Our Stories: Serving shoppers with a smile

Serving shoppers with a smile

  #60Stories
Bao Ling cheerfully serves a customer at MINDS Shop.

You might have heard of the various MINDS Shop outlets scattered all over the island as a popular place to drop off second hand items.

But did you know that these stores – run by Persons with Intellectual Disability (PWIDs) – are a key training ground in retail and customer service for MINDS adult clients?

MINDS client Tan Bao Ling is one of many who have benefitted from the programme.

A long-time presence at MINDS Shop, you will find Bao Ling cheerfully sorting and packing the donated items. She also recognises the regular customers who visit the shop and would approach them to say hello. Drop by frequently enough and Bao Ling might even strike up a conversation with you to share about her travel experiences and bowling hobby.

Stepping stone towards employment

Diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, Bao Ling has been a client at Woodlands Employment Development Centre (WEDC) for the last 19 years.

Bao Ling first started her training under the sheltered workshop programme. Such workshops help break down tasks into simpler steps, and act as a stepping stone to prepare trainees for employment.

For instance, the sheltered workshops exposed her to various project tasks, such as sorting and packing, recycling of headsets, assembling immigration cards and other ad-hoc projects.

As Bao Ling gained more practice, she gained confidence as well. Over time, the training officers reported a marked improvement in her vocational and social skills. She also displayed a good attitude towards learning.

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Bao Ling folds recycled tote bags, which are used as bags for customers' purchases

Her training officers shared that she “works independently, has initiative, and is helpful to her peers.”

These were ideal qualities for MINDS Shop trainees, which spurred her training officers to recommend Bao Ling for the social enterprise MINDS Shop project in 2014.

Bao Ling quickly assimilated into the work environment without major issues.

A versatile worker, Bao Ling can perform the various MINDS Shop tasks with ease – whether it is sorting donated clothes and items, folding and hanging them, packing sales items for customers, cleaning the shop and more.

“She is a dependable worker who can cover all stations when required. She even steps up to guide new trainees and is well loved by peers, staff, and the public alike. She is always focused on her task at hand but will willingly lend her help when requested,” said WEDC training officer Siti Aisyah.

Training officers like Aisyah are there to guide clients along their learning journey and to provide a pillar of support and avenue for questions when required.

WEDC receives approximately two cages full of donations weekly, which are sorted by trainees like Bao Ling.

Bao Ling’s illustrious nature earned her the title of Best Trainee of year 2023. She was given the award as she had shown the best improvement in performing all the tasks assigned to her.

All net revenue earned from the sale of the products and services goes towards a monthly allowance for MINDS trainees. This encourages our trainees to work hard and gives them a sense of accomplishment.

“Bao Ling is a cheerful and friendly trainee, always ready to greet her training officers, peers and customers and do her best in tasks assigned to her,” said Madeline Ho, WEDC Senior Training Officer.

Bao Ling hangs clothes independently, to keep the store display tidy.

Outside of work, Bao Ling enjoys bowling, and has a reputation of being known as a powerful striker among the MINDS bowlers. She was selected to represent Singapore in the 2023 Special Olympic Summer Game held at Berlin, Germany and achieved fourth place. With the support from her mother, Bao Ling continues to receive her bowling coaching to prepare herself for the next competition.

Bao Ling with her training officer Aisyah.

Going ahead, training officer Aisyah hopes that Bao Ling will be able to take part in assisted employment or projects hosted by corporates within the centre.

Aisyah feels that it would be beneficial for her to explore working alongside bigger corporations, but within the same familiar environment. “May she continue to grow and bloom in her interests and talents,” she adds.

In the meantime, you can be sure to find Bao Ling happily doing her work to the best of her ability. So, the next time you are looking to drop by with in-kind donations, do approach Bao Ling to say ‘hi’!

She is a dependable worker who can cover all stations when required. She even steps up to guide new trainees and is well loved by peers, staff, and the public alike. She is always focused on her task at hand but will willingly lend her help when requested.

Siti Aisyah
Training Officer, MINDS Woodlands Employment Development Centre (WEDC)

As MINDS celebrates over 60 years of serving the PWID community, we would like to encourage a deeper understanding of intellectual disability and special needs in the community.

Beginning in 2000, MINDS started a range of Social Enterprise programmes in our Employment Development Centres (EDCs). The programmes aim to provide alternative work engagement opportunities for adult trainees. Some of these units, such as MINDS Bakers and MINDS Craft, began as therapy programmes and to encourage the development of fine motor skills.

MINDS Shop was set up to provide a realistic vocational training environment for clients to prepare them for employment opportunities in customer-facing industries such as F&B, retail and hospitality.

The sale of Social Enterprise products goes towards providing wages and sustaining training and development programmes for adults with intellectual disabilities. Support PWIDs by purchasing MINDS Social Enterprise products here.

Be a friend of our MINDS community! Explore volunteering opportunities or consider donating to our cause.

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NOTICE OF THE 59TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MINDS: NOTICE is hereby given that the 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) will be held by way of electronic means as follows: Date: Saturday , 18 September 2020 Time: 9:30am (Registration starts at 8:30am) Venue: Online via ZOOM MINDS members will be receiving an email on the notice of AGM and are strongly encouraged to register your attendance to facilitate the verification process on the day of the AGM. For enquiries regardingthe AGM, members may email to agm@minds.org.sg or call 849607358