Voice for the animals

21 year old, Debbie Tan, studying in Republic Polytechnic under Diploma of Healthcare Administration. Her passion for animals is what drives her to volunteer at a young age.

For today’s post we sat down with Debbie Tan ; a Year 2 student studying in Republic Polytechnic who spends her time to be the voice for animals. Having volunteered at animal shelters such as Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), she shares with us her story on why she started volunteering there on top of her busy schedule as a polytechnic student.

Q: We hear that you release birds every month , so when did you start releasing birds?

DEBBIE: When I was young, my dad brought me to the SPCA, so every time he would encourage me to contribute to the society.

Q: Why did you like to help animals?

DEBBIE: I feel that birds cannot be kept in cages, they should be freed, although there are pros and cons to it. Although you set the birds free, they might be hurt, but it’s their nature, so you should let nature take it’s course.

Q: So how do you set the birds free, like what do you do?

DEBBIE: We will go to the nearby house, or maybe go to SPCA, like Geylang area, they’re selling birds, but then now it’s illegal already, I heard some laws enforcing this rule. So, we would go nearby my house, near Jurong East there, there’s a place selling birds. We would buy the birds, $10 each, then we would release it.

Q: So, just release one?

DEBBIE: My dad says that one bird signifies luck, and something like doing good deed.

Q: Other than birds, what other types of animals do you like to help?

DEBBIE: Cats. They are my favourite animals, so I will feed cats near my block, but there will be others scolding me, saying that we’re polluting the neighbourhood. But I will still do it, but I will clean up after that.

Q: So do you have any significant memory of helping animals?

DEBBIE: When I was young my dad would drive me to the SPCA, so he would bring me to the cats, that I like, and dogs. I’m allergic to cats, unfortunately, because I love cats. Despite my allergy, my dad will still bring me there. I can’t bring the cats home, but, I would still carry the cat around, help out, volunteer at the SPCA.

I used to have a cat, but my mum chased it away cause she brought a dog home. She was helping her friend to take care of the dog, so my cat ran away. Actually my cat, her name is Grey Grey, she’s very smart. I would let her free, she would go down the staircase, go down to the market and she would still come back by herself. Because I live at the tenth storey, so it’s quite smart for the cat to do that. And I’m quite a quiet person, so I would usually talk to my cat.

"If you can’t keep pets, don’t even start to buy it. you have to be prepared to take the responsibility. If you are not prepared, forget the idea of keeping pets. -Debbie"

Debbie's shares with us that it is her family culture that has shaped
her into the person she is today.

 

Mission #5: The Last Photo

By: Team Project Zero to Hero

For our latest class assignment, the team has to think about fresh ways to write blog entry to attract readers to visit and read the post. We research through for ideas and decided to do a photo collage for this special mission after being inspired by the photo spreads found from the website, Where Cool Things Happen.

The mission theme “The Last Photo” is to get random people we met around school to share with us what is the latest photo that they have taken with their hand phone and the reasons as to why they would take that photo. 

During the mission, we are amazed with the photos gathered from the 17 individuals we have approached. Some of them are rather silly as they are mostly taken out of boredom. For example, we had a ‘last photo’ of a 6P, and also a ‘last photo’ of a silly selfie taken to entertain oneself. 

Through today’s event, we realized how hand phones play an important part to our everyday lives. It is not only a tool for communications anymore but also for, personal memories and entertainment purposes. So, what is the latest photo you have taken today? Do share with us through our Facebook and Twitter.


projectzerotohero zero's Slidely by Slidely Slideshow

Reflection Post on Mission #4 Complimenting Is No Crime

                                 
As some of you may have noticed, we carried out our 4th mission on monday with the theme of complimenting a stranger.

We went to places like lawn and south entrance to give out little sweet notes to people whom we do not know. This mission was plan with the motive to improve the relationship between people and also, to let youths be more open minded with what they want to say.

Notes like,"pass this note to someone who you think is beautiful ' and 'pass this note to someone who you want to have a game match with ' was passed around.

In this mission, we faced a huge challenge as people were not open to this kind of event as some of them were too shy. Thus, we did not manage to pass the note to many people. However, we did give some of the post it notes out eventually and here are some of the photos taken that day.

Although the outcome was not as successful as we planned for it to be, it was a fun mission to carry out! See you guys in our next mission and look out for our video tomorrow!!

Complimenting a stranger

Hey everyone

After 2-3 weeks of school holidays, the team is back in school to carry out its forth mission, complimenting strangers by passing notes.

Are there times where you want to be friends with a person that is a total stranger to you, to compliment someone that is cool or to ask them where they get those pretty shoes? If you are too shy to ask, maybe passing them a little note would help.

To start the ball rolling, the team came out with messages and gives them out randomly to our classmates and passers-by. The challenge is to have them to approach a stranger, pass on the note and take a photo with them.

So what are the exact reaction does the passers-by have? Was it easy to approach someone else that they are not familiar with? Stay tuned for the next post where we will be posting a reflection on the mission. 

In the meantime, do check out our Facebook page to browse through the photos we took of those who have completed the challenges.

Happy Weekends!

Complimenting is no crime

Ever wanted to compliment someone you've been looking out for for a long time? Here's your chance!

Look out for Project Zero to Hero on 6th January 2014, next Monday, 12PM at South Agora. We'll be providing you with a chance to compliment that special someone and make their day!

Happy New Year!

It's a New Year! I bet most of you have already made your New Year resolutions for 2014, had your fun during the holidays and now you are dreading to go back to school.

Here's the tricky thing about New Year's Resolutions, most of us wants to achieve it but after awhile, the fire in our determination dies down and we eventually forget about it.

PolicyMic writes about the 10 Most Common New Year's resolutions made such as eating healthily and exercising more regularly.
GAIAMlife suggests 10 Tips Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution with their first and what I think is the most essential tip, making a REALISTIC resolution.


Team Zero to Hero shares with you our New Year's resolutions!

Quraisha: "I want to do more volunteer work and take care of my health."

Momoko: "I wish to do better in my studies and spend more time with my family." 

Elaine: "I want to be more healthy and have a better relationship with my family!"

Juliana: "I want to be considerate and use wise words when I communicate with people because apparently I'm always saying the wrong things that will lead to trouble."

Jiamin: "I want to be happier and I want to put in more effort in everything that I do."

Joanne: "I want to be more sociable, less angry and more patient."

So share with us YOUR New Year resolutions in the comment section below!
Here's to a great start in 2014 and all the best in fulfilling your New Year's resolutions! :)