Restoring Dignity – One Life at a Time

Scholastic Kid Reporter Rheya Agarwal with Project Dignity Founder, Koh Seng Choon

 Not long ago, while on my school bus in Singapore, a huge red wall with the words ‘PROJECT DIGNITY’ caught my attention. The name got me curious. On checking, I learnt that Project Dignity is a social enterprise that provides training for unemployed adults with disabilities and helps place them with employment opportunities in industries such as food and beverage, hospitality, and retail. 

 Founded by Mr. Koh Seng Choon in 2010, Project Dignity has a food court, Dignity Kitchen, and book retail stores in hospitals, Dignity Mama, that many of its graduate’s work. Dignity Kitchen is a 10,000 square-foot food court that trains and employs those with physical, mental and intellectual disabilities to work in the food and beverage industry. They also do food delivery across the island and host events for corporations. Dignity Mama is a second-hand book kiosk located in Singapore hospitals. Each kiosk is handled by a mother and her disabled young adult, to help them gain entrepreneurial skills and independence.

Dignity Kitchen in Singapore

 Choon looks at their ability, not disability. He says, “Everyone gets paid here. I am not changing the world, just trying to make a difference to one person at a time.” Dignity Kitchen has 61 staff members and 42 have disabilities. Cindy Berlandier, General Manager at Project Dignity adds, “Mr. Choon is a problem solver. From teaching how to measure money notes on the palm to bending a spoon to grip it better, he creates an inclusive environment for everyone.”

 During one of my visits to Dignity Kitchen, I met Sharon Sim E Yee, 47, living with cerebral palsy. Her exceptional memory and calculation skill landed her the administration role at Dignity Kitchen. At one point, she could barely walk but now, with a sense of purpose, she uses a stick and walks to work every day. “I enjoy working here as everybody is my friend and it is very fun,” she says.

 Berlandier shared that Rainbow Lee Ker Yee, 26, has silent epilepsy, who is an event executive with excellent coordination skills. Today, Yee handles a team and multitasks too. Similarly, Gary Berlandier, 61, paralysed on his right side, runs Dignity Kitchen’s Rojak stall and delivers food while driving a van. Driven by purpose, he feels alive and works four times a week. Beyond the kitchen, Dignity Mama continues to empower mothers and their young adults. Sim Hock Guan, 39, was given six months to live due to multiple brain tumours. After three years of working at Dignity Mama, where he sorts books for sale, his tumours have shrunk and he is now more active and happy.

Rheya pictured with Sharon (middle) and Cindy (right)

 To date, Choon has trained more than 2,000 people with a range of disabilities. Through his work, he was nominated for the Singaporean of the Year award and was a finalist in 2024. He shares, “What we want is willingness to learn and earn a livelihood. At the end of the day, it is about giving them back their self-respect and dignity”. Choon knows he can’t save everyone, but for those he can, it makes all the difference.