Eugene Wee started to reconsider his life and faith after hearing the same sermon preached for two consecutive weeks. It led the former civil servant to establish Radion International, where, as executive director, he spearheads efforts to help needy communities in Singapore, Thailand and Laos.
Happening in October is Project Lives!, a campaign that explores how Singaporeans can impact the lives of others.
Last year, your wife delivered a stillborn baby after 30 hours of labour. Both of you decided to donate the foetus to Chiang Mai University for research.
It wasn’t a difficult decision because we knew it was the right thing to do. If this can help provide insights into the medical condition, why not? When I first wrote about it on Facebook, it was meant as a birthday greeting to my wife because she went through so much. We were overwhelmed by the kindness we received and by the knowledge that our story has touched and inspired others.
Will you try for another baby?
Not at the moment, because we’ve been so busy due to the expansion of projects by Radion International. Our hands are literally full.
Radion International is a relief and development agency you started 12 years ago to assist the vulnerable and marginalised communities in Asia. Do you think charity attracts controversy?
I don’t think it attracts controversy. I think people believe in giving to good causes that can impact someone else’s life. But as with any vocation, there’s always a minority that acts against good faith.
When was the last time you got into trouble due to work?
I was driving at a roundabout near my office in Thailand and an elderly lady on her motorbike in front suddenly braked. My car bumped into her bike and she fell. I wanted to ensure she was ok so I insisted on accompanying her to the hospital. We became friends after that.
What do you think can be done to make Singapore a better place?
Everyone can afford to be kinder. But when the society is so pent-up and when we are rushing through life so quickly, we start to lose our capacity to care for others. The notion of having to break something in order for another to work doesn’t always apply. Sometimes, we simply need to relook our goals or purpose in life and pluck up the courage to change and do what is right.