funding externally.
-How has your experiences in Nepal affected you? Has it changed your mindset or lifestyle in any way?
Chaan Hoa: In a nutshell it made me more pro-active with a stronger can-do spirit. I continue to start-up new projects and continue with them to see them through to completion. Since starting and completing Project Namaste I, I've also started and am currently leading the Cantonese association in Singapore's youth group, as well as my company's football team.
-How has Project Namaste grown to date?
Chaan Hoa: We've now had 4 teams of about 20 undergraduates each time, and the 5th team is making their preparations to go this December. I would like to think we've built a brand-name amongst the SMU community and are well-regarded by the school because we've consistently delivered on our promises. Besides this, we have also had some success reaching outside of our university, we've conducted our video documentary at the National Library and received some one-off funding from the Lien Foundation (not sure about the specific foundation name).
-Are there any future plans for Project Namaste?
Chaan Hoa: There's the 5th trip coming up this December, although I hear it may be struggling with funding at the moment. The Project Namaste alumni from the different teams gather regularly, and one of the ideas bandied about before was another trip by the alumni who've already graduated and working already, as well as creating a fund amongst ourselves. Nothing firm as yet, but I think we all agree it would be a waste if the success of the project could not be furthered.
Project Namaste is still active and is currently in its fifth year of running. The team is in the midst of raising $12,000 for this year's project and any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
For more information please visit www.projectnamaste.com.
